A Complete Guide To Hiking Alicia Panoramic Park / Binabaje Hills Bohol
Are you planning a trip to Bohol’s hidden gem Alicia Panoramic Park?
In this post, we’ll go over how to get there, how to prepare, how much it will cost, and what to expect from this breathtaking hike in Bohol.
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For most people, a trip to Bohol involves beautiful beaches and the mystifying Chocolate Hills.
However, for those who dare to venture a little further afield, you are rewarded with one of the most unique natural landscapes in the Philippines.
Alicia Panoramic Park, also known as Binabaje Hills, is a dream for those interested in hiking in Bohol.
With panoramic views and green rolling hills straight out of a Lord of the Rings film, the natural beauty and serenity of Alicia Panoramic Park are bound to take your breath away.
You will totally connect with nature as the hike remains pretty undiscovered. There are very few tourists making this the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle.
As this hike is off the beaten path, a little pre-planning is required.
This guide will let you know everything you need to know for an unforgettable day trip to Alicia Panoramic Park Bohol.
Where is Alicia Panoramic Park?
The map below shows the location of Alicia Panoramic Park and other locations you may need.
Included are: Alicia Town Hall where you book your guide, the homestay I recommend in Carmen, and the bus stops if you are traveling by public transport.
Discover other popular natural attractions in east Bohol with my Ultimate DIY Tour in Bohol: 4-Day Itinerary
How to go to Alicia Panoramic Park
From Panglao / Tagbilaran
Getting from Tagbilaran to Alicia is one bus and a fairly straightforward journey.
From the Dao Integrated Bus Terminal take the bus bound for the Alicia Municipal Hall. This should take between 2- 3 hours and cost 90 PHP ($1.50).
After arriving at the Alicia Municipal Hall, you can take a rickshaw or private scooter to the entrance of Alicia Panoramic Park. This takes a further 20 minutes.
As most people tend to stay in the tourist hub of Panglao, you will have to take a bus from Panglao to the Tagbilaran Bus Terminal first.
You can take the Southern Star Bus which runs 6 am – 6 pm every hour from outside the Alona Beach McDonald’s. This costs 70 PHP ($1.20).
However, I would not recommend travelling from Panglao and would instead stay closer to the park to break up the trip.
Authentically experience Bohol and immerse yourself in nature.
Stay in the countryside just 5 minutes from the iconic Chocolate Hills in your own private bungalow.
From Carmen
I would recommend staying in Carmen when visiting Bohol. Carmen is super central and a great base to explore all of the best tourist spots on the island.
We stayed in an amazing homestay where you can rent a scooter directly for 400 PHP ($7) a day and then make the 1.5-hour journey to Alicia on the morning of the hike.
For more information on the homestay and where to stay in Bohol, you can jump here.
How to prepare for the Binabaje Hills hike
As with any destination in the Philippines, hiking in Bohol is bound to get hot. Coming prepared is crucial.
What to wear
If you are traveling to Alicia for sunrise or in the early morning, especially by bike, you might need a light jumper. However, once the sun is up, you can expect it to be very hot.
If you have sensitive skin, then perhaps long trousers might be a better option than shorts due to the long grass.
This is a fairly steep hike so a solid pair of hiking boots with good grip is a must. There is basically no shade on the hike, so make sure to bring a cap to protect your head from the sun.
What to pack
If you are hiking for sunrise, then make sure to bring a torch or headlamp with you. Bringing suncream is super important too.
Alicia Panoramic Park is all about preserving the natural beauty of the landscape, so you won’t find any stalls selling water or snacks on your way up.
It is therefore imperative to come prepared.
Make sure to bring plenty of water as it is easy to get dehydrated. There is a little shack selling water at the entrance to the park. Also, bring some snacks to enjoy when you reach the summit.
Hiking Essentials Packing List
How to hire a guide
If you decide to stay in the homestay in Carmen the night before, the host will organise and book the guide for you.
We simply told him what time we wanted to start and he contacted the Alicia Tourism Department who organised for our guide to meet us at the entrance at 7 am the next morning.
This is the most simple way of booking your hike and the way I would recommend.
However, if you choose not to stay at the Carmen homestay, you will need to head to the Alicia Municipal Town Hall to book your guide. Luckily, the bus from Tagbilaran stops right outside.
I would suggest booking it the night before and having your guide meet you at the entrance the next morning. This would mean finding accommodation around Alicia the night before.
What to expect
For those who are willing to get off the beaten path, Alicia Panoramic Park is one of the most stunning natural attractions in Bohol.
It is surprising that it still remains pretty undiscovered. It is the perfect spot for those interested in hiking in Bohol.
Apart from our guide, we were the only people there.
This makes responsible travel so important and you should do everything to preserve the natural beauty of this unspoiled area.
Whilst Alicia Panoramic Park deserves to be a number one tourist spot in Bohol, the sense of serenity away from the crowds makes this such a memorable and unique experience.
How long does the hike take?
Depending on your fitness level, the hike up takes just over an hour. After reaching the peak, it takes another 30 minutes to hike back down again.
Taking time at the summit to relax and appreciate the views, hiking Alicia Panoramic Park takes about 3 hours in total.
Despite this being a relatively short hike, do not make the mistake of underestimating it like I did. I have hiked at altitude all over South America and thought that hiking in Bohol would be a breeze.
However, if you are hiking when the sun is up, this can make it fairly strenuous. The hike starts pretty flat and then starts to incline quite abruptly.
There is virtually no shade so I struggled and got dehydrated quickly. Our guide was so patient and made frequent stops so we could rest and appreciate the scenery.
As with most destinations in the Philippines, the WiFi in Bohol can be a little patchy and unreliable. For a stress-free trip, I would suggest getting a data plan with an Airalo eSIM.
What time should you start the hike?
I would recommend coming as early as possible to avoid the sun.
We started at 7:30 am and this was still too hot. If you can, I would recommend coming for sunrise, which means starting the hike at about 4 a.m.
Sunrise is meant to be a surreal experience over the hills and also means you avoid hiking up in direct sunlight.
Reaching the summit of Alicia Panoramic Park Bohol
Upon reaching the top, the sense of accomplishment is unmatched as you are rewarded with the most breathtaking views, with vibrant green hills as far as the eye can see.
You will also catch a glimpse of the Cambugsay Dam in the distance.
We spent about an hour at the top, where there is a wooden platform to sit and appreciate the view. This is a great spot to refuel, take some photos, and bask in the peace and quiet.
You cannot beat it for an Alicia panoramic view.
How high is Alicia Panoramic Park?
Alicia Panoramic Park and its rolling hills are situated approximately 400 meters above sea level.
Cost breakdown
When hiking the epic Binabaje Hills, it is mandatory to have a local guide.
This guide is 300 PHP ($5) for the whole duration of the hike, split between however many of you there are. There were 3 of us, so we paid 100 PHP each for the guide.
Alicia Panoramic Park entrance fee
The entrance fee to Alicia Panoramic Park is 30 PHP as of 2024.
The bike rental for 24 hours was 400 PHP, plus about 100 PHP for petrol.
Water and snacks were another 100 PHP on top of this. I would recommend sharing a bike and splitting costs like we did.
Finally, don’t forget to tip your guide for their efforts. We tipped 100 PHP each.
Total cost: 580 PHP ($10).
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Which area is best to stay in Bohol?
Whilst most tourists tend to stay in Panglao, I would recommend staying in Carmen. Due to its central location, Carmen is a great base to explore all of the main attractions in Bohol.
We were underwhelmed by Panglao and found it super touristy.
Staying in Carmen is such an authentic way to experience Bohol as you are totally immersed in nature and can enjoy the slower pace of life in the countryside.
The place we stayed in Carmen was called Lhoyjean Homestay and was one of the highlights of our whole trip to the Philippines.
Located just 5 minutes from the Chocolate Hills, I could not recommend staying here enough. The hosts are so lovely and make you feel like part of the family.
If you’re looking to escape the tourists and experience Bohol like a local, then this is the place for you.
How long should I stay in Bohol?
I would recommend staying in Bohol for at least 5 days.
Bohol has so much more to offer than just the Chocolate Hills and boasts one of the most unique natural landscapes in the Philippines.
Bohol is an adventure lover’s paradise with so many diverse activities to enjoy.
I would recommend splitting your time between Panglao and Carmen. Panglao to enjoy the beaches, island hopping, and nightlife. Carmen to enjoy nature, hikes, and waterfalls.
You can combine a trip to Alicia Panoramic Park with a trip to Can-Umantad Falls too, just 40 minutes away and great for a post-hike dip.
Full Post: Can-Umantad Falls: A Complete Guide To Bohol’s Tallest Waterfall
What time of year is best to visit Bohol?
It is best to visit Bohol in the dry season, which coincides with the peak season. This would be from December – May.
During this time, you are almost always guaranteed good weather so you can take advantage of all the outdoor and water activities on offer.
We visited in March which I would totally recommend as we had beautiful weather the whole time.
June to November are typically the rainiest months, but with island life, you have to always expect the unexpected.
Must Read: The Ultimate DIY Guide To Bohol’s Chocolate Hills
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post which has covered everything you need to know about hiking the spectacular Alicia Panoramic Park in Bohol.
If you liked this post and you’re interested in more guides for Bohol, then feel free to check out my posts below –
