Why The Bellevue Bohol should be your next holiday destination

Giant clams, bottlenose dolphins, and a powdery sand-fringed private beach, are a barefoot stroll away from your room at The Bellevue Bohol

The resort's milky white beach faces a marine sanctuary

The 155-room luxury The Bellevue Resort in Bohol, Philippines, faces its own private beach, looking out to turquoise clear waters of the Cebu Strait, and on its left, the Bohol Sea, fringed by powdery cream sand. From the shore, you could walk several yards before finding the perfect water depth to plunge in for a gentle swim or to just luxuriate in the waters, or if you’re feeling up to it, a snorkel or dive. The area is a temple for free divers. Right on its doorstep is Bohol’s Panglao Reef, and the resort’s marine sanctuary, home to giant clams and a variety of marine life. You also have a fairly good chance of spotting bottle nose dolphins in the resort’s waters. The shallow waters close to shore and smooth sand are great for young families with kids in tow. The shoreline is about 540 meters and the waters are generally calm, protected by surrounding islands. To the east, you have Cebu Island. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Kanlaon in Negros. And you have Siquijor Island to the south.

Crystal kayak rowing is a perfect way to spot marine life right in front of the resort

WHAT'S ON YOUR DOORSTEP

Some 12 minutes from The Bellevue Resort is the Napaling Reef, site of the famous sardine run. Best time to go is during Bohol’s summer, from March to July, to see this amazing wall of fish. For sea turtles, go to Balicasag Island . The resort can organise both sea tours and countryside tours.

Some of the best diving in the country could be had a few meters from the resort’s beach as well as Napaling Reef, just 12 minutes away

Countryside tours cover Bohol’s old churches, a visit to see tarsiers (a cross between lemurs and monkeys, growing from 3.4-6 inches), and the Chocolate Hills, the centre of the UNESCO Global Geopark , among others. The smooth, conical Chocolate Hills are magnificent to behold, the result of thousands of years of erosion of the limestone on what was once layers of coral reefs traced back 2-5 million years ago.

Bohol was recently added to the list of six UNESCO geoparks in the world. Part of the Geopark, Bohol’s Danajon Double Barrier Reef along the province’s northern coast is one of just six double barrier reefs on earth, offering visitors the chance of seeing 6,000 years of coral growth.

ESSENTIALS

Visit The Bellevue Resort, Barangay Doljo, Panglao Island, Bohol, 6340 Philippines, tel +63 38 422 2222, mobile +63 927 877 4952, email info@thebellevuebohol.com

Visit www.thebellevuebohol.com, on Facebook and on Instagram

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