Bohol Municipalities: Your Complete Guide to All 48 Towns and the Capital City

Picture this: you land in Tagbilaran, and within an hour you’re standing in front of limestone hills that look like giant chocolate drops, an ancient coral-stone church, or a thick tunnel of mahogany trees. Every one of those experiences happens in a different municipality. Bohol has 48 of them — 47 municipalities plus Tagbilaran City — and each one tells a different part of the island’s story.

If you’re planning a trip, understanding the Bohol municipalities helps you see beyond the top-ten highlight reel. You’ll plan smarter, travel more efficiently, and discover places most tourists never find. This guide walks you through every part of the island, grouped by region, so you know exactly what’s where before you arrive.

Explore Bohol with a full-day countryside tour on GetYourGuide →

Bohol at a Glance: One Island, 48 Local Governments

Bohol covers 4,821 km² and sits at the heart of the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. It is the tenth-largest island in the country and is home to some of the most recognizable natural landmarks in Southeast Asia.

The island is divided into 47 municipalities and 1 component city — Tagbilaran City, the provincial capital. Together, they make up the Province of Bohol. Many of Bohol’s most famous attractions are spread across several municipalities at once. The Chocolate Hills, for example, span parts of Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan. The Tarsier Sanctuary sits in Corella. The iconic Man-Made Forest (mahogany tunnel) runs along the border of Bilar and Loboc.

Knowing which municipality you’re visiting helps with transport logistics, accommodation planning, and getting from one attraction to the next without backtracking.

Check our Bohol geography and maps for a visual breakdown of the island’s travel zones, or read our Bohol Travel Guide for the full island overview.

Central Bohol: The Countryside Tour Trail

This is the region most visitors experience on their first day — the classic Bohol countryside tour. The municipalities here form a rough loop through the island’s interior, and they pack in an extraordinary amount in just one day.

Carmen is the primary home of the Chocolate Hills. The famous viewpoint at Carmen overlooks more than 1,268 conical limestone mounds spread across 50 km² of rolling terrain. In the dry season (amihan, November–April), the grass on the hills turns brown, giving them that distinctive chocolate color. In the wet season (habagat, May–October), they go brilliant green — a different kind of beautiful. Read the Chocolate Hills guide for viewpoint details and timing, or compare your Chocolate Hills tour options — private, shared, or DIY — before you book.

Corella is where you’ll find the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, a 134-hectare protected area that is home to one of the world’s smallest primates. The tarsier is Bohol’s most recognizable wildlife symbol. The sanctuary in Corella is run by the Philippine Tarsier Foundation and operates strict no-flash, no-touching rules — which is exactly how it should be. See our full Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella guide for visitor tips and ethical viewing rules.

Bilar is famous for its Man-Made Forest — a 2-kilometer stretch of towering mahogany trees planted along the highway. Walking or driving through it feels surreal, like passing through a dark green cathedral. It’s one of the most photographed spots in all of Bohol. The Bilar Man-Made Forest travel guide covers exactly what to expect and when to visit.

Loboc sits along the river of the same name and is the departure point for the famous Loboc River Cruise. You board a floating restaurant and drift slowly through lush jungle while local performers sing and dance. It’s a tourist experience, yes — but one that most visitors genuinely love. Read the Loboc travel guide for the full picture of the town and its history, or go straight to the Loboc River Cruise guide if you’re ready to plan your cruise day.

Batuan and Sagbayan both have Chocolate Hills within their borders. Sagbayan also has the Sagbayan Peak viewpoint, which is less crowded than Carmen’s and often has better morning light for photography.

Sikatuna is a small town named after the Visayan chieftain Datu Sikatuna, who famously performed the blood compact with Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi in 1565. That moment — arguably the first treaty between a Philippine leader and a European explorer — helped define early Philippine history.

“I never expected to feel this moved on a countryside tour. The Chocolate Hills at sunrise from Sagbayan Peak — I actually teared up a little.”
— Clara M., Sydney ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Browse the Best Bohol countryside tours for booking options, or check 77 Things to Do in Bohol for the full activity landscape.

Western Bohol: The Gateway Region

Most travelers enter Bohol through Tagbilaran City and spread outward from there. The western coastal municipalities form the island’s main gateway and are home to several heritage sites.

Tagbilaran City is the provincial capital and the main entry point. The Tagbilaran Port (ICM Port) receives all fast ferries from Cebu City — a 72-km crossing that takes approximately 2 hours. The city has hotels, banks, hospitals, the main bus terminal, and direct access to tricycles (tuk-tuks) and vans heading island-wide. The Tagbilaran City guide covers the city’s heritage, transport options, and best hotels. For ferry booking details, see the Cebu-Bohol Ferry Guide.

Baclayon is just 6 km east of Tagbilaran and home to the Baclayon Church — one of the oldest coral-stone churches in the Philippines, built by Augustinian Recollect missionaries in the 16th century. The attached museum holds some of the most significant religious artifacts in the Visayas. The Baclayon Bohol travel guide covers the church, the museum, and the coast road in detail.

Maribojoc is where you’ll find the Blood Compact Shrine, a bronze sculpture commemorating the 1565 ceremony between Sikatuna and Legazpi. It’s a quiet, meaningful stop that most countryside tour itineraries include. Read the full Blood Compact Shrine guide for history and visitor tips.

Panglao is the municipality that shares Panglao Island with Dauis. This 91.12 km² island is connected to mainland Bohol by two bridges and is the most popular beach destination in the province. Alona Beach — a 1.5-km stretch of white sand on the island’s southwestern tip — sits within Panglao municipality. This is where you’ll find the island’s dive shops, beach resorts, sunset bars, and the departure point for Balicasag Island snorkeling tours. Read the Panglao Island hub for a full breakdown, or the Alona Beach guide for beach-specific planning.

Dauis shares Panglao Island with Panglao municipality and is home to the Dauis Church — Our Lady of the Assumption — which sits directly on the waterfront. A natural spring flows beneath the church floor, which locals consider miraculous.

Loon sits north of Tagbilaran and has one of the oldest Baroque churches in Bohol, the St. Ferdinand Parish Church — a massive coral-stone structure built in the late 16th century. For a full look at Bohol’s colonial churches, see the Bohol Spanish churches guide.

Cortes and Maribojoc are neighboring municipalities near the Blood Compact Shrine area, often passed through on countryside tour routes heading into the island’s interior.

“We spent a morning just wandering around Baclayon — the old church, the museum, the quiet streets. It felt like stepping back 400 years. Nobody else was there.”
— James T., Toronto ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book a private Bohol countryside tour with pickup from Tagbilaran or Panglao on Viator →

Northern Bohol: Quieter Shores and Local Life

Northern Bohol sees far fewer tourists, but it rewards travelers who make the effort. The towns here face the Bohol Strait and the Camotes Sea, and most of them have a calm, unhurried rhythm that feels far removed from the resorts of Panglao.

Tubigon is the northern port town with ferry connections to Cebu City (a shorter crossing than Tagbilaran — roughly 1.5 to 2 hours). If you’re coming from northern Cebu or want an alternative entry point, Tubigon is worth knowing.

Loon, Calape, and Clarin are coastal municipalities in the northwest with heritage churches and traditional fishing communities. Inabanga is the largest northern town and an important transport junction for travelers heading toward Talibon and Ubay.

Buenavista and Getafe are quieter destinations with local beaches and mangrove areas. Bien Unido is Bohol’s northernmost municipality and includes several smaller islands, making it a potential base for off-the-beaten-path island-hopping.

Talibon and Ubay anchor the northeastern side of Bohol. Ubay has ferry connections to Leyte (Maasin), making it a transit point for travelers heading further into the Visayas.

Danao in the north-central interior has the famous Danao Adventure Park — a thrilling complex set 650 meters above sea level, about 2 to 2.5 hours from Tagbilaran. Activities include the Plunge (a 30-meter abseil into a canyon), ziplining over the gorge, and the Bungee Bohol. For adventurous travelers, it’s one of Bohol’s most underrated full-day excursions. See more Bohol adventure tours for the full range of adrenaline options.

Eastern and Southern Bohol: Hidden Gems Worth the Drive

Eastern and southern Bohol are the island’s best-kept secrets. The roads are longer, the crowds are thinner, and the natural beauty is quieter and more raw than anything you’ll find near Tagbilaran.

Anda is the standout destination on Bohol’s eastern coast. This municipality has stunning white-sand beaches, clear cave pools (the most famous being Anda’s natural cave pool), and very few tourists even during peak season. Anda is roughly 2 to 2.5 hours from Tagbilaran by bus, but it earns every minute of that drive. The Anda Bohol hub has everything you need to plan a trip, and our guide to the top Anda Bohol resorts covers the best places to stay.

Candijay is the gateway to Lamanok Island — a sacred pre-colonial site with cave art and ancient ritual objects. The municipality also borders Anda and has some beautiful coastal stretches.

Guindulman sits where the Chocolate Hills meet the southeastern coast — a dramatic combination of brown-tipped hills tumbling toward the sea. It is also the hometown of the site owner’s father, which makes it a personal favorite.

Jagna is the main port on Bohol’s southern coast. It has ferry connections to Cagayan de Oro and Nasipit on Mindanao, making it an important gateway for travelers combining Bohol with a Mindanao leg. Jagna is also famous for kalamay (kah-lah-MAY) — a sticky rice-based delicacy wrapped in coconut shells that is considered one of Bohol’s most iconic pasalubong (take-home gifts). Read the full Bohol kalamay guide for the history, the makers, and where to buy.

Garcia Hernandez, Duero, Dimiao, Valencia, Lila, and Mabini are quiet southern municipalities with local beaches, rice fields, and traditional barangay (village) life. Sierra Bullones and Alicia sit in the island’s southeastern interior — rolling hills, forests, and the Alicia Panoramic Park viewpoint, where you can see the Chocolate Hills from a different angle and witness Bohol’s famous sea of clouds at sunrise.

Pres. Carlos P. Garcia (also known as Pitogo) and Pilar are on the eastern coast, while San Isidro, Trinidad, San Miguel, Dagohoy, Catigbian, and Sevilla fill in Bohol’s central and northeast interior — farming communities and highland towns that most visitors pass through without stopping, but that give Bohol its authentic rural character.

“We rented a motorbike and drove from Tagbilaran all the way to Anda in a day. The southern roads were mostly empty and absolutely gorgeous. No tour bus, just us and the countryside.”
— Maiko R., Osaka ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Complete List of All 48 Bohol Municipalities and City

For quick reference, here are all the local government units that make up the Province of Bohol, in alphabetical order:

Alburquerque, Alicia, Anda, Antequera, Baclayon, Balilihan, Batuan, Bien Unido, Bilar, Buenavista, Calape, Candijay, Carmen, Catigbian, Clarin, Corella, Cortes, Dagohoy, Danao, Dauis, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia Hernandez, Getafe, Guindulman, Inabanga, Jagna, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Loon, Mabini, Maribojoc, Panglao, Pilar, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Sagbayan, San Isidro, San Miguel, Sevilla, Sierra Bullones, Sikatuna, Talibon, Trinidad, Tubigon, Ubay, Valencia — plus Tagbilaran City, the provincial capital.

See our Bohol Attractions overview for a curated look at the top sites spread across these municipalities, or check the Best Bohol Festivals and Fiestas guide to find out which municipalities host the most memorable annual celebrations.

Practical Tips for Getting Around Bohol’s Municipalities

Getting There

Most travelers arrive at Tagbilaran City by fast ferry from Cebu City (approximately 2 hours, fare from approximately ₱300–₱700 depending on the operator and seat class). There is also Panglao International Airport, which receives direct domestic flights from Manila and Cebu. The Bohol transportation guide covers every arrival option, including ferries, flights, and airport transfers.

Getting Between Municipalities

The Tagbilaran City transport terminal is the hub for all provincial buses and vans. From there, you can reach almost every municipality. Key routes and approximate travel times from Tagbilaran:

• Carmen (Chocolate Hills) — approximately 1 hour by van
• Loboc / Bilar — approximately 45–60 minutes
• Anda — approximately 2 to 2.5 hours
• Jagna — approximately 1.5 hours
• Talibon — approximately 2 hours
• Tubigon — approximately 1 hour

For detailed fare tables and route maps, see the Bohol bus routes guide.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season (amihan) runs from November to April, with peak tourist traffic from December to April. Holy Week is the single busiest period — book accommodation and tours 3–6 months in advance if you plan to visit during this time.

The wet season (habagat, May to October) brings afternoon rains but also lower hotel rates, lush green landscapes, and far fewer crowds. October to November is the sweet spot: the rains are easing, the greenery is gorgeous, and prices haven’t yet reached peak-season levels.

What to Bring

Bring lightweight, breathable clothing and a light rain jacket if you’re visiting during habagat. Comfortable walking shoes matter on heritage site visits. Cash is important in smaller municipalities — ATMs are limited outside Tagbilaran and Panglao.

See the complete Bohol travel guide for packing lists, island-wide logistics, and trip planning resources.

Plan Your Bohol Trip Around These Municipalities

Bohol is a place where you could spend two weeks and still not see everything. But even a five-day trip, with smart planning across the right municipalities, gives you a deeply satisfying experience.

Start in Tagbilaran or Panglao. Take a day to do the central countryside loop through Carmen, Bilar, Corella, and Loboc. Add a day in Anda for the quietest beaches you’ll find anywhere in Bohol. Save one morning for Baclayon, the heritage churches, and the Blood Compact Shrine. Then let yourself get lost on a back road to somewhere you haven’t read about yet — a roadside karinderya (local eatery), a barangay chapel with no tourist signage, a view of the sea framed by coconut palms.

That’s what the Bohol municipalities give you: not just a destination, but 48 reasons to keep exploring.

Browse all Bohol tours on GetYourGuide →

Frequently Asked Questions — Bohol Municipalities

How many municipalities does Bohol have?

Bohol has 47 municipalities and 1 component city — Tagbilaran City — for a total of 48 local government units (LGUs). Tagbilaran City is the provincial capital and the main entry point for travellers arriving by ferry from Cebu City.

What are the most popular municipalities in Bohol for tourists?

The most visited municipalities are Panglao (Alona Beach, beach resorts, diving), Carmen (Chocolate Hills viewpoint), Tagbilaran City (capital, ferry port), Loboc (river cruise), Corella (Tarsier Sanctuary), Bilar (Man-Made Forest mahogany tunnel), and Anda (quiet eastern beaches and natural cave pools).

Which municipality has the Chocolate Hills?

The Chocolate Hills are spread across three municipalities: Carmen (which has the main viewpoint), Batuan, and Sagbayan. Carmen is the most visited, but Sagbayan Peak offers a less crowded alternative viewpoint that is popular with photographers and often has better morning light.

Is Panglao a municipality or an island?

Both. Panglao Island is a geographic island, but it is divided between two municipalities: Panglao municipality (which includes Alona Beach) and Dauis municipality. The island covers 91.12 km² and is connected to mainland Bohol by two road bridges.

Which municipality in Bohol has the tarsier sanctuary?

The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary is located in Corella, approximately 12 km north of Tagbilaran City. It covers 134 hectares of protected forest. The foundation-run sanctuary is the most ethical place to see wild tarsiers — with strict no-flash rules and proper viewing distances that protect the animals.

How do I get between Bohol municipalities without a tour?

From the Tagbilaran City bus terminal, you can take air-conditioned vans or buses to almost all municipalities. Tricycles (tuk-tuks) handle local short-distance routes within towns. For greater flexibility, renting a motorbike or hiring a private driver for a day is the most popular option among independent travellers. Check our transportation guide for current fares and schedules.

Which Bohol municipality is best for quiet beach time?

Anda, on Bohol’s eastern coast, is consistently rated the best option for travellers who want pristine beaches without crowds. The municipality is about 2 to 2.5 hours from Tagbilaran by van. Its beaches are a fraction as busy as Panglao even during peak season. For the full Anda guide, see our Anda Bohol hub.

What is the closest municipality to Tagbilaran City?

Baclayon is just 6 km east of Tagbilaran and home to the historic Baclayon Church — one of the oldest coral-stone churches in the Philippines. It is easily reached by tricycle or short van ride. Many visitors combine Baclayon with the Blood Compact Shrine in nearby Maribojoc on a half-day trip from Tagbilaran.

Does every municipality in Bohol have something worth visiting?

Most municipalities have at least one heritage church, a local festival (fiesta), or a natural feature worth stopping for. For travellers with limited time, focus on the tourist-core municipalities (Carmen, Loboc, Panglao, Tagbilaran, Baclayon). With more time, the northern coast (Tubigon, Loon) and eastern coast (Anda, Jagna) offer rich rewards for the curious traveller interested in authentic Boholano life.

Which municipalities are best for a one-day countryside tour?

The central loop — Carmen (Chocolate Hills), Corella (Tarsier Sanctuary), Bilar (Man-Made Forest), and Loboc (river cruise) — covers Bohol’s most iconic attractions in one day and is manageable from Tagbilaran. For the full experience, add Baclayon in the morning before the countryside loop. See our best Bohol countryside tours guide for booking options.

Which municipalities have ferry connections to other islands?

Tubigon (northern coast) has ferry connections to Cebu City — a shorter crossing than Tagbilaran (roughly 1.5 to 2 hours). Jagna (southern coast) has ferry connections to Cagayan de Oro and Nasipit on Mindanao. Ubay (northeastern coast) has ferry connections to Maasin, Leyte. Tagbilaran remains the main port with the most frequent and reliable schedules.

What is the best time of year to visit Bohol’s municipalities?

The dry season (November–April) gives the best weather and most attractions in full operation. December to April is peak tourist season. The wet season (May–October) brings afternoon rains, lower hotel rates, and lush green landscapes with far fewer crowds. October to November is the sweet spot — rains are easing, greenery is gorgeous, and prices are moderate.

Have more questions about travelling to Bohol? Visit our complete Bohol FAQ for answers to the most common questions travellers ask.

Support our site by booking through our trusted affiliate partners. These links help us keep our content free while ensuring you get the best travel deals!