Candijay Mangrove Forest & Adventure Tour

Overview

The Candijay Mangrove Forest in Barangay Panadtaran is one of the most species-diverse mangrove systems in the Philippines, with at least 36 recorded species. The dominant tree is the bakauan (Rhizophora stylosa), some specimens centuries old, with characteristic arching stilt roots. The Greek root Rhizophora means “root bearer” — the stilt roots anchor the tree in soft intertidal mud and function as gas-exchange organs. Nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) also grows along the inland rivers, its leaves traditionally woven into thatched roofing.

The forest has been managed as an eco-tourist destination since 2001 with support from the German Development Service, the Bohol Tourism Office, and the FCB Foundation. Infrastructure includes a 500-metre bamboo boardwalk with a hanging bamboo bridge through the forest interior.

The Panadtaran Mangrove Association (PAMAS) oversees the site. Founded in 1996 with 40 members following advocacy from DENR and USAID/World Bank-funded coastal management projects, the group has grown to approximately 160 members. They hold a Community Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) from the DENR covering 596 hectares. Reforestation, mangrove nurseries, and mud crab, oyster, and shrimp culture are all active components of their programme.

Location

Barangay Panadtaran, Candijay, Bohol. Candijay is in eastern Bohol, approximately 92 kilometres from Tagbilaran City — roughly a two-hour drive. The mangrove system fronts Cogtong Bay.

Getting There

From Tagbilaran City, travel east along the national highway to Candijay. The Candijay town proper is the base; from there proceed to Barangay Panadtaran. The town was established in 1879 and covers 8,687 hectares across 21 barangays. Buses and vans bound for Ubay, Anda, or Jagna depart Tagbilaran’s Dao Integrated Bus Terminal roughly every 30 minutes to hourly throughout the day (no fixed timetable — vehicles leave once full or on rotation), passing through Candijay; one-way fares run approximately ₱60–160 depending on bus or van, with the trip taking around two hours. [TO ENRICH: confirm local transport (habal-habal/tricycle) frequency and fare specifically from Candijay town proper to Barangay Panadtaran]

Practical Info

• Half-day eco-tours are available.
• Tour guides from PAMAS provide commentary on species identification, scientific names, and ecological function.
• Contact PAMAS at telephone number 526-0197. [TO ENRICH: verify if this number is current]
• River cruises on Candijay’s rivers Cabadian, Matulid, and Sagomay are offered as part of the tour, with local musicians serenading guests during the cruise.
• Entrance to the mangrove forest itself is free of charge, per recent visitor accounts. [TO ENRICH: current PAMAS guided half-day tour package price]

What to Expect

The 500-metre bamboo boardwalk and hanging bridge allow visitors to move through the forest interior without disturbing the substrate. The area is also a bird sanctuary: approximately 60 species of birds have been recorded using the mangroves. The river cruise portion passes through nipa palm groves and alongside local residents gathering clams, crabs, and fish — the tour gives direct visibility into the barangay’s relationship with its coastal resources.

The bakauan fruit and bark have local food and medicinal uses: the stem lugs are fermented into wine, and bark, roots, and fruits serve as mosquito repellent and traditional remedies for asthma, fever, convulsion, and sore throat. The mangrove also supplies firewood, charcoal, and materials for fish-trap poles and housing.

Notes

• ESG: In the early 1990s, widespread clearing for fishponds sharply reduced fish catches. The community-based rehabilitation programme — initially catalysed by DENR with USAID and World Bank support from 1993 — reversed this trajectory. The CBFMA covering 596 hectares represents formal state recognition of PAMAS management rights.
• Economic context: The community’s success in converting the mangrove into a tourist income source lifted conditions in a previously poverty-affected barangay, per source documentation.
• The name “Candijay” is said to derive from “Kang Dihay” — meaning “belonging to Dihay,” a strong local leader — which was later adapted under the Spanish colonial administration.
• CVSCAFT School of Fisheries operates in Candijay, offering college-level courses in modern fishing methods and fish preservation.
• Research (2026-07-28): Confirmed Tagbilaran–Candijay public transport frequency (buses/vans depart Dao Integrated Bus Terminal roughly every 30 minutes to hourly, ~₱60–160 one-way, ~2-hour trip) via The Boholana, Southern Star Bus Transit route table, and Lakwatsero’s Candijay guide, all accessed 2026-07-28. Confirmed the mangrove forest’s entrance fee is free via The Pinay Solo Backpacker’s 2024 Candijay travel guide (“CANDIJAY MANGROVE FOREST … Entrance Fee: FREE”), accessed 2026-07-28.
• Unresolved (2026-07-28): Could not verify whether PAMAS’s landline 526-0197 is still active — no source turned up a current PAMAS contact number, including the Candijay LGU’s Panadtaran barangay page (lists barangay officials only, no tourism/PAMAS contact) and the Bohol provincial tourism site. Could not find a specific current price for PAMAS’s own guided half-day eco-tour (boardwalk plus river cruise), nor fare/frequency for local transport (habal-habal/tricycle) between Candijay town proper and Barangay Panadtaran specifically — general Candijay habal-habal fares exist for other barangays (e.g., Cadapdapan, ~₱200 round trip) but no source references transport to Panadtaran directly. Searches tried: “PAMAS Candijay contact number,” “Panadtaran mangrove tour price,” “habal-habal Candijay Panadtaran fare,” “Candijay mangrove forest tour rates 2025 2026,” plus direct review of the LGU barangay page.