Cortes is one of forty-seven (47) municipalities (along with one city) comprising the province of Bohol in the Central Visayas. The town is politically subdivided into fourteen (14) barangays, and is a part of the 1st Congressional District of Bohol.

Cortes is known for its natural beauty, a valley situated at the mouth and along the banks of the majestic Abatan River, which flows downstream from its tributaries in the towns of Balilihan and Antequera, winding along the town’s interiors and eventually draining at the western shore of Cortes, where it meets Maribojoc Bay. The river traverses a scenic 20-kilometer stretch that lures those who love nature adventures, such as river rafting and trekking along its banks.

Cortes is also known for its distinctive handmade paper products, made from locally sourced salago pulp and naturally dyed.

The nassive centuries-old church is also a must-see, particularly for those on a heritage tour of Bohol’s old churches.

Cortes’s distance from Tagbilaran City, the provincial capital, is ten (10) kilometers and travel time from the capital is about fifteen (15) minutes.