Where to Stay in Bohol, Siquijor & South Cebu: An Island-Hop Guide

Bohol, Siquijor and the southern tip of Cebu sit in a rough triangle in the Visayas, an hour or two apart by fast ferry. That makes them an obvious island-hop, and turns the accommodation question into a sequencing one: which island first, how many nights on each, and whether to sleep near the pier or on the beach you came for. Get the order right and the boats do the work.

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We did this route over Christmas 2019 with our two kids: ten nights and six places, from Tagbilaran on 21 December to Moalboal on the 31st.

The Short Answer

Where we stayed: Kasagpan in Tagbilaran (one night), Marqis Sunrise Sunset Resort in Baclayon (two), White Villas Resort (two) and Tropical Fun Ta Sea Rentals (three) in San Juan, Siquijor, Robinland Vacation Home in Badian (one) and The Blue Orchid Resort on Moalboal's White Beach (one).

How Bohol, Siquijor and South Cebu Are Laid Out

Bohol's capital, Tagbilaran, is on the south-west coast, and Panglao, the beach island, is joined to it by bridges. The interior sights run north-east along one road: Loboc is about 45 minutes from Tagbilaran, the Chocolate Hills at Carmen nearer two hours. Bohol-Panglao International Airport opened in November 2018 and replaced Tagbilaran's old airport; it is about 6 km from Alona Beach, 15 to 30 minutes by car.

Siquijor is small, roughly 70 km around on a single coast road. Boats land at Siquijor town or Larena; the beaches and sunsets are at San Juan on the west coast, 20 to 30 minutes away. Most visitors rent a scooter.

South Cebu is a long, thin strip. Moalboal and Badian face west; Oslob faces east, with the Liloan pier at Santander, on the tip, for boats to Negros. Moalboal is about 90 km from Cebu City, two and a half to three and a half hours by road, and three to four hours from Mactan-Cebu airport.

The links are the whole plan. OceanJet's fast craft runs Tagbilaran to Siquijor directly in about two hours. From Siquijor, ferries reach Dumaguete in 45 to 90 minutes; from Sibulan, just north of Dumaguete, a 20-minute boat crosses to Liloan, and Moalboal is two and a half to three hours on by road. We went from Siquijor to Badian in a single day.

The constraint most people miss is the timetable. In 2026 OceanJet suspended, cut and restored sailings several times, including afternoon boats between Tagbilaran, Siquijor and Dumaguete. Check the operator's notices the week you travel, take morning boats, and never fly out of Cebu on a crossing day.

Plan three nights on Bohol, three or four on Siquijor and two or three in south Cebu.

Panglao — Easy, Busy, Built for Visitors

Panglao is where Bohol's tourism lives. Alona Beach is a short strip of white sand lined with resorts, dive shops and restaurants; Dumaluan, a few minutes east, is wider and calmer, with bigger resorts behind it. Boats to Balicasag Island leave from the beach, and countryside tours collect from your hotel.

It suits first-timers and families who want everything on the doorstep. It is not the quiet Philippines, and the sights inland are an hour or more away.

Best for: first visits, short stays, divers, families who want to walk to dinner.

Pros

• Closest base to the airport
• The biggest choice of hotels, food and tours on Bohol
• Plenty of family rooms and pools

Cons

• Alona is busy and built-up
• The Chocolate Hills are around two hours each way
• The most expensive base on the route

Getting around: tricycles and Grab cars; Tagbilaran port 30 to 40 minutes, Loboc about an hour.

Where to stay in Panglao

• Budget — Alona Vida Beach Hill Resort — hillside resort above Alona, from about €55 a night. A pool and a walk to the beach for little money.
• Mid-range — Bathala Resort — small pool resort five minutes' walk from Alona, from about €75–115 a night. Duplex quadruple rooms suit a family of four.
• Mid-range — Henann Premier Coast Resort — large resort on Alona Beach Road, from about €125 a night. Beach-view family rooms and an airport shuttle.
• Splurge — South Palms Resort Panglao — MGallery beachfront resort by Dumaluan Beach, from about €260 a night. Infinity pool, spa, private beach area.

Tagbilaran, Baclayon and Loboc — Bohol Without the Crowds

The alternative is to sleep on the mainland. Tagbilaran is a working port city; Kasagpan, where we started, sits on a cliff in Booy with pools rather than sand. Baclayon, east along the coast, has Bohol's oldest church and view resorts in the hills behind. Loboc, inland, is the river town with the floating restaurants and the closest comfortable base to the Chocolate Hills.

It suits ferry arrivals and early starts inland. It is not a beach holiday, and evenings are quiet.

Best for: ferry arrivals, the Chocolate Hills and Loboc, quiet nights.

Pros

• Closer to the port and the interior
• More space for the money than Panglao
• Rivers, hills and views

Cons

• No real beach; you swim in pools
• Almost nothing to walk to at night
• You need a driver or scooter for everything

Getting around: Tagbilaran port 10 to 30 minutes from Booy and the Baclayon hills; Loboc about 45 minutes from Tagbilaran, the Chocolate Hills about an hour beyond.

Where to stay in Tagbilaran, Baclayon and Loboc

• Budget — Fox & The Firefly Cottages — forest cottages beside the Loboc River, from about €40 a night. Family suites and kitchens.
• Mid-range — Kasagpan — clifftop resort in Booy, Tagbilaran, from about €50–80 a night. We stayed one night.
• Mid-range — Loboc River Resort — wood-and-thatch rooms on the river bank, from about €65 a night. Pool and family rooms.
• Splurge — Marqis Sunrise Sunset Resort and Spa — hillside cottages and villas in Cambanac, Baclayon, from about €105 a night. We stayed two nights.

Our stay: Kasagpan cost us around €90 a night and Marqis around €155, both for the four of us in Christmas week, when prices peak. Kasagpan has two pools and a two-storey family room, and guests report steps down to the sea; its listing still names Tagbilaran's airport, closed since 2018. Marqis, rated 9 on Booking.com, is a hill resort ten minutes' drive above Baclayon church, with cottages, a family cottage and villas around an infinity pool and a spa. We would book either again for a family that values a pool and a view over a beach, but keep Tagbilaran for a late arrival or an early boat.

San Juan, Siquijor — Sunsets and Our Base

San Juan is where Siquijor's visitors sleep. The coast road runs past Solangon, Paliton and Tubod, with small resorts on the shore and restaurants, dive shops and scooter rentals along the same strip. Paliton Beach and the sunsets are the draw; Cambugahay Falls at Lazi is a short ride away.

It suits almost everyone. It is not a long white-sand beach: much of the shore is narrow or rocky, so check what is in front of your resort.

Best for: families, couples, first visits to Siquijor.

Pros

• The island's best choice of places to stay and eat
• Beachfront resorts at mid-range prices
• Paliton Beach and the falls within 30 minutes

Cons

• Not every beach is good for swimming
• 20 to 30 minutes from the piers
• Fills up fast at Christmas and Holy Week

Getting around: tricycles and scooters; Siquijor town pier 20 to 30 minutes, Cambugahay Falls about 30, Salagdoong Beach in Maria about 45.

Where to stay in San Juan

• Budget — TAGBALAYON Lodging House — garden bungalows in Tubod, from about €18 a night. Family rooms; over 1,600 reviews averaging 9.2.
• Mid-range — Tropical Fun Ta Sea Rentals — beachfront rooms in Lala-o, from about €60 a night. We stayed three nights.
• Mid-range — White Villas Resort — pool resort on Solangon, from about €75–95 a night. We stayed two nights, over Christmas.
• Splurge — Coco Grove Beach Resort — large beachfront resort at Tubod, from about €60 for a cottage and much more for its villas. Pool, private beach area, rated 9.1.

Our stay: We spent five nights in San Juan: two at White Villas, then three at Tropical Fun Ta Sea Rentals. White Villas cost around €225 a night over Christmas, Tropical Fun Ta Sea around €150. White Villas has a pool, a restaurant and rooms with terraces, and its own listing says the beach in front is for sunsets, not swimming. Tropical Fun Ta Sea is on the water in Lala-o, with family rooms on three floors and sea-view balconies; it is the one we would book first now.

Siquijor Town, Larena and Maria — Ferries and Quiet

Siquijor town and Larena are the ferry towns, with the market and banks; Sandugan, near Larena, has a few beach resorts; Maria, on the east coast, has Salagdoong Beach and little else. Stay here for an early boat or a quiet second visit.

Best for: early ferries, repeat visitors, quiet stays.

Pros

• Minutes from the piers
• Lower prices and fewer visitors
• Salagdoong and the east coast to yourself in the morning

Cons

• Few restaurants outside the towns
• Sunsets are on the other side of the island

Getting around: Siquijor town to San Juan 20 to 30 minutes; Larena to Maria about 30.

Where to stay in Siquijor town, Larena and Maria

• Budget — Aquamare Beach Camp Resort — beachfront resort at Sandugan, Larena, from about €40 a night. Pool and family rooms.
• Mid-range — Kahoy Cottages — cottages in Caticugan, Siquijor town, from about €50 a night. Family rooms; rated 9.3.
• Mid-range — Jelly Sea Resort — beachfront rooms at Olang, Maria, from about €65 a night. Sea views on the quiet coast.

Moalboal, Panagsama and White Beach — The Sea Is the Sight

Moalboal is why most people come to south Cebu. Panagsama Beach is a narrow strip of dive shops, bars and guesthouses along a reef wall, and the sardine run happens about 20 metres offshore: a shoal of millions you can snorkel into from the beach, with turtles on the way. It was still running in 2026, and Pescador Island is a short boat ride out.

White Beach, or Basdaku, a few kilometres north in Saavedra, has the sand Panagsama lacks and a quieter set of resorts. Panagsama suits divers; White Beach suits families who want a beach.

Best for: snorkellers, divers, families with confident swimmers.

Pros

• Sardines and turtles from the shore
• Kawasan Falls within half an hour
• Good value at every level

Cons

• Panagsama has almost no beach
• Three to four hours from Mactan-Cebu airport
• The strip can be noisy at night

Getting around: tricycles and scooters; Panagsama to White Beach about 15 minutes, Kawasan Falls about 30.

Where to stay in Moalboal

• Budget — D'Gecko Hotel — beachfront rooms at the south end of Panagsama, from about €38 a night. Family rooms, reef on the doorstep.
• Mid-range — Coco del Rey — bungalows with a pool, four minutes' walk from Panagsama, from about €75 a night. Family bungalows; rated 9.6.
• Mid-range — The Blue Orchid Resort — sea-view resort at White Beach, from about €60 a night, nearer €190 for its top rooms. We stayed one night.
• Upper mid-range — Secret Paradise Moalboal — pool hotel a few steps from Panagsama Beach, from about €85 a night. Deluxe family rooms; rated 9.2.

Our stay: The Blue Orchid cost us around €270 for the night of 30 December, peak of the peak. It sits on the sea about 8 km from Moalboal town, with a pool, sea-view family rooms and its own dive centre. We had also booked a homestay in Basdiot, by Panagsama, and cancelled it. For a family, White Beach is the better base, and we would book the Blue Orchid again outside the holiday week.

Badian and Kawasan — Waterfalls and Room to Spread Out

Badian, just south of Moalboal, has Kawasan Falls: tiers of turquoise pools in Barangay Matutinao, and the end point of canyoneering trips that start upstream in Alegria. The coast is quiet, with a few villas and small resorts and Badian Island offshore.

It suits families who want space and a kitchen. There is no nightlife.

Best for: families, Kawasan Falls and canyoneering.

Pros

• Minutes from Kawasan Falls
• Villas and family rooms with kitchens
• Quiet, with sea and mountain views

Cons

• Few restaurants within reach without transport
• Kawasan is crowded from mid-morning

Getting around: Moalboal 30 to 40 minutes; Liloan pier about two hours.

Where to stay in Badian

• Budget — Cuestas Beach Resort and Restaurant — beachfront resort in Malabago, from about €25 a night. Pool, bungalows, reef in front.
• Mid-range — Eskapo Verde Lodge — garden lodge in Bugas, from about €45 a night. Family rooms; rated 9.5.
• Mid-range — Robinland Vacation Home — pool villas in Matutinao, from about €145 a night. We stayed one night.
• Splurge — Badian Island Wellness Resort — eco wellness resort on Badian Island, from about €195 a night. Saltwater pool, suites, a pool villa.

Our stay: Robinland cost us around €275 for the night of 29 December, the most we paid anywhere on the trip. Its villas have air conditioning, a kitchenette, a washing machine and a dining area, around a pool and a children's playground, with a private beach area and Kawasan Falls in the same barangay. We would book it again, for two nights.

Oslob — Go for the Pier, Not the Whale Sharks

Oslob, on Cebu's south-east coast, is known for whale-shark watching at Tan-awan, where fishermen feed the sharks every morning so boats can guarantee a sighting. Marine scientists warn that it conditions an endangered, migratory animal to approach boats, which also helps poachers. In May 2026 the sharks failed to appear for four days and operations stopped. We would not plan a stay around it.

Oslob still works as a stopover near the Liloan pier, with Sumilon Island and Tumalog Falls close by. For whale sharks that are not fed, look at Donsol or Southern Leyte, in season.

Best for: a night before or after the Liloan crossing.

Pros

• About 20 minutes from Liloan pier
• Quiet beachfront resorts at fair prices

Cons

• The main attraction is one we would avoid
• Little to do for more than a night

Getting around: Liloan pier about 20 minutes; Moalboal around two and a half hours.

Where to stay in Oslob

• Budget — Pobla Hotel — small pool hotel in town, from about €55 a night. Three minutes' walk from Quartel Beach.
• Mid-range — AJ's Place Beach Resort — beachfront resort at Tan-awan, from about €85 a night. Family rooms; rated 9.4.
• Splurge — Emoha Dive Resort — beachfront dive resort at Santander, near Liloan, from about €120 a night. Pool, sea-view family rooms; rated 9.7.

What It Costs, and When to Book

A double runs from about €20 a night at a good guesthouse, €50–100 at a pool resort with family rooms, and €150–260 at the top resorts on Panglao and Badian Island. Siquijor and Moalboal are the cheapest bases, Panglao the dearest. These are January 2027 rates for two adults, checked in October 2026; a family of four pays more.

The dry season runs roughly from December to May, hottest in April and May. June to November is wetter and cheaper, with more typhoon risk, and storms can come late: Typhoon Rai (Odette) crossed Bohol and southern Cebu in mid-December 2021. Christmas to New Year and Holy Week are the peak weeks.

For the holidays, book two to three months ahead, Siquijor first. Take free cancellation where offered; with weather and ferry changes, non-refundable rates are rarely worth it. Check whether 12% VAT and service charges are included.

Family rooms sleeping four are common; kitchens are rare outside villas like Robinland; breakfast is usually included at resorts. Carry cash for tricycles, scooters, terminal fees and small places; ATMs are fewer on Siquijor.

Where This Fits in the Trip

This route is the beach end of a Philippines trip: fly into Bohol-Panglao, hop by boat to Siquijor and south Cebu, and leave from Mactan-Cebu, or the reverse. Put any domestic flights at either end, not in the middle. More of our trips are on our destinations page.

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FAQ

What is the best order to visit Bohol, Siquijor and Cebu? Bohol, Siquijor, then south Cebu, or the reverse. OceanJet sails Tagbilaran to Siquijor directly in about two hours, and from Siquijor you reach south Cebu via Dumaguete and the short Sibulan–Liloan crossing, with no backtracking through Cebu City.

Where should I stay on Bohol for the first time? Panglao, around Alona Beach: 15 to 30 minutes from the airport, with the most restaurants, dive shops and tours. Add a night in Loboc or Baclayon for quiet and a head start on the Chocolate Hills.

Which part of Siquijor is best to stay in? San Juan, on the west coast, for sunsets, Paliton Beach and the most places to eat. Siquijor town and Larena are handier for ferries; Maria is the quietest.

Should I stay in Moalboal or Oslob? Moalboal. The sardine run and turtles are a short swim off Panagsama Beach and Kawasan Falls is half an hour away. Oslob's whale-shark watching depends on feeding wild animals, and we would not build a stay around it.

When should I book for Christmas and New Year? Two to three months ahead. It is the busiest fortnight of the year and Siquijor's small resorts fill first. Take free cancellation where you can: late-season typhoons and ferry changes happen.

Pierrick Jean travelled through Bohol, Siquijor and south Cebu in December 2019 with his family. Prices and availability checked October 2026. More about how we write our guides.