Panglao Hotels

Panglao Island-- Panglao is an island in the north of Bohol Sea, located in the Central Visayas Region. It is known for its diving locations and tourist resorts, it is 8 kilometers from Tagbilaran, Bohol. Fall in love instantly with Panglao’s bucolic charm.

At A Glance

Panglao is located southwest of Bohol and east of Cebu. It has gained a reputation as one of the top choice destinations in the Philippines. Renowned and celebrated for its stunning coral reefs, dive spots and a manifold of islets fitting for sun worshippers, Panglao’s serene ambiance and unblemished island is truly impeccable. Panglao packs plenty of beauty. From the abundance of its white, powdery sand that covers its circular coastline, to the teeming marine life, the island seemingly has it all.

How to Go

By plane

If you are outside of the Philippines, you can take a flight to either Manila or Cebu before taking another flight or boat ride to Bohol. Cebu is preferable to Manila since it is closer, but only a few international flights arrive there.

After arriving in Manila, you can take any of the daily domestic flights to Tagbilaran City which takes about an hour and fifteen minutes. Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific and Air Asia offer daily flights to Tagbilaran.

By boat/ferry

Ferries and ships are obviously slower than aircraft, but they can save you a whole lot of money. If you are in Manila, you can also take a boat ride via Superferry, which is cheaper but takes more than 24 hours to arrive in Tagbilaran City seaport.

If you're in Cebu, you may choose to ride a fast craft ferry to Tagbilaran City seaport. This usually takes about an hour and a half.  Supercat and Oceanjet are some of the operators of fastcraft trips to Bohol.

Once in Tagbilaran City, you may opt to ride multicabs, vans or jeepneys for hire going to Panglao, make sure that you inform the driver of your destination and agree on a fixed rate.

Getting Around

The major mode of transportation in Panglao is the tricycle, a small cab powered by a motorcycle that can accommodate up to 3 passengers.

Tourist Attractions

The Bohol Bee Farm is a must-see in Panglao. It’s popular for producing organic vegetables which they also use in preparing dishes in their restaurant. Check out the Hinagdanan Cave, a naturally lighted cavern with a deep lagoon. Be ready to get wet and wild, windsurf, snorkel, kitesurf, go kayak and ride the canoes. If you’re lucky, you may also go dolphin and whale watching at Panglao.

Top Things to Do

Visit the underground lake inside the coral cave. Go dolphin watching in the morning. Rent a pumpboat at Poblacion, Panglao to hop among the islands. The calmness of Puntod and Gak-ang islets is a must-see. Swim all day, go on snorkelling at Balicasag Island and take Instagram-worthy photos at Virgin Island! Or go diving and explore wrecks and the colorful life underwater.

Where to Eat

If you’re craving for the bounty of the sea, either South Palm Resort’s Oceanic Seafood Restaurant or Linaw Beach Resort’s Pearl Restaurant are your best choices. But if you’re looking for something more exotic, the latter offers ostrich steak and barracuda.

Feast your eyes on the breathtaking Bohol sea while enjoying European and Asian sumptuous cuisines at Tarsier Paprika. L’Elephant Bleu Restaurant is one of Bohol’s hidden culinary gems has French and American cuisines. For authentic Italian cuisine, Guiseppe Pizzeria is your best bet.  

Nightlife

Panglao Island’s nightlife at the beach may be a bit boring if you’re looking for the ‘Boracay Party like’ experience. There’s Spiked Coconut which sets up on the beach every night when it isn’t raining. They have a local group that plays live music. A few groups are pretty talented and most take requests.

Insanity is also a great place to check out. They have live DJs that play modern music. Pinarella Bay is also worth visiting. They have great music although very limited seats. This is the most fun bar you can find in Panglao.

Where to Stay

Alona Beach is Panglao’s top beach destination for its white sand beach, blue waters and world class diving. This patch of tropical bliss is surrounded in palm trees that veer towards the crystal clear waters. There are rocky cliffs on both ends of the beach, and some excellent snorkeling or diving within swimming distance from the beach.

Discover a paradise hideaway where luxurious seclusion meets exotic natural beauty at Bellevue Resort. This sprawling five-star property solidifies Panglao’s position as a premiere vacation destination. They have high emphasis on service and quality throughout.

Amorita Resort is tucked away from all the other hotels on the island and takes pride in its quiet, tranquil surroundings. The resort also features a lush tropical garden leading to its own private white beach, an infinity pool with a stunning panoramic view of Bohol Sea, a pool bar where one can enjoy the amazing view of the sunset, and a fine dining restaurant with ocean inspired international cuisine. Linaw Beach Resort is also an excellent place to stay. The price is affordable, the location is great, and the view is top-notch.

Travel Tips

• Lather on generous amount of sunblock lotion to prevent your skin from sun damage.

• Bring a GoPro camera or any underwater and shockproof camera to capture Panglao’s great marine life and corals or snap those moments during your snorkelling and scuba diving activities.

• Bring a jacket. The wind tends to become chilly at night.

• If you have seasickness, don’t forget to pop a tablet 30 minutes before your island-hopping activity so you can enjoy and explore the island sans any hassle.