If you’ve included Bohol in your trip to the Philippines, you probably already know that its most famous attractions are the Chocolate Hills, diving in Balicasag, the nightlife at Alona Beach, and the Corella Tarsier Sanctuary. And yes, spending a few days enjoying those fantastic experiences will give you a taste of the central and southern parts of the island, but there’s so much more to explore!
On the eastern side of Bohol, about 3 hours from Tagbilaran (the capital), lies the municipality of Anda where, a world away from the tourist crowds of Alona Beach, you’ll find places that will leave you speechless. Towering waterfalls, rice fields that easily rival Bali’s, cenotes, mysterious caves, and white sand beaches where you’ll rarely see anyone are just a few examples. Don’t wait any longer: add all these places to see in Anda, Bohol, to your itinerary.
How many days should you spend in Anda, Bohol? A suggested itinerary
We recommend spending at least a couple of full days (excluding travel time) in Anda, but you could stay much longer! For example, we spent an entire week in the area because we loved its peaceful atmosphere, and we even came back a while later to spend another 5 days exploring. We didn’t hesitate to return because it really is one of those destinations we love that have changed very little over the years.
Of the two days we recommend, you could set aside one for the beaches, cenotes, and caves, and the other for Can-umantad Falls, the neighboring rice fields, and the Canawa pool. If you feel like squeezing in a little more, you could also head to Alicia Panoramic Park (Binabaje Hills) on the second day and even do a little snorkeling to see turtles. For diving or a visit to Lamanoc Island, we think you’d need to book one more night in Anda.
In our “ideal world,” if you want to get a proper feel for Bohol, our suggested itinerary for you is:
- Days 1 and 2: Panglao with a trip to Balicasag, either for diving or snorkeling (more information: snorkeling in Balicasag and diving in Balicasag).
- Day 3: transfer with a driver from Panglao to Anda, stopping at the Corella tarsier sanctuary, Loboc, and the Chocolate Hills. Leave us a comment if you’d like a contact, and we’ll send you the details.
- Days 4 and 5: Anda with a day trip to Can-umantad and Cadapdapan.
Can you visit Anda in one day? It’s possible to see the essentials, but considering that it’s more than 3 hours from Panglao or Tagbilaran and about 2 from Loboc, we don’t recommend it.
Things to do in Anda, Bohol
Without further ado, here are the essential things to do in Anda, based on our own experiences. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did, or even more!
1. The beaches of Anda, Bohol
Once you’ve dropped your bags at your hotel and made your way to the beach, especially if you’re coming from the Alona Beach area, you’ll wonder, “Where has everyone gone?” Because besides being a beautiful spot, this corner of Bohol still gets far fewer tourists. Quinale Beach is its main beach, and you can easily spend hours with no one around, especially if you head toward either end.
This long white sand beach, one of our favorites on the island, has some incredibly photogenic canopies that you can use completely free of charge. If you’d also like to put together a Filipino-style picnic, you can rent tables starting at 75 pesos and a couple of chairs for 5 pesos. Quinale Beach is cleaned every morning and also has a public shower for anyone who doesn’t like spending the whole day covered in sand and salt.
Another beach in Anda, Bohol, worth visiting is Talisay Beach. Although it isn’t as long or as well maintained as Quinale Beach, it has the same kind of sand (perhaps even finer than Quinale’s) and is an ideal stop after visiting the “cenote” at Cabagnow Cave Pool. Talisay Beach is where fishermen moor their boats and unload the catch that will later be sold at Anda’s central market.
You also shouldn’t miss White Beach, which may even be more beautiful than the first two. And if you round things off with Bas Gamay (especially on weekdays, when there’s hardly anyone around and it feels like a little secret), you’ll leave completely in love with Anda. If you’d like more names: DapDap Beach is awesome.
⛱️ To find out more about them, read our guide to The best beaches in Bohol and Panglao.
2. Anda’s “cenotes”: Cabagnow Cave Pool – Tibaw Cave Pool
Although a cenote is, by definition, a freshwater pool (though some contain a mix of fresh and salt water), Cabagnow Cave Pool is already known as “Anda’s cenote” and is one of the must-see places in Anda. You can walk there in 20 minutes from Quinale Beach (we recommend taking the inland path instead of the main road), and you’ll need to pay 50 pesos to enter. You can also get there by motorcycle, but you’ll have to pay 10 pesos for parking.
Cabagnow Cave is a beautiful natural pool nestled among the trees. After centuries of underground erosion by groundwater, the ground collapsed, creating this unique spot in Bohol. A long, steep ladder leads down to its crystal-clear water, but if you’re feeling brave, you can jump in from the top and make a grand entrance.
The cenote at Cabagnow Cave Pool is open every day except Monday and Friday (when it closes for maintenance), but if you’re hoping to take some really great photos, we recommend going at midday, when sunlight shines straight down through the palm trees.
You could also visit its sibling, Tibaw Cave Pool. Although it isn’t as deep as Cabagnow, it’s pretty and a lovely place for a swim. Either way, just as with the other pool, try to go around midday, when the sun shines directly into it. Admission is 50 pesos per person.
As we mentioned, the condition of the cenotes varies a lot, and over the years they can be neglected or well maintained. Travelers tell us that Tibaw is a little dirty at the moment. If you visit, please let us know how you find it so we can share an update here.
3. Cadapdapan Rice Terraces
Located 30 kilometers from central Anda, but within the municipality of Candijay, the spectacular rice fields of Cadapdapan await you. Although you’ll find various rice fields throughout this area, it’s those belonging to the Eleuterio Can-umantad Falls and Rice Terraces Resort that you absolutely have to visit.
Easily rivaling many of Bali’s terraces, and with far, far fewer tourists visiting them, the Cadapdapan rice terraces are a spectacular sight, especially around March, April, and May, when the rice plants are usually more fully grown. The combination of rice fields, palm trees, and the huge cliff at the edge of this beautiful landscape will make you fall in love with this must-see spot in Anda, Bohol. The resort that maintains the site has a small restaurant that can come in handy if you get hungry while you’re here. The food is nothing special, but as you can imagine, the views are gorgeous.
These beautiful rice fields in Bohol are irrigated by the river that, a few meters below, plunges down at the next stop on our list of must-see places in Anda: Can-umantad Falls.
Admission to the rice fields costs just 30 pesos. If you eat at the restaurant, this fee is deducted from your bill. The map of Anda at the end of this guide shows our suggested route from Anda to Cadapdapan. If you take the wrong turn off the road and try to get there via the road to Canawa Cold Spring, you’ll have to ride your motorcycle up a rocky, muddy track that can get quite tricky, so we don’t recommend it.
You can easily walk through the rice fields on your own, although you’ll also be offered a guide for 150 pesos per group. We plotted our own “rice field” route, taking great care not to step into the mud. If you feel like it, there’s also a set of steps leading down to Can-umantad Falls, though you’ll then have to climb back up or hire a motorcycle driver to take you back to your motorcycle or car.
4. Can-umantad Falls
At almost 45 meters high, Can-umantad Falls is the tallest waterfall on the island of Bohol and a real feast for the eyes. If the weather is good, brave a (very) refreshing swim and make your way to where the water crashes down for a powerful back massage. Want to find our “secret” spot? Follow the rock wall beside the falling water, and you’ll find a small opening that lets you slip behind the waterfall and see it from a little cave on the other side.
Admission to the waterfall is also 30 pesos. Sometimes they’ll suggest going with a guide, but they don’t usually charge extra. If they’ve given you good service, a tip is always appreciated.
How to get to Can-umantad Falls
There are two ways to get to Can-umantad Falls: along the main road or, as mentioned above, through the Cadapdapan rice terraces.
From the rice fields you can reach the waterfall by following a path down approximately 500 steps. If you choose this option, keep in mind that parts of the descent are a little slippery and, of course, you’ll then have to climb back up or find a motorcycle to take you from the waterfall parking lot. If you’ve hired a car with a driver, you could ask them to wait for you there.
If you’d rather go by motorcycle or car, next to the spot where you paid to enter the village, you’ll see drivers waiting with their habal-habal (motorcycle taxis) to take you to the waterfall and back for 100 pesos. Both they and the staff at the information booth advise against riding there on your own motorcycle, saying the road is very steep. We ventured there on our own and honestly didn’t find the road difficult at all.
Love freshwater waterfalls? Then don’t miss our guide to the Waterfalls of Bohol.
5. Canawa Cold Spring
Not far from Can-umantad Falls and the Cadapdapan rice terraces, there’s a place to see in Anda that, while it hasn’t entirely won us over, is pretty popular with Filipino tourists: Canawa Cold Spring. Canawa comes from the word “cawa,” meaning “frying pan.” And this natural spring really is shaped like that kitchen utensil. If you stop by, perhaps you’ll be the first person to dive all the way to the bottom: legend has it that no one has ever done so, and that it may be dozens of meters deep.
Admission to this refreshing attraction costs just 20 pesos and you can visit any day of the week between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
© Bohol Tourism
6. Combento Cave
Back in the Anda area, we’re heading to another unusual place to see. Combento Cave doesn’t take long to visit, but because it’s so different from everything else, it fits perfectly into an itinerary exploring the main attractions to see in Anda, Bohol. This group of small caves will surprise you with its stalactites, stalagmites, and incredibly clear water, where you can swim if you bring your swimsuit. It’s these rock formations, reminiscent of melting candelabras, together with the faint sunlight reaching the swimming area, that give Combento Cave its name.
2026 UPDATE: Unfortunately, we’ve been told it’s temporarily closed.
7. Lamanoc Island
A visit to Lamanoc Island (also spelled Lamanok) is, at the very least, intriguing. If you have some spare time in the area and have already ticked off all the must-see places in Anda, you could give it a try. Depending on the tide, your guide will take you there on foot or by paddle board and, once on Lamanoc Island, you’ll walk through a small mangrove forest. The highlights of this trip are the remains of the ancient cemetery where you’ll learn about ancient funeral practices, the small caves where rituals were performed by Bohol’s shamans and the hematite paintings made by hand in the Stone Age. It’s an intriguing visit, though perhaps not as spectacular as you might expect from a place with archaeological remains and legends of witches. Even so, it’s common to spot the occasional monkey, as well as crabs and bats.
Although (expensive) tours leave from Anda, if you’d like to arrange the visit yourself, you can ride there by motorcycle and pay 400 pesos per person on arrival. This includes a guide who will share interesting facts along the way. You’ll also have to pay 250 pesos for the mangrove walk and another 100 if you want to cross a bridge through the mangroves. Go between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
8. Diving or snorkeling in Anda
If you love the underwater world, don’t miss the chance to go diving in Anda. Since this part of Bohol still receives far fewer tourists than Panglao, you could easily spend a couple of days diving and barely see any other divers. Some of the main things to see while diving in Anda are the creatures that delight fans of macro diving: tiny seahorses, nudibranchs in every color imaginable, and the beautiful but deadly blue-ringed octopus. Whale sharks sometimes pass through too, so you’ll be lucky if you spot one, as it’s by no means a common sight.
If you’re not a certified diver yet (isn’t it time you took your diving course in Panglao?), you can also go snorkeling in Anda and have a fantastic time. Specifically, just offshore from the hotel Magic Oceans Dive Resort, there’s a reef teeming with life where sea turtles are usually around. You can get there on your own, but keep in mind that it’s a little far from shore, so bringing fins is a good idea. If you’d prefer a more comfortable outing on a boat with a guide, leave us a comment and we’ll send you the contact details for a couple of really nice guys.
Another spot to visit is just offshore from the hotel Blue Star Dive Resort. They have direct access to the sea in an area with plenty of turtles. We ate here and were allowed in for free, but unfortunately, travelers tell us they’ve been charging 150 pesos for snorkeling since March 2023. You can ask what the arrangement is if you eat or drink there, or look for another way to access the sea in this area.
9. Alicia Panoramic Park or Binabaje Hills
Another spot off the beaten path in Bohol near Anda that you’ll love is the trail through Alicia Panoramic Park, or the Binabaje Hills. These pointed mountains remind us a lot of those around Osmeña Peak and offer a beautiful trail for anyone who enjoys walking.
To get there from Anda, you’ll need to take a motorela to Guindulman, then a bus heading toward Ubay as far as Alicia. The journey can easily take 90 minutes. Once there, hire a habal-habal (100 pesos) to take you to Alicia Panoramic Park. You can also easily ride your own motorcycle to roughly where the trail starts. To do this (VERY IMPORTANT), you need to take the road just past the Caltex gas station that you’ll find after passing through the town of Alicia.
The hike takes a couple of hours (round trip), and keep in mind that it’s in full sun, so it’s best to go early to avoid the hottest hours of the day. You’ll need to pay a fee of 30 pesos per person, 10 pesos for motorcycle parking, and hire a guide for 300 pesos, split among your group (usually up to 5 people). Tents are also available to rent.
Practical information for visiting Anda, Bohol
Now that we’ve shown you the main attractions to see in Anda, we’ll also cover how to get there, where to stay, and other useful details to help you explore this beautiful part of Bohol.
How to get there
You’ll find everything explained in much more detail in our guide How to get to Anda, but here’s a brief overview:
a) How to get there from Cebu
- The first step in getting from Cebu to Anda is to take the ferry from the port of Cebu to the port of Tagbilaran, Bohol. You can check schedules and prices and book here: More information on the ferry from Cebu to Bohol.
- When you get off the ferry, take a tricycle to the Dao Terminal bus station. This ride costs approximately 50 pesos.
- Once at the station, you can take a bus or van to Anda. The bus costs 180 pesos, while the van makes the journey a little faster for 200 pesos. The trip takes approximately 3 hours.
Whether you’re starting from Tagbilaran, Loboc, Panglao, or the airport, we have a contact who can pick you up and take you through Loboc and the Chocolate Hills so you can make the most of the journey. Leave us a comment and we’ll email you the details.
b) How to get there from Tagbilaran (Bohol’s capital)
As explained in the previous section, you’ll need to head to the Dao Terminal bus station and catch a bus or a van (passenger van). The bus fare is 180 pesos, while the van costs 200 pesos and makes fewer stops. The trip takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.
c) How to get there from Panglao Airport
You can take the bus from the airport to Dao Terminal (75 pesos; 45 minutes), then continue to Anda using one of the options described above. You can also book this transfer.
d) How to get there from Alona Beach
Getting from Alona Beach to Anda is very straightforward. You just need to head back to Tagbilaran (by taxi for 500 pesos, tricycle for 300-350 pesos, jeepney for 50 pesos, or bus for 70 pesos), go to the Dao Terminal bus station, and follow the steps above. Keep in mind that taking a jeepney, although much cheaper, is slower and will take about 1 hour.
Another option is to take a full-day trip to Anda from Panglao (Alona Beach) or Tagbilaran. It’ll be a bit of a marathon, but it’s possible, and the agency Klook offers it.
More information on the Anda Tour
e) How to get to Anda from Loboc
To get from Loboc to Anda, follow these steps:
- Take a jeepney or bus to the junction in Loay. You’ll usually find jeepneys waiting beside the church in Loboc’s main square, leaving as they fill up. The ride costs 10-15 pesos and takes just 15-20 minutes (depending on how many stops they make).
- Cross the road and wait for any bus heading toward Anda or Ubay. If you don’t mind waiting, you can hold out for one going directly to Anda, but they’re less frequent. Otherwise, take any bus heading toward Alicia or Ubay and get off at the turnoff to Anda. The bus fare is around 80 pesos, and the trip usually takes a little over a couple of hours. Once there, take a motorela (a kind of tricycle) to Anda (30 pesos per person, about 15 minutes).
f) How to get to Anda from Camiguin
Another of the most common ways to get to Anda is from the island of Camiguin. Here are the steps to follow:
- Head to the Balbagon Ferry Terminal, in northern Camiguin.
- Take one of the ferries that depart for the port of Jagna. Super Shuttle Ferry leaves Balbagon for Jagna every day at 9:30 a.m. and takes 4 hours to complete the crossing. A ticket costs around 800 pesos. You can buy tickets through this link or through this one.
- After getting off the ferry, head to the main road and take the bus or van bound for Anda. You’ll arrive at your destination in about an hour.
☀️ If you’re planning to go to Padre Burgos to see whale sharks swimming, you can find out how to make the journey in the opposite direction in How to get to Padre Burgos.
Where to stay – Best hotels and resorts
Our guide Where to stay in Anda has all the details, but here’s a quick overview of some places to stay that might interest you:
Three Little Birds
It’s one of the newest hotels in Anda, and it took no time at all to become one of the top choices. Its location, beautiful decor, pool surrounded by greenery, and friendly staff have easily earned it an average review score above 9 (including our own review). Check here for Three Little Birds prices and availability.
Zenith Inn & Resto Bar
Located in central Anda, it offers midrange rooms. Comfortable and well kept, but without any frills. It’s close to the restaurants, though it also has its own rooftop restaurant with a varied menu that tends to get lively in the evenings. You can find all the details here: More on Zenith Inn & Resto Bar here.
Old Castle
The most unusual-looking hotel in Anda has a facade inspired entirely by medieval castles. It’s right on the waterfront, and the owners and staff are incredibly attentive. A good choice for a stay with beach views. You’ll find more details here: More information on the Old Castle hotel here.
Amun Ini Beach Resort & Spa
The best resort in Anda. Luxurious rooms with every amenity imaginable. They also offer VIP diving trips, greeting you after your dive with a soft drink and warm towels. Prices are around $320. You’ll find more details here: More information on Amun Ini Beach Resort & Spa here.
More cool places to stay in Anda
- Casa Amihan: it’s out of the way, but the views from the rooms are OUTSTANDING.
- Za Priscila Tourist Inn: an inexpensive place to stay in town with a lovely family, starting at $37.
- Blue Raven Resort: a middle ground between the two above, similar to the first but a little cheaper. Around $72 a night.
The lovely pool at Three Little Birds
More tips for enjoying Anda
Before we go, we want to share a few tips from our own experience:
- The best time of year to enjoy Anda is from February to May, during the dry season. Still, the weather in the Philippines is unpredictable, so we’d recommend going at any time of year.
- Keep in mind that the beaches in Anda, like most of those in Bohol and Panglao, have very shallow water, so the tides make a big difference. Try to enjoy them at high tide by checking a tide chart like this one.
- There’s an ATM run by Metrobank in Anda. Keep in mind that it charges a fee, like almost all ATMs in the Philippines. To avoid these fees, your best bet is to use Remitly at the pawnshops in town (there’s a Cebuana branch and a Palawan Pawnshop). Plus, if it’s your first transaction, using our link will get you $10 for free.
- Keep in mind that Anda has no hospitals, only very basic clinics. We know from experience that the hospitals in Tagbilaran (Bohol’s capital) are also quite basic; we’ve even been admitted to ACE Hospital there. If you need to see a doctor but it’s nothing too serious, you’ll have to go to Tagbilaran. If you have good travel insurance, it will cover private transportation there so you can travel comfortably. If it’s serious, it will cover your transfer to Cebu or Manila. It really is very important to travel with insurance. Get the policy we always use through this link and save 5%. You’ll also be helping us continue to dedicate our time to the website and keep the guides constantly updated.
- Don’t expect a huge choice of restaurants, massage places, or nightlife in Anda. It’s still a very peaceful destination, far removed from mass tourism.
White Beach in Anda
How to get around Anda
If you ride a motorcycle, the best way to get around Anda is on a motorcycle you’ve rented, as you’ll quickly realize that the area is quite spread out and the tourist attractions aren’t close together. If you don’t, you can get around town by tricycle or motorela. In that case, you’ll need to negotiate each ride. It’s best to ask at your accommodation what the usual fare is for the journey you want to make.
If you want to visit Can-umantad Falls and the rice fields (which we highly recommend), you can also hire a car with a driver. You could fit Canawa Cold Spring and Alicia Panoramic Park into the same day too.
We know a great agency for rentals and tours. Leave us a comment and we’ll send you all the details.
Where to eat in Anda, Bohol
As this corner of Bohol opens up to tourism, more and more restaurants are appearing where you can enjoy dinner or a good lunch. We’ve tried the vast majority of them, and here are a few of our suggestions:
Coco Loco
Without a doubt, our favorite place to eat in Anda is Coco Loco. It’s not just the unusual veggie burgers made with coconut, but also the many classic Filipino dishes with a modern twist. The breakfasts are generous and very healthy. It’s getting pricier, but the restaurant’s atmosphere and location are excellent, and they also rent motorcycles and run guided tours to explore the area.
Quinale Beach Bar
The Quinale Beach Bar is another place we went back to during our last visit to Anda. Why? Low prices, huge portions, and candlelit tables just a few meters from the water’s edge. Plus, the staff are incredibly friendly. The menu, though, is the standard fare you’ll find at most restaurants in the country.
Municipal Market
Wander through Anda’s streets for a while and you’ll reach the Municipal Market. Along one side, you’ll find several karenderias where you can eat typical Filipino dishes served straight from the pot. Without a doubt, the cheapest place to eat in Anda, with a huge variety of vegetarian dishes.
Jepo’s Pizza
As an extra, we’re including a pizza place we visited several times. The prices really are very low and there’s a little patio where you can enjoy dinner in the fresh air on warmer nights. The walls display a long list of pizzas, though if you look closely, many are the same pizza under different names. They also tend to be out of various ingredients. Put like that, you might wonder why we’re recommending it. Because despite all that, it’s a cheap, fun place to drop in for a pizza.
Food Fiesta
Surprisingly, this little stall serves filter coffee that easily rivals what you’ll find at cafés specializing in specialty coffee. So if you’re tired of 3-in-1 coffee, make sure you stop by.
Coco Loco – Anda Market – Blue Star Dive Resort
Map of Anda, Bohol
To help you see where all the places to visit in Anda, hotels, and restaurants are, we’ve put together this map of Anda. We hope you find it useful!
Ready to head out and discover everything there is to do in Anda? If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and we’ll give you a hand!
If you’re thinking of including this island in your Philippines travel itinerary, take a look at this Bohol Guide.
