Traveling Solo: Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol

Since I had so much fun traveling solo to Chocolate Hills, I decided to travel alone once more the following day. Originally, I planned to go to Anda Beach but commuting from Tagbilaran to Anda takes 4 hours! I only had an afternoon to enjoy another moment of solitude and I thought I’d rather spend more time at the beach than on the road.

So I ditched Anda Beach on the last minute and opted to go to Alona Beach instead.

Alona Beach

Only 30 minutes away from Tagbilaran, Alona Beach is a tropical getaway in Panglao Island with a gorgeous stretch of white sand, swaying palm trees and pristine azure waters.

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Alona Beach has one of the best diving spots in the Philippines and is a popular destination for divers from different parts of the globe.

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There are a variety of hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, travel agencies and specialty shops to choose from within or near its vicinity.

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Alona Beach carries a sleepy beach vibe so its nightlife is fairly quiet than that of Boracay and Cebu.

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Laidback beats are played open air by the shore – making it an awesome place to just chill out in the evening.

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Alona Beach is Boracay’s easygoing cousin without the overwhelming number of vendors, rowdy crowds and hyper-commercialism. It is a serene vacation spot with a lively nightlife scene – offering the best of both worlds!

To get there, I took a tricycle from JJ’s Seafood Village to Panglao Island which cost me a whopping 500 PHP.

Thankfully, I was able to bargain with the driver later on to make that a round trip fare.

Please don’t judge me. Back then, I didn’t know better.

The cheaper way to get to there is to take a Tawala-bound jeepney at Dao Terminal. Although the trip will take about an hour, the fare would only be 25 PHP (but 50 PHP if you have a huge suitcase). A far cry from my overcharged tricycle fare.

TIME
Tricycle ride to Panglao Island – 30 minutes
*Jeepney ride to Panglao Island – 1 hour

EXPENSES
Tricycle ride to and fro Panglao Island – 500 PHP
*Jeepney ride to Panglao Island – 25 PHP

*other option

Read about my budget hostel of choice in Panglao here
Bohol Travel Guide here