Why You Should Splurge on Balicasag and Pungtud Island Hopping

On our second day in Bluewater Panglao, we woke up early for our island hopping activities. Our itinerary includes snorkeling in the spectacular marine sanctuaries of Balicasag Island and a visit to the boomerang-shaped Pungtud Island, also known as Virgin Island. Since the waves at the Bluewater Panglao’s beachfront were raging, the Aquamania guys had brought us to Momo Beach, a secluded, undeveloped beach north of Panglao. At 6:30 am, we boarded an outrigger boat from Bluewater Panglao’s concessionaire – Coral Point.

It took quite awhile to convince myself to book the island hopping activities through the resort. Having been accustomed to do-it-yourself trips, I find the resort rates quite steep. So you might wonder why I gave in anyway. Here’s why:

• I am not a good swimmer, or should I say I don’t know how to swim at all. The closest that I could get to swim is letting myself float on a four-feet swimming pool. Thus, engaging in water activities on god-knows-how-deep waters makes me quiver. Yes, despite the fact that I have gone island hopping for the nth time, I still feel nervous each time we traverse the moody sea. So, the size of the boat is a big deal for me. A bigger and sturdier boat is worth splurging for. Bluewater Panglao’s outrigger boat is big enough that it can fit around 10 people (or even more). It’s so comfortable that I can literally sit back, enjoy and relax. Plus, its sturdy built can conquer the big waves of the Bohol Sea effortlessly. It made the cruise less scary and more bearable for me. The boat is also the one they use for dive safaris. How cool is that? 

• This might be petty but a boat with a built-in ladder that can serve as my “base camp” during snorkeling activities also wins plus points. 

Coral Point Dive Outrigger Boat

• Life vests, and I mean REAL life vests, are also a must for me. At Bluewater Panglao’s outrigger boat, you will never see dilapidated life vests made of styro and worn out orange fabric that can actually drown you to death more than save you. Seriously, I thank Bluewater Panglao for providing real life vests onboard.

• Our guide during the island hopping activities is a certified diver. Why is that important you ask? Well, not only am I confident that he knows how to swim (and to save lives) but he has also a lot to share about marine biodiversity. He introduced and described the corals, fishes and every sea creature we saw beneath the azure waters. He knows where the good guys, I mean fishes, are. And he knows how to take nice underwater photos, too!

The pros outweighed the con (the only con is the price, right?). So, now you know why I opted to have the friendly staff at Bluewater Panglao arrange our island hopping activities. Now, let me share what happened during our island adventure.

Our first stop was Balicasag Island. Originally, I told the boat captain that I want to see dolphins. Unfortunately, we left Momo beach a little late, and I was told that dolphins usually show up at dawn, so we weren’t able to see even a single dolphin on our way. A reason to go back, perhaps? 

The idyllic Momo Beach

When we docked at the Balicasag Island, there were already a few tourists swimming their lungs out in the marine sanctuary. We paid a docking fee of Php 300 and a snorkeling fee of Php 50 per pax. A local who offers aqua shoes rentals approached us but we decided we don’t need aqua shoes anymore since we will be floating and swimming most of the time. He also offered to take us to the marine sanctuary with his small boat (almost the size of a kayak) but our guide said we can just swim our way there, so we did not avail of the local’s service. There are also snorkeling guides on the island at Php 150, but obviously, we did not avail of this since we already have a guide from Bluewater Panglao.

Snorkeling on Balicasag Island

Life vests, snorkel and masks ready and off we went to the marine sanctuary. Our guide led us to where the corals are. Now I know why my friends keep on saying they had their best snorkeling experience in Bohol. The corals in Balicasag are alive unlike the ones in Boracay (so sorry for making this the benchmark, but reality bites). The fishes are in myriad colors and sizes! It was awesome to see these creatures feast on the bread we had brought to feed them. My fear of the deep waters escaped me the moment I set my eyes on the surreal underwater scene. 

A piece of advice: don’t dare go to Balicasag Island without an underwater camera, or you’ll regret it for the rest of your life! I used my Sony Cybershot T700 enclosed in a waterproof case. How I wish I have a real underwater camera. A Nikon Coolpix AW100, Canon D20 or Sony TX20 will do. Lord of the rings, please make all planets conjure.

Rich marine life at Balicasag marine sanctuary

Naka-lifevest na, nakahawak pa! Takot much!

More underwater wonders

After we had found Nemo and his friends, we swam our way to the shore to take a rest. The sand is coarse with shells and corals on it. I recommend you bring your flip-flops or aqua shoes if you plan to stroll along the shoreline. 

The shoreline at Balicasag Island

Our next destination was the Pungtud Island, more popularly known as Virgin Island. It is a privately-owned island with a boomerang-shaped sandbar that shows up during low tide. When we got there, the tide was still high so the sandbar was submerged in knee-high water. 

High Tide at Pungtud Island

Though privately-owned, many locals had set up kiosks where they sell snacks like sodas, banana cue, chips and a lot more. Some locals also sell fresh sea urchin at Php 20 apiece. A little boy followed me from the boat to the edge of the sandbar, persuading me to buy pearls. Be wary because these vendors would offer their items at skyrocket price. But when I told him that in Palawan, pearls cost as low as Php 50 bucks, he gave in. He originally offered me a pair of tiny pearl earrings at Php 250. Talk about taking advantage huh!

Boomerang!

Fresh water pearls

Lovely shells for sale

The sand at Pungtud Island is finer than in Balicasag, almost like the sand in Alona and Bolod beaches.  The long stretch of white sand is overwhelming. Once you’re there, you’ll never want to leave.

Talk about paradizo!

When it was time to leave Pungtud Island, I dragged myself to the boat promising myself a return in no time. Hopefully, on our next Bohol escapade, I’ll be able to set foot on Pamilacan and Cabilao Islands, not only to snorkel but to dive. Again, lord of the rings, let the stars conjure.

Special thanks to Ms. Margie Munsayac for making our stay at Bluewater Panglao all worthwhile.

__________________________________________________________

For reservations, please contact:

BLUEWATER PANGLAO

BEACH RESORT

Danao, Panglao Island

Bohol, Philippines 6340

Phone: (63 38) 416 0695 or 416 0696

Fax: (63 38) 416 0697

panglao@bluewater.com.ph

http://www.bluewater.com.ph

MANILA SALES OFFICE

Rm. 704 Cityland Herrera Tower

Rufino cor. Valero Sts., Salcedo Village

Makati City, Philippines

Phone: (63 2) 817-5751 / 887-1348

Fax: (63 2) 893-5391

rsvn03.manila@bluewater.com.ph

A Worthwhile Sojourn at Bluewater Panglao

It wasn’t my first time in Bohol. Four years ago, when I set foot at the then quaint Tagbilaran airport, all I wanted to see was the postcard-perfect Chocolate Hills, the iconic Tarsier, and the pristine Alona beach. More than satisfied with what I saw and experienced, I had decided to tag my whole family two years after. I must say they enjoyed beach bumming on Bolod Beach and sightseeing during the countryside tour as much as I did. And now, on my third time on the island, I promised myself I’d do more than beach bumming. It’s not about basking in the sun while reading a book in Alona beach. It’s not about picking up shells while my feet enjoy the feel of fine white sand. I’d have to explore more.

And so for the third time, I saw myself leaving the doors of Tagiblaran airport again. Much had changed. The airport, which used to be the size of a barangay hall, now has two storeys and a bigger pre-departure area. The people, however, are consistently friendly and warm. As I looked for the signage bearing my name at the arrival area, I promptly saw the logo that reads “Bluewater Panglao,” waved by a man dressed in an off-white Filipino-inspired uniform. The man led us to the air-conditioned van, which transported us to the resort. 

The entrance to the 5.5-hectare resort

This time, I opted not to book a hotel in Alona or Bolod beach. Why? I want to explore more, right? So I said I do not need a wide stretch of white sand waiting for me 24/7. All I need is a cozy place to stay, a restaurant that offers not only excellent food but a fine selection of Boholano specialties, as well as friendly and efficient staff who can arrange fuss-free water activities for me. These are the reasons why I opted to stay at Bluewater Panglao.

In less than an hour, we had reached the resort’s entrance that leads to the well-appointed receiving area. I have been in Bluewater Panglao during the soft opening a year ago and I had a glimpse of their rooms and villas. So, when we reached the receiving area and had a shot of my favorite lemongrass cooler (which I replicated at home), I got more excited knowing that I’ll be staying in one of those beautiful rooms for three days.  The friendly receptionist conducted a short briefing and handed us a map to help us navigate through the 5.5-hectare resort. The bell boy led us to one of the 46 deluxe rooms fronting the huge free-form lagoon-shaped pool. The view from our room was fantastic! 

The lagoon-shaped pool

After we arranged our stuff in our room, we went straight to the beach area where Aquamania, Bluewater Panglao’s hub for water activities is located. I checked out the activities that we can do while in the resort. 

The beachfront

Low-tide at the pebbly beach

The use of non-motorized water sports such as kayaking, snorkelling and stand-up paddle boarding is free for all guests. Life vests, masks and aqua shoes were also available for our convenience. We tried kayaking around Bluewater Panglao’s marine sanctuary. From above the sea we could already see the corals and rich marine life beneath. If you have a chance to use a glass bottom boat, I suggest you grab the opportunity. It is best to kayak in the morning until after lunch while the tide is still high.

 

Aquamania offers kayak for free

 Hubby had also tried stand-up paddle boarding, an emerging global sport with a Hawaiian heritage that reemerged as a way for surfers to paddle longer distances. Aquamania has dedicated guides (mostly certified divers) who watched us closely as we enjoyed our activities. 

Our guide from Aquamania

Bluewater Panglao has ATVs and bicycles available for those who want to explore the resort’s terrains.

 

ATVs for rent

After the tiring water adventure, we spend an afternoon on a hammock beneath the trees. The sea breeze was so addicting! It’s intoxicatinglyrefreshing! 

The cozy hammock

At around 5:00 pm, we saw the clouds changed its colors and figured out it is time for our much-awaited sunset lounging. We went back to the beach area where we literally walked on water as the tides started to go down. We had found a perfect spot for our sunset pictorial and waited until the sun’s fierce rays reflect on the clear water. Watching the sunset at Bluewater Panglao’s cliff-like beachfront is so surreal. It’s a unique experience than just walking on powdery white sand. It’s priceless.

Sunset at Bluewater Panglao

After taking a dozen sunset photos, we went back to our room to prepare for the Barrio Fiesta-themed dinner at Aplaya Restaurant. On our way, we saw the nicely lit villas, lagoon-shaped pool and the main resort building – the masterpieces of the famous Filipino designer, Benji Reyes. 

The Baroto poolside bar

The well-lit deluxe rooms lining the pool

It was just our first day in Bluewater Panglao, but the enchanting sights, sea and sun made our stay worthwhile early on. 

__________________________________________________________

For reservations, please contact:

BLUEWATER PANGLAO

BEACH RESORT
Danao, Panglao Island
Bohol, Philippines 6340

Phone: (63 38) 416 0695 or 416 0696
Fax: (63 38) 416 0697
panglao@bluewater.com.ph
http://www.bluewater.com.ph

MANILA SALES OFFICE
Rm. 704 Cityland Herrera Tower
Rufino cor. Valero Sts., Salcedo Village
Makati City, Philippines

Phone: (63 2) 817-5751 / 887-1348
Fax: (63 2) 893-5391
rsvn03.manila@bluewater.com.ph

Revisiting Bohol: Dumaluan Beach Resort

The last time I was in Bohol was in 2007.It was memorable because it was my first plane ride and my first out-of-Luzon trip. I was bedazzled by the beauty and serenity of Bohol and promised myself to comeback with the rest of my family.

Thanks to AirPhilippines 88 seat sale last year, I was able to book Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila tickets for my whole family. We were 6 adults and 1 child at a total of about P1,200.00, for the entire group, not per pax. It was indeed a steal!

Though this is a second visit to Bohol for me, it was a memorable first for my family. 

Here are some aerial shots of Bohol.

The flight went smoothly, thank god, and we arrived at  1pm in Tagbilaran Airport. Nothing much changed since 2007.

A year in the making, I researched about trusted tour guides and resorts in the net. In Girtalk, my ever reliable forum, Kuya Tatsky is the most popular tour guide alongside with Kuya RJ, as they are known for low rates and their flexible itineraries. Since we were just 6 pax and a baby, I decided to rent Kuya Tatsky’s Innova. Airport transfers are P600 per way and countryside tour is P2,400, as Kuya Tatsky stated in his text “until sawa service” (tour ’til you drop). As far as I know, Kuya Tatsky is the only one offering Innova for mid-sized groups.  Usually, tour guides will offer you either a car (good for 4 pax) or a van (good for 8-10 pax). He also has a van and a car. You may reach Kuya Tatsky at 09223671051.

Here’s Kuya Tatsky’s Innova, our companion for the rest of our Bohol trip.

On our way to Panglao, I noticed that the tricycles have either a bible passage or some spiritual sayings at the back. Our driver, Kuya Edgar said the it is mandatory for tricycle drivers to put such sayings in their cabbies before they are granted permits/registration.

Panglao is an island and this bridge connects Panglao to Tagbilaran City. Travel time is about 45 minutes.

Finally, we arrived in Dumaluan Beach Resort where I booked 2 Standard Aircon Rooms at P 1,300 per night. The rooms are clean, spacious and can accommodate up to 4 pax. Just add P250 for extra mattress. I chose Dumaluan Beach Resort because the last time I was in Bohol, we were booked at Alona Tropical Beach Resort, along Alona stretch, so after reading good reviews about the Dumaluan side being the more serene and exclusive part of Panglao, I decided to give it a shot.

Contrary to what I am expecting as serene and exclusive, the beachfront of Dumaluan is jampacked with other tourists. Needless to say, the resort is fully booked, too. Here are some shots of the beachfront:

My Akisha is having fun!

See? Lots of people in there! This is crowded than what I remember of Alona Tropical’s beachfront. But that was years ago, not sure how crowded Alona is nowadays.

They also have a pool open from 8am to 12 midnight.

This is the resort’s resto, servings breakfast to dinner. They also have live bands at night.

Since our rooms are not inclusive of breakfast, we checked out their menu. Their buffet breakfast is P250/head but the viands we saw there was a bit scarce, like corned beef, scrambled eggs, fried rice, fresh fruits like watermelon and fruit juice. So we decided to order ala carte.

We ordered Pancit Molo since my baby is a soup-aholic. This is good for 3-4 pax. But since we’re 6 and we still have other food, we were able to have a small bowl each.

Ala Carte Filipino Breakfast at P190. Serving is big, it can be shared by 2 pax, unless you prefer heavy breakfast.

American Breakfast at P180. See those bacon strips??? Good enough for…a heart attack =)

This is my favorite, Pancit ni Yoyoy at P240. If you will eat this alone, its good for 2-3 pax. It’s a saucy kind of pancit with seafood, chorizo and veggies. Yum!

Total damage for the hearty breakfast P900+, good enough for 6 pax. Divide it and its roughly the same as the buffet breakfast, however, with this, the choice of food is all in your hands.

At night you can grab a booze like Tanduay Ice or San Miguel Beer at P65/bottle.

My verdict, I am still not sold that Dumaluan  Beach Resort is the more quiet side of Panglao, unless of course you will stay in Bohol Beach Club or Eskaya. The area of DBR is ALSO crowded just like the Alona side, especially at night, where some locals occupy the huts in front of DBR Grill (another food option). Also, it is often low tide in the afternoon so the beach is more like a golf course, just kidding. Whereas, in Alona, or at least in front of Alona Tropical, we never experienced un-swimmable low tide there.

Panglao Bluewater: The Splendid End of Alona Beach

An ideal vacation for me is something that will detach me from the busy and crowded city. Somewhere where one can hear the calming sound of the waves. A place where you can have laid back moments, sip some fresh fruit shake by the shore or have a nice massage by the poolside.  A place called Panglao Bluewater.

Nestled at the far tip of the Alona Beach, Panglao Bluewater is a newly-opened luxurious resort in Bohol. The name might a ring a bell as it is the sister resort of the famous Maribago Bluewater and Sumilon Bluewater in Cebu. The resort is owned by a Cebu-based corporation.

 

 

The 6-hectare resort is now on its soft-opening and will formally open in July. Upon entering its premises, a huge pool between 2 buildings will greet you. For now, only the rooms at the first floor are operational. Each room has a foot bath at the doorstep.

 

The deluxe poolview room has 2 double beds that can accommodate four people. All rooms have a porch, floating beds and a bathtub.

The resort also has 4 lofts that are perfect for a family getaway. However, all lofts were occupied that time.

 

But for families who want to enjoy tranquility throughout their stay, a Family Villa is also available. It has 2 large rooms, own pool, a living room and a sun deck facing a soon-to-be lagoon.

For  couples, a Honeymoon Villa is also available. It also has a sundeck, own pool and a state-of-the-art bathroom that has an LCD TV where you can enjoy your favorite movie while enjoying a warm bubble bath.

 

At the beach front is a nice rock formation that looks like a ladder going down to the main beach area. During high tide, the water here is so clear. A few meters away from the shore are protected marine sanctuaries where you can enjoy snorkeling. The beach front is also lined with trees, a place where you can sit and read your favorite book while breathing in fresh air.

 You can also have a massage by the shore. They will also have Amuma Spa in the future.

 

The resort also has the Seagrass Restaurant that serves local specialties. I was not able to try their specialties but I am sure they are a gastronomic delight.

  

If you wish to have a serene vacation, this place is a good bet, especially now that they are offering preview rates. You may visit http://www.bluewater.ph or email Ms. Margie Munsayac for inquiries. Special thanks to Panglao Bluewater General Manager Marty Jatillana for personally touring us around the place. 

Alona Beach, Panglao Island, Bohol

Though this is a bit overdue (as in super overdue), I would like to share our photos durring our first Bohol Trip in 2007. This is also our first plane ride together (my hubby, bf that time)

Alona Beach in Panglao island is a very serene resort. A perfect getaway from city life.
We stayed in Alona Tropical Beach Resort. For info, you can browse their website at http://www.alona-tropical.com/. During that time, we do not know yet how to do DIY tours so we booked through Filipino Travel Center (http://www.filipinotravel.com.ph/)

Here’s a glimpse of their beachfront restaurant which serves sumptous foods. They even have gigs at night so it’s really nice to chillout here and listen to the waves and wind while having cocktails.

white sand. white sand. white sand.

Here’s a photo of their pool. Our room is a Poolside Fan room so we have easy access to the pool.

Too bad, the jacuzzi isn’t working that time.

Mango Shake, yumyum!We rented a car from Alona Tropical to have a stroll of the city. First stop is a lighthouse (according to the tour guide, this is where Cesar Montano proposed to Sunshine Cruz. He even hired the Loboc Choir on this occassion)

Baclayon Church

The Loboc River Cruise is such an experience. The Boholanos really have a unique way of entertaininng people. They are sooo talented!

I did not enjoy the food much in this cruise, but the experience is really something remarkable.

Hello tarsier!

The hanging bridge. I’m too afraid of heights so I am the official photographer here.

Man Made forest. This is just so breathtaking. I hope we can preserve this place. One of a kind.

And of course, a Bohol trip wouldn’t be compete without seeing the…..CHOCOLATE HILLS!

Below is the stairs to Hinagdanan Cave. There’s a part inside where you can swim. The water is too cold in there!

Bohol Bee Farm is Bohol’s rendition of Ilog Maria in Cavite where you can buy organic bee products.

Can’t wait to go back to Bohol next year. this time with my family. I hope we can do island hopping to Balicasag next time!