Alona Beach Panglao

Here in the Philippines, July is already considered the start of the typhoon season. The crowds that swarmed the beaches last April and May have gone back to school and work. So, if you are okay with some rain or occasional storm at the beach, it might still be an acceptable time to visit some beaches in the Philippines.

So last week I visited the Visayan province of  Bohol, which is known for its excellent beaches and dive spots.  Though it has not yet reached the stature of Boracay, the Philippines's prime summer destination, it is definitely one place a beach-loving tourist should check out when visiting the Philippines.

I spent one July afternoon at Alona Beach, the main beach destination in Panglao island located in Bohol's south western part.  The layout of Alona is quite similar to that of Boracay's white beach, with numerous establishments lining an approximately 1.5 km strip of beachfront.

a returning boat from island hopping

Though Alona  offers a picturesque white sand beach, it is also often used as jump-off points for Balicasag and Pamalican islands,  These two islands are still under the mainstream tourist radar, yet they are extremely popular with snorkeling and scuba diving aficionados for being pristine regions for observing marine life.

The standard rental rate for a boat that can carry 6 tourists is around P1500 (approx $40) for a typical 3 hour ride to Balicasag or Pamilacan.  This was based on conversations with local boatmen  and some resort personnel last July 7, 2013.  Note that if you stay at the swankier resorts which are located outside Alona, you may be charged rates as high as P2500 (approx US$60)

When compared with the myriad of dining establishments offered by of Boracay, Alona offers far fewer options.  Well, you did come here to see the natural beauty of Panglao's beaches and underwater marvels, right? So I don't think this should be a major sticking point against Panglao. 

I was still able to get
a decent Pad Thai meal for P300  (US$6) at Isis 

Note that during the typhoon season, most beaches get clogged with seaweeds brought in by the stronger waves.  Alona is not exempted from this, but you can still find some beach spots that are seaweed-free and more suited for swimming.

Well, anyway I will keep this blog post short as I will soon be posting other Bohol-related articles in the weeks to come.  Well perhaps after I get back from Coron, Palawan, another excellent island destination here in the Philippines. :)