Panglao Island, Bohol

Panglao is an island in Bohol that can easily be seen from Tagbilaran City. It is home to fine white sand beaches and is often compared to Boracay Island. It’s also well known for its excellent diving and snorkeling spots.

How to Get There?

From Tagbilaran Port, you can take a tricycle to the Bohol National Museum, then ride a jeepney bound for Panglao Island, specifically Tawala, for only ₱20–30.

Alternatively, you can rent a tricycle for around ₱300 (you can still try to haggle a bit!).

Where to Stay?

One of the most popular beaches to stay in is Alona Beach, as it’s considered the heart of Panglao. Here, you’ll find plenty of restaurants, clubs, and diving shops. You can definitely get that mini-Boracay vibe here.

However, the downside of staying here is that it can get quite crowded and noisy. As for me, who loves a bit of peace and quiet, I preferred Dumaluan Beach, which is just a few kilometers away from Alona. So I stayed in Dumaluan instead ’cause I’m so dead tired searching for a place to stay. lol

Where to eat?
Compared to Alona Beach where the restaurants are just so close to each other, it’s different here in Dumaluan Beach. The price is also expensive but who cares if you’re hungry? lol

f you’re into diving or snorkeling, Dumaluan Beach isn’t the best place for you. The water is only knee-deep, and unless you reach the deeper blue areas, no matter how far you go from the shore, you won’t experience depths of 6–10 feet.

Kayaking, boating, and other water activities are also available here in Dumaluan. At night, I headed to Alona Beach for dinner and live bands since Dumaluan is a bit too quiet.

You can also rent motorbikes for ₱600 for the whole day or ₱200 per hour. Other things you can do in Panglao include:

• Dolphin watching at Balicasag Island (which I didn’t get to do since I had to head back to Cebu for an event)
• Visiting Hinagdanan Cave
• Trying Bohol Bee Farm and tasting their famous organic salad
• Getting a massage on the beach wohoooo

So that’s it!