Booking choice: The countryside tour from Cebu, from $145 per person. Check dates Tour details
Many travellers base themselves in Cebu City or on Mactan and still want the Chocolate Hills and the tarsiers. That is very doable. Fast ferries cross to Tagbilaran in about two hours, and a few day tours bundle the ferry tickets, the van, the fees and the Loboc River lunch into one booking.
This guide covers the ferry, the cost, how the day from Cebu runs hour by hour, the shared and private tours, whether to stay a night, and how to add island hopping as a second day.
The quick answer
Take the fast ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran, about two hours each way, or book a day tour that handles it: pickup from about 5:00 on Mactan or 6:00 in Cebu City, about 14 hours door to door. With two days, stay a night on Panglao and add dolphins and Balicasag.
How do you get from Cebu to Bohol?
By fast ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran, about two hours. Some tours use the Cebu to Tubigon crossing on Bohol's northwest coast instead.
OceanJet and SuperCat run fast ferries on the Cebu to Tagbilaran route, and slower car ferries also cross. Tagbilaran port is in the capital, a short drive from Panglao and the start of the countryside loop.
The private tour from Cebu uses the express ferry between Cebu and Tubigon, about two hours per the listing, and picks you up from seven areas, including Cebu City, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Maribago and Cordova.
The cabins can run cold. Ronak's tip after the private tour: "Ferry was easy and comfortable. Take a hoody for the air conditioning." (Dec 2025)
How much is the ferry from Cebu to Bohol in 2026?
Roughly ₱800 to 1,560 one way by seat class on the fast ferry, plus any fuel surcharge. Schedules and fares change, so check the operator's advisory before you travel.
Fare guides put the OceanJet crossing at roughly ₱800 to 1,560 depending on the seat class, plus a fuel surcharge at times. OceanJet also adjusted several Cebu and Tagbilaran sailings in August and September 2026 through advisories on its official page, so a schedule you saw last month may have moved.
The day tours take that off your hands. On the countryside tour from Cebu the round-trip ferry tickets are included and sent ahead as e-tickets; on the private tour the staff arrange the ferry times with you before the day, per the listings.
| Route | Crossing | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| Cebu City to Tagbilaran | About 2 hours by fast ferry | Independent travellers; the shared tour from Cebu |
| Cebu to Tubigon | About 2 hours per the listing | The private tour from Cebu |
The ferry, a licensed guide, the fees and the Loboc River lunch in one booking from your Cebu hotel.
Check dates for the countryside tour from CebuCan you do the Bohol countryside tour as a day trip from Cebu?
Yes. Plan on about 14 hours: an early hotel pickup, the morning ferry, the countryside loop with lunch on the Loboc, and the afternoon ferry back.
The shared tour from Cebu publishes its morning in detail. Pickup starts at 5:00 on Mactan and 6:00 in Cebu City, the guide meets you at Tagbilaran port with a sign, and the loop runs through the afternoon before the ferry home.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 5:00 to 6:00 | Hotel pickup on Mactan, then Cebu City |
| 7:00 | Fast ferry leaves Cebu City |
| 9:00 | Arrive at Tagbilaran port, meet your guide and driver |
| 10:00 | Blood Compact (Sandugo) shrine |
| 11:00 | Baclayon Church |
| 11:30 | Tarsier stop |
| 12:00 | Loboc River cruise with the buffet lunch |
| Afternoon | Bilar man-made forest and the Chocolate Hills, then the ferry back |
It is a long day, and the people who loved it say so. Gladys: "Long day but you see a lot of Bohol's highlights. Transportation was good and efficient." (Sep 2026). Sleep in the van between stops; the drives are where you recover.
Which Bohol day tour from Cebu should you book?
The shared tour for a guide and the best price per person; the private tour if you want your own van and your own pace.
Both include the ferry, the Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers, the man-made forest and lunch on the Loboc. The difference is the group and the guiding.
| Shared, from Cebu City | Private, from Cebu | |
|---|---|---|
| From | $145 | $160 |
| Rating | 4.5 out of 5 from 598 reviews | 4.4 out of 5 from 41 reviews |
| Length | 14 hours | 10 hours |
| Ferry | Round trip to Tagbilaran, included | Round trip Cebu to Tubigon, included |
| Guide | Department of Tourism licensed guide | Drivers, no separate tour guide |
| Fees and lunch | Included | Included; ATV ride an extra ₱1,400 on site per the listing |
Guests on the shared tour like how the hand-offs work. Julia: "in Bohol the guide and driver were already waiting for us at the port holding up a sign with our names, so it was easy to find them." (May 2026). On the private one, Andrea noticed the pace: "Since it was a private tour, we were able to take our time [...]" (Feb 2025).
Your own group from hotel to hotel, with the ferry, the entrance fees and the Loboc lunch paid.
Explore the private tour from Cebu Tour detailsIs it better to stay overnight in Bohol than to do a day trip from Cebu?
If you have two days, yes. A night on Panglao turns a 14-hour day into a 7-hour tour, and the next morning is free for the sea.
From a Panglao hotel, countryside tours run 6 to 10 hours with pickup around 7:30 to 8:00, and the Chocolate Hills are about 1.5 hours away by road. You skip two ferry crossings and the 5:00 alarm.
- Day trip: best if your bags stay in Cebu and you have one free day. Book the tour with the ferry included.
- Overnight: take the ferry on your own, check in on Panglao, and join the countryside tour from Panglao, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 1,255 reviews.
Our best time to visit guide covers how many days to plan and where to stay.
Can I go island hopping in Bohol?
Yes. The classic trip leaves Panglao at sunrise for wild dolphins, snorkelling with sea turtles at Balicasag and a stop on the Virgin Island sandbar, back before lunch.
The dolphin watching and Balicasag trip meets at 6:00 on the beach of Bohol South Beach Hotel on Danao Beach, or picks you up from 5:30 in Panglao, and returns around 11:30 depending on the sea, per the listing. Snorkel gear and a life jacket are included; the ₱500 environmental fee is paid on the day, and children under 3 cannot join.
- Dolphins. The provincial tourism office describes dolphin trips toward Pamilacan, about 45 minutes by boat, starting around 5:30. Sightings are wild, so they vary. Good operators keep their distance and do not chase the pods, as the national cetacean-watching guidelines ask.
- Balicasag. A marine protected area off Panglao, known for its reef and turtles. There is no dock, so expect to step into shallow water.
- Virgin Island. The sandbar reopened in early February 2026 under new rules: no vendor stalls, one entry point and limits on boats and visitors.
Becca's morning: "We were lucky enough to see dolphins, and the snorkelling with sea turtles at Balicasag was amazing." (Oct 2026)
Dolphins at sunrise, turtles at Balicasag and the Virgin Island sandbar, with snorkel gear and an in-water coordinator.
Explore dolphin watching and Balicasag island hopping Tour detailsWhat is a good 2-day Bohol plan from Cebu?
Day 1: morning ferry and the countryside tour, night on Panglao. Day 2: island hopping at sunrise, lunch on the beach, afternoon ferry back to Cebu.
This is the plan we would pick for a first visit. It fits the main countryside stops and the sea in two days and keeps the early starts to one morning each.
| When | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1, morning | Fast ferry Cebu City to Tagbilaran; drop bags in Panglao or join a tour with Tagbilaran pickup |
| Day 1, daytime | Small-group countryside tour, or the guided hills and tarsiers tour |
| Day 1, evening | Alona Beach for dinner |
| Day 2, 6:00 to 11:30 | Dolphins, Balicasag and Virgin Island |
| Day 2, afternoon | Ferry from Tagbilaran back to Cebu |
A note on whale sharks: watching them in Bohol has been suspended since February 2025, and the province set new interaction rules in 2026 with a reopening planned. Until a date is confirmed, keep it out of the plan.
The countryside tours with Tagbilaran pickup or meeting points make Day 1 easy: the guided tour meets at Mario's Cafe in Tagbilaran, and the small-group day picks up in Tagbilaran or Panglao.
What should you bring on a day trip from Cebu to Bohol?
A valid ID (a digital copy works), pesos in small notes, a warm layer for the ferry, sun protection and a power bank.
- ID: the shared tour asks for a copy of a valid ID for the ferry, and a digital copy is accepted, per the listing.
- Phone and WhatsApp: the shared tour sends the ferry e-tickets by WhatsApp, and the private tour sets the ferry times with you before the day.
- Cash: for snacks, pasalubong and optional extras such as the ATV ride.
- A hoodie or light jacket: for the ferry's air conditioning.
- Hat, sunscreen, water and comfortable shoes: for about 214 steps at the Chocolate Hills.
- Clothes for church: shoulders and knees covered for Baclayon Church.
- A power bank: the private tour asks for one; it is a long day of photos.
Pork snacks are the one thing to check before you pack, since rules on pork products between Bohol and Cebu change with swine fever; our Loboc River guide explains why.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry from Cebu to Bohol?
About two hours by fast ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran. The Cebu to Tubigon express crossing used by some tours takes about two hours as well, per the listing.
Can you visit Bohol in a day from Cebu?
Yes. Day tours from Cebu run about 14 hours, with hotel pickup from about 5:00 on Mactan or 6:00 in Cebu City, the ferry both ways, the countryside stops and lunch on the Loboc River.
Is the ferry included in Bohol tours from Cebu?
On the two tours from Cebu on this site, yes: the round-trip ferry tickets, the entrance fees and the Loboc River lunch are included.
Can I go island hopping in Bohol?
Yes. Morning trips from Panglao look for wild dolphins, snorkel with sea turtles at Balicasag and stop at the Virgin Island sandbar, back around 11:30.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Bohol Countryside Tour from Cebu with Loboc Lunch
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cebu City
- Round-trip ferry tickets
- Lunch on the Loboc River cruise
Private Bohol Countryside Tour from Cebu
Staying in Cebu and want the day to yourselves
Dolphin Watching & Balicasag Island Hopping
Dolphins at sunrise, turtles at Balicasag
