Chasing Wonders: Bohol’s Well Kept Beauty

Traveling is becoming a popular trend to millennials nowadays. With airline companies offering seat sales every now and then, it opens endless opportunities to those wanderers, occasional travellers and escapists. Oftentimes we look for a destination that is free from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

One of the most attractive tourist destinations in the Philippines is the province of Bohol. It has so much to offer that you will find a hard time in choosing which one to visit. Normally with a limited time, tourists opt the most popular ones, i.e. The Chocolate Hills and the Tarsiers. But let me take you away from the mainstream tourist spots. In the east side of the province can be found some of Bohol’s well-kept gem, away from the tourist crowd but closer to Mother Nature. Located 100 kms away from Tagbilaran City, you will find the town of Anda. It is notable for its long stretch of unspoiled fine white sand beach. For only 10 Pesos you can already enjoy the beach.

”A public beach in Anda.”

Accommodations are also available in the area. The last time I was there, I stayed in an air-conditioned room for two for only 850 Pesos.

”Sunrise at Anda Beach.”

Aside from the beach, I also visited a unique kind of cave or more like, a hole in the ground. There are a lot of cave pools in the area but since I only had a limited time back then, I decided to stopover at the best one.

”A cool cave pool in Anda.”

Cabagnow Cave Pool is located in sitio Fatima. It’s an opening in the ground with around 8 feet drop into bluish clear water. During high tides, the water can be as deep as 25 feet. It is perfect for plunging from the top. Climbing up can only be done with a ladder provided by the locals.

After exploring the town of Anda, I headed 30 kms north to the nearby town of Candijay. It was noon time when I arrived in the town proper and so I took my lunch first before proceeding to my next destination. After eating I hopped on a motorbike to take me to Barangay Cadapdapan. And after 10 kms of rough ride… behold!

“The mesmerizing Cadapdapan Rice Terraces.”

Honestly, I did not expect this as I was only after the waterfall in the area. But damn, this is a view worthy in any travel guide promoting Bohol. It was already past harvest season when I went there thus the gold and green stripes. I asked a local guide about any history of these rice terraces but he had not much knowledge aside from the fact that it already exists more than his lifetime.

“Gold”

Bohol is home to many ricefields and rice terraces and this one in Candijay is definitely the most charming of them all.

The waterfall in my itinerary is not far from this rice terraces. But before going there, you have to pay an entrance fee of 20 pesos. The trail is established so I decided to not get a guide and just follow the trail down. You just need to trek for about 10 minutes. And then there she is.

“She is stunning!”

Apparently, Can-umantad Falls is the tallest and remotest waterfall in the province of Bohol. The source of the cascade is Cadapdapan River. It is also the major irrigation source of all the ricefields in that area. The deepest part of the catch basin is just around 6 feet and the drop of the water is not that massive, just perfect for swimming.

”Finding my spot.”

All these can be done in just 1 day. ☺️