Panglao fulfills what it promises ?

Does Panglao really offer white sand beaches and turquoise water?

Known for its withe beaches and cristal clear water, we were kind of disappointed when did arrive at on this small island next to Bohol. First arriving on the Philippines you will get a culture shock, but we fell in love with the island and the vibe there.

How to get to Panglao?

When you come from Manila you can take a direct plane as Panglao has its own tiny airport close to the main city there.

If you come from Cebu there is a ferry to Tangbilaran. The ferry costs per person 800 Pesos but the charge additional fees for tax and suitcases. The boat trip is around 2 hours. When we arrived we did not see any taxis, but many tuk-tuks, which were I the end way better and cheaper to get to Panglao. The drive with it costs 500 Pesos and they are all friendly and know there island best.

Where to stay?

Higher Budget:

The Amorita Resort, Henann resort

Normal Budget:

Bohol Bee Farm, Bohol Shores, Bohol Coco Farm

What you can do there?

Country side:

Bohol is most famous for its Chocolate Hills, which are located in the centre of the island. From Panglao many locals offer Tours and private Cars. We decided to take a private Car for 2.500 Pesos, as we didn’t want to stop at all the attractions. The ones we recommend are worth a visit is seeing the Tarsiers. The are the smallest primates on earth and melt your heart with their tiny hands and big round eyes. The other thing are the Chocolate Hills, the street to get there is really nice, you drive next by many rice terraces and tropical nature. You can either get there by renting a Quad and drive through the mud and get dirty while having fun. If you want a more cheaper option, you can get there by a local who brings you there on a scooter for 300 Pesos. I personally can not recommend the boat trip on Lompoc River, as the expanded the boats to make more profit and overpack them.

Island Hopping & Snorkeling:

From Alona you can take one of the local Boats to Balicasag island and Virgin Island. The offer a Tour including Dolphin watching. I can not recommend you this as the boats do not respect their privacy and kind of hunt them. Balicasag is best recommended for snorkeling. I expected much, but it was really overcrowded and we could not snorkel by our own. But still if you wanna see turtles you will be successful here. Those animals are worth seeing and also many fished came close to us as the feed them with crackers and bread. From Balicasag the can also drive you to Virgin Island. In my opinion Virgin Island is way to overcrowded and does not offer that much that it would have been worth for us.

Cliff Jumping:

In the Northern part of the island at the Molave cove resort you can do some cliff jumping. The entrance fee is 100 Pesos and offers a nice place for sunset watching. Make sure you bring your mask with you as there are some nice corals and with a bit luck you can see some sardine swarms.

Beach Days:

Dumaluan Beach

This was the beach with the best recommendations. For sure the water was the clearest and you could see many sea stars. But the locals which were partying and drink on the beach were really disturbing for us. Also there were many bottles and trash on the beach. However if you want turquoise water and white sand go to Dumaluan beach.

Meno Beach

This was the most disappointing beach, as it was full with trash, locals singing karaoke and all the hotels at the beach were ruins. I can not recommend you this beach if you want clean turquoise water.

Alona Beach

For sure Alona is the most famous one on Panglao island as it is close to the city and all the island hopping tours start from there.

Massage & Spa:

The Philippines are well known for their wellness resorts and Spas. We booked a massage in our hotel and the came into our room and we had a massage in our bed. More comfortable is not possible I think. Moreover the prices are incredible cheap comparing to Europe, 1 hour massage costed us around 800 Pesos per person and the manicure was around 500 Pesos. So treat yourself when you are on the Philippines!

Where to eat?

Panglao is a heaven for Vegetarians and Vegans. Our favorite vegan Brunch restaurant was Shaka. The offer the best smoothie bowls, vegan burgers and iced coffees.

For Dinner I can recommend Bohol bee Farm, as everything on your table is organic. Their Summer rolls, called Lumpia were our favorite, but also the pizza, salads and pasta was a organic vegetarian heaven.

For more oriental food experience the Lekker Garden offers nice curries and many vegan options with tofu. Really good were the Curries with fried tofu and Eggplant or with coconut milk.

The best place to eat in Sangalo is Molly Bistro. The Food was decorated incredibly and also the taste was 10 out of 10. From Truffle Burger to Salomon Steak they offer high quality food for an incredible cheap price. For a dinner for 2 you pay around 1.500 Pesos. If you search for something vegetarian here, their menu has not a lot to offer, but their eggplant lasagne was amazing!

Philippines is Mango heaven! On the Philippines I ate and drunk my whole body weight in mangos as you can get fresh shakes, mangoes, dragon fruits and fresh smoothies in the fruit shacks all around the island. Don't miss it out!

I hope I could convince you that Panglao has a lot more to offer and is absolutely a vibe. Tell me about if you are already planing a trip to the amazing Philippines now! :)