The small island of Panglao is a classic stop on many trips to the Philippines that include Bohol among their different destinations. Linked to it by two large bridges over the sea, it’s a place chosen by many travelers to set up their base when discovering the different things to do in Bohol.
Like any other place in the world, Panglao has both detractors and fans, and in this complete guide to Things to do in Panglao we’re going to unravel all its secrets so you can decide for yourself whether it’s the place you’re looking for. Grab your snorkel mask and sunscreen—let’s begin!
How many days to visit Panglao and a possible itinerary
Before we get into it, here’s an answer to a question you’re probably asking yourself: how many days should you dedicate? There isn’t a single right answer because it depends on how much time you have to visit the Philippines and what you want to do in Bohol, especially if you’re planning to stay in other parts of the island to explore it in depth. Still, to be clear with you, we think that 2 full days (excluding transfers) is the minimum you should spend here. Over these 2 days, we recommend:
- DAY 1: a snorkel or diving trip to Balicasag (for us, the most important reason to visit this part of the Visayas) and, since you’ll be back around 14:30-15:00, you can opt for snorkeling in Napaling, relaxing on Dumaluan Beach and/or sunset at North Zen Villas.
- DAY 2: if you’re not going to visit other parts of Bohol, we would devote this day 100% to a route by motorbike, by car with driver or on a guided tour through the interior without missing the Chocolate Hills, Pangas Falls, the zipline, the Loboc River (cruise, kayak or SUP) and the Corella sanctuary. If you are going to head through Loboc afterwards, we would spend it exploring Panglao by motorbike or tricycle: Hinagdanan Cave, Napaling, beaches, etc.
For us, Panglao is a good base for exploring the rest of Bohol for several reasons. Being next to the airport and about 30-40 minutes from Tagbilaran, where the island’s main port is located, connections with other parts of the Visayas and more places in the Philippines are simple. It has several incredible snorkeling and diving spots, as well as cool beaches that are very accessible. On the other hand, you’ll be in Loboc and the Chocolate Hills in an hour-hour and a half, giving you the option of doing a very cool day trip. In addition, as it’s an area with tourism development, the hotel offer is tremendously good and the value for money even better, since competition is high—and the same when it comes to restaurants. Finally, if you’re after nightlife, you’ll find it on Alona Beach.
But isn’t Panglao very crowded? This might also be on your mind because you’ve been reading here and there. Indeed, Alona Beach is one of the most developed beaches in the Philippines and perhaps oriented toward a type of tourism we don’t fully identify with, especially from North Asia. Unfortunately, the buildings close to the beach have caused the sand to recede and it doesn’t look as beautiful as before. However, you can’t say that Panglao is a Benidorm and that, because of this, it’s not worth visiting. You only have to take a look at the map to realize that Panglao is a fairly large island and that Alona Beach isn’t the only part you can visit.
For this reason, generalizations like “Panglao is Magaluf/Benidorm/X” or “it’s overcrowded” seem totally out of place to us. You could stay in Panglao without even setting foot on Alona Beach, if you feel like it, and even so, we don’t think it’s that terrible and we’d say it can even be fun to take a stroll at night, have dinner or stop at a bar. The fact that there are so many Asians also has its plus: there are some spectacular sushi and hotpot restaurants at very good prices. It’s just a matter of keeping it in mind, looking at it from another perspective and visiting what interests you most. We created this guide to Panglao for all of this, where you’ll find tips on the most relevant places depending on the type of travel you’re into at any given time.
The “crowds” of Panglao
1. Diving in Panglao
Diving in Panglao is the “crown jewel”, one of the main reasons that attracts thousands of tourists to the Alona Beach area. Here you’ll find a large number of dive schools from which to book your dives to the more than 20 nearby dive sites. The best known, and a true magnet for divers from all over the world, is Balicasag. It’s impossible to dive in Balicasag and not fall in love with this place!
One of its most famous dive sites is “Black Forest”. Its biodiversity will leave you open-mouthed: groupers, barracudas, lots of macro life, damselfish, a spectacular black coral forest that gives the place its name and, of course, loads of turtles strolling around the area!
It’s important for you to know that Balicasag is, fortunately, a protected island. This means that only 150 people per day are allowed to dive, and they can do 2 dives. Therefore, it’s important to book in advance so you don’t miss out. We’ll give you the information about this later.
If diving is on your list of things to do in Panglao, you’ll get to know other spots that are well worth it such as “BBC”, where a sunken jeepney covered in coral awaits; “Puntod”, where you’ll lose count of the nudibranchs you’ll see alongside scorpionfish and coral; or “Garden Eel”, where after descending along a wall inhabited by shrimps, prawns and nudibranchs you’ll reach the territory where the shy and funny eels live.
⭐ Don’t miss our very detailed article about diving in Panglao.
Panglao is an ideal place not only for divers who want to discover new and impressive dive sites, but also for those who have never done a dive before and want to start discovering the underwater world. For us, in fact, it’s the best place in the Philippines to try or, directly, to jump into doing the course. First because of the price, second because of the quality of the school we know and third because you’ll see cool things from minute 1 and, on top of that, without getting cold (the water is around 27ºC) and with great visibility.
In the Alona Beach area, the most open to tourism, you can find different dive schools where you can get your Open Water Diver and Advanced with Spanish-speaking instructors and top-quality gear. You can read all the info in Diving course in Bohol in Spanish.
Do you want to dive in Panglao / Balicasag or get your diving certification here with our trusted dive school? Leave us a comment at the end of this “Things to do in Panglao” article and we’ll pass you their contact so you can enjoy this place with the best professionals, in a beautiful seafront school with spotless equipment. We have no problem telling you it’s one of the best in all the Philippines.
2. Snorkeling in Balicasag
Just as with diving, snorkeling in Balicasag is another of the things to do in Panglao that’s perfect for lovers of marine life. Whether it’s because you don’t yet have a diving certification, you ran out of spots for not booking in time or simply because you feel like doing it this other way, snorkeling in Balicasag is among the most beautiful in all the Philippines.
Its main attraction is the large number of green turtles and hawksbill turtles that continually pass through this marine sanctuary, and you’ll also be amazed by the huge number of fish of every color and the impressive corals that populate its seabed. There are different ways to snorkel in Balicasag:
a) Snorkeling in Balicasag on a tour with other activities
Personally, we’re not at all convinced by this option for different reasons:
- It includes the misnamed “dolphin watching”. On the one hand it isn’t 100% guaranteed, which in some cases takes time away from what you really came to Panglao to do and, on the other, it’s more like “dolphin chasing”. You only have to “dive” a bit into Instagram Stories that some travelers usually upload from there to see how the boats race right over the dolphins without respecting a minimum safety distance so the animal can move freely without stress.
- Stop at Virgin Island: it’s hardly “virgin” anymore due to the excessive number of tourists it receives, but fortunately the dozens of food stalls that used to be set up here—making it look quite ugly—have now been banned. It’s not among the best sandbars in the Philippines by any stretch, but it will seem curious if you’ve never visited one. If your priority is snorkeling in Balicasag, we recommend doing it on a separate excursion.
- Balicasag: you spend little time there, you go to the areas where there are loads of boats and, moreover, most companies aren’t respectful at all. Many of them feed bread to the fish, which is an aberration, or don’t control people touching the turtles.
b) Snorkeling in Balicasag on its own
We think it’s better to devote to snorkeling in Balicasag the time it truly deserves. One option is to book an excursion where that’s the only activity. Make sure they include at least two snorkeling spots (250 pesos for each one) and that the fees are included. Also, agree with them how long you’ll be in Balicasag (we advise at least 2 hours) and let them know that you don’t agree with feeding the fish.
Our recommendation is to go to a dive center that plans to dive there and ask if they’ll allow you to join to snorkel. That way you ensure about 2.5-3 hours of snorkeling in Balicasag while the divers are doing their dive. In addition, dive companies are much more respectful with marine life.
In the article Balicasag snorkeling tour you can find all the necessary information.
If you feel like doing this activity, leave us a comment and we’ll give you information about our contact to snorkel in Balicasag in a respectful way.
3. Explore the beaches of Panglao
The first beach that usually comes to mind when talking about Panglao is Alona Beach, as it’s practically the epicenter of the action on this small island. Most excursions depart from here, both for diving and to visit places such as Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, but it doesn’t exactly stand out as the most beautiful beach in the area.
Due to the encroaching water and the loss of sand, as well as the buildings that have been on the seafront for decades, many stretches of the beach aren’t very paradisiacal. Even so, in front of the Henann resort and at the opposite tip, it’s usually very calm and it’s possible to swim even when the tide is low. In short, it’s a beach for a refreshing dip, nothing more, but very pleasant if you’re looking for good restaurants or beachfront resorts.
If you hop on your motorbike or a tricycle you can reach a large number of nearby Panglao beaches where you can swim with prettier scenery and far fewer people. Here are some we recommend:
- Dumaluan Beach: Dumaluan Beach is also known as White Beach and is, in our opinion, the most beautiful beach to see in Panglao. This stretch of coastline with crystal-clear waters and white sand stands out because when the tide is low you need to walk quite a few meters for the water to cover you. Along the shore you’ll see different food stalls, a big draw for Filipino tourists who come to have family barbecues. Panglao DBR Grill makes some really tasty shakes. Keep it in mind on your list of things to do in Panglao! It’s usually very quiet from Monday to Thursday at peak sun hours and the prettiest part is the one where Oceanica Resort is located. At the latter you can buy a day pass for 500 pesos credit and there’s happy hour from 7:00 to 19:00.
- Danao Beach: On the western end of Panglao you’ll find our favorite beach for sunset. It’s only 15 minutes from Alona Beach and you’ll quickly see the vibe is much more laid-back. Far fewer tourists and just the odd resort where you can cool off with a beer while you enjoy the sunset in orange, lilac and red tones that will steal your heart. In addition, this beach has a large colony of starfish in every color. Unfortunately, depending on the tide, sometimes there’s a bit of trash. It’s a recurring issue on many beaches in the Philippines. The plastic comes from the sea and the resorts only take care of their section. We always spend a bit of time (with 5–10 minutes you make a big difference) doing small cleanups. There’s also an association called Plastic Free Bohol that does incredible cleanup work in Danao and other beaches in the area. You can join them!
“Please, starfish are super sensitive. It’s important that you neither take them out of the water nor touch them in the water. They can easily die from stress or lack of oxygen.”
You can find all the information about these and many more in Best beaches in Panglao and Bohol.
4. Hinagdanan Cave
Just like in the Anda area of Bohol, there are also underground caves to visit in Panglao. The best known and easiest to access is Hinagdanan Cave.
A few years ago, purely by chance, a local farmer discovered its entrance. With a rudimentary bamboo ladder he managed to access the interior, where he was left completely open-mouthed by what he found. This flooded cave is a real spectacle for the eyes! Hundreds of stalactites drop from the ceiling toward the crystal-clear waters that emerge from the ground. In addition, the cave’s different overhead openings let the sun’s rays through and light the cave naturally, creating a true visual spectacle.
The cave is protected by Bohol’s Department of Tourism and you have to pay to enter, thus helping maintain this unique place. If you brought water shoes on your trip, as we advise in the article Backpack for the Philippines, it’s an ideal place to use them and thus avoid a possible slip on the damp floor at the entrance, as well as to step more safely on the rocks inside the natural pool.
This cave has become a must-see in Panglao, so it won’t be unusual to find other travelers and, on many occasions, groups. Still, we advise you to try to make your visit from Monday to Friday and avoid local holidays. If you go early, even better. It’s more charming that way.
Entrance fee for Hinagdanan Cave:
- Entrance fee: 50 pesos. For those who only want to look and take photos.
- Swimming fee: 125 pesos. For those who, in addition to seeing it, want to try the experience of swimming in a cave in the Philippines.
- Also, if you want to park on the premises you’ll need to make a small payment as well.
Opening hours for Hinagdanan Cave:
Currently the opening hours are 7:30 to 17:00, although at some times of the year they’re 8:00 to 18:00.
Although it’s really easy and quick to get there by motorbike or tricycle (about half an hour from Alona Beach), you can also enjoy this unique experience to do in Bohol through tours that visit the main places to see in Bohol, for example this one:
Or this other one focused exclusively on Panglao Island that visits other places of interest in the area:
Cambagat Cave, another interesting cave in Panglao
If visiting caves where you can bathe in natural pools appeals to you, we’re going to tell you about another one located less than 300 meters from Hinagdanan Cave: Cambagat Cave.
This one is considerably smaller than the previous one, but they say that its mineral waters have medicinal properties. Not for nothing, this cave belongs to the spa at Mithi Resort & Spa and you’ll need to stay there to be able to enjoy it. So, if you’re looking for a resort in Panglao that, in addition to spectacular facilities, offers 3 beautiful pools, a private beach and a mini island, plus an exclusive cave, take a look because it might be exactly what you’re after:
5. The atmosphere at Alona Beach
As we’ve already mentioned, Alona Beach is the nerve center of the action on Panglao Island. On the one hand, that means you’ll find a wide variety of places to stay in Panglao for any budget, plenty of dive schools to make dives in Balicasag and nearby points of interest, or agencies that will take you from there to explore the island of Bohol.
On the other hand, all these conveniences and infrastructure have led in recent years to a major transformation of Alona Beach toward a mass‑tourism model, especially aimed at groups of South Koreans, Chinese and Japanese visitors. In short, if you’re looking for a relaxed, unspoiled place in the Philippines with little tourism, Alona Beach is quite the opposite.
But not all travelers are the same, and if what you’re specifically after is a nightlife scene that invites you to go out, have a drink and meet people, Alona Beach is the best place in Panglao for it. In bars like Aluna Lounge Bar you can have a drink by the sea, while in others like Bamboo Bar you can also have dinner and enjoy live music every day.
In addition, if you stroll along Alona Beach you’ll find everything from different craft shops to dance and fire shows by the shore. Do note you’ll have to weave around the different terraces that are set up at sunset. Alona Beach looks totally different at night!
If you’re traveling solo—or perhaps as a couple or with a friend—and want to meet people, you can now join the Panglao Pub Crawl. It’s a route through different bars on the island accompanied by a guide and a friendly little group that takes place on Fridays and Saturdays. Book from THIS LINK.
6. Historic buildings to see in Panglao: Our Lady of the Assumption Church and St. Augustine Church
Fancy a bit of history? It’s a plan in Panglao that works well for those heading out by motorbike to see Bohol or Panglao, since the two churches we’re going to tell you about are practically on the way. First, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, or Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, is located next to the southern bridge that connects Panglao Island with Bohol.
Completed in 1753, this religious building has been rebuilt as many as five times due to different fires and earthquakes it has had to face, the most recent in 2013. This has made it a church that brings together a fusion of styles ranging from Neoclassical to Gothic, with a colorful interior of frescoes and altarpieces from different periods.
Bohol’s Church of Our Lady of the Assumption attracts pilgrims from all over the Philippines, as legend has it that the water found beneath the main altar has healing powers. During the Spanish occupation there were constant pirate attacks on different Christian settlements in search of gold and other valuables. The inhabitants of the area took refuge inside this church during one of these attacks and, when after several days of siege they ran out of water and food, a miracle occurred and this source of drinking water began to spring from beneath the altar. That’s why today it’s very common to see believers arrive with empty bottles and leave the church loaded with liters and liters of “miraculous” water.
On the other hand, St. Augustine Church or St. Augustine Parish Church is another interesting place to discover in Panglao if you’re on a route through the beaches of Doljo or Momo. It’s located in the island’s “capital”, Poblacion and, although the current building was inaugurated in 1924, the previous one, which was left in ruins, was built by the Jesuits in 1782. If it’s open, don’t hesitate to go in (it’s free) and take a look at both the altarpieces and the ceiling murals. Next to it you can see an interesting five‑story octagonal bell tower made of stone. It was inaugurated in 1851.
Entry to both places is completely free.
7. Island hopping in Panglao: Virgin Island, dolphins, Balicasag…
Don’t imagine one of those famous island hopping trips in Coron or El Nido where you spend the day going from beach to beach, blown away by dream spots. The island hopping that awaits you here is much more modest, but many travelers still include it on their list of things to do in Panglao.
The island‑hopping experience in Panglao consists of three parts that sometimes vary in order:
- Dolphin watching: as we already mentioned above, in our opinion this watching tends to be too similar to a chase, so it doesn’t appeal to us at all. You should always keep a distance from the animal to avoid harassing it and to prevent possible accidents.
- Balicasag: after trying (sometimes unsuccessfully) to spot dolphins, the next point of island hopping in Panglao is Balicasag Island. Here they leave you on the beach for a while so you can go for a swim, and they give you a mask and snorkel so you can see the famous Balicasag turtles while snorkeling. From our point of view, the beach itself isn’t a major attraction, and if what really interests you about the tour is snorkeling in Balicasag, we recommend opting to do that excursion without all the extras included in the island hopping, as we told you in the second point of this article.
- Virgin Island: this pretty sandbar was “virgin” years ago, when it wasn’t yet the target of mass tourism. Once it was included among the most popular things to do in Panglao, it lost all its virginity. If the idea of seeing a sandbar really appeals to you and you’re not going to visit another one on your trip to the Philippines, it might satisfy you a bit, but don’t expect a place that will steal your heart for life.
As you can see, none of this convinces us and we prefer just diving or snorkeling in Balicasag.
8. Snorkeling in Napaling
Not all of Panglao’s snorkeling is on the Balicasag reef! On the island’s north coast, before reaching Hinagdanan Cave, opposite the Almira Diving Resort, there’s a spectacular snorkeling spot: Napaling.
Here, if you’re lucky, in addition to the classic fish of every color typical of the Philippines, you’ll find a huge sardine school that forms a spectacular living wall. This school usually goes along with other species trying to hunt them for food, so if you find it, the show is guaranteed. The mighty whale shark has also been seen there on occasion, but it’s really unlikely you’ll be lucky enough to bump into it. You can check where to see the world’s largest fish here: Whale shark in the Philippines.
Once in the Molave Cliff area, the procedure is a bit confusing because every place will want to charge you for something. For example, at Molave Cliff’s own ticket booth they’re charging 300 pesos per person, but at the nearby café (Dominggo) you can enter for 200. On the other hand, travelers tell us there’s a path on the left side (where Google Maps says Xander’s Place) where you can get in for free. In any case, we recommend going very early to avoid large groups.
Update 2024: as it’s entirely natural, the sardine school comes and goes and sometimes there aren’t that many. It’s still a good snorkeling spot, but it’s best to ask at the ticket booth before paying so you don’t end up disappointed by not seeing the sardine school.
Want to stay underwater longer? Don’t miss our article Snorkeling in Bohol and Panglao.
9. Escape to explore Bohol
As we hinted at the beginning, the main reason that brings most travelers to Panglao—aside from diving—is to use this island as a base to discover Bohol. In What to do in Bohol we tell you in detail everything this island has to offer, for example:
- Chocolate Hills: the Chocolate Hills are a Bohol classic and a staple of many trips to the Philippines. These unique hill formations offer a spectacular landscape that, in the dry season, gives the sensation of an infinite sea of huge chocolate bonbons. You can find all the information on how to get there and the legends behind them here: Chocolate Hills, how to get there, what to do and the legends.
- Loboc River: this Bohol river offers tons of possibilities. You can cruise it on a small boat with live music and an all‑you‑can‑eat buffet, kayak along it and even fly over it on a huge zipline. At night, it becomes a magical place full of fireflies. If you want to explore this area in more depth, take a look at What to do in Loboc.
- Tarsiers: The tarsier is the smallest primate in the world (not a monkey) and can be visited in different places in central Bohol. It’s a tiny, big‑eyed animal that usually spends the day sleeping and is very skittish. There’s strong criticism of most fake rescue centers and sanctuaries. The Corella Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary is the only one we dare recommend for now. The one near the Chocolate Hills is a real circus and a hotspot for irresponsible tourism.
- Anda: The Anda area was largely unknown to most travelers a few years ago and is slowly opening up to tourism. Light‑years away from Alona Beach’s mass tourism, nearby you can enjoy large rice terraces, beautiful quiet beaches, huge waterfalls and the misnamed “cenotes”. As it’s quite far from Panglao, we only recommend exploring it if you have more than 4 days on the island and stay there 1 or 2 nights. Here’s the complete guide to the area: What to do in Anda.
- Abatan River: firefly watching is done on the Loboc River, but this activity has recently started on a huge river that runs near Tagbilaran. This excursion will pick you up at your hotel in Panglao or Tagbilaran to enjoy the nighttime spectacle.
Our favorite way to do the Panglao – Bohol route (central area) is by driving our own rental motorbike, as this gives us total freedom of movement at a much lower price. If riding a motorbike doesn’t quite work for you, or you’re in a group of several people, this tour to discover Bohol from Panglao in Spanish may interest you:
You can also hire a car with driver or join a guided tour in English.
10. The best sunsets to see in Panglao
On any trip to the Philippines you always have a date with sunset. Around 17:30, get ready to enjoy a display of colors that almost never disappoints. We love sitting down with a San Miguel in hand and simply watching how the sky changes, so on our last visit—almost 15 days in Panglao—we came to the conclusion that the best places to watch the sunset are:
- North Zen Villas: we were literally blown away. This is a hotel located next to a mangrove area, close to Doljo. They’ve built a huge boardwalk all the way to Panglao Bay, a vast, calm bay from which you can see tiny Balicasag. The end of the bridge network is a chill‑out area with puffs where we saw one of the best sunsets we’ve seen in our years in the Philippines. To enter, if you’re not a hotel guest, you need to order something and drinks aren’t exactly cheap (around 250 pesos) or, sometimes, pay a sort of entry fee (we’ve heard all sorts, so we recommend booking here, since part of what you pay is credit), but honestly, the place is 1000000% worth it.
- Danao Beach: as we mentioned above, the beach isn’t the prettiest, as it’s a bit neglected, but due to its geographic position you can watch the sun set behind Negros Island from there. We thoroughly enjoyed having a beer at Linaw Beach Resort and the prices aren’t outrageous.
Tips for visiting Panglao and practical information
As you can see, there’s plenty to do in Panglao for every type of traveler. To make your visit more comfortable, here are a series of tips that will surely help:
How to get to Panglao
The classic route to get to Panglao is usually the one coming from Cebu. To do this you need to take a ferry from Cebu Port to Tagbilaran Port, Bohol, which usually takes a couple of hours. Once in Bohol, you can reach the Alona Beach area by taxi, by booking a private transfer, by tricycle or by jeepney, the cheapest option.
Here you have a detailed explanation of how to get from Cebu to Panglao:
In 2018 the Bohol–Panglao International Airport was inaugurated, very close to Alona Beach. It receives flights from Manila, Clark, Davao and Cagayan de Oro via Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia, as well as flights from El Nido by AirSwift. Once you land, you’ll have taxis, shared vans and tricycles at your disposal, and you can get to the Alona Beach area from about 150 pesos.
If you prefer, you can book your transfer from the airport to your accommodation here:
If you’re in Siquijor and want to go to Panglao, you can do so on these boats:
- Oceanjet departs daily from Siquijor Port to Tagbilaran (Bohol) at 8:20 and 14:30. The trip takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. You can book your tickets here.
- Apekoptravel departs daily at 13:00 from Larena Port (farther from the San Juan area). It takes a couple of hours and you can book the ticket here.
- Lite Ferries departs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from Larena Port to Tagbilaran at 19:00. It arrives in Bohol at 22:00. You can book here.
From the port to the Alona Beach area, the most convenient option is to take a tricycle, which should cost you about 300 pesos. You can also negotiate a taxi for around 500 pesos.
Where to stay in Panglao
There’s a wide variety of accommodation on Panglao Island, with the vast majority in the Alona Beach area. In our Where to stay in Panglao guide you’ll find in detail the best areas, hotels, resorts and hostels, but here are some ideas that may be useful:
- Mid‑range stay in Alona
- Resort in Alona
- Mid‑range stay in Panglao
- Resort in Panglao
- Backpacker hostel in Panglao
Renting a motorbike in Panglao and getting around the island
In Panglao, especially in the Alona area, it’s very easy to find places to rent a motorbike. The daily price is usually around 350 pesos, but it can be lowered for multi‑day rentals. Our favorite is the small sari‑sari (shop) next to Luna Rossa restaurant: Alona’s Minimart.
Panglao consists of three main roads (north, center and south) which, together with other secondary roads, cover practically every corner of the island.
If you’ve never ridden a motorbike before, we recommend trying it first in your country before doing it in the Philippines. It’s not the Southeast Asian country with the worst roads—not by a long shot—but between the different animals that can cross the road (dogs, cats, chickens, carabaos..), the condition of some paths and the lack of night lighting, it’s highly recommended that you arrive here with a minimum of experience.
In this article we tell you everything you need to know on the subject: Renting and riding a motorbike in the Philippines.
If you don’t feel like driving or can’t do it, don’t worry—you’ll find tricycles and habal‑habal (motorbikes with driver) to make any journey on the island. You will, however, have to negotiate with them. There’s a tricycle stand near Banana Leafs restaurant and a habal‑habal stand next to the Twin Tides hotel. Figure that from Alona to Dumaluan they should charge you 100 pesos in any case. Next to McDonald’s there’s a sign with the price list—you can take a photo of it to show drivers so they don’t try to pull a fast one.
Drones in Panglao
As we explain in the article Flying a drone in the Philippines, the country’s regulations clearly state that it’s strictly prohibited to fly a drone within 10 kilometers of any airport. Bearing in mind the island is 16 kilometers long and has an international airport on its western side, the radius of the restriction means it isn’t legal to fly your drone on this island. You’ll probably see other travelers doing it and read on some forum or website that “if you fly carefully nothing happens”, but if you do and something happens (an accident or a huge fine)… you’ve been warned!
When to travel to Panglao
The climate in the Philippines isn’t an exact science, but from November to May is usually the best time to visit a destination like Panglao–Bohol. If you’re not planning to travel to the Philippines at that time, don’t worry—due to its geographic position, the weather in Bohol tends to be quite good throughout the year.
Where to eat in Panglao
You won’t be short of restaurants in Panglao. As it’s a very touristy place, the offer is huge. Here are some of the most recommended:
- Trudi’s Place: part of a resort right on Alona Beach, they offer Filipino dishes and international food at good prices.
- Shaka: a chain serving smoothies, smoothie bowls and spectacular vegan burgers. They’re also in Siargao, Moalboal and El Nido.
- The Buzzz Café: for hearty breakfasts with sea views.
- Carinderias (local eateries): Naty & Henry and Andrea’s Mango Rest Hauz.
You’ll find everything in detail and much more info in Where to eat in Bohol: Panglao, Loboc and Anda.
Responsible tourism
At Viajar Por Filipinas we try to raise awareness and actively work in favor of responsible tourism. Please avoid actions such as touching starfish, taking part in dolphin chases, feeding (some agencies throw food in Balicasag to attract more fish), stressing turtles by not keeping a safe distance, stepping on coral, or visiting fake tarsier or snake “sanctuaries” that encourage mistreatment.
On Alona Beach you’ll also see lots of people offering you tours to see the whale shark. Please do not book these excursions, as all they’ll do is take you to Oslob or Lila (the new aberration since 2019), places where a true crime is committed against this endangered species by feeding them every day.
Map of Panglao
To make it easier for you to locate each of the places we’ve mentioned, here’s a map of Panglao where you can easily view them all.
Do you have any questions? We’ll be happy to answer you in the comments.
