Binabaje Hills, in my opinion, is the best hike in Bohol that takes around 1 hour to reach the summit, boasting panoramic views of the island and its coastlines.
I have put together this complete guide to Binabaje Hills Bohol including how to get there, how to book, and what to expect when you’re there!
WHERE IS BINABAJE HILLS?
Binabaje Hills is located in Alicia, a town in the northeastern region of Bohol Island.
Click here to see the location on Google maps.
It is best visited from the tourist area of Anda in east Bohol. It’s approximately a 45-minute drive from Anda to Alicia.
HOW TO GET HERE
The best way to get here is to rent a scooter in Anda and make the drive southwest to Jagna.
There are limited scooter rental stores located in Anda but I know of one place where you can get your hands on some wheels for around 500 pesos per day.
His name is Joey and he can be contacted by phone on +639123982873 or Facebook Bernaldez Joey.
If you are staying in Panglao, it’s a 115km drive that takes approximately 2.5 hours.
BEST TOURS IN BOHOL
HOW TO ORGANISE A HIKE TO BINABAJE HILLS ALICIA
Organizing a hike to Binabaje Hills was a bit more of a process compared to other hikes that I have been on throughout south-east Asia.
Firstly, it’s mandatory to have a guide to hike at this location (according to the municipality of Alicia) so this needs to be done in advance, especially if you plan to hike to the top for sunrise.
The only way to organize a guide and book the hike is to personally visit the Municipal Town Hall in Alicia the day before you plan to hike.
As I mentioned earlier, Alicia is a 45-minute drive from Anda which is very much out of the way to have to make a special trip out to Alica to organize the hike…
However, I recommend doing it the same way that I did which was by visiting some other Bohol tourist spots near Alicia in the morning (Cadapdapan Rice Terraces, Can Umantad Falls, and Canawa Cold Spring), and then in the afternoon head over to the town hall in Alicia to organize the hike for the following day.
At the Municipal Town Hall in Alicia, we spoke to a woman who was in charge of the Tourism Department and she asked when and what time we wanted to do the hike and made a quick phone call to one of the local guides to set it all up.
We wanted to do the hike for sunrise, which meant we had to meet our guide the following morning in front of the Town Hall at 4 am. She assured us that there would be a guide waiting for us in the early hours of the morning who would then take us to the trailhead.
The cost of the guide was 300 pesos split between the two of us, and the Binabaje Hills entrance fee is an additional 50 pesos per person which we paid at the end of completing the hike.
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THE MORNING OF THE HIKE
The morning began with a 3 am alarm clock to make the 45-minute drive from my accommodation in Anda to reach Alicia in time to meet the guide.
We arrived at 4 am sharp and we met our guide, Raul, who was already there waiting for us in front of the Municipal Town Hall in Alicia, just as the tourism lady had assured us the day before.
See More → 31 Epic Things To Do In Bohol
From the town hall, it is a further 30-minutes ride on the scooters to reach the trailhead.
We followed behind Raul as we drove along a dirt road that was sketchy as fuck, dodging potholes, and road washouts in the dark.
I took it really slow and easy to ensure arriving at the trailhead in one piece, which we did.
Without a guide, there is no way I would have been able to navigate my own way to the starting point of the hike as there is no signage directing the way, especially in the dark.
I was more than happy to have Raul along with us for this adventure.
MY EXPERIENCE
We parked the scooters on the side of the road at the trailhead and began the 1-hour hike to the top.
The first 15 minutes of the trail are quite mellow to start with, perfect to warm up the legs at 4 in the morning, but it quickly becomes very steep.
We hopped over small creek crossings, took a couple of water breaks in small huts along the way, and then scrambled up the narrow ridge trail to finally reach the summit.
There is a small hut at the top that marks the highest point of Binabaje Hills and I arrived drowning in sweat.
The sun was still yet to rise so I took a 5-minute break here before continuing to explore the mountaintop area.
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The top hut doesn’t offer the best view of the region as it’s surrounded by trees and shrubs so our guide Raul showed us another spot to watch the sunrise from.
It was a very hazy morning, unfortunately, so the sunrise wasn’t that spectacular, though the extensive views of the coastline and surrounding mountains were spectacular nonetheless.
We spent around 1 hour at the top taking photos and enjoying the view before heading back down to the base of the mountain.
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We took a different trail on the way down which was less steep and the views were even more rewarding now that the sun was up.
It took less than an hour to reach the bottom and we jumped back on our scooters to make the drive back to Alicia town.
Along the way, we had to stop off at a tourist desk to pay the entrance fee of 50 pesos per person and sign our names in a book.
Raul lead the way back to the town hall in Alicia where we paid him the 300 pesos guiding fee and said thank you for his efforts.
The Binabaje Hills hike is an off-the-beaten-path adventure that I highly recommend adding to your Bohol itinerary. I guarantee it won’t disappoint!
WHERE TO STAY IN ANDA
Anda is located in east Bohol and has hundreds of accommodation options to choose from.
I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay to fit the needs of budget backpackers, luxury travelers, and everyone in between.
See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend.
LUXURY: AMUN INI BEACH RESORT & SPA
Amun Ini Beach Resort is the best 5-star accommodation nestled amongst palm trees in Anda. Featuring a private beach, swimming pool, restaurant and bar, and ocean views!
The rooms are air-conditioned and fitted with a flat-screen tv, sitting area, mini-bar, en suite bathroom, and balconies with sea views.
Amun Ini offers free snorkeling and kayaking equipment and breakfast is also included for all guests. Recommended for couples, families, and friends.
MID RANGE: PARKLANE BOHOL RESORT & SPA
Parklane Resort & Spa is a great location in Anda just 10 minutes drive from town and offers beachfront accommodation, a private beach, 3 swimming pools, a restaurant and bar, and a wellness spa.
There are double rooms, family rooms, and deluxe suites available, each with a flat-screen tv, air conditioning, private bathroom, balcony with ocean views, and coffee/tea making facilities.
Best place to stay for families, couples, and friends.
BUDGET: ANDA DIVERS ENJOY GARDEN RESORT
The cheapest accommodation in Anda, perfect for solo travelers and friends.
Anda Divers Enjoy Garden Resort features an in-house restaurant and bar, an outdoor swimming pool, and beautiful gardens.
Choose from a double room or deluxe double room which is spacious with air-conditioning, private bathrooms, free wifi, and a seating area with a desk.
For More Options, See My Complete Guide On Where To Stay In Bohol
BOOK A BOHOL TOUR
Another great way to see all of the best Bohol tourist spots is to book a Bohol Countryside Tour.
This particular tour is the top-rated tour in Bohol with great reviews.
I can’t recommend this amazing tour enough, especially for first-timers to Bohol!
The Bohol Tour includes the following:
- Chocolate Hills Bohol
- Bilar Manmade Forest
- Bohol Tarsier Sanctuary
- Loboc River Cruise with lunch
- Baclayon Church
Check Availability & Rates: Bohol Countryside Tour
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More Philippines Travel Guides
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FINAL THOUGHTS – BINABAJE HILLS HIKE
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
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TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP
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THANKS FOR READING
Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!
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