Bohol with Kids: Family Travel Guide

For most families, we’d choose Panglao. It’s easy to find restaurants, supermarkets, beaches and accommodation, and having everything close by is especially convenient with kids. We stayed at Buenacosa Resort, where we had a two-bedroom house and a lovely pool. The resort is a little too far from the beach for us to walk comfortably, but Grab and tuk-tuks made getting around easy. We could even order breakfast through Grab, and we’d happily stay here again.

Our daughters also loved spending time at Henann Resort Alona Beach, especially the swimming pools and the huge choice at the buffet.

Which area is best for your family?

• Alona Beach: This is the busiest and most convenient part of Panglao, with lots of places to eat right on the beach. It can get quite busy in the evening, but we really liked the atmosphere.
• Dumaluan Beach: We visited Dumaluan while exploring the area and really loved it. It felt much more peaceful than Alona and, for us, the beach was even more beautiful.
• Anda: A quieter option if you want a more laid-back base. We’d personally still choose Panglao with kids because we prefer having restaurants, supermarkets and other conveniences nearby.

Best Family Hotels in Bohol

Buenacosa Resort

♥️ Best for families who want space and a pool

Our own choice in Panglao. We had a two-bedroom house and loved the swimming pool.

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Henann Resort Alona Beach

🏊🏼‍♂️ Best for families looking for a beachfront resort with plenty of pools

We visited as day guests and loved the beachfront location, swimming pools and huge choice at the buffet.

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Bohol Beach Club

🏝️ Best for a quieter beach

Located on Dumaluan Beach, this is worth considering if a beautiful, peaceful beach is more important than being close to the action.

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Bohol has plenty to do with kids, from beaches and tarsiers to countryside tours and island-hopping trips. We first visited Bohol without our kids and later returned with them, so we’ve experienced the island both as a couple and as a family. Here are some of the highlights, including the things we tried with our daughters.

Beaches, Swimming & Pool Days

Our daughters love swimming more than almost anything, so Bohol suited them really well. We spent a lot of time in the water on this trip, both at the beach and in the pool. Dumaluan Beach in particular is well worth visiting. Its long stretch of white sand and clear water felt much more peaceful than Alona Beach and, for us, was one of the nicest beaches we visited on Bohol.

Dumaluan also reminded us a little of Boracay’s famous White Beach. Planning a family trip there too? Check out our Boracay with Kids guide.

We also spent time at Alona Beach and the pools at our resort and Henann Resort Alona Beach, so it was easy to mix swimming days with sightseeing.

See the Tarsiers

Seeing the tarsiers was one of our daughters’ highlights of exploring Bohol, although being told to stay very quiet was probably not their favorite part! The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella is one of the main places to see these tiny primates in their natural habitat.

💡 Crew Tip: Bring mosquito repellent. There were quite a few mosquitoes when we visited, and you’ll be walking through a natural outdoor environment.

Explore Bohol’s Countryside

A countryside tour is an easy way to see several of Bohol’s best-known sights in one day. The classic route includes the Tarsier Sanctuary, Blood Compact Shrine, Baclayon Church, Man-Made Forest, Chocolate Hills and a Loboc River Cruise.

We did a private tour with our kids and decided to try something we’d normally skip: an ATV ride. Then, almost as soon as we started, it began pouring with rain! We actually had a good laugh about it, but after riding through the downpour, the kids were ready to call it a day. We were supposed to continue to the Chocolate Hills, but with everyone soaked and tired, we decided to skip them.

We’d already seen the Chocolate Hills on an earlier trip without the kids, so we didn’t mind missing them this time. We’d probably skip the ATV next time, though!

👉 Looking for a Bohol countryside tour? We’d recommend this private family-friendly option.

The Loboc River Cruise is another popular part of the countryside experience. We didn’t do it on this trip, but it combines a relaxed river cruise with a Filipino lunch buffet and views of the surrounding scenery.

Island Hopping & Snorkeling

Island-hopping trips from Panglao commonly combine dolphin watching, Balicasag Island and Virgin Island. We did this trip with our kids and saw both dolphins and turtles, which was definitely the highlight. Virgin Island is known for its sandbar, while Balicasag is one of the most popular snorkeling spots around Panglao.

The experience itself was more mixed for us. Our boat was incredibly loud, to the point that we could barely talk and the kids spent much of the journey with their hands over their ears. There was also quite a bit of extra logistics around the snorkeling, although the kids did enjoy the kayak once we reached the island. Balicasag was also quite busy when we visited.

Would we do the same trip again? Probably not exactly as we did it. We’d consider trying again with a different operator, especially because seeing the turtles was such a highlight.

Looking for a Balicasag tour? We’d consider this dolphin, turtle snorkeling and Virgin Island tour. It includes hotel pickup and a small-group setup.

Prefer a quieter, more private experience? This Pamilacan Island tour combines dolphin watching, snorkeling, lunch and a guided island walk. The trip takes longer, but it could be a good alternative to the busier Balicasag tours.

Other Things to Do in Bohol with Kids

Anda is another option if you’d like to explore a quieter part of Bohol, with beautiful beaches and natural attractions. It’s a good choice if you want to spend more time away from the busier areas of Panglao.

Want to explore eastern Bohol as a day trip? This private Anda, Candijay & Alicia Panoramic Park tour combines Anda’s beaches with the Candijay Rice Terraces and views from Alicia Panoramic Park. The tour is private, so you have more flexibility with your family.

We wouldn’t try to fill every day, though. A beach or pool day between sightseeing days worked really well for our family.

We’d recommend 4–5 days in Bohol with kids. That gives you enough time for a few relaxed beach or pool days while still leaving room for a countryside tour and an island-hopping trip.

With 3 days, you can see some of the main highlights, but you’ll need to keep the itinerary fairly busy. With 5–7 days, you can slow things down, add another beach day or explore more of Bohol, such as Anda or Pamilacan Island, without feeling like you’re constantly on the go.

For our family, 4–5 days feels like a good balance. The kids get plenty of time to swim, while you still have enough days to explore.

📥 Looking for something to keep the kids busy while traveling? Download our free 4-page sample of the Travel Activity Book for Kids and see what’s inside before getting the full 50-page book.

A Sample Bohol Itinerary with Kids

For a 4-day trip, finish after Day 4. With more time, add the optional beach, island and relaxation days below.

1. Day 1: Arrive, check in and relax by the pool.
2. Day 2: Spend the day at Alona Beach, with a possible day pass at Henann Resort.
3. Day 3: Countryside tour, followed by a relaxed afternoon.
4. Day 4: Island-hopping and snorkeling.
5. Optional Day 5: Dumaluan Beach and a slower beach day.
6. Optional Day 6: Explore Anda or add another island trip, such as Pamilacan.
7. Optional Day 7: Relax and enjoy your last day.

Flying to the Philippines with kids? Our Flying with Kids guide has practical tips for making the journey easier.

Bohol is straightforward to reach and easy to get around once you’re there. Depending on your route, you can arrive by plane or ferry, and we found several easy ways to get around with the kids.

How to Get to Bohol

Bohol is easy to reach by both plane and ferry, depending on where you are coming from. We usually book flights through Traveloka when traveling around the Philippines, as we’ve found it useful for domestic routes and smaller regional connections. There are also direct flights between Bohol and El Nido, which makes it easy to combine the two destinations in one trip.

Not sure whether El Nido is a good fit for your family? Check out our El Nido with Kids guide before you decide where to go next.

Bohol also has ferry connections with nearby islands, including Siquijor. We use 12Go to check ferry schedules and book tickets around the Philippines, and have found it easy to use.

Planning to combine Bohol with Siquijor? Our Siquijor with Kids guide has our tips and recommendations for visiting the island with kids.

Getting Around Bohol with Kids

We found getting around Bohol surprisingly easy. We used Grab, tuk-tuks and private tours, depending on what we were doing that day.

For sightseeing, we liked using a private tour, especially with the kids. It meant we didn’t have to arrange transport between different stops and gave us a bit more flexibility during the day.

For shorter trips around Panglao, Grab and tuk-tuks worked well for us. You will need an internet connection to use Grab, though, so having a local SIM or eSIM makes things much easier.

We use Airalo when traveling and have found it a convenient way to stay connected without buying a physical SIM card. You can get 15% off your Airalo eSIM through our link.

Bohol is one of the easier places we’ve visited in the Philippines with a baby or toddler. Staying around Panglao makes things especially convenient, with large supermarkets, plenty of restaurants and easy transportation.

What Makes Bohol Easy with a Baby or Toddler?

• 🍼 Baby supplies: Larger supermarkets stock diapers, formula and other basics. If you need a specific brand, bring it with you.
• 🚕 Getting around: Grab, tuk-tuks and private tours make getting around straightforward.
• 🏖️ Activities: Beaches, pools and shorter outings are easy to combine.
• 🍜 Food: Panglao has plenty of restaurants and food options, although high chairs and kids’ menus are less common.
• 🚤 Boat trips: Choose your operator and boat carefully with very young children.
• 👶 Getting around with a baby: Alona Beach is mostly centered around the sand and beachfront, so a stroller isn’t particularly practical. A baby carrier is a much better option for exploring the area.

Our Experience with Our Toddler

Our younger daughter was three when we visited, and Bohol worked really well for her. She loved having plenty of opportunities to swim, and we never felt like we had to fill every day with activities.

Staying in Panglao made things especially easy. When the kids were tired, we could stay at the pool, order food through Grab and keep the rest of the day simple.

One thing we noticed compared with Thailand with Kids is that the Philippines is generally less geared toward young families. High chairs and kids’ menus, for example, are much less common. We noticed this in other parts of the Philippines too, but it didn’t cause us any problems in Bohol.

For the Philippines, we’d consider Bohol one of the easier destinations to visit with a baby or toddler, especially if you stay around Panglao.

Flying with a baby? Our Flying with a Baby guide covers everything from what to pack to keeping your little one comfortable during the flight.

Traveling with a toddler? Check out our Flying with Toddlers guide for tips on long flights, entertainment and managing the journey with a little one.

Bohol is pretty straightforward with kids, but a few practical things are worth keeping in mind. Here are the things we’d pay attention to when planning a family trip.

Best Time to Visit Bohol with Kids

The dry season runs from December to May, while the rainy season generally runs from June to November. The risk of tropical storms and typhoons is also higher during the wetter months, with the Philippines’ typhoon season peaking from July to October.

For a beach-focused family trip, we’d choose December to April for the best chance of dry weather. We visited in May and still had plenty of sunshine, although one very heavy downpour caught us during our countryside tour.

Health & Safety

The usual tropical travel precautions still apply in Bohol. Mosquito repellent is worth packing, as mosquitoes can spread diseases including dengue in the Philippines.

With kids, we’d also pay attention to sun exposure, hydration and food and water hygiene, especially on hot sightseeing days. For boat trips, choose your operator carefully and make sure children have appropriate safety equipment.

What to Pack for Bohol with Kids

You don’t need anything especially unusual for Bohol, but a few things came in handy for us:

• UV shirts and plenty of sunscreen for long beach and pool days.
• Mosquito repellent, especially for countryside stops.
• Kids’ snorkel gear: We didn’t see much kids’ snorkel gear during our trip, so bringing your own could be useful.
• Water shoes for beaches, boats and island trips.
• A waterproof bag for boat trips and wet swimwear.
• Ear protection for kids if you’re planning boat trips. After our Balicasag experience, we’d definitely consider bringing it.
• Baby carrier: A lightweight carrier is worth packing for beach days, boat trips and other places where a stroller isn’t practical.

For us, Bohol worked really well as a family destination because there is plenty of variety. Our daughters could spend hours swimming, while we could still mix in tarsiers, countryside sights and an island trip.

We also found Bohol easy to travel around with kids, especially while staying in Panglao. There are plenty of restaurants and supermarkets nearby, and you can keep the schedule as relaxed or as active as your family likes.

Would we go back? Probably not right away, simply because we usually prefer discovering somewhere new. But that says more about how we travel than about Bohol itself. If someone asked us to put together a Philippines itinerary, though, Bohol would absolutely be on our list. It offers a great mix of beaches, swimming, nature and sightseeing, without being too complicated with kids.

Continue Planning Your Philippines Family Adventure

• Philippines with Kids
• El Nido with Kids
• Siquijor with Kids
• Boracay with Kids

📥 Looking for printable travel resources? Visit our Family Travel Shop for travel journals, activity books, packing lists and other family travel printables designed to make your adventures a little easier.

The Little Passport Crew