Panglao, in the Philippines: a holiday destination of dream beaches, vivid marine life and agritourism

The Philippine island of Panglao is only 91 square kilometres but has a variety of attractions, including beaches, marine life for divers and local handicrafts

South Farm champions agritourism while new infrastructure and the under-construction Panglao Shores resort are set to raise the island’s tourist profile

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Alona Beach on Panglao. The island, in Bohol province, is being developed to become the Philippines’ next holiday hot spot. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 7:15am, 23 May 2023

A breeze sweeps through the second-floor Buzzz Cafe. The chatter of families, friends and lovers strolling along Alona Beach’s startling white sand rises up to us as we tuck into grilled white fish with a colourful flower salad and a broth packed with prawns, fish, clams and vegetables fresh from the diner’s organic farm.

The floors below are stocked with the farm’s produce, including jars of honey and jam, handmade soaps and artisan chocolate, a small selection of the bounty the Philippine island of Panglao and its much larger sister, Bohol, are blessed with.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Bohol province – which is near Cebu and comprises 75 islands besides Bohol itself, the nation’s 10th largest – was positioning itself as the Philippines’ latest go-to destination, especially for divers.

The opening of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport in 2018 bolstered arrivals to the province, the number rising from just above 1.1 million in 2017 to almost 1.6 million in 2019, according to the country’s Department of Tourism.

The Chocolate Hills are a tourist attraction in the Bohol province of the Philippines. Photo: Shutterstock

Covid-19 put tourism development on hold but Bohol officials claim arrivals have almost returned to pre-pandemic levels since the Philippines reopened its borders in February 2022.