Balicasag Island & Virgin Island Bohol: Complete Guide

If you’re looking for an epic island-hopping adventure in Bohol, Balicasag Island and Virgin Island are two spots you can’t miss. Balicasag is an absolute paradise for snorkeling—I swam with sea turtles just meters from the shore, and the coral reefs were teeming with life. The water is so clear it felt like floating in an aquarium. Then there’s Virgin Island, a stunning sandbar that appears at low tide, stretching out like something straight out of a dream. Walking barefoot on the soft white sand with nothing but turquoise water around was unreal. If you’re planning a trip, here’s my blog post with everything you need to know to make the most of these incredible islands.

There’s an awesome The Balicasag Island Tour that includes a visit to a sandbar, dolphin watching and snorkeling with turtles.

Booking your Balicasag Island Tour

We booked our tour from Alona Beach with a local boat driver but you can also book online here. The Balicasag Island Tour got started just after sunrise and we set out with quite a few other boats to look for the spinner dolphins.

It was great to be out on the boat so early and the water was really calm. It wasn’t long before the spinner dolphins came and began playing near our boat. It was a great start to the Balicasag Island tour and a real spectacle to see these magnificent creatures playing in the wild!

Balicasag Island: A Complete Guide to Bohol’s Best Snorkeling Spot

If you’re heading to Bohol and love the ocean, Balicasag Island needs to be on your itinerary. This tiny, coral-fringed island is famous for incredible snorkeling, vibrant marine life, and crystal-clear waters—it’s honestly one of the best underwater experiences I’ve had in the Philippines. From swimming with sea turtles to exploring colorful coral gardens, here’s everything you need to know before visiting Balicasag Island.

How to Get to Balicasag Island

The easiest way to reach Balicasag is by joining an island-hopping tour from Alona Beach on Panglao Island. These tours typically include stops at Virgin Island and dolphin-watching in the early morning.

• Tour Cost: Around ₱1,500–₱2,000 per person (including snorkeling fees)
• Travel Time: 30–40 minutes by boat from Alona Beach
• Best Time to Visit: Morning tours (7 AM – 8 AM departures) to avoid crowds and get the clearest waters

If you prefer a more private experience, you can rent your own boat for around ₱5,000, which is ideal if you’re traveling in a group and want to explore at your own pace.

Snorkeling and Diving in Balicasag

Balicasag is a marine sanctuary, which means the reefs here are well-protected, and it definitely shows. The underwater visibility is unreal—you’ll see vibrant corals, massive schools of fish, and if you’re lucky, a few sea turtles gliding right past you.

Snorkeling Zones

There are two main snorkeling areas where boats will drop you off:

1. Turtle Point – As the name suggests, this is where you’ll have the best chance of spotting sea turtles. They’re used to snorkelers but always keep a respectful distance.
2. Coral Garden – This area is packed with bright corals, clownfish, parrotfish, and sometimes even barracudas.

• Snorkeling Fee: ₱250 per person (environmental fee + guide)
• Gear Rental: Masks and fins available for ₱150–₱200 if you don’t have your own
• Tip: Bring your own reef-safe sunscreen to protect the corals!

If you’re a diver, Balicasag has some world-class dive sites, including the Black Forest, a deep reef teeming with larger fish and steep underwater walls covered in marine life. Dive trips cost around ₱1,500–₱2,500 per dive, depending on the shop.

Exploring the Island

Most people stick to the water, but Balicasag Island itself is worth exploring if you have time. It’s a small fishing community with a laid-back vibe, and you can wander along the shore, grab a fresh coconut, or eat some seafood cooked by the locals. There are a few simple beach cottages where you can stay overnight, but most visitors go back to Panglao after snorkeling.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Crowds: Since Balicasag is one of Bohol’s top attractions, it gets busy by mid-morning. Booking a private boat or taking an early tour will help avoid the rush.
• Conservation: This is a protected marine sanctuary, so avoid stepping on corals and don’t feed the fish.
• What to Bring:
  • Snorkeling gear (if you have your own)
  • Waterproof bag for valuables
  • Reef-safe sunscreen
  • Cash (small bills) for entrance fees and food

My Experience at Balicasag Island

We arrived at Balicasag and we could already see the coral from the boat that is how clear the water is. Balicasag Island is a very small island with amazing snorkeling. The water is crystal clear and there were plenty of turtles swimming amongst the coral.

One of the turtles we swam with was enormous. Use my friend Jorden as a scale. Even having lived in Hawaii for two years I never saw a turtle quite that big. There is a huge drop-off shelf that is great to check out as the fish swim past in schools.

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN BOHOL

I’ve written detailed guides about the Best Regions to Stay in Bohol, Best Resorts in Bohol and Best Hostels in Bohol. If you just want me three favorites right now…. here they are!

• My TOP Pick: Bohol Beach Club – I’ve stayed here twice. Simply paradise at this beachfront resort!
• Beachfront: Amorita Resort – The perfect, peaceful beach setting for your vacation.
• Best Resort: Mithi Resort – Incredible beachfront resort with awesome design, restaurant and three pools!

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Virgin Island, Bohol: A Complete Guide to the Stunning Sandbar

If you’re exploring Bohol and looking for a surreal island experience, Virgin Island is a must-visit. This stunning sandbar emerges at low tide, stretching out into the sea like something from a postcard. With its crystal-clear waters, soft white sand, and peaceful atmosphere, it’s the perfect spot to relax, take photos, and soak in the natural beauty of the Philippines. Here’s everything you need to know before visiting Virgin Island.

How to Get to Virgin Island

Virgin Island is typically included in the island-hopping tours from Panglao, along with stops at Balicasag Island for snorkeling and dolphin watching.

• Tour Cost: Around ₱1,500–₱2,000 per person (depends on group size and inclusions)
• Travel Time: About 20–30 minutes by boat from Alona Beach
• Best Time to Visit: Morning to early afternoon when the sandbar is most visible

If you want more flexibility, you can rent a private boat for around ₱4,000–₱5,000, which allows you to spend as much time as you like on the island.

The Famous Sandbar

The highlight of Virgin Island is its pristine sandbar, which shifts in size and shape depending on the tide. At low tide, you can walk across the powdery sand while being surrounded by shallow turquoise waters. There are no permanent structures, just untouched beauty.

Floating Vendors

One of the unique things about Virgin Island is the floating market, where locals sell fresh seafood, grilled snacks, and even coconut drinks right from their boats. Prices are a bit higher than on the mainland, but it’s part of the experience!

• Fresh sea urchins: ₱50–₱100 per piece
• Grilled seafood platters: ₱200–₱500
• Fresh coconut: ₱50–₱100

My Experience at Virgin Island

We enjoyed a mango smoothie at Balicasag Island before getting back onto our wooden motorboat and heading towards Virgin Island Bohol. I call it Virgin Island Bohol as it is not to be confused with the U.S. Virgin Islands. I couldn’t help but find myself mesmerized by the crystal clear water and the seaweed below. It almost looked as if we were floating on thin air.

Arriving at Virgin Island Bohol we trudged through the muddy sand trying not to lose our flip-flops. We were greeted by many hard-working vendors selling pearls, fresh seafood they were offering to cook and other jewelry.

I was more interested in the barren sand-flats and the boats that were seemingly waiting for the tide to rescue them from the midday drought. We also found a couple of stranded starfish/sea stars, which made for a great subject but we did feel a little bad leaving them there to potentially dry out.

Virgin Island Bohol is not necessarily a relaxing hangout for beers nor is it a great spot for adventuring. It is an interesting spot but I am still not quite sure what the main attraction is at this sandbar other than the sandbar itself. That didn’t stop our curious minds from a little exploring and we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless. Here are the photos from our stop at Virgin Island Bohol.

ARE YOU KEEPING UP WITH MY BOHOL SERIES

• I’ve been to Bohol twice and both times I explored extensively on my motorbike to the popular tourist spots and to locations many people have never heard of. I document it all in my Bohol Travel Guide: 27 Awesome Things To Do
• Are you a waterfall chaser? I’ve put together a list of My Favorite Waterfalls and Cave Pools on Bohol with detailed directions and photos.
• Maybe you are an adrenaline junkie like me and want to find out the Best Cliff Jumping spots on Bohol.
• The popular tourist area where most people stay is Panglao Island. I’ve put together a blog post guide about the Best Things to do on Panglao Island
• If you aren’t quite sure whether you want to stay on Panglao Island or venture north to Anda, I’ve written a blog post about the Best Places to Stay on Bohol, which helps you decide what region is best for you depending on your preferences.
• One of the best activities on Bohol is the island-hopping to Balicasag and Virgin Island. I’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know about the adventure here: Virgin Island and Balicasag Island Hopping Tour Review
• If you’re a backpacker, check out my complete list of the 12 Best Hostels on Bohol

MY ACCOMMODATION GUIDES FOR THE PHILIPPINES

• Luxury in South Cebu: 18 BEST SOUTH CEBU RESORTS
• Bucketlist: 13 BEST PHILIPPINES OVERWATER BUNGALOWS
• Beach Resorts in North Cebu: BEST RESORTS IN CEBU
• El Nido Resorts: 12 BEST RESORTS IN EL NIDO
• Moalboal Accommodation: WHERE TO STAY IN MOALBOAL
• Panglao Resorts: 13 BEST LUXURY RESORTS IN PANGLAO
• Siargao Accommodation: WHERE TO STAY IN SIARGAO
• Hostels in Cebu: 10 BEST HOSTELS IN CEBU
• Sustainable Resorts: 12 BEST ECO RESORTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
• Coron Accommodation: WHERE TO STAY IN CORON

MORE OF MY PHILIPPINES GUIDES

• The Ultimate Philippines Itinerary: 3-4 WEEK PHILIPPINES ITINERARY
• Best Island Hopping Trip: BIG DREAM BOAT MAN IN CORON
• The Backpacker’s Guide to the Philippines: 1 MONTH FOR $800
• Ultimate Guide to Coron: 22 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN CORON
• Ultimate Guide to Siargao: 40 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN SIARGAO
• Ultimate Guide to Romblon: 17 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN ROMBLON
• Ultimate Guide to El Nido: 20 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN EL NIDO
• Ultimate Guide to Bohol: 27 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN BOHOL
• Ultimate Guide to Sibuyan: 9 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN SIBUYAN