Lino Photography

The Loboc River (also Loay River) is a river on Bohol Island, the Philippines. It is one of the major tourist destinations of Bohol, local and foreigners alike. The winding river plays host to cruises on board of small bancas or floating restaurants. Visitors are treated to a vista of lush tropical vegetation such as nipa palms, coconut trees, banana groves, and bushes.

cruising the loboc river

A cruise along the river starts either from the Loay Bridge (in Loay) or at the Poblacion of Loboc. The Loay Bridge is 20 kilometers (12 mi) from Tagbilaran City while the Poblacion is about 25 kilometers (16 mi) away. Small motorized bancas can be chartered for a minimal fee. For those who want to eat while cruising, floating restaurants are available offering Filipino cuisine buffet and local delicacies.

inside with buffet lunch

With the tourism fever, the floating restaurants were envisioned providing tourists with a first class dining experience on board floating restaurants. The floating vessels are made up of a covered platform on top of two large outrigger boats which are joined together. The boats can accommodate up to 50 people.

view along the river

Most of the floating restaurants treat their guests with Boholano songs played by in-boat bands during the cruise. The trip winds up the river and ends at the Busay Falls which is only one and a half meter at most. Here, the guests are treated to rondalla music by a local rondalla group housed under a floating cottage.

a delightful performance by the dwellers of the river

with accompanying acoustic music

Local folks usually take a dip in the waters and enjoy bathing under the falls. Guests who have brought with them extra clothes are welcome to swim and bathe and experience the heady feeling of a refreshing swim in the river’s unpolluted waters.

swimming at the lazy river

another view I saw

The river plays a significant role in the history of Loboc before the Spaniards established the town in 1602. The early inhabitants made homes along the river.

It was in early 1980s that the idea to promote the Loboc River as a tourist destination started. -from wiki