Panglao Island, just off of Bohol, is probably what we all want to see when we go on vacation. Most of the beaches are picture perfect, clear blue waters next to shinning white sand with the coconut trees hanging up above in just the right angle. Really, it’s as beautiful as it comes and it’s next to world-class diving spots.
Alona beach, definitely the most famous and well-developed beach on Panglao, is what happens when those picture perfect beaches become over populated with tourists. It’s a lovely spot, and there are lots of good restaurants to choose from, with some mild night-life, but you can’t walk 2 meters without a local trying to get you to buy something, you can’t sit down on the beach for 2 minutes without an old lady coming in to offer you a massage. It’s also quite pricey compared to most other nearby places on Panglao or Bohol. And wer’e talking low-season.
But, still ,that won’t take away from my pleasure of showing you how beautiful it all is…
I rented my motorbike at Tagbilaran City and went to circle Panglao Island. That gave me the pleasurable advantage of being able to stop wherever I wanted to along the way and sip in the beauty of a few beaches on Panglao, some more remote than others.
In some of those beaches, the water colors drove me insane. I could dip in those waters for hours just staring at all those variations of blue.
Perhaps some of the following panoramas, will give you a sense of how beautiful everything there was…
There are a few small attractions on Panglao, but nothing I’d say is a must. Hinagdanan Cave with its underground lagoon is worth a stopover for a few minutes, and you can take a dip though I’m honestly not sure that would be such a good idea.
Overall, one of the more beautiful and pleasurable days I’ve had in the Philippines. Nothing like beach hopping on a motorbike in a gorgeous faraway island on a wonderful sunny day.
More about Panglao Island:
- Bohol Part 1 : Tagbilaran to Panglao
- Bohol Part 2 : Dolphins, Snorkeling and Island Tour
- Panglao Island, Bohol
- Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol
- Alona Beach, Panglao Island