Bohol Day Trips: What to Do in Panglao After Diving
We love spending our days underwater, but there’s plenty worth exploring above the surface too. Beyond Panglao’s dive sites, Bohol has jungle rivers, waterfalls, limestone caves, and countryside that deserves a day of its own.
Whether you have a free afternoon or a whole day away from diving, here are four trips we recommend. Some cover Bohol’s famous sights; others take you a little further from the usual tour stops.
Our main advice? Give yourself time to enjoy each place. You don’t need to visit everything on the list to have a great day.
A quick note for divers: plan inland trips around your diving schedule. Some routes climb into Bohol’s hills, and altitude exposure after diving needs consideration. Discuss your route and timing with your dive team beforehand.
1. The Classic Bohol Countryside Tour
Allow: Around nine hours from Panglao, with a shortened selection of stops.Best for: First-time visitors who want a mix of culture, wildlife, and scenery.Our highlight: Stand-up paddleboarding on the Loboc River.
This is Bohol’s classic day out. Many companies offer a countryside tour, or you can explore independently by motorbike if you’re an experienced, properly licensed rider.
The familiar route includes attractions promoted by the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office. Our version adds a slower way to enjoy Loboc—and an optional forest escape.
The itinerary
Baclayon Church
Start with a short visit to this historic church. It’s a good opportunity to see another side of Bohol before heading into the countryside. Dress respectfully and remember that it remains a place of worship.
Loboc River: swap the floating restaurant for a paddleboard
The floating restaurants are a popular part of the countryside tour, but our recommendation is a stand-up paddleboard tour. You get closer to the river, move at a gentler pace, and can explore quieter stretches away from the busiest cruise areas.
We recommend SUP Tours Philippines, based at Fox & the Firefly Cottages. You can also choose another established operator along the river. Beginners can join an appropriate guided trip—tell the operator your experience level when booking.
Afterwards, stay for lunch at Food & Fables, the restaurant at Fox & the Firefly. It’s an easy way to combine paddling and a proper lunch without another drive. The property’s website introduces the restaurant and its riverside activities.
Tarsier viewing
Tarsier viewing is a very touristy stop, but it can still be worthwhile for a short visit. These tiny, wide-eyed primates are remarkable to see.
For the straightforward Loboc–Bilar route, the commonly visited stop is the Tarsier Conservation Area in Bilar. Another option is the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, which requires adjusting your route (eco-friendly - go from here if you skip Baclayon Church). They are separate places, so check which one your tour includes.
Keep your voice low, never touch the animals, and turn off your camera flash.
Find the Bilar Tarsier Conservation Area on Google MapsFind the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella on Google Maps
Bilar Man-Made Forest
Continue through the shaded road beneath the forest canopy. This works well as a short stop or simply a scenic part of the drive.
If you stop for photographs, park safely off the road and stay out of the traffic lane.
Optional: Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape
Want more time in nature? Consider replacing one or two stops with a visit to Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape, formerly a national park.
This protected limestone forest is habitat for long-tailed macaques, Philippine tarsiers, flying lemurs, and many birds. Come for the forest and the possibility of wildlife sightings; animals aren’t guaranteed to appear. The Key Biodiversity Areas factsheet describes its wildlife and conservation importance.
The Bilar access area around Magsaysay is a useful starting point. Arrange access and any walking plans locally before setting out. Keep your distance from monkeys and don’t feed them.
Chocolate Hills
Finish with Bohol’s most recognisable landscape: rounded limestone hills stretching across the countryside. They become browner in dry conditions and greener after rain, so the view changes with the season.
Head to the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen for the familiar panoramic viewpoint. Expect stairs to reach the upper viewing area.
Pro tip: There are several ATV areas near the Chocolate Hills, a great andrenaline boost for your trip. Caution - it gets really muddy sometimes.
Who is it for?
Pretty much anyone visiting Bohol for the first time. You get a broad introduction to the island, with plenty of variety throughout the day.
The main attractions can be busy. If you prefer a quieter experience, give more time to Loboc SUP or Rajah Sikatuna and reduce the number of other stops.
How to plan your day
Leave Panglao early and choose your priorities before setting off. Around nine hours is a useful starting point, but a longer SUP session, a forest walk, or every stop on this list will stretch the day.
Our suggestion: build the day around Loboc SUP and choose the remaining sights according to your interests. Rajah Sikatuna works best as a replacement for other activities.
Pro tip: reverse the inland section and visit Loboc last for a firefly tour. SUP Tours Philippines offers a sunset-to-firefly paddle. Book ahead to secure a place, confirm your meeting time, and arrange your return transport. This becomes a day-and-evening outing.
2. Three Waterfalls in Dimiao
Allow: A full day for all three.Best for: Fit travellers who enjoy swimming, walking, and a more active day.Our highlight: Pahangog Twin Falls.
This is a route we designed around three waterfalls in the same area: Ingkumhan, Pahangog, and Dam-agan. They combine well geographically, but there’s no need to collect all three. If you only choose one, make it Twin Falls.
The itinerary
Ingkumhan Falls
Start with a smaller waterfall and a relaxed first stop. Ingkumhan is a lovely place to settle into the day, enjoy the greenery, and have a swim if conditions allow.
Save some energy for the next waterfall—it’s the main event.
Pahangog Falls, also called Twin Falls
For us, this is the most impressive waterfall on the route. Twin cascades flow down a limestone face into a pool surrounded by tropical greenery. Bohol’s provincial tourism profile lists Pahangog among Dimiao’s natural attractions.
The visit involves a descent on foot and a climb back out, so leave enough energy for the return. Take your time here rather than rushing off to the next stop.
Dam-agan Falls
Dam-agan makes a beautiful final stop, especially in the softer light of late afternoon. Part of the appeal is the approach: a narrow path through green countryside, with rice terraces and lovely views along the way.
Think of this as a sunset-light stop. Leave the falls early enough to complete the walk back before dark. The provincial tourism profile specifically notes the narrow approach.
Who is it for?
You’ll need a reasonable level of fitness. Expect stairs, uneven ground, potentially slippery paths, and a long day of driving from Panglao.
This route suits people who enjoy the journey as much as the swimming. If climbing steps in the heat sounds unappealing, choose one waterfall and give yourself a slower day.
How to plan your day
Start early, bring lunch or substantial snacks, and allow plenty of time for the return drive. Although the waterfalls are near each other, the smaller approach roads and walks take time.
Wear footwear with grip, carry drinking water, and protect your phone in a dry bag. Ask locally about water levels and access before descending, particularly after heavy rain. Avoid jumping into unfamiliar pools.
For independent visitors, download your maps beforehand and ask for directions to the current visitor entrance. A local guide can be particularly helpful on the less obvious approaches.
Our suggestion: prioritise Pahangog, add Ingkumhan if you have time, and keep Dam-agan optional. Leave it out if reaching it would mean walking back in darkness.
3. Antequera: Mag-Aso Falls and Inambacan Spring
Allow: Half a day to a full day.Best for: Moderately fit visitors who want waterfalls and a picnic with less driving than the Dimiao route.Our highlight: A relaxed lunch stop at Inambacan.
Antequera is a good choice when you want to explore mainland Bohol without committing to one of the longer routes.
Mag-Aso Falls
Begin with Mag-Aso Falls, where a walk down through the greenery brings you to the waterfall area.
Allow time to enjoy the setting and take the climb back at your own pace. Whether swimming is suitable depends on the day’s conditions and local instructions.
Inambacan Cave and Spring
Continue to Inambacan for a slower stop beside the spring. This is a good place to unpack a picnic and enjoy your surroundings.
Bring your own lunch and drinking water; don’t rely on finding food for sale at the site. Treat this as a spring and picnic visit, and stay out of enclosed cave passages.
Who is it for?
Moderately fit travellers looking for a manageable day out. The drive is shorter than the journey to Dimiao, although the walking and steps at Mag-Aso still require some effort.
It’s a good option if you’d rather spend longer at two places than spend the day moving between attractions.
How to plan your day
Visit Mag-Aso first, then head to Inambacan with your picnic. Start in the morning for a relaxed outing, or keep visits shorter if you only have half a day.
Bring cash for local charges, grippy footwear, swimwear, a towel, and a bag for your rubbish. Check access and water conditions locally, especially after rain.
Want to add kayaking? Contact Kayakasia Philippines about paddling on the Abatan River. They offer guided river experiences, including firefly kayaking. Confirm your meeting point directly when booking.
Adding a paddle makes this a fuller day. An evening firefly tour means a later return to Panglao, so organise transport accordingly.
4. A Panglao Half-Day Escape: Hinagdanan Cave and Napaling Reef
Allow: Around three to four hours.Best for: Visitors who want a short outing close to their accommodation.Our highlight: An easy combination of limestone scenery and time in the sea.
You don’t have to leave Panglao Island to find something different to do. These two stops make a convenient half-day trip, or you can choose just one for an afternoon outing.
The itinerary
Hinagdanan Cave
Head to Dauis to visit this limestone cave, where daylight enters through openings above an underground lagoon. Stalactites and stalagmites give the compact cave plenty of character.
The entrance and interior can be slippery. Wear suitable footwear and ask staff about current visiting and swimming arrangements.
Napaling Reef snorkelling
Next, head to Napaling on Panglao’s northern coast. The reef is known for its steep drop-off and the chance to see schooling sardines, although wildlife sightings always vary.
We suggest entering through Panglao Kalikasan Dive Resort for convenience. You can arrange your entry, snorkelling equipment, and a local guide there, with toilets and a restaurant useful for a longer stop. Confirm available facilities and the full package price before going. You also have alternative entry points around Kalikasan if you prefer an alternative.
Plan to snorkel with a guide and check the current entry requirements when booking. Stay close to your guide, keep your fins clear of the coral, and use a life jacket if you need extra flotation.
Who is it for?
This is the easiest outing to fit into a short stay and works for a wide range of visitors. There are still steps at the cave and sea entry, so consider mobility and comfort in the water.
Non-swimmers should discuss suitable arrangements with the snorkelling operator before booking.
How to plan your half day
Allow three to four hours for transport, both visits, and changing time. Sea conditions may make it sensible to snorkel first, so ask your operator which order works best that day.
Bring cash, swimwear, a towel, water, and a change of clothes. If you only have an afternoon—or simply want less activity—choose either the cave or Napaling and enjoy it at your own pace.
Which Bohol Day Trip Should You Choose?
Choose the countryside tour for Bohol’s famous sights, with Loboc SUP as our favourite addition.
Choose the Dimiao waterfalls for a more active day, putting Pahangog Twin Falls first on your list.
Choose Antequera for waterfalls, a picnic, and a shorter mainland journey.
Choose Hinagdanan and Napaling when you have just a few hours to explore close to Panglao.
Whichever route you pick, leave a little room in the schedule. A longer lunch, another swim, or an extra hour paddling along the river can easily become the best part of the day.
And when you’re ready to head underwater again, come dive with the Tribe.
