Taking my toddler to Bohol

Any one of us is so insignificant in the world and can be swept away in an instant.

This was my realization as we docked at Tagbilaran port and saw the damage caused by the strong earthquake and the monster typhoon Yolanda. But who could question the behavior of Mother Nature?

I recently took my little one to Bohol for a short holiday, to let the child sample the many activities that the island offered for children.

We wanted to get close to nature, and chose to stay at the Panglao Island Nature Resort and Spa, a 20-minute drive from the Tagbilaran Port. It was nice to be in a place where nature remained largely unaltered and yet get all the modern comforts.

In the resort was a cave, Cambagat Cave, inside which the water would rise up to 12 feet high! Swimming inside the well-lit cave was an absolute thrill, especially for the little children.

The infinity pool was also very inviting, as kids normally love water. The kids who chose to stay dry went for the children’s playground instead. Others preferred the game room and the golf cart rides that went around the 48-hectare resort.

Easy tip: It’s good to choose a hotel/resort with lots of activities for children. A plus at Panglao Island Nature Resort and Spa is that their room rates already includes both breakfast and dinner buffet meals, which makes it very convenient for guests. Moreover, children under 4 years old are free of charge (the same for the Ocean Jet boat trip to and from Tagbilaran).

In Bohol, it’s best to start your day early in the morning as there are quite a lot to do. Fun activities for children include a visit to the sanctuary of the cute tarsiers in Loboc. There are photos of the tiny primates everywhere to delight the children, but who may not realize how tiny the tarsiers really are until they come face to face with the real creatures. (My son Harvey thought that the tarsier was “wearing glasses” because of its big eyes!)

There’s also a small zoo called Xootic, and Prony the snake (the big favorite of visitors). Or, if your child is up for higher thrill, a zip-line and cable car take visitors from one mountain to the other with a view of the Loboc River down below.

 The famous Chocolate Hills may just have to wait until your child is a little older and fit enough to climb the steps all the way to the top of the hill.

Now, delicacies and souvenir shopping is just so much fun for a child, so don’t forget that! A shop called Aproniana’s in Baclayon offers good items at a lesser price.

To finish up our day tour (before going back to the resort for my boy’s afternoon nap), we had a hearty lunch overlooking the ocean at the all-organic Bohol Bee Farm back in Panglao. Their serving for children was extra large, surprisingly bigger than an adult’s meal so that you could share your meal with your little one. (I told the waitress that a big serving would have leftover food put to waste.)

We tried organic ice-cream for dessert. My son chose the Moringa or Malunggay flavor. There were spreads, honey and other souvenirs in the shop for guests to take home with them. My Harvey chose what he wanted to take home with him. I was amazed how a child so young could appreciate the enticing display.

For a safer – and more convenient – way to go around Bohol we rented a car. The hotel facilitated the arrangement for us (which I think they usually do for their guests). Our driver, named Boy, was very friendly and well-mannered, like all Boholanos in general. We had interesting conversations with him along the way, which made our day go very well.

Would I recommend that you take your child to Bohol for a fun and exciting trip? Yes, absolutely!