[Philippines · Panglao Island] What Can You Do in 1 Day? A Leisurely Island Loop Around Panglao — the Island Off the Island

How should you spend the rest day at the end of a dive trip? Rent a scooter, of course! We'd spent the previous days diving and exploring Bohol, and although we'd stayed nearly six nights at Kalachuchu Inn in Panglao, the island still felt surprisingly unfamiliar. So for our free day, we decided to do a one-day scooter tour and get to know Panglao the most local way possible. Starting from Kalachuchu Inn and heading counterclockwise, we hit up Molave Cove Resort for the sardine run, Hinadanan Cave for stalactites, a church, BQ Mall for shopping, and Alona Beach — before returning to Kalachuchu Inn for a Christmas Eve dinner.

Where Is Panglao?

Panglao is located to the lower-left of Bohol — literally an island off the island of the Philippines. Separated from Bohol by a single bridge, Panglao is a well-known tourist destination and a favourite holiday spot for Filipinos themselves. Don't underestimate this small island, which takes only about thirty minutes to loop by scooter — it has an international airport and several resort hotels. The nearby islands of Pamilacan and Balicasag are designated marine protected areas (MPAs) by the United Nations, making this area a hotspot for underwater activities that draws divers from around the world. For diving references, see the videos below:

• 【Philippines · Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag】World-Class Diving Paradise at Balicasag — The Emotion of Being Embraced by a Jack Fish Tornado
• 【Philippines · Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag】Diving to Pamilacan Island + Witnessing the Taiwan Freediving Cup Athlete Night feat. 海島瘋

Preparation for a Land Tour of Panglao:

1. Rent a Scooter About a 5-minute walk from Kalachuchu Inn, at the entrance of a small side road, there's a scooter rental run by a local landlord-type fellow. The rental process is the same as in Taiwan — the daily rate is 400 pesos (approximately NT$200). We rented four scooters in total, and all were in decent condition, riding just like the scooters back home. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 70 pesos (about NT$35) of petrol was more than enough, and there are gas stations along the way so running out of fuel isn't a concern. If scooters aren't available, hiring a tuk-tuk is another option — check with your accommodation for the going rate, then negotiate the fare and hours directly with the driver.

2. Internet & Google Maps You can get online via roaming or by purchasing a local SIM card. Different carriers offer different roaming packages; one of our group used FarEasTone and bought an unlimited data roaming plan, which cost roughly the same as our 10 GB SIM card at NT$439. After seven days, we found that roaming was slightly better — the first three days were spent diving, where signal is patchy at sea and in some areas anyway, and the guesthouse has Wi-Fi. Everyone agreed that 3 GB or 5 GB would be plenty. If the price is similar, roaming is recommended: it's less hassle than swapping SIM cards and tends to have a more stable signal.

3. Money, Money, Money

How much should you exchange? Using our seven-day trip as a reference: the first and last days were travel days, the first three days were spent diving, and we had one package day tour around Bohol — which left only one day requiring independent spending. Since the guesthouse only included breakfast, most expenses went to meals, attractions, and massages. Exchanging around NT$5,000 left us with a comfortable surplus. If you run short, ATMs and currency exchange booths are everywhere on the island — or you can exchange NT$ for pesos directly with the guesthouse (since Kalachuchu Inn is run by a Taiwanese owner).

Stop 1 — Sardine Run at Molave Cove Resort

Online reviews describe jumping off the platform straight into a sardine run and snorkeling among the sardines. This spot feels more like a resort-developed attraction — to use the diving platform, you need to enter the resort and purchase their tickets. However, December is not the best time to visit Panglao: the weather is changeable, with afternoon thunderstorms possible, and on the day we visited conditions were not suitable for getting in the water. So we simply admired the view from the diving platform.

Stop 2 — Stalactite Cave: Hinadanan Cave

The highlight of the Panglao land tour we were most looking forward to: swimming inside the stalactite cave at Hinadanan Cave! Regardless of whether you arrive by scooter, car, or tuk-tuk, all vehicles are charged a parking fee. The ticket booth we used was slightly different from the one described in the link, but both are easy enough to spot so you won't buy the wrong ticket. After paying for parking, remember to buy your Hinadanan Cave entry ticket — there are different prices depending on whether or not you plan to swim.

Because Hinadanan Cave is actually quite small, you register at the impressively grand entrance and then wait to be called in a pavilion at the back. You can, of course, pay to hire a local guide for a professional commentary and photo service. Inside the cave, you'll find stalagmites and stalactites — and a distinctly noticeable smell of bat urine, though not strong enough to drive you away. A warden at the pool inside checks your ticket to confirm you've purchased the swimming pass. Bring your own swimming gear; the water temperature is about 24°C, and the pool is about 2 m deep. Bring a dive Torch to explore — personal takeaway: shining a torch around in the dark had me half-afraid of what I might find.

Stop 3 — Lunch at Fortridge Food Park

Was it good? Personally, I loved the beef bone broth soup inside. For those worried about stomach sensitivity from eating out, this is a solid option. Basically, it's an open-air food court with stalls surrounding a central seating area, and there are restrooms on site. Since entry requires a ticket, hygiene standards are reasonably maintained. Your entry ticket can be used as credit toward food purchases, and there's a wide variety of restaurants inside — Korean, Japanese, Indian, and Filipino. It felt like more of an evening venue, as the stage hosts entertainment at night.

Stop 4 — St. Joseph The Worker Cathedral Parish

We passed this church on the way from Panglao to Bohol for shopping, and it was so beautiful we had to stop. There's no admission fee. The moment we stepped inside, everyone was struck by the cathedral's solemn grandeur — more than a few of the ladies thought they'd love to get married here. From the exterior architecture to the main nave, the side chapels, and the candle-lighting prayer area outside, every corner is worth a closer look. We'll leave the backstory for you to look up yourself!

Stop 5 — BQ Mall

Shopping time! BQ Mall is a large mixed-use shopping complex where you can find cinemas, mobile phone shops, helmets, and much more. Our main objective was the large supermarket inside — think a jumbo-sized grocery store — where we stocked up on papaya soap, dried mango, instant noodles, chocolate, and other items commonly recommended online. Papaya soap is said to have skin-brightening properties; the shelves are packed with every conceivable brand and size. Our verdict: it does smell of papaya and makes a decent souvenir since it's at least something useful.

As for dried mango, the brand selection isn't huge and it's pricier than other snacks. We each only bought a pack or two — the flavour leaned quite sour, and we still prefer the Tainan variety back home. For instant noodles, we ate MISSIN mini-cup noodles almost every night during the trip and genuinely enjoyed them. If you're not sure which flavour to pick, go for seafood or beef — you won't go wrong.

We happened to visit the day before Christmas, so the mall was absolutely packed — families pushing trolleys piled high with sweets and biscuits. Converted to NT$, everything was incredibly affordable, nearly half the Taiwan price. If you like it, buy it! We ended up with one big bag, spending around NT$500 in total, and practically filled half a suitcase with the same kinds of items. Highly recommended for souvenir shopping.

Stop 6 — Alona Beach

The final stop on our free day — Alona Beach is a must, and if you can, spend more time here than we did. Beyond strolling on the sand, admiring sand sculptures, splashing in the water, and sunbathing, consider trying a beach massage, hair braiding, nail painting, or hand art. The moment you set foot on the beach, you'll be approached by ladies offering all sorts of services. We tried most of them — personally, they're worth a go, though don't set expectations too high. That said, this kind of lazy, carefree beach experience simply doesn't exist in Taiwan.

Pick one service, lie back, and gaze up at the palm trees swaying against a brilliant blue sky, with a stretch of white warm sand and turquoise sea stretching out before you — none of this exists back home, and that's exactly why you have to come. We'd highly recommend arriving around 3 or 4 p.m. to catch the sunset, then staying for dinner at one of the beachside restaurants once dusk settles in. The tables and chairs are set right on the sand, candles are lit, and the atmosphere is utterly romantic.

Closing Thoughts on the Panglao Land Tour

Panglao Island may have grown up around tourism, but it's far less commercialised than Bohol — aside from the buzz around Alona Beach, the rest of the island runs at a genuinely slow pace. Rent a scooter and cruise at your leisure along roads that are, in some stretches, refreshingly uneven (some of them really aren't smooth at all) — and get a feel for how the locals live.

Because of the no-fly rule after scuba diving, rest days are always built into a dive itinerary. If you'd rather skip Bohol's jam-packed tourist package tours (【Philippines · Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag】 18 Hours of Non-Stop Bohol — The Ultimate Bohol Highlights Guide feat. 海島瘋), a laid-back island day trip like this is a wonderful alternative. What's more, the airport on Panglao is actually an international airport — the Philippine government hopes it will help relieve congestion at Manila airport. In a few years, Panglao may well transform into a dazzling international hub, which makes its current unhurried, rural charm all the more worth savouring right now!