Trifter

If you are planning on a beach vacation, here’s one destination that will surely captivate your senses and awaken your passion for the sun, sand and the sea – Panglao, Bohol, the Philippines.

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For those not familiar with the Philippine geography, the country is an archipelago composed of three main island groups, namely: Luzon (where Manila is located, Visayas, and Mindanao. Bohol is one of the island provinces in the Central Visayas region. It has a land area of 4,117.3 square kilometers (1,589.7 sq mi) and a coastline which is 261 kilometers (162 mi) long, making it the tenth largest island of the Philippines.

The town of Panglao, is one of the two municipalities (the other being Dauis) comprising the island of Panglao, which is connected to the Bohol mainland by a couple of bridges. It is where my father was born and raised. And though I have only been there a few times, I have definitely fallen in love with the town’s allure and its idyllic beaches.

How to get there

From Manila, the country’s capital, you could take a flight to Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol. Philippine Airlines, the country’s flag bearer offers three flights daily to Tagbilaran City. Other airlines such as Cebu Pacific Air and Zest Air also offer daily flights to this famous tourist destination in the Philippines. You could also opt to travel by boat from Manila and nearby provinces, though boat trips are not available everyday.

Image via Wikipedia

Once in Tagbilaran City, you could take a bus, hire a cab, or rent a van to go to Panglao. The first town you get to see upon crossing the bridge connecting the island of Panglao to the Bohol mainland is the municipality of Dauis. Since white sandy beaches dot the island, Dauis also boasts of several beach resorts. Another famous spot in Dauis is the amazing Hinagdanan Cave, an underwater cave.

Image via Wikipedia

Further into the island is the municipality of Panglao, home to the world-renown beaches such as the Bohol Beach Club, Alona Beach and a lot more.

What to do in Panglao, Bohol

Panglao not only offers white beaches with crystal-clear waters, but also world-class diving sites. Divers from all over the world delight in the numerous diving sites dotting the waters of Panglao. These sites are deep, have strong currents, and offer spectacular underwater scenes.

Image via Wikipedia

Alona Beach is a long stretch of fine white sand dotted with sea-side bars, restaurants and resorts. The beach is open to the public and is therefore the most popular among locals and tourists. At night, dining and live music is at its best along this sandy stretch too. Aside from resorts and restaurants, Alona Beach has a commercial hub too which boasts of internet cafes, banks, souvenir shops, and a lot more. You could also find travel agencies offering organized diving tours, trips to other famous Bohol locations, including the Chocolate Hills in the town of Carmen, as well as dolphin watching. Yes, for P300, you could take a boat ride that will take you to a place frequented by dolphins.

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During the day, you could also explore the town and visit its old church originally built by the Spaniards, the town plaza, and the famous Hinagdanan Cave, a breathtaking under-water cave.

The Best time to visit Panglao, Bohol

I have only been to Panglao, Bohol during Christmas and once in November. And during each visit, I could see the place, particularly Alona Beach, teeming with both local and foreign tourists. My parents say that during April and May, the summer months in the Philippines, tourists also flood Panglao.  Since the entire province of Bohol generally celebrate the feasts of their respective patron saints during the month of May, many Boholanos from all over the country and abroad come home during the months of April and May, contributing to the festive atmosphere during these months.

My daughtter Zara, enjoying the white sand of Alona Beach.

According to my mother, foreign tourists visit Bohol anytime of the year. All year round, they can be seen roving the beaches of Panglao, the malls of Tagbilaran, and the other tourist spots of this province. And if you visit the place, you would be able to understand why. People are simply attracted to the general ambiance of Bohol – an interesting blend of serene antiquity and avant-garde modernity.   

When we were in Panglao last January, I wrote a poem as a tribute to Alona Beach. Although I did not specifically mention the name Alona, Walking along the Beach refers to this breathtaking stretch of fine white sand which we frequent almost everyday whenever we are in Panglao, Bohol.

Image via Wikipedia

So the next time you plan on taking a beach vacation or going for a promising diving adventure, consider the island of Panglao in the Philippine province of Bohol. And you will surely fall in love with the place – and its people, as many foreigners do, and have then settled in the place.

More travel articles of mine:

Vacationing in Panglao, Bohol

A Day at the Historic Corregidor Island