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The Philippines is a fantastic Southeast Asian destination, where we spent two months of our full-time slow travel lifestyle. We mostly stayed on Bohol Island (including Tagbilaran City and regular day trips to Panglao Island), so we’re excited to share our top picks of things to do in Bohol with kids. Read on to discover the best fun and family-friendly things to add to your Bohol itinerary, from popular hotspots to off-the-beaten-track hidden gems.
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- Helpful info for visiting Bohol and Panglao
- Ultimate Travel Guide: 25+ Family-Friendly Things to Do on Bohol-Panglao Islands
- Final Thoughts on things to do in Bohol-Panglao
Helpful info for visiting Bohol and Panglao
First of all, if you haven’t been to the Philippines before, we think there’s a lot to like! (Scroll down for our quick pros and cons of visiting the Philippines). Certainly, we found the Bohol-Panglao islands full of natural attractions such as beautiful white beaches, cool cave pools, and incredible waterfalls!
Panglao is connected to Bohol, where we stayed, by two bridges. So, how long it takes to get from A-B across the two islands will depend on exactly where you’re staying and/or which mode of transport you choose. For example, when we decided to get the bus (from Bohol to Panglao), it would stop for a bit at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport and take nearer to 60 minutes to get to the far end of Panglao. However, privately hired drivers would use more direct routes and we’d invariably get there quicker.
Tricycles are readily available and affordable compared to Western standards. Unlike the two-wheel motorcycle taxis, which are unsuitable for most families, the trikes can handle more people, have room for some luggage, and are probably safer and considerably more comfortable. In addition, ‘jeepneys’ are another affordable and common mode of transportation you’ll find on the islands.
We also found car hire cheap and easy here. We didn’t even require an International license.
How to get to Bohol-Panglao
You can get to Bohol-Panglao via air or sea. After spending our first 10 days in the Philippines exploring things to do in Cebu with children, we traveled from Cebu to Bohol by ferry. It’s a scenic journey across the azure waters of the Philippine archipelago, providing a picturesque view of the islands. We found it comfortable, convenient, and an excellent low-cost way to experience the beauty of the sea and the surrounding islands.
By air
You can fly to Tagbilaran via the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (TAG) from either Manila or Cebu City. But do note it’s located in Panglao, and your transfer may be a little longer if your final destination is Tagbilaran or anywhere else in Bohol.
By sea
There are daily ferry rides from Cebu Ferry Terminal that arrive at Tagbilaran Port in Bohol.
You can purchase your ferry tickets through 12Go to start your journey.
When is the best time to visit these Philippine islands?
Arguably, the Bohol region has two distinct seasons: dry and wet.
Dry Season
According to different sources (and who you believe!), the dry season typically occurs between November/December and April/May. If it matters to you, consider the months of December through February as the most favorable time to visit due to lower humidity levels and reduced rainfall.
Wet Season
In contrast, the wet rainy season is most likely experienced from May to October.
We were there from January to March and found the climate warm and sunny and ideal throughout our stay. We like to spend time outdoors, and with ‘grey’ the more usual theme in many parts of Southeast Asia, we thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful blue skies in the Philippines. We even got a bit tanned, too!
Ultimate Travel Guide: 25+ Family-Friendly Things to Do on Bohol-Panglao Islands
OK, now you know how to get there, how to get around, and when to visit, here are our top recommendations for activities, attractions, tours, places to visit, and things to do on Bohol and Panglao Islands.
Enjoy sandy white beaches
We loved the abundance of crystal clear water and white sandy beaches that make near-perfect spots to chill out or play in the Philippines! Certainly, the Bohol-Panglao beaches were some of the best we saw anywhere in Southeast Asia, with many amongst our favorite beaches worldwide!
Most of these are on Panglao, but we also enjoyed Baluarte Beach on Bohol Island.
Alona Beach [Panglao Island]
Alona Beach is located at the bottom of Panglao Island.
Panglao is famous for its beaches, and Alona is arguably the most famous. It’s undoubtedly very touristy and can get crowded at times. We visited more than once during our stay as we struggled with some of the food options in the Philippines and knew we could get a familiar Western fix here!
There are plenty of great restaurants along or near Alona Beach. We enjoyed Buzz Cafe on the second level, overlooking the beach. It’s a fantastic place for healthier options and to enjoy the magnificent view after you’ve had enough sand! Those of you with babies and toddlers will know what I mean!
We loved the crystal clear water and sea life at Alona Beach. You can take a snorkeling trip from Alona, or you might even be able to see a bit just from shore swimming.
There’s rubbish around, so consider picking some up if you visit this beach. Sadly there were lots of cigarette butts around on the sand too. We couldn’t find a rubbish bin, so we gave it to people working in one of the cafes, and they happily took it.
San Isidro Beach [Panglao Island]
San Isidro is located in Dauis, on Panglao Island.
Our visit there was supposed to be a family day out, but a series of events led to Daddy and the little one staying at home and Ayla and I going out for a date afternoon.
We didn’t entirely end up where I expected, which is half the adventure. There are many white sand beaches along the east side of Panglao island, so you can take your pick!
I don’t think the one we ended up at really even features on the map since the beach is so tiny. If you want to visit, head to Cush Resto, an upmarket restaurant near the beach.
We overlooked the restaurant until we were heading out. Its comfy dining space and grassy outdoor area would have made it well worth a visit. There were a few people doing yoga on the grass and a few fishing here, too.
The beach itself was pretty clean. There were a few big sacks around, hanging off trees, so it looked as if people had made an effort to keep it clean.
There are also good trees and rocks to climb, and it was the first spot we’d been to that even had a few little waves.
From here, if you want to explore further, you can walk 15 minutes down the path to the more extensive/main beaches in the San Isidro area.
This was our original intention, but we arrived much later than expected, and Ayla broke her only pair of footwear. So, instead, we decided to stay put and enjoy this little gem on its own. Then, we headed to the local market to find some second-hand shoes!
Baluarte Beach [Bohol Island]
Next up in the crystal clear waters of the Philippines is Baluarte Beach, on the island of Bohol.
Getting here from Tagbilaran City is easy, and you’ll have no trouble getting a jeepny or tricycle home.
There are a couple of swimming options. Firstly, you can swim from the big shaded concrete block. There are steps down to enter the bath-like water. However, we were there during low tide, so we had to wade for ages to get past the knee-deep shallow water to enjoy a proper swim.
Therefore, download a tides app to visit this part at high tide for swimming. There’s also a jetty, which offers a deeper swim option during low tide. There are a few sandy patches around and also some rocky areas. The water is crystal clear, so it’s easy to see what’s underfoot.
We didn’t swim off the jetty since it wasn’t the safest place to have wee Romy! Plus, the temperatures are so hot, and it’s super sunny here, so it’s best to be in the water or the shade.
We didn’t go for a second visit to Baluarte Beach, but if we did, we would have gone at high tide for more swimming options or with a babysitter so we could swim off the jetty. It looked so inviting over that side and would have been perfect for anyone who can swim unassisted.
We saw lots of fish, starfish, sea urchins and hermit crabs! It’s also a lovely spot to watch the sunset.
Again, trash can be a bit of an issue here. We saw big bags full of it, but it wouldn’t take much wild weather to blow these over and send the trash into the sea. They were hung up on the edge of the jetty near the water, and there were also a couple of garbage piles on the land near the big shaded concrete block.
Mawbaw Reef [Bohol Island]
Bohol is a fantastic island for catching sunsets. You’ll likely see them even while cruising the road home from work or play.
The Mawbaw coral reef is a good option for things to do in Tagbilaran because it’s very close to the city. You can catch most of the sun setting here. I say most because a little piece of nature is blocking the last part (not complaining)?.
Catch a tricycle or take your own transport. When you arrive, there’s a little path off to the left. It leads onto a wee trail with a very excellent tree to climb. It was a shame to see the grass covered in rubbish and broken bottles, though. It’s not a place for going barefoot.
So, as always, please pack out any rubbish and collect any extra to take away if possible. There were a few sacks for rubbish here, mostly filled with glass bottles and completely overflowing.
We’ve noticed a bit of a drinking culture at many of these coastal spots. Huge bottles of coconut wine were the choice of bevvy for a group of people while we were there. There was also a karaoke machine, as seen in several places ??.
Before we went, we didn’t know that there was a big concrete pool that fills with seawater at high tide. We were there at high tide, so Ayla enjoyed an evening swim. This feature makes Mawbaw Reef a good option for things to do in Bohol with kids.
Bohol-Panglao has so many stunning beaches with swaying coconut palm trees and inviting turquoise waters it’s nearly impossible to list them all! With an infant (at the time) and juggling work while there, we didn’t visit all the popular beaches, so here are several other top ones you might want to consider visiting.
Momo Beach [Panglao Island]
For a less-crowded beach experience, consider visiting Momo Beach. One of the appealing aspects of Momo Beach is its unpopulated nature. Other than the possibility you might find a dive resort at one end, expect to see nothing more than local fishing boats and some wooden huts to accompany mother nature’s palm trees, white sandy shoreline, and beautiful turquoise waters.
Momo Beach is situated on the northern shores of Panglao and is about a 15-minute drive from Alona Beach.
Doljo Beach [Panglao Island]
Located at the western tip of Panglao Island, Doljo Beach is another peaceful, picturesque beach with white sand and clear water.
However, while Doljo Beach may also be quieter than other beaches on the island, note the Moadto Strip Mall is also nearby. Unlike Momo Beach, you can expect to find several nearby resorts.
Dumaluan Beach [Panglao Island]
Another alternative beach option to the potential crowds at Alona Beach is Dumaluan Beach. Home to a vibrant underwater world filled with colorful coral reefs and diverse marine species, you’ll find a lot of activities here, including diving and snorkeling.
If you time it right, Dumaluan Beach is also a great spot to enjoy a stunning sunset.
Panglao Beach [Panglao Island]
Regarding sunsets, Panglao Beach is also a great place to watch the sun go down on the island.
From Alona Beach, it’s a 20-minute drive to reach Panglao Beach, where the best time to visit is during high tide. Note there may be a per-person entrance fee, but hopefully, you’ll find the ‘investment’ worthwhile!
Panglao Beach is a few minutes north of Hinagdanan Cave, so you can easily combine these two activities. Check out this private 6-hour Panglao Island day tour, where you can bask in the sun at Alona and Dumaluan beaches and visit Hinagdanan cave. There’s a small additional charge if you want to swim in the cave, and you can also opt to stop at the Bohol Bee Farm for lunch.
Other beaches worth mentioning…
When Alona becomes too crowded for your taste, grab some transport and try other notable mentions, such as the beautiful beaches of Anda and Danao.
You’ll find Anda Beach on a small peninsula on the eastern coast of Bohol, but it still features a lovely long (1.5 km) stretch of white sand and coconut palm trees! (It’s also close to the hole-in-the-ground cave pool, the Cabagnow Cave).
Danao Beach is located near the Kalipayan dive site, a well-known diving spot home to large colonies of corals.
Visit a scuba diving resort
Several dedicated dive resorts exist on the west side of Panglao Island. Although our kids were too young at the time to try diving as a family, we were keen to check out some of these resorts. The prospect of snorkeling in the clear waters and maybe cliff jumping was pretty exciting for us!
It’s always good to go to these places without expectations. Many of our beach visits, including this one, were windy and not the best conditions for snorkeling. After getting close to the water and thinking about it, we decided it was too choppy, even for the grown-ups to want to swim.
So we had lunch at Kalikasan Resort and enjoyed using their pool facilities and hanging out with the local animals on site.
It’s better to be safe, and we enjoyed watching the ocean from a distance on this particular day.
If you want to check out Kalikasan Resort, they have an entry fee (where you can use the pool) of 150 pesos per adult and 100 per child, or you can check out their latest accommodation rates.
Try out other watersports
If you’re not into scuba diving, you can find other water activities on Panglao Island, such as kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and windsurfing. (Although you might need to drop into a resort to be able to try them).
Join one or more island-hopping tours
The Philippines has thousands of beautiful islands, surrounded by calm, refreshing blue waters and pristine beaches. So, it will come as no surprise that island hopping is a straightforward and natural thing to do here!
Visit Balicasag Island
If you’re looking for a fun and adventurous activity in Bohol, consider hopping aboard a boat and setting sail to Balicasag Island. A paradise in the middle of the sea with a white sandy beach surrounding the island!
A haven for nature lovers and adventure seekers, Balicasag Island, is one of the prime Bohol diving spots because of its precious marine life that has thrived thanks to the Balicasag Marine Sanctuary. You might see some turtles while you enjoy snorkeling and swimming in the clear blue waters.
This private 6-hour Balicasag Island and dolphin-watching tour includes lunch and use of snorkeling equipment.
Virgin Island
Virgin Island offers fewer activities than Balicasag Island, as it mainly consists of a stunning white sandbar only visible during low tide. However, it is an ideal spot for children to swim, play in the water, and try to see starfish (without touching them).
On the flip side, be careful not to lose your flip-flops/jandals/sandals, or any other footwear that might get stuck in the sand!
Also, despite the isolated location, don’t be surprised to see numerous vendors selling pearls, fresh seafood, and jewelry.
This half-day sunset tour visits Virgin Island outside of the busy hours and includes snacks and drinks.
Pamilacan Island
If you’re a sealife enthusiast, you may be excited to learn that Pamilacan Island is a popular migration route for spinner dolphins and Bryde’s whales.
With its beautiful hard and soft corals, it’s also an excellent location for spotting manta rays.
This full-day tour visits Pamilacan Island and includes coffee, tea, lunch, and the use of snorkeling equipment.
Countryside, cave pools and waterfalls
Once you move inland (sometimes even just a short distance), you can expect an abundance of lush greenery in Bohol’s beautiful countryside. Get ready for loads of spectacular nature areas such as caves, rivers, waterfalls, and even a few hills you can hike!
Bilar Man-Made Forest
Although it’s not exactly a destination in its own right, you’ll find the unusually created Bilar man-made forest on the way to the more popular Chocolate Hills. At the Bilar man-made forest, you can take pictures under the shade of the mahogany trees that lean in from each side of the road, creating a complete shade cover.
Although it is a main road, some people really wanted those pics. They were willing to risk life and limb, prepared to sit and pose for ages in the middle of the road, which we don’t recommend!
The Chocolate Hills
One of the island’s more popular tourist attractions, the world-famous Chocolate Hills, was a lovely final day trip for us in the Philippines. We think it looks a little like Teletubby land!
Situated just over an hour from Tagbilaran City, you could combine it with a trip to Loboc and the Philippine Tarsier Conservatory. (If you like to cover a bit more ground in one day than we do!)
You could take this Chocolate Hills half-day tour, including a buffet lunch on the Loboc River. In just 5-6 hours, you’ll visit the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument, the Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area, Bilar Man-Made Forest, Baclayon Church, and the Blood Compact Monument, plus enjoy a Loboc River cruise.
When we arrived at the Chocolate Hills, the first stop for us (as always) was for food. We had a fantastic yummy lunch, including a rare (in these parts) plate of delicious vegetables at Acacia Glamping Park. It looked like a lovely place to stay with its bright flowers, papaya trees, and pineapple plants ?.
The Chocolate Hills complex is just down the road and is a great place to get an elevated view of all the cute little hills. There are only a few steps to walk up, so it doesn’t require excessive exercise to reach the top (where you may run into many other tourists).
Another Chocolate Hills tour option is this exclusive 8 to 10-hour private tour, beginning with a Filipino breakfast in Tagbilaran City, followed by all the top sites in and around the Chocolate Hills and Loboc.
Chocolate Hills Adventure Park
We finished the day at the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park, where we did one activity each. We were the only ones there! At the time we visited, the was based on paying a relatively small entrance fee, then individual payments for the activities you want to do.
There are many to choose from, including overnight camping, guided hiking, mountain biking, ziplining, wall climbing, ropes courses, zorbing, chicken and fish feeding, and more.
Kids are a little more limited in their options, but Ayla chose the climbing wall and climbed to the top twice! Colin opted for a surf in the sky, and I (Elly) rode the bike in the sky. It’s like a slow zipline where you’re riding a bike!
It was loads of fun, and we’d highly recommend it as one of the most fun things to do in Bohol Island with kids!
Danao Adventure Park
An alternative to the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park is the Danao Adventure Park. Located approximately 70k from Tagbilaran City, you can try fun activities like zipline, bungee jumping, and rappelling.
Visit the beautiful Loboc River village
Just 40 minutes from Tagbilaran City is the beautiful river village of Loboc. With various activities in the area, it’s an excellent choice for things to do in Bohol with kids.
Check out the Loboc Ecotourism Adventure Park for a zipline adventure! For 500 pesos, you can fly across the Loboc River and back again. Or you can opt for a slower cable car ride or a taste of each.
Our eldest was right around 120cm at the time, which meant she could go on the zipline as long as she was flying with a grown-up. So off she went with her dad!
There are a couple of other activities there, too, including the harnessed trampolines and a ropes course. You get about 10 or 15 minutes on each, and they’re 150 pesos each.
There are some lovely bungalows at various river resorts in Loboc (check out the beautiful Loboc River Resort). We found one with several healthy vegetarian dishes, so we dined there for lunch and dinner!
Ayla and I hired a double kayak for an hour. Other options on the river include :
- A Cebu to Bohol Day Trip with Loboc River Lunch Check availability and prices
- Stand-up paddle boarding Check availability and prices
- Paddle bike boat thingies (pay per hour)
We’d highly recommend a day or more relaxing Loboc if you’re coming to Bohol. You’ll either need to use your own transport or join a tour which will take you to several places in one day.
The Philippine Tarsier Conservatory
The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary is about 30 minutes drive from Tagbilaran City. It’s a fun and educational option for things to do in Bohol with kids.
Check some top ways to experience the Tarsier Conservation Area
This is one place where you’ll either need to take a tour or use your own transport. We hired a car for the day, and this was the first of two places we visited. We like to slow down and take our time, so two places in one day is our limit!
If you want to combine activities, this Bohol day tour with round-trip transfers from Cebu City takes you to the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary, the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument, and on a Loboc River Cruise.
Tarsiers are primates, but they are not monkeys! They have opposable appendages and the ability to grip objects, similar to humans.
They’re carnivores and primarily feed on insects. Tarsiers are endangered, and this variety is only found on four islands in the Philippines (Bohol is one). A tarsier can only produce one baby yearly since they’re pregnant for six months and nurture the baby for another six months.
Way tinier than we’d imagined, they’re about the size of a small rat and have a rat-like tail. They’re nocturnal loners and are very territorial. One very neat skill of a Tarsier is that they can rotate their head 180 degrees for a full 360 vision. Their huge eyes stay in one place, though.
Though these little cuties don’t belong in captivity, you can see the Tarsier in a few places in their natural habitat. We chose the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary based on the good reviews we’d read about how they care about the conservation of these cuties.
When you get to the tarsier conservation area, it’s evident that silence is essential. It’s also crucial not to try and touch any tarsiers or the branches they’re on. Guides provide an orientation and take around small groups at a time.
They certainly don’t belong in captivity. Tarsiers kept in cages can become distressed and commit suicide as a result of banging their heads against the cage.
The biggest threats to tarsiers are habitat destruction, house cats, and hunters /trade. We’d recommend adding the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary to your itinerary of things to do in Bohol with kids.
Banat-i Hill
We were pretty stoked to have the base of this nifty little hill just a 10-minute walk from home. The path up this hill didn’t exist in my map apps, but I knew it was there as I’d seen photos on Google from the top of it.
So we started walking, perhaps a little later than we should have to catch the sunset. We ended up coming down in the dark! We just started asking locals where the path was to find our way up the hill.
No one seemed to know what we were talking about until some local kids started leading us just where we were trying to go! So, if you can find your way to the start of the path, this is a lovely little hill walk with beautiful panoramic views.
On the way up and from the top, you can see Panglao Island, just a hop, skip, and jump away. Banat-i Hill is a short, doable hike for people with an average fitness level. Our six-year-old daughter walked up with no problems. We’d recommend it as one of the fun and free things to do in Bohol with kids!
Hinagdanan Cave
Hinagdanan cave is on the west side of Dauis, on Panglao Island. Entry is 50 pesos per person, or 125, including swimming.
It’s a lovely little cave complete with stalactites, bats, and a clear, cool salt water natural pool (as it’s right next to the ocean).
About three to four meters deep, it’s plenty enough to dive into from a rock if you’re careful. And it provides a lovely break from the hot sun and sand!
Our youngest even enjoyed a swim since there are some shallow rocky areas where we could play. And despite the darkness, the water was extremely clear, too.
It’s just a small cave, but we found it wasn’t too busy, even on a Sunday. Especially as most people just come in for a look, take some photos, and then leave. We stayed as long as it was suitable for the bubba! If you’re looking for things to do in Bohol with kids and are after a mini-adventure, check out this cave. It’s a lot of fun for a refreshing swim in a unique location.
Afterward, you can enjoy a fresh fruit shake from one of the vendors outside. Alternatively, if it’s high tide and you fancy a swim, take a stroll down the path to the ocean to find a small rocky beach where you can cool off.
We decided to walk to the closest beach afterward, San Pedro, a white sand beach about 20 minutes walk away. There was a lot of rubbish on the beach and quite a few boats around. It wasn’t set up with refreshments, but Colin had his first ocean swim.
We did get some yummy meals from Natura Vista bungalows afterward, which are just along the path, a little back from the beach.
Camugao Falls
There are so many beautiful swimming holes that can be found around Bohol, and Camugao Falls is another one we enjoyed visiting. (It’s about a 30-minute drive from the Tarsier sanctuary, so we went there after seeing the tarsiers).
There are a few falls in the area, and we thought we might make it to one of the others. But for us, family travel is best done by going slow. We always think we can squeeze in a little more than we do!
You’ll need your own transport to visit these falls or others in the area.
We drove down some beautiful, rustic little country roads and veered off along dirt paths. Then, we accidentally made a wrong turn and ended up at these falls. We decided there was plenty of reason to stay and play for a while!
Entry was 125 pesos (just a few dollars) for the three of us who paid, and to park the car. There’s a beautiful little walk from the car park (just a big patch of grass), along a path, and down several steps to the swimming area. It’s an excellent little, fun adventure for a family, and we’d highly recommend adding it to your list of things to do in Bohol with kids!
The water was clear and refreshing. It’s colder than the beach water! You can also hire tables and tubes down next to the swimming area.
Although we didn’t make it to others, here are a few more we know about…
Cabagnow Cave Pool
Cabagnow Cave Pool is about a 5-minute drive from Anda town, in Bohol. In fact, around Anda, you might find many more cave pools, but this one is considered the pick of the bunch by many.
Kawasan Falls (and the Abatan River)
Kawasan Falls is located in Antequera, near the Abatan River and surrounded by jungle. It’s not to be confused with the more famous Kawasan Falls on Cebu Island. After viewing the river, continue along the trail for a short distance to reach the falls.
Dimiao Twin Falls (AKA Pahangog Falls)
To get to Dimiao Twin Falls from Panglao, it’s about a 60km drive that can take around 1.5 hours. (Also, expect to pay a small entrance fee).
To reach the falls, follow the rocky trail from the jump-off point. This will lead you to a set of concrete stairs with handrails that descend steeply but shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to get down.
As the name suggests, Dimiao Twin Falls consists of two falls, each about 25 meters tall, flowing down a limestone rock face and filling a large catch basin below. The swimming pool created by the falls is turquoise and deep enough in certain areas for rock jumping, but as always, check the depth beforehand.
Rest, relax, and chill out!
Visit South Palms Resort
Some days, we crave a little bit of luxury. We rented a house in the local community and occasionally visited places like South Palms Resort as day guests.
Sometimes there will be a fee to use the facilities. Other times, you’ll need to eat at the on-site restaurant.
We had some pretty good food at the South Palms Panglao Resort, and they kindly let us use their beautiful pool, which is set right on the beach. There is a sign that specifies it’s for in-house guests… but sometimes it still pays to ask.
South Palms is one of the fun, kid-friendly resorts in Bohol. There’s a mini forest area and beachside massage beds. There are also comfy chairs by the pool bar and on the beach. It’s set on Dumuluan Beach (Panglao Island), which has a beautiful long stretch of white sand.
We were happy to see a few other options along the beach in terms of places to hang out, eat, and relax.
Final Thoughts on things to do in Bohol-Panglao
While the Philippines’ cultural heritage wasn’t fascinating to our very young children (at the time), we also visited the Blood Compact Shrine, which was interesting for a five-minute look but didn’t keep us there any longer.
Overall, Bohol Island (including Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City) is a fantastic place to visit if you want to do things in the Philippines with kids. We’d happily go back again!
Quick Pros and Cons of Visiting the Philippines
Before we go, here are our thoughts on the Philippines as a destination.
Overall, the Philippines was a marvelous and unforgettable adventure for our family. (Our youngest daughter even had her first birthday there!). We’re so glad we got to stay there before we moved on to Europe. Here are some fantastic reasons to consider the Philippines as your next destination.
Why you’ll love visiting the Philippines
- The Philippines had the lowest language barrier we came across in all of Southeast Asia. Pretty much everyone in the Philippines seemed to speak English.
- Filipinos are extremely friendly people. OK, so we found Southeast Asia to be very friendly in general. We just noticed the people in the Philippines were extra warm.
- The Philippines is cheap, cheap, cheap! Food and attractions are generally more affordable than in many other parts of Southeast Asia (which is already cheaper than in many other parts of the world). Babysitting is 2 USD per hour. Or you could get a full-time nanny for about 97 USD per month if you wanted to!
Potential cons
On the cons side, because we wanted to stay for a few months, we found it a little more challenging to adjust to living locally in the Philippines compared to some other parts of Southeast Asia. This was mainly because we had become used to a more effortless, more Western lifestyle in our previous two destinations, Singapore and Malaysia.
For example, we found the accommodation standards were lower than what we were used to in Malaysia, yet the price we paid was similar. We left before the blocked drains and ants took over our lives completely!
Also, we weren’t overly keen on the cuisine. As a vegetarian, I found the vegetables highly lacking, and dishes in the Philippines seemed laden with vinegar. Healthy food options were generally more difficult to come by than in countries like Vietnam and Thailand.
Of course, there are pros and cons to every destination. If you stay in a hotel or resort or work with a higher budget, you’ll undoubtedly have a different experience.
Getting a Philippines Visa
*Nationals of many countries can extend their tourist visas every two months for up to three years. This makes it easier to stay in the Philippines long-term without leaving than many other Southeast Asia countries. A reasonable cost is involved for each extension, which adds up as a family. But if you’re looking for somewhere to stay long-term, it doesn’t appear to be too difficult to stay here.
*Be sure to check the latest immigration information.
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