Melo Villareal
Bohol’s Best Beaches
There’s more to Bohol than what the tourism advertisements repeatedly show. It’s not just about the famed Chocolate Hills or the adorable tarsier. Bohol is an island province of richness and diversity; you would not want to miss any of it. The hill terrains and rainforests bestow a chance to experience spectacular views and a thriving ecosystem. Still, as you venture into the outer edges of the province, a new scenery awaits you.
This scenery is towering palm trees against a white sand beach that overlooks a neverending sea of blue. In this same scenery, you can relax on a hammock tied to the trees while you enjoy a cold one on the hot beaches. When it comes to Bohol’s vast trove of white sand beaches, Panglao Island is at the top of the list.
And that’s for a good reason, as Panglao Island offers top-notch white and golden sand beaches comparable to the other tropical island paradises in the country. However, Bohol’s beach scene isn’t just limited to Panglao Island. In fact, there is a long list of different beaches in Bohol that are uniquely beautiful in their own way.
In this list, we’ll be touring around the island province’s edges to help you find your perfect beach hideaway.
Best Time to Visit Bohol
When it comes to this question, it really is a matter of your preference. Bohol experiences three different seasons, and each season has its own benefits depending on what you’re planning to do during your trip.
- November to April is when Bohol experiences short rains with a bearable climate. I wouldn’t recommend visiting during this time if you plan to trek or hike, as the trails can get slippery and difficult. Also, this season includes Christmas in December and Holy Week in April. This is when the main tourist spots are filled with locals. This is the perfect time to visit if you want to avoid people and congestion and enjoy a not-too-hot atmosphere.
- May to July is when Bohol’s climate reaches its hottest, and the sun is out for the maximum amount of time. This is the ideal time to visit if you want to experience and maximize the ocean and the beaches.
- August to October is when the days have a steady mix of sunny and rainy weather. If you’re traveling during this time, you have to be strategic about planning your activities around the weather.
- May to June is when the dolphins appear more visible in some areas. If you want to catch them, visit during this time and hope that luck is on your side.
How to Get to Bohol
There are various ways that you can get to Bohol:
- By air — Probably the easiest and fastest way to get to Bohol is to fly by air. There are lots of routes from different airlines that lead to Bohol’s new airport on Panglao Island. For these flights, you can check Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines, and AirAsia.
- By sea — If you’re not traveling from the country’s capital city, it’s best to look into boats instead. Bohol has the Tagbilaran City Pier, which accommodates boats from the nearby cities of Dumaguete and Cebu and cities from Mindanao, such as Cagayan de Oro and Dipolog.
Beaches in Bohol
Alona Beach
Alona Beach is arguably the most famous beach in Bohol, specifically in Bohol’s extension of Panglao Island. It offers white sand bordering clear turquoise waters. Aside from the breathtaking views, there are lots of fun water activities that you can do at Alona Beach. These activities range from snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, and much more.
Alona Beach is home to a vast reef ecosystem with unique coral species and colorful fishes. This ecosystem can be witnessed and experienced without professional diving equipment.
How to get there: From Tagbilaran City, you can get to Panglao Island in three different ways: by car for 600 pesos, by tricycle for 300 pesos, or through public transport like jeepneys and buses for 50 pesos. The ride will be fast, as there are only 20 kilometers of paved road between the two endpoints.
Dumaluan Beach
Dumaluan Beach Resort Online Booking
The beauty of Dumaluan Beach is on the same level as Alona Beach. It offers the same magnificent waters that stretch far into the horizon. It is pretty commercialized to cater to the thriving tourism industry; however, there are still serene places to enjoy a private vacation.
For accommodation, the most recommended choice is to book a room in the Dumaluan Beach Resort, which overlooks the beach and provides the best views. The charm of this beach is that it offers the perfect calm place to sleep on a hammock and read your favorite book.
How to get there: Dumaluan Beach can be reached in multiple ways. For one, you can hire a tricycle to get you to Dumaluan from Tagbilaran for an average of 400 pesos. Another option is to hire a van or a taxi with other travelers and split the bill with them. This is also a great way to make friends during your vacation.
Bagobo Beach
This is another beach in Bohol’s much-coveted Panglao Island. It’s the less-known counterpart of Alona Beach. Because of its steadily growing popularity, it’s not as commercialized or crowded as the other more famous beaches on this list.
If you are traveling on a budget, the best resort that we recommend is the Bagobo Beach Resort, a budget resort that offers the best food, accommodation, and amenities for a cheap price. You can skim the waters, feed the fish, dive, and snorkel, as some of the activities you should do.
How to get there: You can hire a car or a tricycle for 400 to 600 pesos, or you can contact the main coordinator of Bagobo Beach Resort if you prefer to be transferred to your hotel immediately upon landing.
Danao Beach
Bohol South Beach Hotel Rates and Availability
This is another beach in Panglao Island, and, like its nearest neighbor, Alona Beach, it has the same white sand shores, clear turquoise waters, and large palm trees. Many unique fish species dwell in the Danao Beach waters and giant coral reefs that can be enjoyed and witnessed.
You may ride boats, dive, parasail, snorkel, or swim and wade through the waters. You can stay in the elegant and pristine Bohol South Beach Hotel, which is very much recommended by previous tourists. The amenities are top-notch, and you can expect a lot from the management.
How to get there: As usual, you can hire a car or a tricycle to get to Panglao Island, or you can also contact the hotel’s owner or coordinator to arrange a means of transport for you. Also, you can walk to Danao Beach from Alona Beach if you time your walk correctly, so staying in Alona Beach and visiting Danao is also feasible.
Bolod Beach
The fourth beach Panglao Island on this list is Bolod Beach. As it is a part of the same island, it offers the same breathtaking and magnificent scenery as the other beaches from Panglao. However, the main thing that sets Bolod Beach apart from the other beaches is the touch of nipa huts and shacks that is very evident on the beach.
Bolod Beach Resort is an ideal place to stay, especially for traveling families with children. It offers all the needed amenities, like air conditioning and kid-friendly essentials. There are many great activities to do, from swimming, snorkeling, playing water sports, enjoying the sand bar, and dining along the shore.
How to get there: To get to Bolod Beach from Tagbilaran City, you can ride a bus for cheap (50 pesos!) or arrange a private van or car with other traveling strangers. You can also try contacting your lodging if they are willing to arrange private transport to pick you up from the port.
Pamilacan Island Beach
Moving on from Panglao Island, we have Pamilacan Island in Baclayon. It’s less talked about in the tourism community, but it’s actually quite famous as it offers something Panglao Island does not: dolphins and whales.
If you’re looking to catch sight of some dolphins or whales during your Bohol trip, Pamilacan Island definitely caters to that. In fact, they are notorious for their Dolphin and Whale Watching Tours. If you’re really dead set on witnessing friendly sea creatures, these watching tours will secure your chances.
How to get there: You want to get to the Loay or Baclayon boat port from Tagbilaran. From there, you will ride a boat that will get you to Baclayon. This will take approximately 35 minutes at most. From Baclayon, you must rent a pump boat that will take you to Pamilacan Island. Boat rentals can range anywhere from 1000 to 1500 pesos.
Seaside Beach
Seaside Beach Park Resort Rates and Availability
The Seaside Beach in Dimiao, Balbalan, in Bohol, is different from the other more touristy beaches. The beach is literally by the seaside and offers an isolated spot for private relaxation. The serene and beautiful beach is a lovely combination with the warm and welcoming locals.
The primary and most recommended lodging is the Seaside Beach Resort. It has earned praise and recommendations for its clean and warm management and the delicious food and drinks they serve. This incredible experience wouldn’t break the bank either, as it is affordable.
How to get there: You can reach Dimiao from Tagbilaran by bus or taxi. Your fastest option would be to rent a cab (which can reach up to 1200 pesos), which will take about 40 minutes to get there.
Libaong Beach
The fifth beach on Panglao Island in this list is Libaong White Beach, which is prominent for the blindingly white sand it is named after. It’s probably one of the most beautiful beaches that Bohol offers, with the white sand beach, azure clear waters, and a crystalline skyline. The overall look of this beach is reminiscent of Maldives’.
However, it’s not a popular beach, so it’s definitely thinner than the other more popular beaches in Bohol regarding the volume of tourists it attracts. This is why it is called a hidden island paradise. Also, you can focus on self-relaxation and soul-searching without the hustle and bustle that comes with a lot of tourists.
How to get there: As mentioned, you can get to Panglao Island from Tagbilaran by renting a car or a taxi. If you want to go to your lodging directly, you may coordinate with your hotel staff about private vehicles that will pick you up from the port upon arriving at Tagbilaran Airport. This will be helpful if you are traveling in a big group, you have a lot of luggage, and you’ve been traveling for hours.
Balicasag Island Beach
Balicasag Island is well known for its almost perfectly round shape. This island town in Bohol is a true tropical island paradise. While the sand isn’t pearly white, the unique charm of this beach lies in the calming movement of the waters and the luscious trove of trees that border the beaches.
This is another neat spot to watch the dolphins, as they are known to frequent the area. You can set out early in the morning in a boat and go on a sea tour to catch these dolphins enjoying their natural habitat. You can also swim, snorkel, and taste fresh seafood from the Balicasag market (10/10, definitely recommend).
How to get there: There are many ways to reach Balicasag Island. For one, if you are already on Panglao Island, you can charter a boat to get there. The price for renting a boat is somewhere around 1800 pesos and up. You can also ask the boat canvassers to show you a reef, which will cost additional fees. Another option is to book a tour with Balicasag Island in its lineup of islands.
Virgin Island Beach
The Virgin Island Beach in Panglao and the Balicasag Island Beach are almost always included in every Bohol island hopping trip. It’s named as such because of its pure, virgin, awe-inspiring beauty. This is it if you’re looking for the most beautiful, most breathtaking, and Instagram-worthy beach in Bohol.
In terms of accommodation, the best and most promising hotel is the Virgin Island Beach Resort, which is well-revered by past tourists because of its exceptional service, cleanliness, and top-notch food and facilities. It’s also a convenient location, as it offers a private part of the beach and is near the Bohol-Panglao International Airport.
How to get there: The best option that you can take to reach Virgin Island Beach is to charter a boat from Panglao Island’s Alona Beach. This can take anywhere from 1500 to 1800 pesos and usually depends on how many passengers there are.
Bikini Beach
Bohol’s Bikini Beach is uniquely beautiful in its own right. It boasts white sand that seamlessly blends into the clean lapis lazuli waters. The seamless merging of the waters and the shore is definitely mesmerizing. The water levels change according to the time of the day and the tides, so you experience a cool phenomenon.
It’s pretty famous for locals but not as much for foreign tourists. That’s arguably for the better, as it preserves the calm and serene atmosphere that this beach uniquely possesses. Another main highlight of this beach that should be a part of your trip is the colorful coral reef systems hiding in the shallow waters.
How to get there: It’s a short trip to Biking where Bikini Beach is. It’s only a few minutes from Tagbilaran, and you can choose to walk to it or rent a taxi for a short trip, around 10 minutes.
Momo Beach
Momo Beach House Rates and Availability
The unique charm of Momo Beach lies in the fact that it is far from crowds. The beauty is all yours to enjoy and indulge in without worrying about other tourists or passersby. Also, it’s one of the less commercialized beaches in Bohol, with fully furnished, well-functional accommodations.
Momo Beach House is definitely the accommodation of choice. It presents the best seaside and sunset views of Momo Beach and provides the best amenities and facilities out there. It has an outdoor pool, a garden, and massage parlors. Additionally, the food is exquisite and delicious. The rooms are well-made with chic and vibrant designs. Also, the whole beach house is run through eco-friendly and sustainable means. Yay for the environment! We should always opt for sustainable options whenever they are available.
How to get there: It can be reached by rental car or taxi from Tagbilaran Airport. This drive usually lasts for 30 minutes, more or less. It’s only 20 minutes from Alona Beach, Panglao Island’s most famous beach.
Doljo Beach
If you want a change from the crowded and touristy Alona Beach of Panglao Island, head to the island’s northwest tip and enjoy this 3-kilometer-long undeveloped beach. It will honestly give you an authentic island paradise experience without the farce that comes with the tourism industry.
The beach is pearl in color, with beautiful seashells peppered in between. Additionally, the waters here are pretty different, with a much darker shade than in the other parts of the island. You can often witness the clouds kissing the horizons. Diving and snorkeling are also feasible activities.
How to get there: Doljo Beach is one of the furthermost points of Panglao and is a 35-minute trip by an outrigger boat or a 10-minute car ride from Alona Beach. You can reach Panglao from Tagbilaran City by car or taxi, taking you about 20 minutes.
Anda Beach
Amun Ini Resort & Spa Rates and Availability
For beach paradise, we often envision white sand against turquoise waters. However, that definition of beauty for a beach paradise will quickly be dunked once you step foot in Bohol’s Anda Beach. Its beauty lies in its white sand beach and colorless crystalline waters! The waters are definitely breathtaking. It is still an emerging hotspot, so it hasn’t attracted the attention of foreign travelers as of yet.
Anda Beach, in Anda Bohol, is near Quinale Beach, another well-known tourist hotspot for its sand ripples and fantastic sunrise views. Anda is teeming with these beaches, as well as deep cave pools.
How to get there: You can reach Anda Beach from Tagbilaran City by taking a tricycle to Dao Terminal. From Dao Terminal, ride a van that will directly take you to Anda. This van ride will take two to three hours and will cost a maximum of 150 pesos.
Cabilao Island
Scuba diving and snorkeling–are the two main attractions that Cabilao Island has to offer. Aside from those water activities, you may also dive with incredible coral reefs that house unique fish species. There are also lots of birds on the island.
Aesthetic-wise, you will not be disappointed as Cabilao Island offers the best sunset/sunrise views. Also, the beaches are pristine and beautiful, your stress will definitely be taken away and replaced by relaxation.
How to get there: To get to Cabilao Island, you must take a car from the Tagbilaran Port to Morboc Pier. This will take you approximately one hour. From Morboc Pier, you have to take an outrigger boat to reach Cabilao Island. This will only be for 15 minutes.
Those were the 15 must-visit beaches in the beautiful island province of Bohol. Which of these beaches are included in your next Bohol trip? Let us know below!
Searching for the best hotels, resorts, and affordable flights in the nearby Cities? Check out our list of affordable Bohol hotels and resorts via Agoda, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
Want more updates about the best beaches and other tourist attractions in the province of Bohol? Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for more travel ideas.
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