Jun 12-18, 2017
Exploring Panglao
Location : Panglao, Bohol, Philippines
Oasis Resort
My stay in Alona Beach and visits to other places in Panglao would not have been as pleasurable without Oasis Resort as my base and SeaQuest as my dive go-to. I knew that at the end of the day, I would be resting my weary body on a very comfortable bed in a well-appointed room in this luxury resort.
Alona Beach
Alona Beach is a 1.5km stretch of fine white sand beach in Panglao, lined-up by restos, bars, dive shops and resort hotels - think Boracay but smaller and less grandiose. Touts and hawkers offer tours, dives and transport rides. This is a very commercial area. A coldie on a beach bar watching people promenade before sunset is Alona's most catchy moment.
TRIVIA - it is only now that I learned Alona Beach was named after a very popular 70s actress, Alona Alegre, who made a film here when there was still no name to the beach. I was delighted when I learned about this. I know Alona personally back in the day. I was seeing her younger sister Tess and I would chillout at Alona's digs in Forbes Park. She and Tess were living the high life. She would be driving her Jaguar while Tess (and I) would follow in her 450SL Mercedes Benz convertible. She likes hanging-out at Stargazer and lavishly down Champagne bottles. She would spend for everyone in her dozen-strong entourage (Tess and I would be a part of that entourage). Good old days. They were good people. Now, I begin to wonder where they are.
Tourist Prices
Alona Beach prices perhaps equal that of Boracay. It is expensive! Cheapest lodging starts at P300/night on a hammock but it goes up steeply to US$ 4,275/night (Eskaya Beach Resort And Spa). An average viande would be in the P250 range. Beer is about P70 but you get it for P50 on happy hour in some bars. Shakes? P100!
Bohol is safe!
With the current siege in Marawi City plus the recent attack by extremists in April 2017, business is slow marked by booking cancellations. Some establishments have cut down on operating hours while some have closed shop. The lingering thought of the news-reading public is that Bohol is not safe.
I'd been in Bohol now for a week and I can safely say the place is far removed from all that turmoil. It's fun here with security measures well in place.
Bohol Coco Farm
My Tagbilaran hostess, Dang, took me over to Bohol Coco Farm in Panglao to visit her friends, Julia and EJ, who own and run the place. Coco Farm resonates. Lodging price of P350 with Filipino breakfast is competitive. It's my kind of environment - backpacker crowd, natural food, organic farm, nature all around, wifi, hammocks, wellness-thinking, etc. Its energy also attracts like-minded people - the forward-thinking type who wants to make a difference. This overall vibe is exemplified by the family who runs the place.
Bohol Bee Farm
Raisa and Geraldine took me here at the main Dauis location. It is a 3-acre seaside property with elevation for a scenic view of the waters and the surrounding islands - great spot for good eats. Within the grounds is a hotel, boutique shop and resto. Their honey bahalina is a must! With their free-tasting station, we could be forgiven for throwing our own party-shots - to the concerned look of the staff! They have branches across Bohol, whether it's the Buzz Cafe or just the ice cream parlor.
Meditation Sit
I invited my Tagbilaran-based Vipassana sis, Kins, to visit me at the resort. Vipa-Theosophical Society member,Ludwig, came with her and together, we did our 1-hour meditation sit. We were joined by Raisa who was new to the practice. We helped ourselves to daku-bananaQ and tuba after. Later, we settled at Shaka resto for healthy eats.
Ending Thoughts
I have really just scratched the surface of Panglao. There is a rich culture underneath all that commercialism but it takes trust by the locals for an outsider like me to experience it. I am simply thankful to have met great people, privileged to have stayed in a plush resort and have all that wonderful experience. Panglao has many layered dimension to it that needs further discovery, but I've reached the end of the line. Next time should be exciting.
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit
|
Learn English
|
Travel like a Nomad
|
Donation Bank
Leave a comment?
Next Traveling story:
More on Panglao:
Panglao Map
Panglao Local Info
- Beaches - Alona Beach is the most popular beach but there are other beaches arrayed along the coast - Dumaluan Beach, Bogobo Beach, White Beach, Danao Beach, etc.
- Resorts - 5-star hotels and boutique resorts line up the beaches from P450/night (RedDoorz @ Gaea's Apartment) to P33k/night (Oceanica Resort). The most popular one is Henann Resort with about 600 rooms (P13k/night).
- Transport - Air-conditioned tourist buses regularly ply the Tagbilaran-Panglao route. Public tuktuk/tricles ply the public roads and you can flag them like taxis. Motorbike rentals are popular, usually at P300/day
Panglao Blogs
- Kat's Birthday at Oceanica April 24, 2024
- Teaching 'Energising Yoga' at Jing Yoga & Wellness April 23-28, 2024
- Freediving in Panglao with Haka Dive Center April 23, 2024
- 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
Panglao
PANGLAOMore on Bohol:
Bohol Google Map
Bohol, Philippines
- 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 - hub for tourists with hotels, resorts, restos, bars and dive shops
- Chocolate Hills - hills side-by-side shaped like giant Kisses chocolate
- Tarsier - pocket-sized marsupia looking like a monkey
- Balicasag Island - one of the best dive spots in the Philippines
- Loboc River - river cruise on a boat
- Anda Beach - fine white sand beach with resorts, restos and cottages, 3 hours by bus from Tagbilaran
- Cabagnow Cave Pool - brackish water pool about 5ft deep inside a limestone opening on the ground, 8 feet deep, P50
- 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 - cave pool with underwater cave system, P20
- 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 - deep refreshing cold spring with developed pool area
- Firefly Tour - evening boat ride into the river to watch fireflies
- Fox & The Firefly Cottages - SUP paddle boarding, luxury riverside native cottages, mountain bike tours, SUP yoga
Baranggay Valladolid, Loboc, Bohol - 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
- Jing Yoga - health & well being through yoga
The Courtyard - Airport Road fronting the church
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,- 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)
- 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- 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 - Ocean Jet - departs 6-7:05-8:20-9:20-10:40-11:40AM, 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 - 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Blogs
- Exploring Combento Cave Pool Jun 29, 2017
- Visiting Cabagnow Cave Pool Of Anda Jun 28, 2017
- Exploring Anda, Bohol Jun 25-30, 2017
- 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
- Exploring Carlos P. Garcia (CPG) Island by Bike Dec 1, 2017
- Yoga Talk with BCBP Kids July 6, 2024
- Sikwate at Daday Painitan May 9, 2024
- 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
- Yoga for Plus-sized Women May 24, 2024
- Bohol Yoga Festival April 20/21, 2024
- 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
- Chilling-out at the Floating Cottage with the Tagbilaran Walkers October 11, 2024
- Kat's Birthday at Oceanica April 24, 2024
- Teaching 'Energising Yoga' at Jing Yoga & Wellness April 23-28, 2024
- Freediving in Panglao with Haka Dive Center April 23, 2024
- 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
- Nov Food: Pizza, Smores November 2024
- November Snapshots: Garbage, Vote-Buying, Hair, Beach, Ants, Park, Tire, Banana-Q November 1-31, 2024
- Oct Chronicles: CPG Park, Bantawan Vendors October 2024 Oct Snapshots: Ice cream, Epal, Globe Sim, Garbage
- 65 Years Old October 16, 2024
- September Snapshots: Christmas, Cute Jogger, Confidence, September 1-31, 2024
- Sunrise Yoga at Bantawan, Old Airport September 2024
- Thai Food for September? September 2024
- August Snapshots: Contol Tower, Archway, Blood Compact, Bridge, Laundry, Kape Huan, Drag Race, Boulevard August 1-31, 2024
- Aug Food Odyssey: Pizza, Sikwate, Puto Maya, Budbud August 2024
- She Sat Beside Me August 31, 2024
- Yoga at the Tagbilaran Airstrip August 2024
- DIY University August 31, 2024
- Property Mapping using Google Sites August 26, 2024
- July Snapshots: camping chair/lurker July 1-31, 2024
- Learning Cebuano: July July 1-31, 2024
- Kitchen Hacks: Wheat Loaf, Rosti, Pancit Canton, Pizza, Fruit Breakfast July 2024
- Movie Review: The Matrix (1999) July 15, 2024
- Yoga Talk Community July 14/28, 2024
- Mangaon ta sa Hangos July 9, 2024
- Bohol Gothic Wine Label July 5, 2024
- June Snapshots: Cake delivery, Free hanging June 1-30, 2024
- Kitchen Indulgence: Wheat Bread, Pizza, Lechon Sandwich, French Toast June 2024
- May Snapshots: Stairway to Heaven May 2024
- May 2024: Carinderia food May 2024
- Moving to Taloto, Tagbilaran City May 19, 2024
- Yoga for Grown ups May 27 - June 21, 2024
- Yoga and Meditation for Kids May 27 - June 20, 2024
- Dalareich Chocolate House Revisited May 4, 2024
- Kat's Community Invite Apr 28 - May 19, 2024
- 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
- 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
Bohol
Bohol
Anda
ANDACandijay
CANDIJAYCarlos P. Garcia Island
CARLOS P. GARCIA ISLANDDauis
DAUISLoboc
LOBOCMaribojoc
MARIBOJOCPanglao
PANGLAOTagbilaran
TAGBILARANUbay
Ubay2017
Currency Converter
»» back to Traveling
»» back to Homepage
ARCHIVE 2024:
JAN |
FEB |
MAR |
APR |
MAY |
JUN |
JUL |
AUG |
SEP |
OCT |
NOV |
DEC
1970 |
1973 |
1975 |
1976 |
1979 |
1981 |
1996 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
ALL BLOGS