Bohol Philippines
and Alona Kew Beach

"Is Bohol Island still untouched?
An introduction to Bohol and its major benefits"

Bohol Philippines

Welcome to Bohol!

So why should you visit Bohol in the Philippines?

I'll give you 3 good reasons:

• Most people traveling to Bohol, head for the beautiful Panglao Island

  Panglao is probably one of the few remaining spots in the Philippines which aren't ravaged by over-tourism.

  If you compare Panglao to Boracay, it's actually nicer and calmer in Panglao. I have never been to Boracay, so I can't say anything personal about it.

  But almost all my relatives and friends, who have been to Boracay and Panglao, seem to like Panglao a lot better. What do they say? -- "Ah, too many people in Boracay!"

  In this article you'll find:

  
  

  • How to get there
  • When to visit Bohol
  • Review of Alona Kew Beach

  
  

  
  
• World-class diving…

  … at Panglao and the neighboring islands of Ajo, Mahanay, Cabilao, Pamilacan, Lapinin and Balicasag. It's not every day you get to see whales, dolphins, sea snakes, bat fish, and barracudas.

• If you get tired by beaches, you can always try the floating restaurant on Loboc River and stare into the jungle, visit the cute tarsiers or enjoy the view of Chocolate Hills -- one of the natural wonders of the world!

How to get to Bohol

By air: It takes 1 hour and 15 minutes by air from Manila to Tagbilaran, the capital of Bohol. You can for example use Philippine Airlines and you arrive at Tagbilaran Airport, which is 5 minutes away from downtown Tagbilaran.

I was sick almost my entire stay in the Philippines in Dec/Jan 2009, so to minimize the chances of getting fever again (and because of the limited time), we flew with Philippine Airlines to Bohol.

The flight itself was pretty efficient, and I remember paying $56 (included a return flight to Manila + taxes).

What about the boat from Manila to Tagbilaran?

You get to see the gorgeous ocean, and it's probably a one-in-a-lifetime experience! The journey takes 25 hours, and suits for the patient travelers.

One of your ferry options:

Superferry (opens in a new window)

If you're already in Cebu, you can take a 25 minute flight to Tagbilaran.

Or do you want to do it the cheap way?

Taking a regular ferry is the cheapest way of traveling from island to island. If you're traveling on a low budget and have loads of time, I recommend traveling to Bohol by boat from Cebu.

Superferry takes you from island to island (opens in a new window)

Return to top

When to visit Bohol

It depends on why you're going to Bohol. Is it because of the Chocolate Hills? The best time to visit the Hills is between January and April (dry season), when the hills actually turn brown.

If you want the beach for yourself, the months of November and December (especially around holidays) are not ideal. Tourists, backpackers and locals roam the island these months. And I can understand why: the temperature is perfect -- it's not too hot, and not too wet.

And you get to spend Christmas right on the beach with a coconut drink in front of you...

May is also a busy month, because locals from all parts of the country travel to Bohol to celebrate one of the most exciting festivals in the island. It's called Tagbilaran Fiesta.

Another festival that attracts a lot of people is the King King Festival, which takes place at the end of May.

A tip from me to you when it comes to accommodation booking for Bohol Philippines…

My fantastic family didn't manage to book rooms before we traveled to Bohol. Long story, but to make it short, they didn't book because they thought that there would be plenty of accommodations in Panglao around New Year's.

Geez, what a huge mistake…

When we arrived at the Tagbilaran airport, they stood by the service counter for over an hour, so they could find available rooms. Guess where we stayed? -- Not in Panglao.

The staff told us that there were no vacant rooms at all in Panglao. And this was December 30, the day before New Year's. So we had to stay in Bohol, far from the beaches.

How's the weather on Bohol Philippines?

We were there for a couple of days in December and January, and the weather was pretty variable. The weather could vary during the day -- like sun in the afternoon, and then rain in the evening, or sun in the morning, and cloudy in the evening.

Return to top

Review of Alona Kew Beach (Alona White Beach) on Panglao Island

I was still sick when we visited Bohol, but I refused to lie in a bed while the others were walking in the sands of Alona Kew Beach.

It was cloudy when we arrived there, but we could still see its beauty!

The mix of coconut trees, the clear water and white sand made my limbs go soft. It was so pretty, and the sight gave me an energy boost!

Me and my boyfriend decided to take a walk along the beach -- sniff around, and enjoy the moment.

Bohol Philippines: Enjoying a cold coconut drink! ;-)

Our first stop was of course a diving shop.

I knew I couldn't dive, but I just love to be near a diving shop. I don't remember the name of the shop we visited, but I do remember the price.

The estimated price for an Open Water Diving course was 13,500 PHP (= almost $ 300). The price isn't that bad, if you compare it to diving prices in Thailand and Malaysia.

Then we continued snooping around. Food and fruit vendors would approach us at the beach, and at least four locals asked if we wanted to snorkel that day.

I guess they didn't have much to do because of the cloudy weather.

Along the way, we passed several dive shops. And lazy travelers were dozing off on the beach, waiting for the sun to (re)appear.

I enjoyed the atmosphere on Alona Kew -- there was no stress, no hassle. And it may sound like a cliché, but I loved the sound of the ocean. Who can blame me…? ;-)

Maybe I appreciated it more because I had been lying in a bed for a week in Pampanga.

Return to top

You're done with Bohol Philippines, where do you want to go next?

Return to Philippines Main Page

Heading for Palawan Island? Try Dos Palmas Palawan Resort and Hotel

Visit Mount Pinatubo, and get a personal review!

Is the trip to Chocolate Hills worth it? Find out here!

Philippines Attractions: Personal review of Loboc River Cruise.

Want to take memorable pictures? About choosing the right travel cameras and various camera brands

Leave Bohol Philippines and Alona Kew and return to Backpacking Tips Asia Homepage.