Things to do in Panglao, Philippines - 11 tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

What to see and do in Panglao, Philippines? Panglao is a popular Philippine holiday island, located on the larger island of Bohol and offering beautiful sandy beaches, restaurants and resorts. Here are our top tips on what to see and do in Panglao!

Panglao in the Philippines

The island of Panglao offers fine sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and a wide range of excursions. The island has become a popular holiday destination for South Koreans, but also for other Asians and Europeans.

Panglao is located southwest of the larger island of Bohol in the Philippines, and is connected to the main island by two bridges.

What to do in Panglao?

What to see and do in Panglao? This beautiful island offers everything from sunbathing and swimming to restaurants and exciting excursions. We've put together a list of our top tips here.

1. Hang out at Alona Beach

The most famous beach in Panglao is called Alona Beach, and this is the place to go if you want to experience sun and swimming combined with people, restaurants, shops and excursions.

The beach is a long fine sandy beach, with soft fine-grained sand, and the water is crystal clear. There are many places to eat, such as Trudis Place, where we had seafood with chips.

2. Experience Dumaluan Beach

If you want to experience an equally nice beach, where things are a bit quieter, you can look for Dumaluan Beach, which on the map gradually turns into White Beach. Here you can enjoy the same soft sand and clear water, but with slightly less tourists. However, it is possible to order a snack here too, for example at Yuken Mari Beach Haus.

3. Discover the island's other beaches

Besides Alona Beach and Dumaluan Beach, there are a number of other beaches in Panglao, such as Doljo Beach, Momo Beach, Panglao Beach and Bikini Beach. You can search around to find your personal favourite. For example, we checked out Bikini Beach, which we didn't think stood out in any way. Instead, we liked the tiny strip of beach, Tuba Beach, just below our hotel.

4. Diving or snorkelling

Some popular things to do in Panglao are snorkelling and diving. Along Alona Beach there are several places that organise diving tours and rent or sell equipment. The water is crystal clear and during the diving or snorkelling tours there is a chance to see many kinds of colourful fish, but also sea snakes, starfish, crabs and shells.

5. Descend into the Hinagdanan cave

In the northern part of Panglao, the Hinagdanan cave is a popular destination. You have to pay a fee to visit the cave (and an extra fee if you want to swim in it) and around the cave there are lots of small shops selling clothes and accessories. The entrance to the cave is relatively narrow, so you have to go one at a time, and a long staircase leads down to the cave itself.

Hinagdanan Cave is a limestone cave that is naturally lit, via holes in the ceiling, and filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The ceiling is home to lots of small birds, which can be seen circling around from time to time. However, the cave is not suitable for bats as it is too bright.

In the centre of the cave is a large green shimmering lagoon. Here you can choose to swim if you have a special ticket for it.

6. Take an excursion to Virgin Island

Virgin island, or Pungtud island as it is also called, is a small sandy tongue sticking out of the sea just off Panglao. It has a lovely shape and many boat trips are organised here.

7. eat Japanese food at Udzuki

We managed to try a whole range of restaurants on Panglao, and one of our favourites was undoubtedly the Japanese restaurant Udzuki. We were lucky enough to live close to this place, which is a bit out of the way, but if you like Japanese food, it's definitely worth getting here by moped or tricycle. Cosy environment, lovely staff and fantastic food prepared with care. We can recommend sushi, fresh spring rolls, gyoza and yakiniku.

8. Feast on Italian pizza

If you like pizza, you're also in luck. There are (at least) two good Italian restaurants on Panglao. One is called Sicily and is located along the motorway that runs between Alona Beach and the main island of Bohol. The other is a Neapolitan restaurant called A Tavola, which you can find closer to Alona Beach. There we also drank really good wine. Below you can read about even more restaurants in Panglao:

READ MORE: Restaurants in Panglao - 9 tips

9. Coffee at Zara's café

One thing you can't miss doing in Panglao is visiting Zara's café. We were tipped off first by a German couple, and then by an Italian restaurateur, and both were right. Great views and great pastries!

As a Swede, it is also funny that this is a Swedish Café. Here you will find cinnamon buns, almond cookies, Toast Skagen, sandwiches on sourdough bread, Swedish flag, Dala horse and Swedish owners. Simply a must on Panglao!

10. Check out Tagbilaran City

Tagbilaran City is the main town on Bohol, and is just across the bridges from Panglao. This is actually quite a hectic, noisy and impoverished city, so if you're on a time-limited holiday and want to enjoy the peace and quiet, you might want to stay away. However, if you have more time, it can still be interesting to check out the city.

If you want to shop for clothes, you can check out the Alturas Mall, for example. We had lunch at the Metrocentre hotel, right next to Alturas, where we were served good Asian food.

11. Day trip to Bohol - Chocolate hills and ghost animals

Connected to the main island of Bohol by two bridges, Panglao is easily accessible for excursions. You can either rent a moped and head out on your own, or you can book yourself onto pre-arranged tours.

The main sights you won't want to miss are the Chocolate Hills and the Philippine Ghost Animals. You can read more about these and other experiences on Bohol here:

• The chocolate hills of Bohol in the Philippines
• Philippine ghost animal -2 places to see them on Bohol
• Sikatuna's Mirror of the World on Bohol
• River cruise on the Loboc River in Bohol

More to see and do in Panglao

Of course, there's even more to see and do in Panglao than our suggestions. Here are some more tips.

• St Augustine Parish church is a church in the south-west of the island, dating from the late 18th century.
• Balicasag island is a round island surrounded by beaches where you can take various boat trips.
• Massage and other treatments are available in hotels and other locations, including around Alona Beach.
• Molave cliff jumping is for the fearless who want to jump into the water from a seven metre high cliff.
• Panglao Watchtower is a historic five-storey watchtower built in 1851.

Where to stay in Panglao?

There are lots of different hotels on Panglao, in different price ranges and with different standards. During our stay we stayed at Marina Point Bay Resort which is a smaller, but very nice and well maintained resort with Danish owners.

READ MORE: Marina Point Bay Resort in Panglao

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Near Panglao there are several other islands and places you can visit:

• Bohol Island
• Cebu City
• Siquijor Island
• Pandanon Island

More tips for things to do in Panglao?

Have you been to Panglao? How was your experience? Do you have any other good tips on what to see and do in Panglao?

FAQ – frequently asked questions about Panglao

What is Panglao known for?

Panglao is known for its white sandy beaches and its many resorts. The island is one of the Philippines' most popular holiday destinations.

Where to stay in Panglao?

The most famous beach in Panglao is Alona Beach. If you want to be close to restaurants, people and activities, you'll want to stay near this beach.

How do you get around Panglao?

If you're travelling a short distance in Panglao, a tricycle is a convenient way to get around. If you want to get around on your own, you can hire a moped.