This weekend we moved to Dauis on Panglao Island. We needed to go to the DIY / Hardware store (WILCON) and very conveniently next to Wilcon we have The Vegan Shack located. I think this is one of the smallest restaurants I’ve ever been. So the name ‘Vegan Shack’ is perfect! What also is perfect is their food and coffee.
I had a Hot Latte (my all time favorite coffee) and Mary a cold Coconut coffee. They have a variety of specialty coffees and the Vegan Shack / Kahu Coffee is really worth your visit. Everything they serve is plant based, so the lattes are of course prepared with oat milk instead of cow-milk.
Mary had a Veef Brocoli (Tofu instead of beef) and I had Phat Thai where the meet was also replaced with tofu. Very delicious. It was not the first time we were there and certainly not the last time. Now we live only 5km from this little gem!
If you’re going there by tricyle/tuktuk ask your driver to go to Wilcon, they all know Wilcon. The shack is about 100m from Wilcon.
To go on the water with a Floating Cottage is not the most usual thing to do for tourists. Filipino’s however love this activity.
We went on the floating cottage the 30th of March 2024. The sea was calm and it was very hot.
You can rent the whole cottage for 3000P per day.
We had a kind of farewell party and decided to rent a cottage for the whole day. The family prepared food and drinks and of we went!
The starting point is at Manga Fish Port in Tagbilaran. A motor boat tows the cottage about 2-300 meters of the shore and throws out the anchor. Then the boat leaves, but they regularly come and check if everything is going well.
Enjoy swimming, eating and drinking for the rest of the day. In the afternoon the motorized boat tows you back to Manga Fish Port.
There is a special space in the boat where they created a ‘Pool’ for kids.
We had a nice day and we can surely recommend such a trip.
It has been already a few months ago that we visited Rene’s Dive Resort on Pangangan Island.
It is a lovely place, I’m not sure how many rooms they have, but not a lot. It’s quiet, and is situated directly at the sea. There is no beach, but there is access into the water from the property. For divers this is the perfect place!
We are no divers, but we enjoyed our stay.
The breakfast is ok, their pizza is delicious. And of course you can order a great halo-halo.
The rooms are beautifully designed and we enjoyed our 2-nights stay over there.
We took the bus from Tagbilaran DAO bus station and got off at Calape Market. From there we took a tricycle to Pangangan Island.
TIP: Ask the driver to bring you to ‘Rene Pizza’.
We recommend this small resort! Unfortunately we don’t have pictures of the rooms 🙁
There are two Gerarda’s Family Restaurants in Tagbilaran. We went to the one on CPG.
I didn’t know what to expect, but it was a quite ordinary restaurant. The drinks were good, we had a delicious cappuccino, cucumber shake and buko shake (coconut).
The food was average, the seats not really comfortable. So we most likely won’t go back there. The prices were ok.
It seems that the other one is better, we’ll see if we ever end up there. There are still plenty other restaurants to discover.
Gerarda’s Address: CPG North Avenue, Tagbilaran City, 6300 Bohol.
This is the link to their website, check out their menu online: gerardasbohol.com.
Moadto Strip Mall is one of our favorite places on Panglao Island. It is at the most western point of the island in Barangay Doljo. You also will find Doljo Beach at this location.
Don’t go too early! It opens at 10AM. Once we were there after picking up my visa at Immigration in Poblacion, we were there at 09:50.
I would say the best place is the restaurant/bar at the end of the mall at the right side. But they wouldn’t let us in before 11AM!
There are several restaurants, souvenir shops, a bakery, a Buzzz Cafe by Bohol Bee Farm and more.
We visited this place already several times and it is never crowded. There is a really beautiful beach, no crowds there either.
Here is the link to the MoadTo Strip Mall Facebook Page.
We visited The Lounge Café & Co-working Space already 2 times. It’s only a 5 minute tuk-tuk ride away from our house. They offer free WIFI for 1.5 hours. They have delicious coffee and other drinks like smoothies. If you’re a vegetarian, the food options are limited. Of course they have a big variety of Filipino food. Prices are ok. Atmosphere is good and it is a very quiet place. People are working online, as a co-working space this is a great place.
The temperature in the space is good, not too cold, not too hot.
Tell your tricycle / tuk-tuk driver to go to Bohol High (School). They all know the high school and they might not know the co-working space. The Lounge Café & Co-working Space is exactly opposite of this school.
Click here to see their Facebook page, their website is not reachable at the moment of writing this story.
Last July we went to a very beautiful remote beach: Punta Baluarte – Cabilao Island. This is a true hidden gem and you won’t be bothered by a lot of tourists!
Mary had been here before and I saw pictures of this amazing place. On a Sunday morning I was bored and said: Let’s go to Punta Baluarte and enjoy an afternoon at the beach.
We took the bus from DAO Busstation in Tagbilaran direction Tubigon. About 30-40 minutes later you need to get out at Loon Central Market. From there you take a tricycle to the pier on Sandingan Island, where you need to take the boat to Cabilao Island. It takes 5-10 minutes to get there. You might need to wait a bit until the boat fills up.
When you arrive on Cabilao Island, you take a 5 minute motorbike ride and go to the other end of the island.
There are almost no cars on this small island and it’s a very quiet place.
I was surprised by the beauty of this small beach and I wanted some coffee after this 2h trip. Then we discovered Cabilao Sanctuary Beach & Dive Resort! What a beautiful resort. We ordered lunch and stayed on the beach afterwards. It was such a nice place that we decided to spend the night at the resort.
We had a cabin for ourselves, it was very spacious and we slept well, despite of the power-cut that night!
We recommend Cabilao Sanctuary Beach & Dive Resort, it’s worth your money!
Finding shells on Cabilao Island
On the beach you will find beautiful coral and shells.
This trip is perfectly doable as a day trip, going to the beach and relax. Better is to spend one or two nights. Swimming in this spot is best at high tide. We don’t dive, but there were a few guests in the resort who were diving. In case you got curious about this beautiful spot, Google it: Punta Baluarte Cabilao Island
In June we visited the Bohol Cat Cafe. It is located on Panglao island, just over the ‘Dauis Bridge’ coming from Tagbilaran. If you come by car, there is a bit of parking space, and else you can park along the road.
We were there on a Sunday morning around 11AM to have our lunch. The cat cafe has an entree fee, a part of this is to support the cats and a part you’ll get back when you order a meal or drinks.
They have some vegetarian options, we had a sandwich, coffee, a shake, rice and meet.
Zara’s Cafe is a hidden gem. It’s not along the main road, but your tricycle or tuk-tuk driver will find it! It’s located on Panglao Island in Dauis. You’ll have perfect view and their products are delicious. Enjoy your time at Zara’s!!
Mirrors of the World in Sikatuna is a unique and captivating attraction located roughly 20 kilometers from Tagbilaran City in Bohol. This site has become a must-visit destination for tourists and locals alike, offering a miniature tour of the world’s most iconic landmarks all in one place. The park is set against the lush, green backdrop of Bohol’s rolling hills, making it not only an interesting cultural experience but also a scenic one.
For those without personal transportation, booking a tour with local operators or renting a car is highly recommended, as the park is a bit off the beaten path. We opted to rent a car, which gave us the flexibility to explore at our own pace. The late afternoon is the ideal time to visit, as the sun begins to set and the various replicas are illuminated in a stunning array of colors. This lighting adds a magical touch to the experience, making the already impressive replicas even more photogenic. The entrance fee is a modest 150 Pesos, which we felt was a great value for the experience.
Once inside, visitors are greeted by a collection of replicas of world-famous landmarks. Among the highlights are the Leaning Tower of Pisa from Italy, the Golden Gate Bridge from the United States, a charming Dutch windmill, the Statue of Liberty in New York and many more sculptures to see. The park also features statues of numerous Greek gods, adding a mythological touch to the global tour. Each replica is set in a carefully designed landscape that enhances the overall experience, making it a great spot for photography and family outings.
At the top level of the park, called the Acropolis, there’s a restaurant where visitors can relax and enjoy a meal after exploring. The restaurant offers a variety of dishes, though the vegetarian options are somewhat limited. However, the dining experience is complemented by the panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, making it a pleasant way to conclude the visit. Sikatuna – Mirrors of the World is not just a visual treat but also a place where visitors can immerse themselves in a miniature version of the world’s wonders, all while enjoying the natural beauty of Bohol.
Outside of the park there are plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs.
