Bohol Firefly & Milky Way Photography Night

This after-dark experience on Bohol's Loboc River trades the daytime crowds for one of nature's most magical light shows. As night falls, you board a quiet boat and drift along the calm river, where thousands of fireflies cluster in the riverside mangrove trees, blinking in unison like living Christmas lights, a spectacle locals fondly call the river of stars. The boat moves slowly and silently so as not to disturb them, letting you absorb the glow reflected in the dark water.

Because the river runs through countryside far from city lights, the night sky overhead is equally spectacular, and on clear, moonless nights the Milky Way arcs above the silhouetted trees. This makes it a dream outing for photographers. Bring a camera with manual settings, a wide aperture, high ISO and a tripod for long exposures, and avoid flash, which disturbs both the fireflies and other guests. Combining bioluminescent insects below and a galaxy of stars above, it is a serene, otherworldly way to experience Bohol after dark.