How do you spend the rest day at the end of a diving trip? Rent a motorbike, of course! We had 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 like unfamiliar territory. So for our free day, we decided to do a one-day motorbike tour and get to know Panglao the most LOCAL way possible. Setting off from Kalachuchu Inn in a counterclockwise direction, we hit up the sardine storm at Molave Cove Resort, the stalactite cave at Hinadanan Cave, a historic church, BQ Mall, and Alona Beach — before heading back to Kalachuchu Inn for a Christmas Eve feast.
Where is Panglao?
Panglao sits to the lower-left of Bohol, making it a true island off an island in the Philippines. Separated from Bohol by just a single bridge, Panglao is a celebrated tourist destination and a favourite holiday spot for Filipinos themselves. Don't be fooled by its small size — you can ride around the whole island by motorbike in about thirty minutes — because it's home to an international airport and several resort hotels. Nearby Pamilacan Island and Balicasag Island are designated UN marine protected areas (MPAs), 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 Balicasag — The Overwhelming Embrace of a Jackfish Tornado
- 【Philippines · Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag】Diving to Pamilacan Island + Witnessing the Taiwan Freediving Cup Gala Night feat. 海島瘋
Preparation for a Land Tour of Panglao:
1、Renting a Motorbike About a 5-minute walk from Kalachuchu Inn along a small side road, there's a motorbike rental shop run by a local. The rental process is the same as in Taiwan — the daily rate is 400 pesos (approximately NT$200). We rented four motorbikes in total, all in decent condition and riding just like the scooters back home. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., a 70-peso (about NT$35) top-up of fuel was more than enough, and there are petrol stations along the way so running out isn't a worry. If you can't get a motorbike, 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、Mobile Data & Google Maps You can get online either through roaming or by purchasing a local SIM card. Different carriers offer different roaming packages; one member of our group used FarEasTone with an unlimited data roaming plan, and the cost came out to roughly the same as our NT$439 10 GB SIM cards. Over seven days, we noticed that the first three days were spent diving, where signal at sea and in certain spots was weak — the guesthouse had Wi-Fi. The consensus was that a 3 GB or 5 GB card would be plenty. If the prices are similar, roaming is the safer bet: you avoid the hassle of configuring a new SIM, and the signal tends to be more stable.
Currency exchange is very convenient in Panglao, but note that very small US dollar denominations may not be accepted.
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 diving, and the Bohol day tour was a packaged deal — leaving just one day for free 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 New Taiwan Dollars for pesos directly with the guesthouse (since the owner of Kalachuchu Inn is Taiwanese).
Stop 1 — Sardine Storm: Molave Cove Resort
A 15 m high diving platform — it takes real courage to jump.
Online guides describe this spot as a place where you can leap off a platform directly into a sardine storm and snorkel among the fish. It feels more like an attraction the resort developed for itself — to use the diving platform, you must enter the resort and purchase tickets. However, December is not the ideal time to visit Panglao: weather can be unpredictable, with afternoon thunderstorms, and conditions on the day were not suitable for getting in the water. So we simply admired the view from the platform without jumping in.
Winter is not the best season to visit — this is the north-facing windward side, and the waves were wild!
Stop 2 — Stalactite Cave: Hinadanan Cave
Head to the small ticket booth first to purchase your entry.
The highlight I was most looking forward to on the Panglao land tour was swimming inside the stalactite cave at Hinadanan Cave! No matter how you arrive — motorbike, car, or tuk-tuk — parking fees apply to all vehicles. The ticket booth we used looked different from the one in the linked guide, but both are easy enough to spot so there's no risk of confusion. After paying for parking, remember to buy your Hinadanan Cave admission ticket; prices differ depending on whether you plan to swim or just look around.
Next, head to the impressive entrance of Hinadanan Cave to register and queue.
If you're visiting with a large group, you can also hire a Hinadanan Cave local guide for a tour and photos!
Because Hinadanan Cave is actually quite small, after registering at the impressively grand entrance you'll need to wait in the pavilion behind until your number is called. You can, of course, pay for a local guide to give you a proper tour and take photos. Inside Hinadanan Cave you'll see stalagmites and stalactites, and you'll definitely notice a distinct smell of bat urine — though it's not bad enough to drive you out. There is an attendant at the pool inside the cave who will check your ticket to confirm you've purchased a swimming pass. All swimming gear must be brought by yourself; the water temperature is around 24°C, and the pool is about 2 m deep. Bring a dive Flash Light for a little adventure. Personal verdict: exploring with a torch was thrilling — I was low-key terrified of accidentally seeing something lurking in the dark.
Hinadanan Cave is open to locals for swimming on weekdays, and to tourists on weekends.
Swimming inside the stalactite cave at Hinadanan Cave is a truly unique experience.
And here's a mysteriously ethereal shot — this is the Hinadanan Cave local guide's secret photography spot.
Stop 3 — Lunch: Fortridge Food Park
The local beef bone broth soup is quite suited to Taiwanese palates.
Was it good? Personally, I loved the beef bone broth soup inside. If you're worried about an upset stomach from the food, this place gives you plenty of options to choose from. It's essentially an open-air food court — stalls line the perimeter around a central seating area, and there are toilets available. Since entry requires a ticket, hygiene standards are reasonably decent, and your ticket can be used as credit toward food purchases. The dining options are wide-ranging: Korean, Japanese, Indian, and Filipino all feature. The vibe here feels more suited to an evening visit, as the stage hosts entertainment after dark.
Stop 4 — Church: St. Joseph The Worker Cathedral Paris
The first church you reach after crossing the bridge onto Bohol — well worth a stop to soak up its historic charm.
We passed this church on the way from Panglao to Bohol for some shopping — it looked so beautiful that we simply had to stop. Entry is free, and the moment you step inside, everyone is struck by the solemn, breathtaking beauty of the space. More than one of the women in our group had the thought: "I'd love to get married here." From the exterior architecture to the main nave and side chapels, and even the candle-lit devotional area outside — every corner is worth your full attention. As for the church's backstory, I'll leave that for you to look up!
Stop 5 — BQ Mall
Shopping time! BQ Mall is a large mixed-use shopping centre where you can find cinemas, mobile phones, helmets, and more. Our main mission this time was the supermarket-style store inside — something like a giant hypermarket — to stock up on papaya soap, dried mango, instant noodles, and chocolate, all popular recommendations you'll find online. Papaya soap is said to have skin-brightening properties, and the shelves are lined with bars of every size and brand. My take: it does smell of papaya and makes a perfectly usable souvenir gift.
For dried mango, the brand selection isn't huge and the price is a bit higher relative to other snacks. I only bought one or two packs to try, and found the flavour on the tart side — still not quite as good as the dried mango from Tainan, Taiwan. As for instant noodles, we ate MISSIN mini-cup noodles almost every evening and honestly enjoyed them quite a bit. If you're not sure which flavour to pick, go for seafood or beef — you can't go wrong.
We happened to visit the day before Christmas, so the mall was absolutely packed — families with trolleys piled high with sweets and biscuits. Converted to New Taiwan Dollars, everything felt incredibly cheap, almost half the price back home. If you like it, grab it! We ended up with one big bulging bag and spent around NT$500. We essentially filled half a suitcase with the same kinds of things. Highly recommend coming here for souvenirs.
Stop 6 — Alona Beach
Alona Beach, hands fully occupied — this one is truly switched off and relaxed.
The final stop of the free day — Alona Beach is an absolute must. If you can, I'd recommend budgeting more time here. Beyond strolling along the sand, admiring sand sculptures, splashing in the water, and soaking up the sun, why not try a beach massage, a braid, a manicure, or a henna tattoo? The moment you set foot on the beach, you'll be approached by ladies offering all kinds of services. We tried most of them, and my personal verdict is: give it a go, but don't set your expectations too high. Still, this kind of leisurely beach experience simply doesn't exist back in Taiwan — and that alone makes it worth it.
The romantic beach experience at Alona Beach — a level of blissful ease you simply can't find in Taiwan.
Pick a service, then lie back and gaze up at the palm trees etched against the brilliant blue sky, framed by a stretch of warm white sand and mint-coloured sea — sights you simply won't find in Taiwan, and reason enough to make the journey. I highly recommend arriving around 3 or 4 p.m. to catch the sunset, then staying for dinner at one of the beachside restaurants as dusk falls. Restaurants set their tables and chairs right out on the sand, light candles, and the romance is incomparable.
Panglao Land Tour: Our Verdict
Panglao has grown up around tourism, yet compared to Bohol it remains far less commercialised. Aside from the lively strip around Alona Beach, the island as a whole moves at a wonderfully unhurried pace. Rent a motorbike and cruise at your own speed along roads that are, let's say, charmingly uneven in places (some stretches are genuinely rough) — it's a great way to experience the local rhythm of life.
Because of the scuba diving on this trip, we always build in a rest day at the end of the dive schedule. If you'd rather skip the jam-packed tourist itinerary on Bohol (【Philippines · Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag】18 Hours of Non-Stop Fun on Bohol! The Ultimate Bohol Attractions Guide feat. 海島瘋), a laid-back day exploring this little island is a wonderful alternative. On top of that, the airport on Panglao is actually a full international airport — the Philippine government hopes it will help relieve congestion at Manila's airport — and it's possible that in a few years Panglao will transform into a gleaming international hub. All the more reason to treasure its peaceful, rural charm while it still exists!
Looking forward to sharing our next dive trip with you!
