Looking for the best hostels in Bohol? If, like us, you enjoy backpacking in the Philippines, meeting other travelers and saving on accommodation by sharing, then the idea of sleeping in hostels will probably sound great to you.
As this is one of the archipelago’s most popular islands with plenty of things to do, in this article we’re going to talk about the best hostels in Bohol. We’ll divide them by areas, since, as we explain in Where to stay in Bohol, distances are long. Depending on what you have in mind to do, it’s better to stay in one place or another.
A few things to keep in mind when choosing hostels in Bohol
Location of hostels in Bohol
The first thing to consider when choosing your backpacker hostel in Bohol is the location. Although whenever we talk about Bohol we automatically associate it with Panglao, the truth is that they are two different islands. Since they are linked by two bridges, many travelers choose the latter as their base to explore both thanks to its beaches, diving and solid tourist infrastructure.
To sum it up briefly:
- If you want a mix of activities (inland, diving and beaches) and you want conveniences (hostels with a vibe, a bit of partying, varied food) and you don’t have many days (2–3 nights): we’d focus on Panglao.
- If you want more inland activities (Chocolate Hills, kayaking on the Loboc River, visiting several hidden waterfalls, rice paddies) and you don’t have many days (2–3 nights): we’d go to Loboc or the surrounding area.
- If you want to explore a lesser‑known part of Bohol and you have little time (2–3 nights): we’d stay in Anda.
- If you have 4 nights or more: we’d split the stay into two parts. You could do Panglao+Loboc or Panglao+Anda, for example. This way you can get to know different areas of the island.
- If you want to spend the night near the port or explore other waterfalls in northern Bohol: Tagbilaran, the capital, is best.
Infrastructure of hostels in Panglao and Bohol
Another thing to bear in mind when choosing a hostel in Bohol or Panglao is the infrastructure. As you’ll see below, most hostels in Bohol (hostels as such, with shared dorms, common areas, a bar…) are in Panglao. Since this is the most touristy part, most of them are concentrated here.
As happens with many hostels in the Philippines, many of them don’t have a shared kitchen. So, if that’s something you really value, don’t take it for granted. Double‑check before booking.
As for the party scene, unlike other tourist destinations such as El Nido or Siargao, except for a couple of places, you won’t find much of the ‘party hostel’ phenomenon in Bohol. That doesn’t mean there’s no evening atmosphere or that people don’t go out for a few beers or rums around Alona Beach.
Where to book your backpacker hostel in Bohol
The two booking platforms we recommend for reserving your bed in a hostel in Bohol or Panglao are Booking and Hostelworld. Both work very well in the Philippines and respond if you have any issues. The 2nd one, we don’t know why, has fewer properties, but we encourage you to compare prices on both. On the other hand, Agoda also works well in the archipelago, though it’s true it has fewer hostels.
Unless you’ve really left it to the last minute, our advice is that before booking a hostel in Bohol (and anywhere), you take a look at other travelers’ reviews. We know how important it is for a hostel to have a good vibe and be safe. After so many years on the road, we’re tired of seeing thefts and odd situations. Since we travel with a lot of work gear, this is especially important for us and if we see any review related to poor locker security, we ditch it. Same if we see the word “bedbug”. We don’t risk it for 1–2€ a night.
As for prices, a bed in a hostel in Panglao or Bohol is around 8–10€ per night. It’s unlikely you’ll find better prices on the spot unless you’re staying a week or more and want to negotiate. Therefore, we always recommend booking in advance, especially if you’re traveling around Easter, Christmas or local holidays.
If you’re on a flexible trip, you can always book with free cancellation. For that, Booking and Agoda work very well.
Comparison table of the best hostels in Bohol
| HOSTELS IN BOHOL AND PANGLAO | AREA | RATING | PRICE/NIGHT |
| BEST HOSTELS IN PANGLAO | |||
| Nautilus Hostel and Hammocks | Alona Beach | 8,8 – Fabulous | From 11€ |
| Peaceland Backpackers Hostel | North of Panglao | 9,1 – Fantastic | From 5€ |
| Greenspace | Near Dumaluan Beach | 9,5 – Exceptional | From 18€ |
| Moon Fools Hostel | Alona Beach | 7,6 – Good | From 9€ |
| BEST HOSTELS IN TAGBILARAN | |||
| Spinning Cat Hostel | Tagbilaran | 7,8 – Good | From 8€ |
| Oasis Balili Heritage Lodge | Tagbilaran | 8,8 – Fabulous | From 9€ |
| HOSTELS IN OTHER AREAS OF BOHOL | |||
| LHOYJEAN Garden Hostel | Chocolate Hills | 9,6 – Exceptional | From 5€ |
| Water to Forest Ecolodge | Loboc | 9,0 – Fantastic | From 11€ |
| 1 peace beach resort | Anda | 8,5 – Fabulous | From 9€ |
The best hostels in Bohol and Panglao
For their good value for money, facilities and atmosphere, these are the best hostels in Bohol and Panglao.
Hostels in Panglao
As we mentioned above, Panglao is an island connected to Bohol by a couple of bridges. This is where the international airport is and where the famous Alona Beach is located. You’ll also find the best beaches in Bohol here and the jumping‑off point to Balicasag, so there’s tons of accommodation. As for hostels, this is where you’ll find the largest backpacker offer.
If you want comfort, a good variety of restaurants, and you’re coming to dive, Panglao is your place. Discover with us the best hostels in Panglao:
€ Peaceland Backpackers Hostel
We start our selection of hostels in Panglao with one of the most affordable. Perfect for those who want peace and quiet and don’t mind riding a scooter a bit (they rent them there at a very good price), Peaceland Backpackers is a few kilometers north of Alona Beach, near Momo Beach. You’ll fall in love the moment you see it because it’s a beautiful wooden house where you’ll find private rooms (single and double) and shared dorms. Regarding the latter, we loved the furniture and décor—super artisanal.
The hostel also has a large plot of land where you’ll meet other travelers or simply enjoy the comfort of the hammocks. Something else that’s great to know is that they have a shared kitchen that’s perfect for cooking dinner and feeling at home. They have Wi‑Fi and reasonably priced beer!
Book Peaceland Backpackers Hostel here
© Peaceland Backpackers Hostel
$$ Nautilus Hostel & Hammocks
If you’re looking for a place near Alona Beach, this one is just a 10‑minute walk away and is possibly the hostel in Panglao with the most “vibe”. As its name suggests, it has hammocks for sleeping (with a fan, sheet and safe), 6‑bed shared dorms and what they call economy doubles, separated from each other by curtains, from 11€ per night. If you’re traveling with someone else and want more privacy, you can choose the deluxe doubles, which do have walls, air conditioning and a private bathroom.
With almost a 9 on Booking, travelers fall in love with the peace and quiet of this place and the kindness of Carolina, the owner. The breakfasts, which cost only 2€, are super complete and you always have free hot and cold water available. The internet works great.
Book your bed at Nautilus Hostel here
© Nautilus Hostel & Hammocks
€€ Moon Fools Hostel
If you don’t ride a scooter or you want to forget about transport just to go out for dinner, what you need is a hostel in Panglao that’s right in the thick of it. That’s the case with Moon Fools Hostel, which is in the heart of Alona Beach, full of restaurants, bars, shops, dive centers and agencies for arranging the tours you’re planning to do.
It’s a newly built hostel with double rooms and dorms for 6, 8 and 10 people (mixed and female). All of them have air conditioning and, in the case of the dorms, the beds have individual lights, sockets and a curtain that gives them lots of privacy. While the common room isn’t very large, it’s quite cozy and really livens up with the free cocktails they start serving at 18:00. A basic breakfast is included in the bed price.
Book this hostel in Panglao here
See Moon Fools Hostel prices on Hostelworld
© Moon Fools Hostel
€€ Greenspace
Sharing a room is great, but every now and then we fancy a bit of privacy, whether alone or with someone. Sometimes that means going over budget, but it doesn’t have to happen in Panglao because the supply of accommodation is so large that the value for money is very good. So if you want to treat yourself a little, we recommend this guesthouse at very backpacker‑friendly prices.
Located very close to Dumaluan Beach, this group of newly built double rooms has everything you need from 18€ per night. With Wi‑Fi, a private bathroom, air conditioning, a flat‑screen TV and hot water, each room also has a small terrace with a couple of chairs and a table where you can socialize a bit with other travelers or the lovely family who runs it. Heads‑up: Greenspace will be more suitable for travelers who plan to use a scooter (they rent them on site) as you won’t find restaurants nearby.
© Greenspace
Hostels in Tagbilaran
Tagbilaran is the capital of Bohol and the island’s largest city. Without being the chaos of Manila or Cebu, here you’ll find banks, shopping malls, an immigration office and several hospitals. It also has the main port with direct access to Cebu almost all day long. Therefore, you might be interested in staying in a hostel in Tagbilaran to spend the night near it or the bus station in case you arrive late or have to leave very early the next day.
To be honest, Tagbilaran isn’t a very pretty city and it’s not worth visiting in itself. So we’d take it more as a stopover than a place to base yourself to explore Bohol. For this, here are two more hostel options in Bohol:
€ Spinning Cat Hostel
Located in a quiet area of Tagbilaran, this Bohol hostel has plenty of flow. The decor of the shared rooms and common areas is super pleasant and has everything a backpacker needs: air conditioning, lockers, warm lighting and hot water. Plus, beds have curtains, giving much more privacy. The bathrooms are modern and spotless. For extra convenience, there’s a fully equipped kitchen and a pretty decent breakfast is included in the room price.
In terms of getting around, they arrange free transport to the port (always reconfirm this) and rent scooters. Without a doubt, it’s an option for those who want to feel at home and know they’ll be moving around the island by scooter at their own pace.
Book this hostel in Bohol here
© Spinning Cat Hostel
€ Oasis Balili Heritage Lodge
The first thing that will catch your eye about this hostel in Bohol is its building, restored from the Spanish colonial era and full of antique furniture. Located in the center of Tagbilaran, very close to the port (a 10‑minute walk) and the jeepney station to get to Panglao, you’ll find single, double and shared 4‑bed rooms—perfect for solo backpackers, groups of friends or families. A bed in the latter is unbeatable: from 8€. You can also choose whether or not you want air conditioning—great for the more cold‑natured.
If you add to this that the family who runs it is super friendly and will help you organize whatever you need during your stay in Bohol, little can go wrong. Although breakfast isn’t included in the room price, they offer a delicious homemade one for very little money. In addition, Oasis Balili Heritage Lodge has a very nice garden to enjoy Bohol nights and meet other guests. No wonder it has a score of 8,8 on Booking!
Compare prices for this hostel on Hostelworld
© Oasis Balili Heritage Lodge
Hostels in Bohol in more off‑the‑path areas
If Panglao doesn’t convince you because you want a lesser‑known inland spot or you’re keen to discover the Anda region, there are also some hostels in Bohol that might interest you. For example:
€€ Water to Forest Ecolodge
Have you read our Loboc guide yet? Then you already know we’re in love with this part of Bohol and encourage you to spend a couple of nights. If you’re looking for backpacker accommodation, the truth is there are few hostels around here. Most are guesthouses with private rooms. Even so, the one you’re looking for is Water to Forest Ecolodge, a special place where you’ll disconnect from everything.
Located at the end of a secluded dirt road, right by the Loboc River, this Bohol hostel consists of several wooden buildings, among which curious tree houses with nipa roofs stand out. The immersion in nature is intense, as only curtains and a mosquito net will separate you from the jungle.
They have private cabins and 4‑bed shared rooms separated by curtains that give lots of privacy. In addition, each bed has a fan, although it’s unlikely you’ll feel hot. If you add that the place is very well kept, that they have a very nice restaurant with great food (those smoothie bowls…) and the chance to explore the river and see fireflies, it’s no wonder other travelers rate it a 9.
Loboc is a great base for exploring the famous Chocolate Hills and several little‑known waterfalls in the area. We’re sure it’ll be an experience you won’t forget. Book fast!
© Water to Forest Ecolodge
€ LHOYJEAN Garden Hostel
The Batuan area is very close to the Chocolate Hills and Pangas Falls, one of the best waterfalls in Bohol. Therefore, it’s a great base for those who want to explore the island’s interior a little more, catch sunrise/sunset in such an emblematic place and get off the beaten path, since, to be honest, the tourist infrastructure around here is almost non‑existent.
This Bohol hostel won’t win you over with luxurious facilities but with the kindness of the family (Lhoy and Jean are lovely) who run it and the experience of living like they do for just 5€ a night. You’ll sleep in one of its three nipa huts equipped with a fan and mosquito net. The bathroom is shared and there’s no hot water, but how clean everything is and the feeling of being at home makes up for it. They also serve homemade breakfast and dinner at a good price so you don’t have to worry about where to eat. They rent scooters on site at a good price.
€ 1peace Beach Resort
Since this part of the island has only been receiving tourists for a few years, the truth is that you won’t find true hostels in Anda. There are a few guesthouses where you won’t pay much (you’ll find more info in Where to stay in Anda), but true backpacker places are scarce. Among these, we chose 1‑peace Beach Resort for two reasons: its awesome seafront location (there’s fantastic snorkeling) and because they have shared dorms that are perfect if you’re traveling solo and want to save.
Not only that, the place has a super pleasant atmosphere and, although it’s away from what could be considered the center of Anda, they offer communal dinners for 400 pesos that are pretty good. If you’d like to cook, you can also use the barbecue.
Although it’s in the Anda area, we only recommend it if you plan to get around by scooter, as it’s far to walk into town. Don’t worry—we can give you a contact who will deliver one to your hotel for little money if you leave us a comment.
See the rooms at 1‑peace Beach Resort
© 1-peace Beach Resort
Other hostels in Bohol that might suit you
If these hostels in Bohol don’t quite convince you, check out these others and compare:
- Hostels in Panglao: Mad Monkey Panglao
- Hostels in Tagbilaran: Gomez Guest House and Showmecas Alley Stay
- Hostels in other areas of Bohol: Mioki Hometel (Batuan area) and Pamujo Hostel (Baclayon area)
Map of hostels in Bohol
Here you can better locate the hostels in Bohol and Panglao we’ve talked about:
We hope this selection of hostels in Bohol has helped you get your bearings and find something that suits you and makes you feel comfortable. Bohol is one of the archipelago’s largest islands and has loads of activities to do. That’s why it’s one of the places we’ve explored the most and to which we’ve devoted countless hours to bring you the best. You’ll be interested in these articles:
If you have any questions or suggestions, we’re all ears! Leave us a comment below and we’ll reply as soon as possible.
