What is Bohol's main geographic feature?

Bohol is an island province comprising a main island and 75 surrounding minor islands in the Central Visayas region. The main island covers 4,821 km² with a 261 km coastline, making it the tenth largest island in the Philippines. The province's multiple islands provide diverse geographic and coastal characteristics.

What is the capital of Bohol?

Tagbilaran is the capital and largest city of Bohol province. It serves as the primary economic, administrative, and cultural center, hosting the main port and airport facilities. Most travelers use Tagbilaran as their entry point and accommodation base.

How many islands does Bohol province include?

Bohol province consists of 76 islands total: the main Bohol island plus 75 minor surrounding islands. These islands are distributed across the Bohol Strait and Cebu Strait, with varying sizes and accessibility levels.

What is the population of Bohol?

Bohol has a population of approximately 3.4 million people. The majority identify as Boholano. The population is distributed across the main island and several municipalities, with Tagbilaran serving as the largest urban center.

Which region of the Philippines is Bohol located in?

Bohol is located in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. This region comprises multiple provinces and represents a major economic and tourism area within the Philippine archipelago, with established maritime connections to neighboring islands.

How is Bohol accessible from other parts of the Philippines?

Bohol is accessible via air and sea. Tagbilaran City Airport offers domestic flights connecting to Manila and Cebu. Passenger ferries operate between Tagbilaran and neighboring islands including Cebu and Mindanao, with journey times varying by departure point.

Bohol Province: Island Destination in Central Visayas

Bohol is an island province in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, located at approximately 9.83°N, 124.17°E. The province consists of the main Bohol island and 75 minor surrounding islands, making it the tenth largest island in the Philippines. With a land area of 4,821 km² (1,861 sq mi) and a coastline extending 261 km (162 mi), Bohol is home to approximately 3.4 million residents, primarily Boholano people. The capital and largest city is Tagbilaran. The province's strategic location in the Central Visayas positions it as a major regional hub, accessible via sea and air transportation routes connecting it to other Visayan islands and Mindanao.

Updated 2026-05-04 · Source: GeoNames, Wikipedia

Image: Wikimedia Commons contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikipedia

Population: 3.4M
Best months: Jan–Mar, Nov–Dec
Local currency: PHP

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Timezone

Asia/Manila

Bohol Province: Island Destination in Central Visayas: 9.833, 124.167Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

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Quick facts

Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines with a land area of 4,821 square kilometers.
The province comprises the main Bohol island and 75 surrounding minor islands in the Central Visayas.
Bohol's coastline extends 261 kilometers in length.
The provincial population is approximately 3.4 million residents.
Tagbilaran serves as the provincial capital and largest city of Bohol.
Bohol is located in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines.
The Boholano people are the primary ethnic group inhabiting the province.
Bohol is positioned at approximately 9.83 degrees north latitude and 124.17 degrees east longitude.
The province operates under the Asia/Manila timezone.
Bohol's strategic location facilitates maritime trade and transportation across the Central Visayas region.

Geography and Island Composition

Bohol comprises the main island of Bohol and 75 surrounding minor islands scattered across the Bohol Strait and Cebu Strait. The island is characterized by diverse terrain ranging from coastal lowlands to inland elevations. The province's 261 km coastline provides access to multiple bays and harbors, with Tagbilaran serving as the primary port city. The archipelago's strategic position within the Central Visayas region facilitates inter-island connectivity and trade. The surrounding 75 islands vary in size and accessibility, with some serving as tourist destinations while others remain largely undeveloped.

Land area: 4,821 km²
Coastline length: 261 km
Total islands: 76 (1 main + 75 minor)
Island rank in Philippines: 10th largest

Population and Capital City

Bohol has a population of approximately 3.4 million people, with the majority identifying as Boholano. Tagbilaran, the provincial capital and largest city, serves as the administrative, economic, and cultural center of the province. The city functions as the main gateway for travelers entering the province and hosts the principal port facilities. Beyond Tagbilaran, the province contains several municipalities distributed across the main island, each with distinct local characteristics and economic activities.

Total population: 3,400,522
Capital city: Tagbilaran
Ethnic group: Boholano

Best Areas to Stay

Tagbilaran serves as the primary accommodation hub due to its status as the capital and main entry point. The city offers the widest range of lodging options from budget to upscale establishments, alongside restaurants and services. Coastal municipalities along the Bohol Strait provide alternative bases for beach-focused travel, offering proximity to water activities and island-hopping tours. Different areas cater to varying travel styles: urban travelers prefer Tagbilaran, while those seeking beach experiences gravitate toward coastal towns accessible via short day trips or longer stays.

Getting There and Transportation

Bohol is accessible via multiple transportation routes. Tagbilaran City Airport serves as the main aviation hub, connecting the province to major cities like Manila and Cebu via domestic flights. Sea transportation remains significant, with passenger and cargo ferries operating between Tagbilaran and neighboring islands including Cebu and Mindanao. The journey by sea from major ports typically spans several hours depending on the departure point. Ground transportation within the province relies on local buses, tricycles, and rental vehicles distributed throughout municipalities.

Regional Context

As part of the Central Visayas region, Bohol is strategically positioned within the broader Philippine archipelago. The region comprises multiple provinces including Cebu, Negros Oriental, and others. Bohol's proximity to Cebu, one of the Philippines' major economic centers, facilitates trade and tourism flows. The Central Visayas' geographic configuration promotes inter-island travel and commerce, with established maritime routes and regular ferry services connecting population centers.

Region: Central Visayas
Country: Philippines
Timezone: Asia/Manila

Frequently asked questions

What is Bohol's main geographic feature?: Bohol is an island province comprising a main island and 75 surrounding minor islands in the Central Visayas region. The main island covers 4,821 km² with a 261 km coastline, making it the tenth largest island in the Philippines. The province's multiple islands provide diverse geographic and coastal characteristics.
What is the capital of Bohol?: Tagbilaran is the capital and largest city of Bohol province. It serves as the primary economic, administrative, and cultural center, hosting the main port and airport facilities. Most travelers use Tagbilaran as their entry point and accommodation base.
How many islands does Bohol province include?: Bohol province consists of 76 islands total: the main Bohol island plus 75 minor surrounding islands. These islands are distributed across the Bohol Strait and Cebu Strait, with varying sizes and accessibility levels.
What is the population of Bohol?: Bohol has a population of approximately 3.4 million people. The majority identify as Boholano. The population is distributed across the main island and several municipalities, with Tagbilaran serving as the largest urban center.
Which region of the Philippines is Bohol located in?: Bohol is located in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. This region comprises multiple provinces and represents a major economic and tourism area within the Philippine archipelago, with established maritime connections to neighboring islands.
How is Bohol accessible from other parts of the Philippines?: Bohol is accessible via air and sea. Tagbilaran City Airport offers domestic flights connecting to Manila and Cebu. Passenger ferries operate between Tagbilaran and neighboring islands including Cebu and Mindanao, with journey times varying by departure point.

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Sources & methodology

Geographic data from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Narrative sourced from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) and structured by Claude. Map by © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). See the methodology and sources registry for full attribution and update cadence.

This page last refreshed 2026-05-04.

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