Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lapinig
Just offshore from Ubay, the undeveloped island of
Lapinig
offers some good diving,
some of it extreme in subterranean caves. To explore you can rent a bangka for the day
at the small pier in Ubay, but the easiest way to dive here is to arrange a trip through
one of the dive operators in Panglao.
ACCOMMODATION
THE WEST AND NORTH COASTS
Vida Amorosa
Cambaquiz, on the island's northeast
coast
T
032 234 0245,
W
sea-explorers.com.
Formerly
the
Cabilao Beach Club
,
Vida Amorosa
offers quality lodgings
at a range of budgets. The economy rooms are out the back,
while deluxe a/c rooms (P4700) sit atop a small cliff l
looking
out over the ocean. There's also a popular beach bar.
P2900
CABILAO ISLAND
Polaris Dive Centre
On the main beach on the island's
northwest coast
T
0918 903 7187,
W
polaris-dive.com.
A choice of cottages ranging from simple wooden tree-
houses to mor
e subs
tantial a/c doubles, bungalows and
family houses.
P1800
6
The south coast
Aside from the beautiful beaches and diving at
Anda
, and a few Spanish ruins, the
south coast has little to offer travellers aside from transport options from the typically
busy little port town of
Jagna
to Camiguin Island and Mindanao (see p.292). Buses
run along the coastal road to all of the destinations below.
Bool
Some 5km east of Tagbilaran, the coastal fishing town of
BOOL
is said to be the oldest
settlement on the island. It's also the location of the
Blood Compact Site
, marked by an
attractive bronze sculpture on the seafront. This is the spot where local chieftain Rajah
Sikatuna and Miguel López de Legazpi concluded an early round of Philippine-
Spanish hostilities in 1565 by signing a compact in blood. Every year for one week in
July, Boholanos gather in Bool for the
Sandugo
(One Blood)
festival
which, apart from
the usual beauty pageants and roast pig, includes a passionate re-enactment of the
blood ceremony.
Baclayon Church
About 2km east of Bool,
BACLAYON
is the site of
Baclayon Church
, the oldest stone
church in the Philippines, which was badly damaged by the 2013 quake. Much of the
newer Augustinian facade collapsed, along with the upper half of the bell tower. The rest
dates back to 1595 and was declared a national historical landmark in 1995. Until the
quake the church's convent functioned as an intriguing
ecclesiastical museum
housing a
number of priceless religious icons, although this remained closed at the time of writing.
Anda and around
Buses run from Tagbilaran (3hr)
Around 100km east of Tagbilaran, the countless white sand coves near the town of
ANDA
, in beautiful Guindulman Bay, are an emerging choice for those looking to
escape Panglao's commercialized beach and dive scene. Most of the resorts which have
popped up in recent years are mid-range to high end, although there are also a few
budget options. Offshore,
Lamanok Island
's hematite cave paintings add credence to
Anda's claim as the “cradle of Boholano culture”, while on land there are several caves
offering clear-water swimming -
Kabagno Cave
has a 6m-deep pool, but you'll need to
hire a ladder (P10) from the neighbouring house to get out.
ACCOMMODATION
THE SOUTH COAST
beach lovers, this place can't be beaten, with attractive
rooms, the best of which front onto a bright white
strip of
sand. There's also a pool, billiards and wi-fi (P100/hr).
P4400
ANDA
Anda White Beach Resort
Northern end of the beach
T
0917 700 0507,
W
andabeachresort.com.
For pure