TheLoneRider
a seeker in search of Easter Eggs
Country > Philippines > Bohol > Anda
Date > 2017 > Jun
Activity > Traveling

Traveling

Exploring Anda, Bohol June 25-30, 2017

Exploring Anda, Bohol

Location Google Map: Anda (municipality), Bohol (province), Philippines

Anda, Bohol
Because of its distance from Tagbilaran (3 hours), the main hub of Bohol, Anda is the lesser known beach area in Bohol, overshadowed by Alona Beach in Panglao. But Anda is more pristine, less commercial, less expensive, with the same fine white sand beaches that extend way out before it gets deep. The main beach area at the Poblacion is about 1.5km long, but there are other beaches along the coast. The shore is lined-up with a few resorts and lodging places for locals and travelers alike. It begged to be explored!

Exploring Anda, Bohol
beach life in Anda, Bohol (photo by Ferd Aguilar)

Ferd 'Toys' Aguilar
As good fortune would have it, my high school buddy from Manila was in Cebu and decided to join me in Anda. Ferd and I go back a long way from our freediving days in Mabini, Batangas, our island exploration in Polilio Island and Blues nights in Manila. Here in Anda, we spent a lot of time just watching tv, beer on the beach, coffee on the roof deck of Zenith's Bar and sometimes, heated arguments about quantum mechanics, genetics and family. It was good 'ol times again with Ferd until he headed back to Cebu.

Anda LodgeAnda Lodge
Contact: Dodong Escobido
Mobile: 0917.540.9209
Google Map Location: 9°44'32.8"N 124°34'27.9"E
Reviews: Tripadvisor
Social Media: Facebook
For 5 nights, I stayed at Anda Lodge in a decent air-conditioned room with ensuite, wifi, water and cable tv for only P600/night/2 pax (low season)! This is the most affordable a/c guesthouse I know as far as my hotel scouring has taken me. It's a 2-minute walk from the beach and just across the street from the main eateries/market. This place is a winner for value! For a bigger group, they also have 2-bed and 3-bed family rooms.

Market Day
Tuesdays become animated as it's market day. Vendors occupy a big open lot behind the market to put up their booths. You get all kinds - fresh fish, veggies, ukay-ukay clothing, household items, etc. People from all the barrios in Anda make the trip to Poblacion to get their supplies.

Lamanok Island
This attraction is common in Anda but unknown outside its boundaries - not even in Tagbilaran. Lamanok is an islet you reach by boat from a mangrove forest about 7kms from Poblacion (tricycle, P30/pax one-way). From the main road, you take about a 100m walk on a bamboo bridge elevated by stilts along the mangrove forest. At the end is a resto fronting the sea. From there, you can take a boat tour, P300/pax, to explore the caves and nearby attractions. Unfortunately, I arrived too early. It was still closed so I walked along the bamboo bridge until I reached a locked gate. It was also fiesta in the area so I was advised that the people might sleep in a bit from an all-night fiesta activity.

Backpackers
After Ferd left, there wasn't much for social life. There were hardly travelers around. In the Philippines, it's not easy talking to the local travelers - it's not in the culture to be talking to local strangers unless you're a white guy. I usually default to the resident locals - not local travelers. I miss the company of backpackers - the kind of culture I've experienced along the backpacker trail of Southeast Asia. That's until I saw a group of backpackers eating behind the market. I approached them and started sharing travel insights. Later that night, we hung-out by the beach over some spirits. A group of local travelers from Bilar were there who invited us over to their tent. It was a fun night of socials and drinks.

Ending Thoughts
After staying in Anda for 6 days, it felt time to move on despite its many wonders I haven't seen yet. That will be for the next visit should I be favored to be here again. Anda feels like an onion with its many layered dimensions. Anda is more than just a white sand beach.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit Yoga by Gigit | Learn English Learn English | Travel like a Nomad Nomad Travel Buddy | Donation Bank Donation Bank for TheLoneRider



Leave a comment?

Reader Comments:

Wil DaviesWil Davies
(June 30, 2017) I was searching places of interest for visiting on my bike (I'm a bicycle packer), and found this article. Anda looks a nice ride from Tagbiliran. Rooms sound reasonable, beaches look good too.. Question I have is, can you camp &/or put up a hammock camp? Nice write up....

Next Traveling story:

Visiting Cabagnow Cave Pool Of Anda traveling

Visiting Cabagnow Cave Pool Of Anda

(Jun 28, 2017) Cabagnow Cave Pool is an opening on limestone ground that drops 8 feet into a pool of brackish water that goes down 5 feet deep. Either you rapel down, jump down or use a ladder - there is no way to climb down as the ground surface acts as an overhang...more »»

How to get to Anda from Tagbilaran Port

  1. take a tricycle from the port to Dao Bus Terminal (P15, 10 mins)
  2. at the bus terminal the yellow bus makes several trips/day to Anda (P95, 3 hours)
    Departure times: 5:20am, 8:50am, 10:20am, 12:45pm, 2:20pm, 4:20pm and 5:50pm
  3. get-off at the Anda public market. The beaches and resorts are just a short walk away
Bohol Google Map

Google Map Bohol, Philippines

tourist attractions in Bohol tourist attractions
  • Danao Adventure Park in Bohol Danao Adventure Park - zip lining, cable car ride, caving, river rides/trekking, off-road buggy ride, root climbing, rappelling and ultra-glide rides
  • Alona Beach in Bohol Alona Beach - hub for tourists with hotels, resorts, restos, bars and dive shops
  • Chocolate Hills in Bohol Chocolate Hills - hills side-by-side shaped like giant Kisses chocolate
  • Tarsier in Bohol Tarsier - pocket-sized marsupia looking like a monkey
  • Balicasag Island in Bohol Balicasag Island - one of the best dive spots in the Philippines
  • Loboc River in Bohol Loboc River - river cruise on a boat
  • Anda Beach in Bohol Anda Beach - fine white sand beach with resorts, restos and cottages, 3 hours by bus from Tagbilaran
  • Cabagnow Cave Pool in Anda, Bohol Cabagnow Cave Pool - brackish water pool about 5ft deep inside a limestone opening on the ground, 8 feet deep, P50
  • Lamanok Island in Anda, Bohol Lamanok Island - walk on a 100m bamboo bridge on stilts to a resto area to take a boat tour to caves and nearly attractions, P300
  • Combento Cave Pool in Bohol Combento Cave Pool - cave pool with underwater cave system, P20
  • Can-umantad Falls in Candijay, Bohol Can-umantad Falls - long narrow drop until it hits a bulbous mound spreading it into a a curtain-like water canopy and down into a splash pool
  • Canawa Cold Spring in Candijay, Bohol Canawa Cold Spring - deep refreshing cold spring with developed pool area
  • Firefly Tour in Candijay, Bohol Firefly Tour - evening boat ride into the river to watch fireflies
hotels in Bohol hotel
  • Fox & The Firefly Cottages Fox & The Firefly Cottages - SUP paddle boarding, luxury riverside native cottages, mountain bike tours, SUP yoga
    Baranggay Valladolid, Loboc, Bohol
  • Bohol Tropics Resort Bohol Tropics Resort - seafront location, manicured surroundings, swimming pool, resto/bar
    0133 Graham Avenue, Brgy. Cogon, Tagbilaran, Bohol 6300
  • Oasis Resort - Alona Beach location, dive center, resto / bar
    Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol
yoga in Bohol yoga
  • Jing Yoga - health & well being through yoga
    Jing Yoga The Courtyard - Airport Road fronting the church
    Jing Yoga Bohol Meditation and Yoga Center - 2nd Floor Lim Magtajas Bldg. CPG Avenue
Bohol Travel Info/Tips

Bohol FYI / Tips

  • the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is located within the Alona Beach area
  • the tourist attractions in Bohol are far apart and spread-out. It would be difficult to visit them all using public mass transit. Better hire a van (P3500/day) if in a big group, or rent a motorcycle (P400/day + gas)
  • Bohol relies on its tourism for revenue. As expected, everything they can capitalize on from tourism is extensively used and developed

Tagbilaran Port to Panglao

You can charter any tricycle from the port all the way to Panglao (~P300), but if you want to do it on the cheap,
  1. don't take the tricycles lined-up inside the port. Walk past the port gate and immediately outside, you'll see many tricycles. Take one to the bus terminal in Dao (~P15)
  2. in Dao, take the jeep that plies the Panglao route (~P20)

Tagbilaran (Bohol) to Cebu City by boat

** schedules and rates keep changing, call for latest schedule
  1. Weesam Express - departs 6:15 AM, 11:30 AM, 4:00 PM
    one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
    round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
    round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
  2. Ocean Jet - departs 6-7:05-8:20-9:20-11:40AM, 1-2-3:30-4:20-5:30-6:30PM, 2 hours, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
    Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
    +63(32)255 7560 / +63 (32) 255 0115 / 0917 638 0000
  3. SuperCat (2GO) - departs 5:50-11AM, 3:45-5:25-8:15PM, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
    P 500.00
    +63 32 233 7000

Things to do, Places to go in Bohol

  1. Chocolate Hills - this is a clustering of more than 1200 hills within a 50km2 area. They range in height from 30-50 meters. What's unusual is their near-perfect conical shape resembling an individual chocolate chip. No one knows how they were formed. Entrance is P50/pax.
  2. Tarsier Conservation Area - located Upper Bonbon, Loboc. The tarsiers are no longer being played at by tourists as circus props, but instead, visitors now view them in cordoned-off areas in their natural 6ha habitat. As they are territorial and nocturnal, they are predictable on where they can be viewed. P50/pax.
  3. Alona Beach (Panglao) - Alona Beach is the tourist hub of Bohol. It has 1.5 kms of white sand beach lined-up by bars, hotels and restos. Alona is also the jump-off point for Balicasag Island, a world class dive destination.
  4. Danao Adventure Park - located in Barangay Magtangtang, 72 kms (2 hours ride) from Tagbilaran. Adventure activities include river trekking, tyrolean traverse, rappelling, bouldering, rock climbing and ziplining.
Bohol blogs
Bohol

Bohol

Anda
  • Exploring Combento Cave Pool Jun 29, 2017
  • Visiting Cabagnow Cave Pool Of Anda Jun 28, 2017
  • Exploring Anda, Bohol Jun 25-30, 2017

  • Candijay
  • Roadtrip from Candijay to Ubay Jul 1, 2017
  • Firefly Tour In Candijay, Bohol Jun 30, 2017
  • Freediving Canawa Cold Spring Of Candijay, Bohol Jun 30, 2017
  • Splashing At Can-Umantad Falls, Candijay, Bohol Jun 30, 2017

  • Carlos P. Garcia Island
  • Exploring Carlos P. Garcia (CPG) Island by Bike Dec 1, 2017

  • Corella
  • Cycling to View the Tarsier in Corella Oct 26, 2017

  • Dauis
  • Cliff Dive at Molave Cove Feb 11, 2018
  • Freediving at Molave Point, Dauis Nov 6, 2017
  • The Return to Hinagdanan Cave Nov 5, 2017
  • Exploring Hinagdanan Cave Oct 24, 2017

  • Loay
  • The Ride to Morning Hill Oct 22, 2017
  • The Ride to the Old Spanish Tower Oct 21, 2017

  • Loboc
  • Goodbye Loboc, Goodbye Philippines Mar 15, 2018
  • The CubbyHole: Envisioning a Utopian Shangrila Mar 10, 2018
  • Fat Shredder with the Russian Twist Mar 2, 2018
  • No-Dismount Climb to Cruz Daku Mar 1, 2018
  • Jeffrey's Cardio Program Feb 26, 2018
  • SUP Yoga with Lalah de Dios at Fox and the Firefly Feb 25, 2018
  • Bike Ride with Juan Huerte: Loboc, Sikatuna, Corella and Baclayon Feb 25, 2018
  • CT Scan Result Feb 23, 2018
  • The Silent Killer has Arrived Feb 19-22, 2018
  • 24+ Days at Lyn's Backpackers Inn Jan 23 - Feb 16, 2018
  • All Day Fun with the Loboc Crew Feb 11, 2018
  • 20-Minute Rope Skipping w/ Pranayama and Meditation Feb 9, 2018
  • Calisthenics with Jeffrey Feb 7, 2018
  • Abs-Core Workout with Jeffrey Feb 5, 2018
  • High Intensity Cardio Workout Feb 2, 2018
  • Ride to the Landslide with Jeffrey Jan 31, 2018
  • Farm Tour with Mr. Raymond Cal Jan 29, 2018
  • Cacao Drum Roasting Jan 27, 2018
  • Making Sikwate: from cacao fruit to a hot dark chocolate drink Jan 25, 2018
  • 5 Weeks at the Fox and Firefly Cottages Dec 13, 2017 - Jan 23, 2018
  • In-House Yoga Teacher at the Fox and Firefly Cottages Jan 22-Mar 14, 2018
  • Mountain Bike Rides from Tagbilaran to Loboc Jan 18, 2018
  • Firefly Tour on a Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) Dec 19, 2017
  • Playing Mountain Bike Tour Optimizer Dec 18, 2017
  • Back to Loboc Dec 13-17, 2017
  • 37 Days in Loboc - Thank You and Goodbye Oct 8-Nov 14, 2017
  • Exploring Busay Falls, Loktob Spring And Jimili-An Spring Nov 11, 2017
  • Stand-Up Paddle Yoga with Joan Christine Nov 3, 2017
  • SUP (Stand Up Paddle) Bohol Oct 29, 2017
  • Exploring Guimba and Sog-ong Caves of Loboc Oct 22, 2017
  • Ziplining and Cable Car Ride at Eco-Tourism Adventure Park Oct 22, 2017
  • Savouring Villagio Pizza Oct 19, 2017
  • Wet and Wild Bonbon-Alegria Downhill Ride Oct 18, 2017
  • River Cruise on Loboc River Oct 17, 2017
  • Back Road Ride To Loay Oct 17, 2017
  • Leisurely Ride to Loktob Spring Oct 14, 2017
  • Sweet Ride to Busay Falls Oct 13, 2017
  • Bike Climb to the Virgen de Guadalupe Oct 12, 2017
  • The Ride to Cruz Daku (Big Cross) Oct 11, 2017
  • Exploring Loboc, Bohol Oct 8, 2017

  • Panglao
  • Coastal Cleanup with Plastic Free Bohol Sept 16, 2017
  • Exploring Panglao Jun 12-18, 2017
  • Yoga With Jing And Rai At Oasis Resort Jun 18, 2017
  • Freediving With Ben Meerhaeghe At SeaQuest Dive Center Jun 16, 2017
  • Scuba Diving Balicasag Island With SeaQuest Dive Center Jun 15, 2017
  • Bohol Revisited Jun 12, 2017
  • Exploring Bohol with Metz Nov 28-30, 2015

  • San Miguel
  • Visiting Bayongan Lake Nov 22, 2017

  • Sevilla
  • Killer MTB Ride from Sevilla Oct 30, 2017

  • Sikatuna
  • Solo Ride To The Sikatuna Tree Park Nov 2, 2017

  • Tagbilaran
  • 30 days in Tagbilaran, Thank You! Oct 8, 2017
  • Breakfast Talk with Tagbilaran's Finest Oct 8, 2017
  • Exploring the Cafe Scene of Tagbilaran Oct 7, 2017
  • Yoga for 60+ Students at the University of Bohol Oct 4, 2017
  • Chocolate Overload At Dalareich Chocolate House Oct 2, 2017
  • Talk on Philosophy and Spirituality to 12-Graders at the University of Bohol Sep 27, 2017
  • Celebrating the International Day of Peace Sep 23, 2017
  • Judging a Student Debate at the University of Bohol Sept 15, 2017
  • Fitness Workout with Chie at Bohol Tropics Resort Sept 13, 2017
  • Modified Ashtanga Primary Series by Jing Yoga Sept 12, 2017
  • Tagbilaran Revisited Sep 7-12, 2017
  • Hello Tagbilaran! Jun 19-25, 2017

  • Ubay Ubay

    2017

  • Goodbye and Thank You, Ubay Nov 14-Dec 13, 2017
  • Visiting the Ubay Stock Farm Dec 8, 2017
  • Exploring Cambugsay Healing Hills with Lars Jensen Nov 22, 2017
  • Visiting Ubay Green Park Nov 18, 2017
  • The Ride to Sinandigan Boardwalk and the Yamashita Treasure Hunt Nov 18, 2017
  • Ubay Life Nov 17, 2017
  • In Search of the Next Destination Nov 14, 2017
  • 2 Days in Ubay Jul 1-3, 2017
  • Roadtrip from Candijay to Ubay Jul 1, 2017
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