Panglao Island

Panglao Island
	Aerial view of Panglao Island
	Panglao Island Location within the PhilippinesShow map of VisayasShow map of PhilippinesShow all
Geography
Location	Bohol Sea
Coordinates	9°36′N 123°49′E / 9.6°N 123.82°ECoordinates: 9°36′N 123°49′E / 9.6°N 123.82°E
Area	91.12 km2 (35.18 sq mi)
Length	16 km (9.9 mi)
Width	7.5 km (4.66 mi)
Administration
	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas
Province	Bohol
Municipalities	Dauis; Panglao;
Largest settlement	Dauis (pop. 45,663)
Demographics
Population	79,216 (2015 census)
Pop. density	870/km2 (2250/sq mi)

Panglao is an island in the north Bohol Sea, located in the Central Visayas region of the Visayas island group, in the south-central Philippines.

Geography[]

Panglao Island, Bohol

The island has an area of 91.12 square kilometres (35.18 sq mi). It is within Bohol Province, and comprises two municipalities: Dauis and Panglao. Panglao island is located southwest of the island of Bohol and east and south of Cebu.

Panglao has a terrain that ranges from plain, hilly to mountainous. Panglao is made of Maribojoc limestone, the youngest of the limestone units found in the western area of Bohol. The limestone composition delayed the development of the international airport as coralline limestone is soluble which causes formation of caves and sinkholes. One interesting geological feature found in the island is the Hinagdanan Cave which has an underground water source. The cave is an important water source as the island has no rivers or lakes.

Panglao is a popular tourist destination in the Philippines and includes several small islands, such as Gak-ang, Pontod, and Balicasag and is close to Pamalican island.

According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 79,216. ^[2]

History[]

Panglao was known to Chinese, Malay, Siamese and Indonesian traders. It once housed the Kedatuan of Dapitan.

Biodiversity[]

About 250 new species of crustaceans and 2500 new species of mollusks were found around the island. The discovery was the work of the Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project. The project found that Panglao alone has more marine biodiversity than Japan and the Mediterranean Sea.^[3]

Balicasag Marine Sanctuary

Tourism[]

Alona Beach overview

Panglao island is one of the main tourist destinations on the Philippines. Alona Beach is the most popular tourist spot on the island, noted for its white sand and clear water. There are also a lot of attractions to do for tourists such as scuba diving, island hopping, dolphin watching, snorkeling, kitesurfing and fishing.

Transportation[]

Bohol–Panglao International Airport (TAG) is the primary international airport to serve the province of Bohol. The airport opened in November 2018 replacing Tagbilaran Airport and serves Panglao Island and the rest of Bohol. There are almost hourly daytime flights to and from Manila from Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, and Philippine Airlines. There is also service to Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Puerto Princesa. International flights are expected to commence in late 2019/early 2020. It is less than 2 hours of travel time by fast ferry to Cebu. Mactan-Cebu International (CEB) airport is a gateway to the Central Philippines for international tourists.

There is a regular air-conditioned bus service from the airport to Tagbilaran City (Island City Mall and v/v PHP 50 each way) and a circular route to Alona beach. Short trips are usually by motor tricycle taxis, fares negotiable.

The island is connected with the Bohol main island by two bridges namely Suarez Bridge and Gov. Borja Bridge. A third bridge, also connecting the island to the mainland, is under construction.

References[]

^ "Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) - Province: BOHOL". nap.psa.gov.ph. Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Census of Population (2020). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
^ Pedroso, Kate (2 March 2007). "Panglao, Bohol: a center of marine biodiversity". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2012.

External links[]

Panglao travel guide from Wikivoyage
Panglao Island, Bohol - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

[psgc-1] "Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) - Province: BOHOL". nap.psa.gov.ph. Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.

[PSA20–07-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b Census of Population (2020). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 8 July 2021.

[3] Pedroso, Kate (2 March 2007). "Panglao, Bohol: a center of marine biodiversity". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2012.

[1]

[2]

[3]

show v t Protected areas in Central Visayas
National parks	Guadalupe Mabugnao Mainit Hot Spring
Natural parks	Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Mount Kanlaon
Natural monuments	Chocolate Hills
Protected landscapes	Central Cebu Rajah Sikatuna
Protected landscapes and seascapes	Alburquerque-Loay-Loboc Apo Island Talibon Islands
Protected seascapes	Panglao Island Tañon Strait
Game refuge and bird sanctuaries	Olango Island
Watershed forest reserves	Alijawan-Cansuhay-Anibongan River Loboc River
Wilderness areas	Bantayan Island Caniago Strait Islands Cebu Strait Islands
Protected areas of the Philippines

show v t The 40 largest islands of the Philippines
Alabat Balabac Basilan Biliran Bohol Bucas Grande Bugsuk Burias Busuanga Calayan Camiguin Camiguin de Babuyanes Cebu Catanduanes Culion Dinagat Dumaran Guimaras Jolo Leyte Lubang Luzon Masbate Marinduque Mindanao Mindoro Negros Olutanga Palawan Panaon Panay Polillo Samal Samar Siargao Sibuyan Siquijor Tablas Tawitawi Ticao		Islands portal
See also Geography of the Philippines Island groups of the Philippines List of islands