Bohol and Panglao Islands, Philippines

Bohol and Panglao, the pearls of ​Visayas

​Bohol is a tropical haven of natural beauty. The coastline of the island is skimmed by gentle coves and white sand beaches. Dolphin- and whale watching tours are popular with both residents and visiting tourists. The best season is from March to June, but dolphins can be seen year-round. In addition to white sand beaches and dive spots, Bohol is famous among other sights, for its Chocolate Hills, the Tarsier – arguably the world’s smallest primate, heritage sites and old stone churches.

The Baclayon Church, Bohol, is the second oldest stone church in the Philippines. It was partly destroyed in the earthquake 2013 which killed around 200 people.

White sand beach in Panglao

Sonculan Lake Panglao

The amazing Chocolate Hills in Bohol

Rice farmer with his carabau in Tabuan Garcia Hernandez, Bohol

Rainforest in Bohol, once the Tarsier territory

The two shy sisters in Tabuan, Bohol

Bohol and Panglao have it all

​Bohol together with Panglao are two very nice islands where you can have it all. I have been here many times. Either you can have a quiet beach life at some nice resort in Panglao or a more hectic party life in Alona Beach. I usually have Tagbilaran as my base and going around with tricycles or Habal Habal. I like Reyna's The Haven and Gardens hotel. It’s a nice budget hotel with breakfast included for 1000 PHP. From here I use to make trips out to Panglao or elsewhere on Bohol. Depending on where I am going I decide what transportation is suitable. Note! Click on images to see slideshow and captions!

The Hanging bridges over Loboc River, Bohol

The cable car at Loboc Eco-Tourism Adventure Park

Loboc River in Bohol where you can do river cruises.

My highlights

• Panglao Island Nature Resort, for its ambience, pools and nice location by the sea. See a review here >>>
• Buzzz café, for its healthy and delicious food.  See a review here >>>
• Virgin Island, for its beauty. Good for the budget traveler because everything is based on donations. See more information about Virgin Island >>>
• Loboc River Cruise, for its evening cruises. Nice and romantic to eat dinner on Loboc river with the loved one. They also have day cruises.
• Chocolate hills, for its beautiful landscape and it’s a nice day trip going there to see other parts of Bohol. See more information about Chocolate Hills >>>
• The tarsier, but try to see them in a real tarsier sanctuary. Not in a narrow cage, they are very shy animals and they don’t like to be disturbed. Avoid those places where they have them in small cages and go for the real tarsier sanctuary instead. For example visit the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Inc. near Corella town. See more information about the Tarsier >>>

The Philippine Tarsier has been a recorded life span of 12 years at most in captivity. However, a great many of these Tarsiers die only after a day or at most a few days if kept unhealthily in small cages and/or put under great strain while in captivity.

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Note! Click on images to see slideshow and captions!

The amazing Chocolate Hills

Nice beach with white sand and shallow water in Panglao

Two hills marked by the earthquake 2013

Talibon, a small city in north of Bohol

Going around

In Tagbilaran it’s very convenient with tricycle or Habal Habal. Going around in the central of Tagbilaran should cost 8 PHP. But as soon as you want to go to Panglao or further out in Bohol it will be rather expensive. Consequently if you are staying in Panglao you should rent a motorcycle. The price should be around 250-350 depending on the rental period and your negotiating skills. Ask around at the pier in Tagbilaran or in Alona. At Island City Mall (ICM) there is a busterminal for buses going around Bohol. Around A. Hontanosas Street, north of  the Plaza Rizal Park (City square) there are bus terminals for buses going to Panglao. When arriving to Bohol by the ferry or plane you need to negotiate hard when taking a tricycle. The tricycle drivers tend to try to take advantage of the tourists. At the airport there is a signboard with the tariffs for going to different places with tricycle.

​How to get there

There are direct flights from Manila with all the domestic airlines. You can also take the ferry from Cebu. There are two major ferry companies, the Ocean Jet ferry company and the 2Go company. The fare is around 500 PHP from Cebu to Tagbilaran. But look out for promos!

​Where to stay

There are numerous hotels in Tagbilaran. I prefer Reyna's The Haven and Gardens hotel at New Calceta street. 1000 PHP per night with breakfast. If Reynas is fully booked there are three other hotels just door to door to Reyna’s. One of those is Arabelle Suites see review >>>, a slightly more expensive option than Reyna's. This particular location in Tagbilaran and around the airport has very good LTE connection. Can be worth thinking of if you are dependent of a good internet connection via your portable WiFi device. You have also Staylite Park Bed and Breakfast near the airport, see review >>>. Staylite is a relatively new hotel. Nice and clean and suitable for the budget traveler. In Panglao you have tons of resorts from very cheap up to very expensive and luxury.

​Where to eat

There are of course plenty of alternatives in both Bohol and Panglao. But here is a list of places where I have been to in Bohol and made reviews of. Click the link and you will see the review.

• Swiss Zurigo Restaurant
• Bojol Grill Restaurant
• A's Chicken Nuggets & Grill Haus
• Shang Palace Seafood Restaurant
• Bo's Coffee
• The Buzzz Café, my favourite.
• Golden Cowrie

In Panglao there are even more choices specially around Alona Beach.
Click the link and you will see the review:

• Panglao Island Nature Resort & Spa
• Henann Resort Alona Beach

Related links:
Where to eat in Tagbilaran?
Find a house for rent in Panglao
Review of the Food Court in Island City Mall (Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines)
Isola de Francesco or Virgin Island, Panglao, Philippines
Review of Swiss Zurigo Restaurant (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Bojol Grill Restaurant (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of A's Chicken Nuggets & Grill Haus (Bohol, Philippines)
The giant Arogo and the smallest primate, what do they have in common?
Review of Panglao Island Nature Resort & Spa  (Panglao, Philippines)
Review of Henann Resort Alona Beach (Panglao, Philippines)
Review of Shang Palace Seafood Restaurant (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Bo's Coffee (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of The Buzzz Café (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Golden Cowrie (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Staylite Park Bed and Breakfast (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Arabelle Suites (Bohol, Philippines)