Best Beach Resorts in Panglao Bohol: Alona Beach & Beyond

Panglao Island sits off the southwestern tip of Bohol, connected to the mainland by two bridges. It is one of the Philippines' most celebrated dive destinations — the Balicasag Island marine sanctuary just offshore is home to hawksbill turtles, schools of jacks, thresher sharks, and one of the most pristine coral walls in the Visayas. On the island itself, Alona Beach is a compact strip of white sand that has become the social hub for divers, backpackers, and island-hopping tourists.

This guide covers the best places to stay on Panglao Island, from the sociable guesthouses of Alona Beach to the quieter, more upscale resorts on the island's other beaches.

Alona Beach: The Social Hub

Alona Beach is Panglao's most famous strip — a 500-metre stretch of white sand lined with dive shops, restaurants, and guesthouses. It is lively and social, with a backpacker vibe that persists into the evening when the beachfront bars fill with divers comparing notes. The water directly in front of Alona Beach has a healthy reef for snorkelling, and the beach offers easy boat access to Balicasag Island.

Peter's House Resort

Peter's House is the longest-standing guesthouse on Alona Beach and a genuine institution. Fan rooms from 800 PHP per night, with private rooms and some air-conditioned options. The dive shop attached to the property is excellent, and the beachfront restaurant serves hearty meals. It is basic, but for budget divers it is hard to beat.

Alona Tropical Beach Resort

Alona Tropical offers good mid-range accommodation directly on the beach with air-conditioned rooms from 2,500 PHP per night. The beachfront location is prime, the rooms are well-maintained, and the dive operation that runs from the resort is professional and safety-conscious. Recommended for couples who want beach access and diving without full resort prices.

BQ Resort Alona Beach

BQ Resort has a larger property than most Alona Beach hotels, with a pool (rare on this beach), a good restaurant, and comfortable air-conditioned rooms from 3,000 PHP per night. The pool is a major advantage during hot afternoons when swimming conditions on the beach may not be ideal. Staff are particularly helpful with arranging island-hopping tours and day trips to the Chocolate Hills.

Beyond Alona: Quieter Beaches on Panglao

Bohol Beach Club (Bolod Beach)

Bohol Beach Club is the island's premier upscale resort, located on Bolod Beach on the north side of Panglao — far from the Alona Beach crowds. The resort has a beautiful stretch of private beach, multiple pools, a spa, and well-appointed rooms and villas. Rates from 6,000 PHP per night. It attracts families, couples, and corporate retreats who want luxury in a quieter setting than Alona.

Henann Alona Beach Resort

Part of the same Henann group that operates in Boracay, Henann Alona offers a step up in luxury compared to most Alona Beach properties. Multiple pools, a beachfront restaurant, and well-furnished rooms from 5,500 PHP per night. The resort is large by Alona Beach standards and creates a bit of a self-contained bubble, which some guests prefer and others find removes the charm of Alona.

Amorita Resort (Panglao)

Amorita Resort is perched on a cliff above the sea on the quieter western side of Panglao, with stunning views and a more intimate atmosphere. The infinity pool appears to float above the ocean. Rooms are stylishly furnished and start at 7,500 PHP per night. It is adults-preferred and popular with honeymooners. Access to Alona Beach requires a 15-minute tricycle ride, but the resort has its own beach access via a staircase.

Diving from Panglao

Panglao is one of the best diving bases in the Philippines. Balicasag Island, a 20-minute banca ride away, has a marine sanctuary on one side and open-water walls dropping to 40 metres on the other. Dive sites include Cathedral Rock (coral pinnacles teeming with fish), Black Forest (sea fans and pygmy seahorses), and the famous turtle cleaning station where hawksbill turtles queue to have parasites removed by cleaner wrasse.

Most dive operators on Alona Beach charge 1,200 to 1,500 PHP per dive including equipment and boat. PADI courses are widely available. Snorkelling trips to Balicasag cost around 800 to 1,000 PHP per person including the boat and national park fee.

Day Trips from Panglao

Bohol's famous Chocolate Hills — 1,776 perfectly cone-shaped hills that turn chocolate brown in the dry season — are a two-hour drive from Panglao and easily combined with a visit to the Philippine tarsier sanctuary. The Loboc River cruise with floating restaurants is another popular day trip. Most Alona Beach guesthouses offer packaged day tours to all of Bohol's highlights for 1,500 to 2,000 PHP per person.

Find more tours in Bohol and the Visayas or browse our complete Philippines hotel guide for more island destinations.