Get #TAPPed by TAPP: Walking the Trails of The Alicia Panoramic Park | PH’s First and Only UNESCO Global Geopark

Mier Torregosa
Jul 27
3 min read

Updated: Sep 14

The first and only UNESCO Global Geopark in the Philippines. [official website]

Today, we’re stepping onto one of its prized geosites, standing on top of Bohol’s oldest rock ever discovered.

Formed between the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (146–66 million years ago), the Alicia Schist lies beneath the rolling grasslands of the Alicia Panoramic Park (TAPP). Schist is a metamorphic rock, created under immense heat and pressure. Proof that these mountains were once ancient seabeds before being pushed up by tectonic forces. It’s not just beauty at the top, every step here is a walk across millions of years of Earth’s history.

But TAPP’s story doesn’t stop at geology. The UNESCO recognition of Bohol in 2023 as the Philippines’ first and only Global Geopark is rooted in places like this. Alongside Chocolate Hills, Danajon Double Barrier Reef, and Hinagdanan Cave, TAPP stands as a living classroom. Showing us how landscapes, people, and time intertwine.

Discover the Different Trails of TAPP

Over time, more and more trails have been discovered in The Alicia Panoramic Park (TAPP). Each with its own level of challenge and reward. We’re lucky enough to have pioneered two of these as overnight campers!

📸 Don’t miss the 360° view of the trail.

Here are your options when you #GetTAPPed:

🔵 Blue Trail – Normal Trail (2 Hours)

Perfect for first-time hikers or those just wanting a quick but rewarding adventure. Short, sweet, and guaranteed to give you that panoramic view.

🔴 Red Trail – Balisa to TAPP (4 Hours)

Best for those with an active lifestyle seeking the next level of TAPP adventure. Expect steady climbs, longer treks, and even more breathtaking sceneries.

🟡 Yellow Trail – Circuit Trail (8 Hours)

The ultimate challenge. This trail is for adventurers ready to push their limits and get rewarded with diverse landscapes and a panoramic experience like no other.

Hike with Purpose

By joining this hike, you’re doing more than chasing views. You’re making impact:

Support Outreach – Proceeds from every event go directly to our outreach beneficiaries.
Lift the Local Economy – We hire van operators, accredited guides, local porters, and food vendors, ensuring your adventure sustains livelihoods.
Cultural Connection – Many of our guides and porters are also farmers, and guiding helps keep alive their knowledge of the mountains.
Protect the Land – We practice Leave No Trace principles, keeping TAPP’s beauty intact for future generations.
Spread Awareness – Every tag, every story, every post helps put Bohol on the map as a responsible tourism destination. And lastly,
Bring Joy – To yourself, to the locals you meet, and to everyone walking this path with you.

When you hike here, you’re not just a visitor, you become part of the story that keeps Bohol’s tourism and heritage alive.

Reflection Matters

As we journey through TAPP’s landscapes, I’d love to hear from you:

What’s your takeaway from hiking the Alicia Panoramic Trails?
What did you learn, feel, notice, or realize?
What do you think we can improve in this kind of purposeful adventure?

Once we’re back online, don’t forget to tag me [@nomadengr]. Your story might be featured in our upcoming blog post about this climb!

Purposeful Hikes

We don’t want your story to vanish like the wind. We want it to stay. Etched in the pages of this generation’s journey.

Here are the people who left footprints not just on trails, but in the history of purposeful adventures. Those who made an impact, and inked memories reaching beyond the clouds of time.

A Trail of Conversation and Connections [read hear]
First ever 8hrs Circuit Trail: [check it out]
The 4hrs Trail: (coming soon)
It all began with my solo hike at TAPP : [check it out]