SUPER CHILLED VIBES & MODERN ACCOMODATION
Island World Panglao is situated in Panglao – Bohol, within 800 metres of Alona Beach and 1.5 km of Danao Beach. Boasting a huge 25m outdoor swimming pool with jacuzzi, this property is set near attractions such as White Beach and Danao Beach which are huge tourist attractions and a popular spot to visit. There are lots of activities to do such as scuba-diving, island hopping, dolphin watching, snorkelling, kitesurfing and chasing waterfalls.
Bohol is known for its coral reefs and unusual geological formations, notably the cone shaped Chocolate Hills and adorably cute Tarsiers. The Philippine tarsier, is on of the world’s smallest primates, is indigenous to the island and also super adorable!
If you find yourself exploring one of the most spectacular island destinations in the Philippines then I would highly recommend booking yourself a few nights stay at Island World Panglao for an utterly unique experience.
Highlights
- A super sleek and unique outdoor pool
- A short walk away from the beach
- Free shuttles to Alona Beach
- Extremely friendly atmosphere and great service
- Delicious food in the onsite restaurant
- Secluded and hidden from the main chaos of Pangao
The Deluxe Bungalow
During our stay at Island World Panglao we opted to stay in the Deluxe Bungalow which was perfect for us. It has direct access to the pool and has a great view from the bed and terrace when you are relaxing throughout the day and the evening. It comes equipped with two double beds which were insanely comfortable and also has a modern ensuite bathroom with free toiletries and a spa bath.
What you get
The whole bungalow is laid out with hardwood flooring and comes with air conditioning, TV & satellite channels, drying rack for clothes, hairdryer, bidet, refrigerator, coffee & tea making facilities, outdoor furniture and dining facilities.
This room is definitely one of the most unique places I have stayed and I loved the fact that I could wake up from our beds, slip into my swim shorts, open the patio doors and dive straight into the pool – which I feel is the best way to start the day. Not to mention that is perfectly private and secluded which I enjoyed greatly.
They have a few different rooms and properties which you can check out here.
Activities
The Pool
This has to be the main attraction of Island World and rightly so! It is a very large beautiful pool which is perfect for relaxing by and getting in some good laps. It has plenty of sun loungers all around the outskirts and you could easily spend the day from morning till evening soaking up the sun and just chilling out.
Don’t forget to check out the hot tub as well!
Get a massage
At Island World Panglao they also offer a unique experience of having a Filipino massage in a sensual bamboo hut equipped with comfortable beds and well trained masseuse’s to help you relax and take away any stress you may have. For only a small fee of 500 PHP you will get an hour of fantastic massaging and you will probably want to nap after because you will feel so relaxed.
Local Beaches
It is in a great location to visit some of the more popular tourist attractions and beaches such as Alona Beach which is 800m away and 1.5 km away from Danao Beach. Alona Beach is where the magic happens and where most of the tourists head too, especially in the evenings.
This is where you’ll find the seaside restaurants with awesome views of the water, laidback beachfront bars where you can drink late into the night, and plenty of tour hawkers that want to take you on a trip into Bohol or around the island.
Diving
You’ll find plenty of dive shops that are happy to take you out for some underwater adventures. Two of the most respected dive shops in the area are Bohol Divers Club and Alona Divers.
Or book a boat tour and visit some of the best snorkel spots in Panglao, including Pamilacan Island, home to a small reef island with lots of colourful fish. There is a chance for you to see dolphins, Manta rays, and whale sharks even without diving deep.
Yoga
You can drop in on morning yoga, sunset yoga, or yin/restorative yoga every day of the week. Some sessions are held right on the beach, and others in a beautiful beachfront cabana. The teachers are passionate, knowledgably, and happy to welcome you to their class
Visit the Chocolate Hills
The Chocolate Hills are by far the most popular tourist attraction on Bohol Island and once you see it, it’s easy to understand why. Here, lay hundreds of symmetrical green mountainous hills as far as the eye can see. During the dry season, these hills take on a milk-chocolate color- hence “Chocolate Hills”. During the rainy season, they are lush and green. Hire a motorbike taxi to take you and enjoy the winding roads with natural and cultural sights along the way.
Bamboo Hanging Bridge
Visit the Bamboo Hanging Bridge where you’ll walk across a bamboo-weaved bridge over the slow flowing river. Each step on the bridge gives you a little tingle up your back as it feels quite delicate- but not to worry as the bridge is suspended with sturdy cables that won’t let you fall! Once you cross the bridge, there are little souvenir shops to purchase magnets, bags, shirts, and more
River Paddle Boarding
Journey down to the southwest corner of Bohol where you can embark on a day of paddle boarding. You’ll navigate through winding jungle passageways and around small waterfalls that offer a taste of nature in its purest form.
Tarsier Sanctuary
Tarsiers – locally known as ‘mamag’- are an endangered species and would be close to extinction if it weren’t for the efforts of the Tarsier Sanctuary in Bohol. Tarsiers are considered a “dependent” species meaning that they cannot thrive in the wild on their own. Every visit to the Tarsier Sanctuary helps fund efforts and habitat to keep these cute little creatures alive.
Entrance is only 60 PHP and well worth the money to see these beautiful animals in the flesh.
How to get there
There is an airport shuttle service if you require it for a small extra charge and they will pick you directly from the airport and straight to Island World which is well worth it! If not you can always get a tri-cycle, taxi or motorbike directly to the resort.
Island World
They vary depending on what time of year you go and whether you stay in the Deluxe Bungalow or other rooms.
We stayed in March 2019 and for our Deluxe Bungalow Room it costs 6,596 PHP (£47) per night.
Extras
- Private check-in/check-out
- Concierge service
- Luggage storage
- Tour desk
- Bottles of water daily and free filtered water
- You can have breakfast in the room
- Restaurant & bar onsite
- Minibar in your room
Summary
This place is absolutely fantastic and I am so glad that we chose to stay here for a few nights – its definitely worth it! The rooms are spectacular, with traditional but modern Filipino influences and amazing views right from our bed.
The resort itself is super welcoming and the staff are so friendly, especially Niels who really looks after his guests needs. They can honestly not do enough for you to make your stay that little bit more comfortable than what it already is.
You will want to stay longer
The pool is hands down the best part about Island World Panglao! I love the fact that I can walk straight into the pool from the room and can easily spend the whole day there. Then throw in the added activities and adventures in Panglao and you are onto a winner!
If you are in the Philippines and you want to have a unique experience, I would highly recommend Island World Panglao!
***Thank you so much the owner Niels for his fantastic hospitality and to Island Work Panglao staff for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.
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