Sea Turtles, Sunset Beers & Sandbar Selfies: Our Wild, Wonderful Escape to Panglao Island

May 7, 2022 - Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines

Let’s face it — planning a trip with both family and friends is basically organized chaos. Between the group chat debates over swimsuit colors and someone (me) forgetting to pack slippers, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

But Panglao Island? It blew every expectation out of the water — literally.

From snorkeling with sea turtles to late-night karaoke by the pool, our Bohol getaway was everything we didn’t know we needed: wild, hilarious, heartwarming, and the kind of unforgettable that sticks to your soul like sunscreen on a hot day.

Welcome to Paradise: Alona Beach Hits Different

The moment we stepped onto Alona Beach, all the noise of real life just… evaporated. There it was: turquoise waves, soft white sand, and a breeze that said, relax, you made it.

Everyone scattered in typical chaotic fashion—some ran into the water, some beelined to the bar, and a few of us just stood there grinning at the horizon like, “Is this real life?”

Spoiler: it was.

Island Hopping = Main Character Energy

Day two hit like a travel documentary on turbo. We were up before sunrise for our island hopping tour, hyped on nothing but excitement and instant coffee.

Balicasag Island was our first stop, and honestly, it felt like another planet. We snorkeled through coral gardens, spotted sea turtles gliding like slow-motion magic, and screamed underwater every time someone saw a fish that looked “too big to be friendly.”

Then came Virgin Island — a long, curving sandbar in the middle of nowhere. We waded through shin-deep water, took way too many selfies, and devoured fresh sea urchins and scallops right from local vendors on boats. Some loved it. Some gagged. All iconic.

Bohol Side Quest: Chocolate Hills & Jungle Jams

As if we hadn’t already packed in enough wonder, we spent a day inland exploring Bohol’s greatest hits.

We climbed the Chocolate Hills viewing deck and stood in awe, trying to figure out if they looked more like kisses, muffins, or alien bumps. (They looked like all three.)

Then we visited the Tarsier Sanctuary, and those little bug-eyed creatures stole our hearts. Even our noisiest titos fell quiet trying to snap photos of the sleepy tarsiers clinging to branches like plush toys.

Lunch was a total vibe aboard a floating restaurant on the Loboc River. Picture this: grilled seafood, lechon, halo-halo, and a live acoustic band playing OPM classics. Of course, one of our titas got up to sing, and before long, our whole table was clapping and singing along. Bohol turned us into a traveling variety show — and we loved it.

Nightlife, Island Style: Beers, Beats & Pool Shenanigans

Forget fancy clubs. Our favorite nights were spent at the resort’s pool bar, feet dangling in the water, beers in hand, and laughter echoing louder than the background music.

The kids were nearby, chasing each other through the shallow end, while the adults swapped stories and tried not to choke on laughter from inside jokes that wouldn’t make sense to anyone else.

That night, no one checked their phones. No one thought about work. It was just us, the moonlit pool, cold drinks, and pure connection.

Last Day Feels: One More Sunrise, One More Memory

On our final morning, we took a slow walk along the beach, eyes on the rising sun, hearts already homesick for a place we hadn’t even left yet.

We came to Panglao for a break.
We left with something way better:
Stronger friendships. Deeper family bonds. And stories we’ll be telling for the rest of our lives.

Thinking of Going? Say Less.

If you’re dreaming of somewhere that blends jaw-dropping nature, tropical vibes, and enough good energy to power your soul for months — book that flight to Panglao. Take the crew. Bring the speaker. Wear the ridiculous hats. Say yes to the sea urchins.

Just don’t forget to live every moment like you’ll never get it back — because that’s exactly what we did.

And it was the best decision we ever made.

By: Meme Borja