See the world for less than PhP 200 in this park in Sikatuna, Bohol!
If you want to travel around the world but only have budget for local travel, here's the next best thing you could do: go to Sikatuna, Bohol's Mirror of the World and Botanical Garden!
Sikatuna is around an hour's drive away from Panglao. So if you're heading to Bohol soon to enjoy the beautiful beaches in Panglao, you should consider driving to Sikatuna to see the one-of-a-kind park.
The owners of Mirror of the World and Botanical Garden, Jan Yngvar Kolstø and his wife Ann, wanted to build the park to share with Filipinos the things that they have seen and experienced during their trips abroad, without having to travel around the world. They also built the park to give Bohol a new tourist attraction, in addition to the existing ones, and to promote the town of Sikatuna.
Mirror of the World and Botanical Garden houses beautiful replicas of the world's most famous tourist attractions and landmarks. Here are some of them:
There are four phases in the park and only Phase 1 is currently open to the public, as the others are still under construction. The attractions included in Phase 1 are:
- The Statue of Liberty
- Merlion
- Christ the Redeemer
- Eiffel Tower
- Golden Gate Bridge
Soon to rise in Mirror of the World and Botanical Garden are the following:
Phase 2:
- Dutch Windmill
- Mt. Rushmore
Phase 3:
- Japanese Pagoda
- European Castles
Phase 4:
- Big Ben
- Petronas Towers
- Dubai's Burj Khalifa
Schedule and entrance fee
Mirror of the World and Botanical Garden is open from Mondays to Sundays, and tickets are sold from 7 AM to 9 PM. The park closes at 10 PM.
Entrance fee are as follows:
Day time
Php 50.00 - Children below 3 feet
Php 100.00 - Seniors and PWDs (Please provide government-issued ID upon buying ticket)
Php 120.00 - Regular
Night time
Php 50.00 - Children below 3 feet
Php 130.00 - Seniors and PWDs (Please provide government-issued ID upon buying ticket)
Php 150.00 - Regular
How to get there
Most locals know where Mirror of the World and Botanical Garden is. So, you can simply rent a car or van if you're from coming from Panglao Airport or Tagbilaran Seaport.
If you're coming from Tagbilaran City and you opt for public transportation, go to the Dao Jeepney terminal (across Island City Mall), then look for a jeepney that goes to Sikatuna. Upon reaching Sikatuna Public Market, ride a tricycle or a habal-habal (motorcycle) and ask the driver to take you to the park.
There you have it. One great travel hack for those who want to see the world without flying out of the country and spending a fortune. No need for passports or visas to take photos in front of the world's most famous tourist attractions.
Just book a flight to Bohol, head out to Sikatuna's Mirror of the World and Botanical Garden, enjoy the view, and take lots of selfies!
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