Welcome to Bohol

the Philippines’ first UNESCO Global Geopark

UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK. 150 MILLION YEARS IN THE MAKING.

An island that earned its place on the world map

In 2023, Bohol became the Philippines' first UNESCO Global Geopark. The recognition was 150 million years in the making. The island's geological identity was shaped by tectonic forces that raised it from the ocean floor, leaving behind over 1,260 cone-shaped limestone hills, ancient cave systems, one of only six double-barrier reefs on Earth, and some of the oldest rock formations in the country.


Three sites sit on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list: the Chocolate Hills, the 18th-century Loboc Church (restored after the 2013 earthquake and reopened in 2021), and the ancient Anda Peninsula petrographs. Bohol is also home to the Philippine tarsier, one of the world's smallest primates, protected in a dedicated conservation area in the forests of Loboc and Corella.


In 2025, the island's traditional asin tibuok salt-making was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Pure Shores Villa sits on the southeast coast, inside the Geopark boundary.



Download Things to Do in Bohol
  • Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines, featuring numerous rounded, green hills under a bright blue sky.

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    1,260 Hills. Zero Explanation

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Over 1,260 grass-covered limestone hills spread across 50 square kilometres. During dry season, the grass turns chocolate brown. Nobody knows exactly how they formed. The viewing deck in Carmen gives you the full panorama. ATV rides take you through the foothills. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list and one of the most photographed landscapes in Southeast Asia.

  • Scuba diver exploring underwater coral reefs near Bohol Philippines a popular activity for guests at Pure Shores Villa

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    The Coral Triangle Starts Here

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Bohol sits inside the Coral Triangle. Visibility reaches 20 to 30 metres on a good day. The Anda peninsula has some of the healthiest fringing reefs in the country. Nearby, the Danajon Bank is one of only six double barrier reefs on Earth. Whether you snorkel from shore or dive deep, the marine life here is the real thing.

  • River winding through lush green trees with a small boat in the water.

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    Trails Most Travelers Never Find

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Mountain biking through mahogany forests. Hiking to Candijay rice terraces and Can-umantad Falls. Stand-up paddleboarding on the Loboc River. Cave exploration in Anda. ATV rides across the Chocolate Hills. Ziplining above the Loboc River valley. Bohol has more outdoor terrain than most islands twice its size. Our villa team can arrange any of it.

  • Exterior view of an aged, stone church with a cross on top, blue sky backdrop.

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    16th-Century Stone. Still Standing

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Bohol's coral stone churches date back to the 16th century. The Loboc Church, damaged in the 2013 earthquake, was fully restored and reopened in 2021. The Baclayon Church is one of the oldest in the Philippines. In Tagbilaran City, the Blood Compact Site marks the first recorded friendship treaty between Asia and Europe. The Bohol National Museum and heritage homes across the island tell the rest of the story.

  • A tarsier clinging to a tree branch, large brown eyes, reddish-brown fur, blurred green background.

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    The World's Smallest Primate Lives Next Door

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The Philippine tarsier is one of the world's smallest primates. No bigger than a human fist. Enormous eyes. Completely nocturnal. The Tarsier Conservation Area in the forests between Loboc, Corella, and Bilar protects them in their natural habitat. Guides walk you quietly through the trees to spot them perched on branches. It is a genuine wildlife encounter, not a tourist photo op.

  • White sand beach with boats in the turquoise water under a bright blue sky. Green tree branches in the foreground.

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    Powder Sand. No Crowds

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The powder-white sand beaches of the Anda peninsula and Panglao Island are among the finest in the Philippines. Most visitors never find them. Quinale Beach in Anda is nearly empty on weekdays. The offshore islands and hidden coves along the southeast coast are even quieter. Pure Shores Villa sits on this stretch. The sand, the water, the privacy are all within reach.

Bohol guides and resources