You are considering coming to the Philippines to freedive in Panglao, and now you are wondering how to get to Bohol. Well, look no further. Travelling to Panglao, Bohol, is very easy. There are many ways to visit us, and we will explain them all.

There are four places you need to think off;

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    Panglao Island in the province Bohol
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    Manila
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    Cebu
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    Tagbilaran

 

And to clear a few things up;

In Manila and Cebu, you will find big international airport hubs.

Tagbilaran is the capital of the province of Bohol and the closest and only ‘big’ city in the province.

Panglao Island is connected to mainland Bohol via bridges in Tagbilaran. Tagbilaran has a ferry port from where you can easily travel to our dive center in Panglao.

And to be clear about Panglao, Panglao is part of the province of Bohol, but Bohol Island is a different island. Panglao is situated on the west side of Bohol Island but is connected via two bridges, and travelling between Bohol and Panglao is very easy. From the academy, it’s only 10 to 15 minutes by scooter to reach Bohol and Tagbilaran city.

You can now fly to Panglao Island directly.

On November 27, 2018, the first flight landed at the brand-new airport of Panglao Island. President Duterte officially opened Bohol Panglao International Airport on November 28, and immediately the airport was operational. The 28th was also the day that the doors closed at Tagbilaran National Airport. From this day onwards, all incoming flights to Tagbilaran were redirected to Panglao Island.

Bohol Panglao International Airport is the country’s first fully ecological airport. By the end of 2024, we’ll have daily direct flights from Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Manilla. Now, you can only fly directly to Panglao from Korea, Hong Kong, and soon Shenzhen in China.

Just let us know your flight details, and we’ll organize the pick-up via tricycle or taxi. With the Panglao Tours and Taxi Service, a tricycle trip from Bohol Panglao International Airport to the academy is 400php ($8), and via private car, it’s 800php ($16).

Please don’t forget; if the flight or trip is delayed, please inform us in time. If the driver is delayed, he will ask for an additional 250php ($5) per hour.

How to get to Panglao via Manila.

If you’re not flying directly to Panglao Island via one of the International airport hubs, then travelling from Manila to Panglao is usually the easiest option. Manila is a big airport divided over four terminals, and switching between them used to be quite a pain but is now relatively easy to manage. But more about this in a bit. Manila is a big airport with many daily direct flights worldwide from the UK, Germany, Australia, etc.

From Manila, you travel by domestic flight to Panglao Island. The duration of this flight is about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Because Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila has four terminals, it used to be quite tricky to travel from 1 terminal to the other. Nowadays, it’s pretty easy to find the transfer desk in every terminal, and they will guide you to a lounge where you can wait for a minivan or bus to take you to the other terminal. Usually, they’ll transfer you within 15 to 20 minutes. The transfers are free of charge.

There are well over ten daily flights from Manila to Panglao. The airlines that fly this route are Air Asia, Cebu Pacific and Philippines Airlines. The first flight departs at 6 am, and the last leaves at about 9 pm. The costs of the one-way tickets vary from 3000php to 4000php, which is about 60 to 80usd.

Please check the correct terminal number, and don’t forget, in most cases, you will also have to collect your check-in luggage before transferring.

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How to travel to Panglao from Cebu.

Cebu is the big island just North of Panglao and Bohol. You can go to Panglao from Cebu on another flight or the ferry.

 

Flying from Cebu to Panglao.

The most convenient way to travel to Panglao from Cebu is by charter plane – it’s also the most expensive way of transportation but certainly worth it. You will land in Cebu at Mactan International Airport on domestic or international flights. There are many daily flights from Kuala Lumpur, Korea, China, Singapore and several other airport hubs in Asia.

Air Juan Aviation is the only airline flying from Cebu to Panglao and from Panglao to Cebu. Currently, the flights from Cebu to Panglao depart at 8:20 am, 11:50 am and 2:30 pm. The prices of the tickets depend on when you book, but usually, you can purchase a ticket for 2600php, which is about 52usd.

The ticket cost is about five times as high as a ferry, but the flight from Cebu to Panglao only takes 15 to 20 minutes, whereas the fast ferry will take 2 hours. Additionally, because the aeroplanes are small 8 to 10-person charters, the plane doesn’t fly high, and you will enjoy the fantastic view of the waters and islands between Cebu and Bohol. If you land in Mactan early and have the budget, flying with the charter is highly recommended.

Taking the ferry from Cebu to Panglao.

If you land at Mactan International Airport, you must first travel to the Cebu ferry port. Outside the airport, you can quickly grab a taxi. However, prices can vary, but you shouldn’t be paying more than 500php, which is about 10usd – 1200php for business class. The Grab taxi app is quite popular in Manila and Cebu, so before you come to the Philippines, be sure to download and activate your app – it will result in excellent service, clean and nice cars and honest prices. Do this; you will regret it if you don’t 😉 Usually, the trip to Pier 1, where the ferry departs, will cost you somewhere between 200 and 300php, which is around 5usd.

During the day, about every hour, different fast ferries depart for Tagbilaran. The two companies are Supercat and Oceanjet. Regular tickets are 600php, and business class tickets are 1000php which is about 30usd. Buying tickets is easy; the registration offices are in front of the ferry terminal.

The last fast ferries depart in Cebu around 6 pm. If you don’t want to stay in Cebu overnight, you can take the slow cargo and passenger ferry of the Lite Shipping Company for about 400php, which is about 8usd. There is one ferry leaving Cebu at 3 pm and one at midnight every day of the week. The trip via slow ferry will take about 4 hours from Cebu to Tagbilaran.

Travelling from the Ferry port in Tagbilaran to the Academy in Panglao.

You have arrived in Tagbilaran, Bohol, and must get to the freediving center. This is relatively easy. You call, email, or WhatsApp us before you leave Cebu – there is public wifi at the ferry terminal, and we’ll arrange a tricycle to wait for you on arrival. The tricycle will cost you 400php, which is about 8usd.

You can call, text, or Whatsapp us on the following two numbers;

The Academy
Phone: +63 995 883 1534  
Opening hours: 7 days a week
Hours of operation: 7 am till 7 pm.

The Office: Sales & Customer Support
Phone: +63 905 965 9984  
Office Hours: Monday to Friday
Hours of operation: 8 am to 5 pm.

Again, there is free internet at the ferry terminal.

If you arrange a taxi van on arrival in Tagbilaran harbor, you pay 1200php (~$25). If you organize your own transportation, ask the driver to bring you to the Freedive Academy in Tangnan. Take the North road on Panglao island, after the Tangnan elementary school, turn right, and then we are directly on the right side – can’t miss it 🙂 The trip shouldn’t cost you over 1000php (~$20). The tricycle driver can call the dive center at +63 995 883 1534.

If you want us to organize the tricycle, you will pay 850php ($16) or 1100php ($22) for a private car. Please note that tricycles and pickups are no longer allowed on the pier. This means you must walk to the main gate for about 3 minutes. And again, please message us when there are delays. Keeping the drivers waiting will cost an additional 250php ($5) per hour. Just call or Whatsapp the above support numbers.

Tricycle and Taxi Prices in Panglao.

Let us book your tricycle or taxi. You pay directly to the driver and never pay more than is needed. Below is an overview of the cost for the drivers we work with.

Please note: This page is best viewed on a tablet or desktop because of the table.

Route (vice versa)

  • Airport - Alona
  • Academy - Alona
  • Academy - Bee Farm
  • Academy - Tagbilaran
  • Academy - Doljo (Modala)
  • Tagbilaran - Alona
  • Airport - Academy
  • Seaport - Academy

Tricycle

  • 300
  • 300
  • 450
  • 650
  • 300
  • 650
  • 300
  • 600

Car

  • 600
  • 700
  • 700
  • 900
  • 700
  • 900
  • 700
  • 900

And that’s about it; if you have any additional questions about travelling to Panglao, please contact us.

See you soon in Panglao!