We visited Oslob in late 2018 and decided to adventure to Bohol afterwards as we thought it was a logical option given the proximity of the two. However little did we know how difficult it was planning to get from Oslob to Bohol. A lot of online forums and websites will explain that to travel from Oslob to Bohol you will need to travel back to Cebu City and catch the ferry or alternatively take the ferry from Argao. Both journeys taking at minimum 4.5 hours. Our guide from Explore Oslob Tours told us however of a new boat (banca) company that commenced operation in late 2018 and can take you directly from Oslob to Bohol.
Oslob to Bohol Boat Company
We were taken to the departure point the day before so that we could book our tickets. But there is now an online booking system which you can find here. The cost for a one way ticket from Oslob to Bohol is Php 906 (USD 17) and the cost for a return ticket is Php 1110 (USD 23).
If you prefer to book in person, the place you have to go to is ‘Poblacion Cemetery’. Below the map indicates where the Cemetery is in comparison to Oslob centre.
On the Day – The Boat Ride
We were told to meet at Poblacion Cemetery at 11.30am for a 12pm departure time. This allows time to get luggage on board and organise ticketing. On the day we were there we had to take a separate boat to the main boat as the tide was too low to bring the boat into shore. So its important to arrive on time.
The journey from Oslob to Bohol is 1 hour. There is food and drink available on board the boat.
Arriving to Bohol
The boat arrives to Bohol around the corner from Alona Bay. Because it is too shallow to come into shore, a separate wooden boat will come out to collect everyone on board and to take the luggage to shore. Private cars or tricycles will be waiting to transfer you to a location on Bohol. This comes at an additional cost to the boat service.
Summary
Our overall journey from Oslob to Bohol was approximately 1.5 hours in comparison to the expected 4.5 hours which we anticipated we had to do. Therefore from a time perspective the direct boat service is amazing! So not only that but the company is family run and very well organised.
Also, if you are looking for more activities to do while in Oslob, check out the following:
- Kawasan Falls Tour: The Ultimate Guide
- Guide to Snorkelling with Whale Sharks in Cebu
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