Alona Beach is a roughly 1.5 km stretch of white sand on the southwestern tip of Panglao Island in Bohol, walkable end to end in about 10 to 15 minutes. It is Bohol's main tourist hub, lined with dive shops, resorts, restaurants and tour operators, and serves as the gateway to nearby dive sites such as the Balicasag and Pamilacan marine areas. Once a quiet fishing beach, it is now a busy, comparatively pricey and heavily commercialized resort strip.
Excellent access: about 4 km from Bohol-Panglao International Airport, roughly a 10-minute tricycle ride away
One of the Central Visayas' established dive bases, from easy Panglao sites to the Balicasag marine sanctuary
Island-hopping tours combining early-morning (around 6:00 to 7:30) dolphin watching, Balicasag snorkeling and the Virgin Island sandbar
Beachfront bars and seafood restaurants along the strip with a lively sunset scene
A public beach with no entrance fee, so you can reach the white sand freely without passing through a resort
Good to know
CautionOvercharging on tricycle and motorbike fares and vague or inflated island-hopping and dive prices is common. Always agree on the fare before you ride, and book tours with reputable operators rather than committing on the spot to street touts.
SafetyPetty theft and lost items are the most frequent issue, typically when phones, wallets or bags are left unattended on the beach, at bars or at boat departure points. Keep your belongings in sight, and avoid walking alone on dark back roads late at night or drinking heavily.
RulesBalicasag has been a protected marine sanctuary since 1985 and caps daily visitor and diver numbers. A local guide is required for snorkeling, and an environmental/eco fee (on the order of ~300 PHP per person; confirm the latest amount) is paid in advance at a booth on Alona Beach, with the receipt shown on arrival.
SeasonAt strong low tide the shallow zone can drop so far that swimming becomes impractical, exposing seaweed and debris on the bottom. Check a tide table and plan swimming or snorkeling around higher tides.
SeasonThe dry season (roughly November to May, best December to April) offers clear skies and calm seas. June to October is the wet season, with August to September the rainiest months and overlapping the typhoon season, so check weather and sea conditions.
MannersThe Philippines is a conservative, largely Catholic country. Keep beachwear to the beach and dress modestly when heading into town shops, restaurants or churches. Some nightlife spots involve sex-tourism touting, so decline firmly if you are not interested.
Practical info
From the airport, tricycles cost around 150 to 200 PHP; from Tagbilaran Port it is a 30 to 45 minute ride (about 300 to 700 PHP). No entrance fee (public beach). Island-hopping runs roughly 1,500 to 2,000 PHP per person including snorkeling fees, with the Balicasag environmental fee charged separately. Prices and rules change, so confirm the latest on site.
On-site reviews📍 Verified on-site
No reviews yet. If you are here, be the first to leave one.
