There are different kinds of “amazing”. We get amazed by some cool magic or the colorful fireworks in theme parks. A lot of things inspire awe or wonder. The Loboc River in Bohol, in our book, is simply amazing.

[See Map and Directions to Loboc River Cruise, Bohol]

We see rivers and other bodies of water. Those in the province would say there’s nothing amazing with a river. Old people may see that’s normal — in the past. Still, for the rest of us who practically grew up in the city, and probably even those in the province where pollution had crept in, seeing a pristine, living river is simply amazing.

We’ve previously noted that a tour in Bohol is not complete without a river cruise up along Loboc River. Clean and scenic, the Loboc river winding through a number of towns in Bohol. The cruise includes buffet lunch so there’s no problem about taking your time. It also includes catching a glimpse of children diving in the sparkling waters of Loboc River.

The river is framed by lots of nipa palms and occasional coconut trees. Nipa palms produce vinegar and its leaves is the source of roofing for the nipa hut (that’s why it’s called a nipa hut in the first place).

Loboc is known primarily for its world-famous Children’s Choir and its equally famous river. I’d say this emerald-green river is a shining example of how to balance tourism and ecology. It’s a great case study on how to maintain a pristine environment while generating livelihood for the locals.

[See also Diving at the Loboc River, Bohol and Bohol Trip Itinerary]

The Loboc River cruise is usually integrated with the day tour. The van picks up the guests at the hotel or other places where they are staying in Bohol and whisks them to different tourist destinations in one day.

[See Clear Waters of Panglao Island, Bohol and The Beach of Panglao Island, Bohol]

It’s convenient to have the tour operator through the resorts. That may not be the cheapest because fees may vary from resort to resort. In our case, the whole-day fee is P1,500, which already includes the fee for the Loboc River cruise. So, you see, it’s less expensive to have the whole package, rather than separately paying for the van and the fee for the Loboc River cruise.

[See also Chocolate Hills of Bohol and Man-made forest of Bohol]

The usual starting point for the Loboc river cruise is at the Poblacion of Loboc, near the Loboc church. We started the other starting point down river in the adjacent town of Loay — the Rio Verde Floating Resto, which is under the Loay Bridge. This is a few kilometers nearer to Tagbilaran City, the site of the airport.

The fee includes buffet lunch. Seafood. BBQ. Dessert. Fruits. Delicious and filling.

Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree. This is the last line of a Joyce Kilmer poem. Here in Bohol, people not only make a tree, they grow an entire man-made forest. Located at the border of the Bilar and Loboc towns in Bohol, the man-made forest is a 2-kilometer stretch of purposely-planted mahogany trees, in the middle of which the road leading to the Chocolate Hills cuts through. Read the rest of this entry »