Beachin' in Panglao

Panglao is the home of the finest beaches in Bohol. Known for its powdery white sand, no wonder it is known internationally as one of the best summer destinations!

(c) traveltreats.wordpress.com

Panglao's area is quite bigger than Boracay, so it comprises several beaches for you to stay and chill. Due to compressed time, I only visited Dumaluan Beach and Alona Beach.

Dumaluan Beach

Dumaluan has more maintained shoreline, hence it is known for having the finest powdery sand and clear waters, unlike Alona Beach shoreline that is clumped with seagrass most of the time. It houses the most high-end beach resorts in the island, Bohol Beach Club and Eskaya Resort. But if you have a strict budget, you can still visit Dumaluan Beach Resort that is locally owned and maintained. For as low as 25 PHP, you can already have a splash of Dumaluan's clear water and waddle on it finest white powdery sand! There are also beach resorts that offer reasonable price for frugal beach buffs aside from BBC, Eskaya and DBR. 

If you're looking for more serene beach spots, Dumaluan is the best beach area for you! However, food choices are limited in the area compared to Alona Beach, where the party and crowd reside!

Dumaluan Beach Resort is one of the most affordable beach in the island. 

Dumaluan's finest powdery sand (c) boholblog.myboholguide.com

Alona Beach

If you're looking for nightlife, foodtrips, party and crowd, go to Alona Beach! But need not to worry, it's not as crowded and noisy as Boracay, but not as quiet as Palawan as well. It's somewhere in the middle! So it is really perfect for tourists who would like to chill and do a little party as well!

Seagrass are scattered around, and small diving boats are parked everywhere making the beach a little bit crowded.
But it has a white, fine powdery sand and clear waters as well. 

Food and accommodation is not a problem in Alona Beach. It offers a vast number of hotels, restaurants and bars just in front of the beach, from expensive to the most affordable price!

Hotel

We stayed at Alona Vida Hotel, right at the heart of Alona Beach. The price is just somewhere in the median if you list all the hotel rates in the area. There are a lot of resorts that are in the beach front area, but if you are a backpacker who just needs a little place to spend the night, there are also bed spaces for rent pricing from 1200 PHP per night.


Activities

There are lesser activities to do in Panglao unlike in Boracay. But Alona Beach has the best diving spots for its rich marine biodiversity. No wonder why diving shops are also scattered around the area.

Island Hopping

When you get bored chilling and burning your skin from the sun, hire a boat to bring you to Balicasag and Virgin Island. A lot of locals around the shoreline actually bump into you to avail of their boat rides for at least 1000 PHP. Here are some list of the activities you can do and spots that are must-see! 

Dolphin Watching!

Snorkelling at Balicasag Fish Sanctuary (c) boyetstour.blogspot.com

Lunch at Balicasag

Fresh Sea Urchins! Tastes like the sea. Vendors will break these sea urchins in front of you, so it's guaranteed fresh from the sea! It's 60 PHP each.

Visit the Virgin Island's Sandbar!

Visit the Virgin Island's Sandbar! (c) Reyan Abes

Food and Nightlife

Alona by night

Since Europeans do visit this place most of the time, restaurants offer vast kinds of cuisine, from Italian, Swiss, French, Thai, Korean and some Continental dishes so your taste buds won't get bored on your entire stay. While at night, these restaurants turn into bars as they offer different kinds of drinks and cocktails while you are serenaded by different live bands of different genre. I don't usually get loyal to any of those restos during my stay. Every night, I usually go restaurant and bar hopping to taste everything Alona Beach has to offer as much as I could. So here are the must-visit bars and restaurants at Alona Beach!

Brick-oven Pizzas

Don't forget to stop by Alona Brick Oven Pizza or Hayahay Hotel and Restaurant and Coco Vida and taste their freshly baked hot Pizza!

Ihaw-Ihaw

For authentic Filipino dishes, stop by the Alona's grilling station. They are scattered everywhere, every night! It might be a little bit costly (since these are imported from Tagbilaran) but I guarantee you a great taste!

Squids, crabs, shells and fish, these are guaranteed fresh!

Coco Vida

Of course I have to blog about the bar and restaurant of my hotel. It offers one of the best and sumptuous food in Alona Beach (without bias!) though it's a little bit expensive. Don't worry, it's worth the price!

My Papa and I cannot just get away with our comfort food -- SINIGANG

Happy Hour!

Stay awake until 22:00 and you can have alcoholic drinks for a cheaper price. No, it's still not cheap after all. But as a benefit of being an explorer, I discovered Lost Horizon Resort for having a legit happy hour prices. Its beers cost from 25 - 40 PHP during happy hours, compared to other bars in area, which prices are doubled. Aside from the beers, you can also have a Rhum-coke for a price of 25 PHP compared to 100 PHP price on other bars. IT'S A REAL HAPPY HOUR!

Bohol Bee Farm

It's outside the area of Alona Beach (20 mins away from the area), so you have to approach your front desk to bring you to Bohol Bee Farm. It offers the best organic food so you can eat without guilt. Do not also miss their homemade ice cream with dried cassava cone.

Malunggay and Ginger Ice Cream in Dried Cassava Cone! Click the link below to know more
about Bohol Bee Farm!

Click Here for my Organic Journey and my tour around their farm and my spicy verdict!

Panglao Island is the best place for a little fun and a little chill. Since there's not much activities to do in here and it is not much crowded as well, all you need to do is relax, dip into its cool waters, lie down on its white sands and move away from the stressful world in the city.

Always,

TPS Goes to Bohol! Click Here