Visiting Panglao
Panglao is the main town on the island of the same name, located within the Visayas archipelago in the Philippines. The island is easy to reach, connected to Bohol by two bridges. While Panglao is known for its beaches, it also anchors the local nightlife and offers endless options for water sports. Whether you are looking for kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, freediving, or boat tours, you will have plenty of ways to fill your days.
Panglao Island: Beaches and boat trips
Panglao is primarily known for its main hub, Alona Beach. This 1.5-kilometer stretch is the center of island activity, packed with restaurants, bars, nightclubs, dive shops, and boat rental agencies. For those seeking quiet, the eastern end of the beach is more relaxed. You can also head to Dumaluan Beach, a beautiful stretch of white sand with warm, shallow water. Doljo Beach is much less crowded and serves as a prime spot for watching sunsets.
The most popular excursions from Panglao are boat trips to Virgin Island and Balicasag. Balicasag is a protected marine sanctuary that limits visitors to 150 people per day. Its waters are teeming with corals, fish, and sea turtles, making it a premier destination for diving in the Philippines. Virgin Island is a pristine sandbar that appears to float on the ocean.
Natural curiosities on the island include the Hinagdanan and Cambagat caves. These flooded caverns are filled with stalactites and stalagmites and contain interior pools where you can swim.
Panglao culture
Beyond the coast, Panglao is worth exploring for its food scene. The Bohol Bee Farm is a standout, promoting local organic produce and serving traditional Filipino recipes. The Shell Museum is another unique stop, housing one of the largest collections of seashells in the world.
If you are interested in the Spanish colonial legacy, visit the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, also known as the Dauis Church. Built in 1753 and reconstructed several times following natural disasters, the architecture is eclectic, blending classical and Gothic elements. It long served as a fortress to protect locals from pirate raids. According to legend, the freshwater spring located under the main altar appeared miraculously when the residents were running out of supplies during a siege.
When to go
The dry season, running from January through April, is the best time to visit Panglao. Keep in mind that the Philippines see a peak in tourism during February, coinciding with the Lunar New Year.
How to get there
From the airport in Cebu, take a ferry to the Tagbilaran port on the neighboring island of Bohol. From there, you can reach Panglao by taxi, tricycle, or jeepney, depending on your schedule and budget.
Panglao is the name of the town but also the island attached to Bohol.
It is a fairly touristy island, and it is developing following the construction of the international airport.
Lots of hotels and bars along the beach, plus many diving schools.
From Panglao, it is possible to go to Virgin Island, see dolphins swimming in the sea, and see the sandbar in the middle of nowhere.
The mentality of the locals is changing with the influx of tourists, everything is becoming a paid service and the locals are trying to get as much money out of them as possible.
After my second trip, I have a bad memory of some of the locals, so I do not recommend this island.