{"id":6202,"date":"2025-08-11T08:30:04","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T06:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/warmcheaptrips.com\/?p=6202"},"modified":"2026-01-17T09:38:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T08:38:34","slug":"new-year-itinerary-philippines-bohol-panglao","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/warmcheaptrips.com\/en\/new-year-itinerary-philippines-bohol-panglao\/","title":{"rendered":"My New Year itinerary in the Philippines: Pintuyan, Bohol and Panglao"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Just like our first trip to the Philippines<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, our second trip also happened almost by chance. We realized we had corporate holidays over the New Year and that flights to Cebu were cheaper than train tickets to Kyoto! So, without hesitation, we returned to the Philippines, a country we had loved so much on our first trip. This time, we flew into Cebu to explore Bohol and Panglao.<\/p>\n

Our initial idea was to visit Cebu, famous for the sardines of Moalboal and the whale sharks of Oslob, then continue to Bohol with its Chocolate Hills and tarsiers, and finish with a few days on the sea on the small island of Panglao. But then, I learned more about the situation of the whale sharks in Oslob and decided that it wasn’t an ethical place I wanted to support with my visit.<\/strong> It’s overcrowded with tourist boats competing for space around these poor animals, which are lured there by fishermen who feed them to guarantee their presence, thus changing the natural balance and their migratory routes. This is definitely not in line with what I consider to be healthy and ethical tourism.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, while looking for a more sustainable alternative for swimming with whale sharks, I discovered Pintuyan, in Southern Leyte. We decided to venture there, despite knowing that we weren’t guaranteed to see these incredible animals.<\/p>\n

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And so, our week-long New Year’s itinerary in the Philippines became Pintuyan – Bohol – Panglao<\/strong>, with Cebu used only as a base for the airport.<\/p>\n

New Year in the Philippines: My One-Week Itinerary<\/h2>\n

With a week to spare, we organized our itinerary in a loop, arriving and departing from Cebu airport, which has direct flights from Tokyo with Cebu Pacific. We planned to be in Panglao on New Year’s Eve, just to be in the midst of the New Year’s celebrations on Alona Beach.
\nDon’t forget your travel insurance, with HeyMondo<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, you will have a 5% discount as my readers!<\/p>\n

Day 0 – Arrival in Cebu<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We left after work, arrived around 1 a.m., and took a transfer to our hotel for a few hours of sleep.<\/p>\n

Day 1 – Transfer to Pintuyan<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The transfer basically lasted all day. First, a ferry to Hilongos, then a local bus to Sogod, and finally the last two hours in a van to Pintuyan, where we arrived in the evening at the only guesthouse in the village. The owner insisted on taking us in his TukTuk to a small local restaurant on the beach where locals were celebrating. Good food, feet in the sand, and the inevitable Filipino karaoke.<\/p>\n

Day 2 – Pintuyan<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Today was supposed to be the big day for our boat trip to swim with whale sharks. Although we were here during their migration season, it had rained a lot the day before, and it was still drizzling in the morning. The rain disperses the plankton and, alas, we were not lucky enough to find any whale sharks in the area during our 3-hour boat trip. We later found out that shortly after we returned to port, one was spotted a short distance from the shore… what terrible luck!<\/p>\n

I’ll tell you more about the whale sharks and how to get to Pintuyan in a dedicated post soon.<\/p>\n

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Day 3 – Travel to Bohol<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We woke up well before dawn to take a van to Bato port, where ferries to Bohol depart. However, we would arrive at Ubay port, which is less touristy and further from the main attractions and Panglao, so we decided to book a private car for the whole day. Our driver took us to visit Bohol’s most famous sights, such as the Chocolate Hills and the Tarsier Sanctuary, before dropping us off at our ecolodge on the Loboc River. There we took a sunset kayak trip on the river and paddled in the dark to see the fireflies. It was a very exciting experience, and I wrote about it in this article.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Day 4 – Travel to Panglao<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It was December 31st and we made our way to the small island of Panglao, which is connected to Bohol by two bridges. We began to explore the island and its beaches, then took a nap to get ready for the evening, waiting for the start of 2025.<\/p>\n

Alona Beach is definitely the “Place to Be” if you want to be with a lot of people for the countdown, beach music, and fireworks. After several years of spending New Year’s in Japan<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u2014without fireworks and with very sober and intimate celebrations\u2014we really felt the desire to start the year with a bit more excitement. We didn’t want to overdo it, and waiting for midnight at Alona Beach, sitting by the sea with a cocktail in hand, surrounded by music from the local bars and a lot of people, was exactly what we wanted!<\/p>\n

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Day 5 & 6 – Panglao<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We started the year lying on beautiful white beaches and swimming in crystal clear waters, eating on the beach and taking a boat trip (which didn’t thrill me). The atmosphere is much more “urban” and less wild than in El Nido<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, but if you’re looking for total relaxation on beautiful beaches, Panglao is the perfect destination.<\/p>\n

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Read Also: Mini-guide to Bohol and Panglao<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Day 7 – Excursion to Pamilacan Island and Return to Cebu<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Since our flight back from Cebu was at dawn the next day, we had a good half-day to spend in Panglao. So in the morning, we took a trip to Pamilacan Island, a stunning island just over an hour by boat from White Beach. At Pamilacan Island I probably had the most beautiful snorkeling experience ever, on a beautiful coral reef, among thousands of colorful fish and sea turtles, where we also saw a walo-walo, the dreaded and super venomous sea snake!<\/p>\n

Then we reached Tagbilaran port to take the ferry to Cebu.<\/p>\n

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Read also: Trip to the Philippines – Palawan itinerary<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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