Well deserved dip after a hot morning by the river // photo source: Fox & The Firefly Cottages Facebook page
Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday. – A.A. Milne ~
Most of the time in this chaotic, busy busy world we live in — we’re always in a rush. It seems like we’re always in a hurry – to get to work, to get to school, to take that next trip, to buy this new gadget, or whatever else it is that makes us seem anxious on a daily.
The river would teach us to take a natural chill pill, relax and be like itself — just flowing through the current and not worrying. I should probably listen too, on this one. Hah! And you too if you find yourself getting anxious that you’re not living your life to the fullest. Things take time, getting to your goals take time. Like the water in the river, just chilling, and eventually will get to its destination – the ocean. Yeah? 😉
We know of a good place to relax and enjoy nature. Just a two-hour boat ride to the southeast of Cebu, you will find the island of Bohol. It’s also a beautiful province filled with lots of natural and tourist attractions. And we found a cozy nature resort you can stay in when you come and visit Bohol – Fox and the Firefly Cottages. It’s right by the Loboc River, which makes it extra special.
This homey nature resort is your home in Bohol that’s inspired by nature and outdoor fun, located right by the banks of the Loboc River. Fox and the Firefly Cottages is the home accommodation of the Standup Paddleboarding (SUP) Tours Philippines. For sure there are lots of other accommodations around the island of Bohol but what makes this place different from the others is that it’s designed and fit for travelers who would wish to experience real and delightful Philippine outdoor activities and fun.
Guests who stay here may sit and read a book by the riverbank, jump from the 15-ft. river swing, hop on a paddleboard to the waterfall, ride a mountain bike to the hills over-looking Loboc, or take a Yoga class at Santosha Shala inside the resort.
Fox and the Firefly Cottages is located at the center of Bohol, it’s an ideal place to stay so as to be close to the sites and attractions around the island. The resort is only 5 minutes to the River Cruise, 10 minutes to the Zipline, 30 minutes to the Tarsier Conservation Center, and 45 minutes to the Chocolate Hills. There is also an in house restaurant where guests can dine for breakfast until 9 PM, and enjoy the view of the trees and the river.
Many people who visit Bohol, always include it in their itinerary to visit the Loboc River. Most travelers go on tours wherein they’d be taken to these different attractions around the little island of Bohol. And usually, a part of these tours is what you call the ‘Loboc River Cruise’ – wherein you’d get into this native boat and have your lunch as you go along the river. Also, while being serenaded – almost like a little fiesta on a boat, really. It’s quite fun and you get to enjoy nature and see the locals in their homes by the river.
There are all sorts of fun activities you can do on your stay here at the Fox and the Firefly Cottages. You can also go on day tours, or head on to the beach for some sea adventure. We’re certain you won’t get bored on your visit to this beautiful little island paradise.
These are the following rooms at the Fox and the Firefly Cottages:
Suite Cottage
The room has a view of the rice paddies located on the second floor with a queen bed, outdoor bathroom, hot & cold shower, fan, and mosquito net.
– low season rate: Php 3,000 per night
– high season rate: Php 3,500 per night
– good for 2 guests
– has a queen bed
– rice paddies view
– children below 6 years old are free
– extra person/ bed charge: Php 500
Family Suite Cottage
The room has a view of the rice paddies located on the second floor with two queen beds, outdoor bathroom, hot & cold shower, fan and mosquito nets.
– low season rate: Php 3,300 per night
– high season rate: Php 3,800 per night
– good for 4 guests
– has 2 queen beds
– rice paddies view
– children below 6 years old are free
– prices are good for 2 guests only**
– extra person/ bed charge: Php 500
Deluxe Double Room
The room has a view of the rice paddies located on the ground floor with a queen bed, outdoor bathroom, hot & cold shower, fan, and mosquito net.
– low season rate: Php 3,000 per night
– high season rate: Php 3,500 per night
– good for 2 guests
– has a queen bed
– rice paddies view
– children below 6 years old are free
– extra person/ bed charge: Php 500
Family Deluxe Room
The room has a view of the rice paddies located on the ground floor with queen beds, outdoor bathroom, hot & cold shower, fan, and mosquito net.
– low season rate: Php 3,300 per night
– high season rate: Php 3,800 per night
– max of 4 guests
– has 2 queen beds
– rice paddies view
– children below 6 years old are free
– prices are good for 2 guests*
– extra person/ bed charge: Php 500
Standard Cottage
The room has a garden view located on the ground floor with a queen bed, shared outdoor bathroom, hot & cold shower, fan and mosquito net.
– low season rate: Php 2,000 per night
– high season rate: Php 2,200 per night
– max of 2 guests
– has a queen bed
– garden view
– children below 6 years old are free
– extra person/ bed charge: Php 500
Superior Double Cottage
The room has a garden view located on the ground floor with a queen bed, outdoor bathroom, hot & cold shower, fan, and mosquito net.
– low season rate: Php 2,400 per night
– high season rate: Php 3,000 per night
– max of 2 guests
– has a queen bed
– garden view
– children below 6 years old are free
– extra person/ bed charge: Php 500
Superior Twin Cottage
The room has a garden view located on the ground floor with two single beds, outdoor bathroom, hot & cold shower, fan and mosquito nets.
– low season rate: Php 2,400 per night
– high season rate: Php 3,000 per night
– max of 2 guests
– has 2 single beds
– garden view
– children below 6 years old are free
– extra person/ bed charge: Php 500
Fox and the Firefly Cottages offers a wide variety of prana-healing and outdoor activities. These are the following:
TRADITIONAL YOGA
Guests can attend traditional Yoga classes on their stay at the resort. The resort offers Sivananda-style classes weekly in the resort. Guests can also book private yoga classes if they want to. The resort’s yoga space – Santosha Shala – is always open for in-house guests who meditate or do their yoga practice on their own when there are no classes. Guests may use the mats and blocks inside the yoga space, just ask the front desk for more information.
PURE PRANA SUP YOGA
Take your yoga practice to the next level and make it more exciting. Pure Prana Yoga also offers standup paddleboard (SUP) yoga classes in the river. SUP yoga should be interesting, as well as challenging. The calm river and lush nature provide a very nice touch to your practice. It improves your inner balance and coordination, your mind becomes more focused and relaxed as you become one with nature. In-house guests may register at least a day in advance at the resort’s front desk.
1-Hour Loboc River SUP Tour
Ideal for beginners – learn the basics of standup paddleboarding and have a short 2.5-kilometer ride to see the Loboc River. You will be guided by a professional SUP instructor/ guide and will enjoy some coconut juice refreshments after the tour.
Price per person: Php 800
Night Safari SUP Tour
For those wishing to see something magical and witness some natural beauty at night, take this tour. Paddling at night will open up a whole different point of view of the Loboc River as you glide above the water. The guide will tell you interesting facts about fireflies along the tour. At the end of the tour, you will get to the mother tree of these dazzling fireflies that are only possible to visit with the SUP.
Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Price per person: Php 950
Life in Loboc Village Tour
A great way to really experience what it’s like living next to the Loboc River is to engage with the locals and see how they live on a daily basis. The tour is a walking tour wherein you will see the local villager’s livelihood and hobbies. Learn how to weave your own roof using indigenous materials, taste freshly harvested coconut wine, walk to the rice paddies, learn the process of rice planting, harvesting, and drying. And a lot more you can learn about farming and living by the river.
Price: Php 800
Full-day Abatan River SUP Tour
Located west of Bohol, is the Abatan River – an unspoiled little paradise that’s a really nice place to do standup paddleboarding. At the start of the tour, guests will be greeted by the locals with their hand-woven lei, along with a nice corn coffee made in the villages. The start of the paddle is from a waterfall going downstream in this quaint and quiet river. You will then enjoy a special Filipino lunch at another village downstream. And the tour will end on a visit to this breathtaking waterfall nearby to rinse and cap off the day.
Price per person:
Php 3,500 (minimum of 4 people)
Php 1,500 (children 8 to 11 years)
Full-Day Loboc River SUP Tour
A complete experience and tour of the Loboc River – where you’ll get to see its full natural beauty. The first half is an upstream paddle to Busay Falls and the second half is a downstream paddle to the ocean. The tour is inclusive of lunch and it will be served in the resort’s restaurant as a stop-over between the two routes. This full-day tour requires physical strength and is a very good work-out. It’s ideal for people who love challenges.
Price per person:
Php 3,000 – 2 to 4 persons
Php 2,500 – 5 persons or more
Php 1,500 – children 8 to 11 years old
Half-Day Waterfall SUP Tour
A challenging half-day SUP tour to Busay Falls in the Loboc River. After taking a short lesson, you will paddle upstream in a leisurely manner with a stopover at a cold spring along the way. Busay Falls are a chain of high and low cascading falls wherein you can swim and jump in.
Price per person (with lunch):
Php 2,200 – 1 to 4 persons
Php 2,000 – 5 or more persons
Php 1,300 – children 8 to 11 years old
Price per person (without lunch):
Php 1,650 – 1 to 4 persons
Php 1,450 – 5 or more persons
Php 950 – children 8 to 11 years old
Half-Day Downstream SUP Tour
This tour is a very laid back ride on your SUP down the stream of the Loboc River. Allow the slow current to take you further and discover the lush jungle filled with palm trees along the river. You will also get to meet the Ati Tribe’s people who will take care of your stopover are mid-way of the tour. You can then watch an amazing sunset if you do this tour in the afternoon. Also if the tide is high enough, you can paddle through and end your tour at a beach. It sounds really nice.
Price per person:
Php 2,200 – 1 to 4 persons
Php 2,000 – 5 or more persons
Php 1,300 – children 8 to 11 years old
Price per person (without lunch):
Php 1,650 – 1 to 4 persons
Php 1,450 – 5 or more persons
Php 950 – children 8 to 11 years old
There are also several Bike Tours offered at the resort as well, you may visit their Facebook page or website for more details.
Fox and the Firefly Cottages is located in Landmark: Petron Gas Station, Baranggay Valladolid, Loboc, Bohol, Philippines.
From Tagbilaran City, Bohol, you may hire a van for Php 800 (one way) or a car for Php 600 pesos (one way) to the resort. Or you may get on a tricycle to take you to Dao Central Terminal so you can ride a bus or jeepney headed to Loboc for a minimal fee. The resort’s landmark is Petron Gasoline Station in Loboc. It’s a 45-minute ride from Tagbilaran City Airport or Ferry Port.
When you reach the Petron Gasoline Station and Public Market along the highway of Loboc, you will turn left on the street between the two landmarks. The resort is just about 300 meters away from the highway.
For more information and your inquiries, you may visit their Facebook page – Fox & The Firefly Cottages and also their website https://www.foxandthefireflycottages.com/
You may also call them at tel: +63 38 5379011 or send them an email at [email protected]
