Panglao Island Travel Guide
Panglao is an island in the Central Visayas of the Philippines and is becoming an increasingly popular resort destination. It is particularly famous for its scuba diving opportunities.
The island is composed of limestone, the result of millions of years’ worth of coral compacting into stone. The limestone gave way to Hinagdanan Cave, a cavern that is naturally lit by sunlight and features an underground swimming pool. This is the only source of fresh water on the island.
There are several popular white-sand beaches on Panglao Island. Alona and Doljo beaches are the most popular refuges, with plenty of resort-style infrastructure on site. Swimming, snorkeling and diving are catered for in these areas.
There are hundreds varieties of crustaceans and thousands of mollusk species in the waters of Panglao Island, so divers can find plenty of unique creatures among the coral reefs. The biodiversity of these waters is championed by marine biologists.
Getting There & Away
Boats travel back and forth between Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City on Pamilacan Island. Travel time is roughly 20 minutes. Tagbilaran City is a local transportation hub with air links to Manila (1 hour, 30 minutes) and sea links to Cebu (1 hour, 30 minutes). The main gateway into the Philippines is Manila, which host a large international airport.