Bohol, Philippines Island Hopping

IJsselstein, Saturday, 14 May 2011 (updated: Monday, 17 October 2011)

Pamilacan island beach

Dolphins

After you have completed your whale and dolphin watching tour, you can visit some of the island surrounding Panglao such as Pamilacan, Balicasag and Virgin island. There are more islands to visit in Bohol but most of them are not yet as well known as tourist destination. To the west of the main island of Bohol, you can visit Cabilao island, which houses three resorts, and to the north of Bohol is a large number of islands, mostly unexplored by tourists.

Pamilacan island

Pamilacan island: Some of the dolphin and whale watching operators bring their guests to this island so that they can further enjoy their tour. It is nice place to go strolling, swimming and snorkeling. On this island you can find a small chapel and a dilapidated Spanish-era watchtower. Depending on your package deal, you can enjoy your lunch here. Furthermore, you can buy locally produced souvenirs from the locals. If you want to stay in Pamilacan to enjoy the peace and the white beach, there is a resort on this island.

Balicasag Lighthouse

Balicasag island: Balicasag island is one of the well-known dive spots in Bohol. You can enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving around this islands with its marvelous coral reefs, and spectacular drop-off (underwater wall) up to a depth of 60 meters. You can easily spot sea turtles while swimming on this islet. The island is surrounded by a white-coral beach, which consists of a lot of big-coral fragments washed ashore. In the middle of the island are two light-houses, one is an old square tower, the other a modern, solar power operated mast. On the South-west of the island, you can stay at the government owned resort.

Virgin island

Isola di Francesco, formerly known as Virgin island or Puntod island: Virgin island was an uninhabited islet where you can enjoy a long string of white beach. During low tide, you can enjoy kilometers of white beach (sandbar) but during high tide, much of the beach disappears under the sea.

Virgin island

Cabilao island beach

Cabilao Island View

Cabilao island: Cabilao island is located at to the north-west of Tagbilaran. This island is one the diving destination on Bohol. You can enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving around this islands with its marvelous coral reefs. There are three resorts on the island.

Tubigon island Hopping: There are some islets you can visit around Tubigon like Dumog and Mundong sandbar. You can enjoy swimming around the sandbars and see ships from Cebu to Tubigon or vice versa passing through close to the sandbar. You can also visit the mangrove plantation and see the sea birds of one of the islets. After the 2013 earthquake in Bohol, some of the islets have sunk for about a meter, as result the whole islet is now under the sea water during high tide. It means that your house is also under water. You are lucky if you have a multi-story building house, unfortunately most locals have only nipa houses.

Where to stay:

Pamilacan island: https://www.bohol.ph/article75.html#pamilacan

Balicasag island: https://www.bohol.ph/article75.html#balicasag

Pamilacan island: https://www.bohol.ph/article75.html#cabilao

Rodelyn Gallo Hellingman

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