TRAVEL IN THE ANDA AND CANDIJAY BOHOL

Road Trip to Candijay, Bohol 

Bohol is one of the most visited islands in the Philippines. With its divine diving spots, beautiful natural sceneries and lovely people, there’s something to do for everyone. The most popular tour that you get in Bohol is the Countryside Tour – a 7 hour trip to the top spots in the island. It is nothing short of exciting and beautiful sceneries, but that’s a different story. This time, my friends and I strayed from the usual day trip road and decided to pack up for the highest and one of the ten known waterfalls in the province of Bohol, and it was a fun-filled journey to Canawa Spring and Can-umantad Waterfalls.

We planned a two day-one night getaway to Canawa Spring and Can-umantad Falls in Candijay and La Manoc Island in Anda. Located at about 97 kilometers from Tagbilaran City with approximately two hours travel time passing by nine towns, we started out early on our journey. We could stop at each town we pass by and we could find a waterfall or spring, a fine beach or an old church but that won’t get us in time to our destination, so we only made one special stop out of whim-Dimiao.

DIMIAO, BOHOL

The Ermita (Spanish for hermitage) Ruins are the ruins of a coralline limestone structure built during 1800 to 1815 Spanish Regime. It is located parallel to the 19th Century old St. Nicholas Tolentino Church. The honeycomb-like sepulchres make up the wall of the chapel. It was allegedly used as military fortress, a chapel or burial site of the members of the Spanish clergy. No extensive data are known of its history but the National Museum excavation team were quite surprised that no graves were found in the tombs.

It was also a lucky day for us when we heard wonderful local music in a small building beside the ruins. We decided to take a look and were able to share a few moments with the Dimiao Children’s Rondalla, a strong connection to Bohol’s culture and heritage during their practice. We met their inspiring mentor, Zosima Acuram. A teacher who has devoted her time on teaching music to the kids and on a mission to change the lives of other people. Seeing the children play traditional music energized us for the rest of the hours.

HOW TO GET TO CANDIJAY, BOHOL

From Tagbilaran City

Once you arrive at Tagbilaran City Sea Port or Tagbilaran City airport, you can hire a tricycle to take you to Dao Terminal. From Dao Terminal ride a Bus or Van bound for Ubay and ask the Bus conductor to drop you off at the crossing Lungsod-Daan. The travel time is around 1-2 hours and the fare is less than PHP 100.00.

From Tubigon

Apart from fare is cheaper from Cebu to Tubigon, travel time is only more than an hour via Fast Cat or other Fast Craft bound for Tubigon. From Tubigon, ride a Bus bound for Carmen, travel time is less than an hour. From Carmen, ride a bus bound for Ubay, and ask the Bus conductor to drop you off at the crossing Lungsod-Daan. The travel time is less than an hour and the fare is less than PHP 150.00.

From Ubay, Bohol

Coming from Cebu City, you can take J&N Roro bound for Ubay, Bohol. Remark that, buying the boat ticket is only open from 3:00 PM onwards at the Marine Bldg. Pier 1. J&N RoRo will depart by 9:30 PM from Cebu City, Pier 1 and will arrive in Ubay, Bohol by 2:00 AM. From Ubay Bohol, ride a Bus bound for Candijay, and ask the Bus conductor to drop you off at the crossing Lungsod-Daan. The travel time is less than an hour.

GOING AROUND CANDIJAY, BOHOL

The best way to get around Candijay is by habal-habal (motorbike). I highly recommend Kuya Edwin Balahay, as your Habal-Habal Driver, he will take you to Cadapdapan Rice Terraces, Can-umantad Falls and Canawa. Kindly contact him at +63 912 405 9855. Cold Spring.

CANDIJAY, BOHOL SAMPLE ITINERARY

Candijay, Bohol can actually be explored in a day just like what I did. But if you like to stay here overnight, you can do so. Here’s a sample day tour Candijay Bohol itinerary, you can opt to extend your trip and be sure to visit the beautiful town of Anda, Bohol as well.

05:00 AM Cebu to Tagbilaran Fast Craft
07:00 AM ETA Tagbilaran City Port, Bohol
07:30 AM Depart for Dao Terminal via tricycle
08:00 AM Depart for Candijay via Bus/Van
10:30 AM ETA Candijay, Bohol
11:00 AM Early Lunch near Lungsod Daan Public Market
11:30 AM Hire Habal-Habal Driver to visit Cadapdapan Rice Terraces, Can-umantad Falls and Canawa Cold Spring.
03:30 PM Depart for Lungsod Daan Public Market and take a Van/Bus bound for Tagbilaran or you can opt to visit Anda, Bohol, which is just less an hour of travel from Candijay, Bohol.

CANDIJAY, BOHOL POSSIBLE EXPENSES

• Cebu – Tagbilaran, Bohol – PHP 500.00 via (Ocean Jet. Cebu to Tubigon- PHP 250.00)
• Cebu Terminal Fee – PHP 25.00
• Tagbilaran – Candijay, Bohol – PHP 130.00
• Habal-Habal Rental – PHP 300.00 (This is good for two, but if you’re traveling solo,
• then you get to pay the whole motorbike rental)
• Cadapdapan Rice Terraces Entrance Fee – PHP 20.00
• Canawa Cold Spring Entrance Fee – PHP 20.00
• Food (Lunch, Snacks & Water) – PHP 150.00

TOTAL EXPENSES – PHP 1,045.00

Road Trip to ANDA, BOHOL

The town of Anda is known to be the 5th class municipality in the Province of Bohol, Philippines. It boasts to own a powdery white sand beach with crystal clear waters and caverns with stunning and inviting cave pools. Perhaps, the natural pools hidden in the numerous caves are the true jewel of this town.

Moreover, this town might not own a hundred of tourist attractions like any other town in the Philippines. But, a visit to this town for a day or two is certainly worth it. You just have to enjoy all what it has to offer and embrace the province vibes while seeing all the natural attractions.

TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, IN ANDA, BOHOL 

Quinale Beach

Anda’s Quinale Beach has been fanning its name for owning a long stretch of white sand with turquoise waters, and a sandy bed. Most people consider this beach as the finest you could find in Bohol and perhaps in the country, matching that of the famous Boracay and other finest white beach in the Philippines. Moreover, this beach also provides a great place to enjoy the stunning sunrise. And to my surprise, Quinale beach is actually only a stone’s throw away from Anda’s Municipal Hall. It can be seen just across the wide open space in front of the heritage church. The primary public beach stretches about two kilometers, and another two kilometers in the west, which is very secluded. As we amble around, we found out a statue of a World War II soldier, which serves as a landmark, and a reminder of the American landing in this town during the war.

 Cabagnow Cave Pool

Cabagnow Cave Pool or locally known as Kabagno Cave Pool is blessed to own a refreshing crystal-clear waters that have been slowly filtering through the limestone and forming the Pond’s features over thousands of years. It is situated in the southeast part of Bohol, where Anda is located, which is mostly formed of limestone. And because of the innate nature of the rock, which is soft. The consistent movement of water and other geologic activities, this has led to the formations of caves, not merely in the municipality of Anda, but in many parts of Bohol. Getting here is very easy, from the Public Market, just take a Motorela or locally known as Rela. Travel time is just around 20 minutes. At the jump off area, one must have to hike for around 10 minutes to get to the Cabagnow Cave Pool. 

 Combento Cave Pool

The Combento Cave Pool doesn’t have spacious pool, but when you drench your body in its water, you’ll surely love it. If the Cabagnow Cave Pool was deep enough to swim, Combento Cave Pool is not that deep, it’s like 4 to 5 feet deep, which is scarcely enough to soak your body. When I get inside, I felt like I was owning a private natural pool, it was serene, and perfect for the kind of adventure I always love to experience. It was a bit dark inside, and the only light that provides the whole cave pool is the natural light that passes through the entrance of Combento Cave Pool. While I was inside the cave pool, I’ve seen several stalactite that looks like an icicle shaped formation, which hangs from the ceiling of a cave. No wonder, this cave was named after the beautiful stalactites, which freely flows from the ceiling like a chandelier in the church, and over time, the place referred to “Kumbento” or “Convent”.

HOW TO GET TO ANDA, BOHOL

By Plane

From Manila and other part of the Philippines.

There are daily flights to Tagbilaran City – the capital of Bohol, from Manila, Davao and other part of the Philippines with Major Airlines (Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Asia). From Tagbilaran Airport, ride a tricycle to take you to Dao Terminal. At the Terminal, catch a Bus (Fare is PHP 100), or take a Van (Fare is PHP 120), bound for Anda. The travel time is two to three hours.

By Fast Craft or Ferry Boat

From Cebu

Perhaps, since Bohol is very closed to Cebu, getting to Bohol from Cebu is very convenient. There are a few fast crafts that travel from Cebu to Bohol such as; Supercat and Ocean Jet Fast Craft. Around 8:15 AM is the first trip of Supercat from Cebu City to Tagbilaran City and the last trip is 6:00 PM. And for the Ocean Jet, the first trip is 05:10 AM, and the last trip is around 6:40 PM. Travel time from Cebu City to Tagbilaran City is around Two hours. Moreover, other shipping companies like – Cokaliong, Lite Shipping, Trans-Asia Shipping and F.J. Palacio Lines have regular ferry or RoRo departures with varying frequencies daily or weekly, travel time for a slow ferry will take four hours. From Tagbilaran Port, ride a tricycle to take you to Dao Terminal. At the Terminal, catch a Bus (Fare is PHP 100), or take a Van (Fare is PHP 120), bound for Anda. The travel time is two to three hours.

From Tubigon

Apart from fare is cheaper from Cebu to Tubigon, travel time is only more than an hour via Fast Cat, Star Craft and Weesam Express bound for Tubigon. From Tubigon, ride a Bus bound for Guindulman. The travel time is less than 3 hours. The fare is less than PHP 200.00. From Guindulman, take a Bus/Van bound for Anda, Bohol, travel time is approximately 30 minutes and the fare is around PHP 30.00.

From Larena, Siquijor

Yes, it is very possible to get to Anda, Bohol from Siquijor, especially if you’re backpacking around the neighboring Islands in the Central Visayas. The Lite Shipping Corporation has multiple departures weekly from Larena, Siquijor to Tagbilaran City. The travel time is around 4 hours. From Tagbilaran Port, ride a tricycle to take you to Dao Terminal. At the Terminal, catch a Bus (Fare is PHP 100), or take a Van (Fare is PHP 120), bound for Anda. The travel time is two to three hours.

GOING AROUND ANDA, BOHOL

Tricycle or known as Motorela or Rela and habal-habal (motorbike) – are the primary mode of transport around Anda. And the minimum fare is PHP 8.00. I suggest if you would stay longer in Anda, Bohol, just rent a motorbike so you can stroll around Anda. And If you’re traveling with friends, renting a Tricycle would be great so you can see the nearby spots like Cabagnow Cave Pool, Combento Cave Pool and the Kaligoon, Cave Pool.

ANDA, BOHOL POSSIBLE EXPENSES

• Cebu to Tagbilaran Via SuperCat (Back & Forth) – Php 1,000.00
• Cebu Terminal Fee – Php 25.00
• Tagbilaran Port to Dao Terminal (Back & Forth)- Php 40.00
• Dao Terminal to Anda, Bohol (Back & Forth) – Php 240.00
• Accommodation (Kims Garden Inn) – Php 499.00
• Cabagnow Cave & Combento Cave Tricycle (480÷4 people – Php 120.00
• Cabagnow Cave pool Entrance – Php 50.00
• Combento Cave pool Entrance – Php 20.00
• Food & other things you need for 2 days (Estimated budget) – Php 1,000.00

Total – Php 2,994.00
Note: All Prices are subject to change without prior notice.