Visiting Bohol?
Maybe you’ve heard it’s a dense, crowded tourist spot and you’re not 100% sure that’s the experience you’re looking for.
Not to worry!
Bohol’s touristy area (Panglao) is tiny compared to the vast, peaceful beauty you can find all around it.
Take Anda, for example.
Anda is on Bohol’s eastern side, and it’s a lush paradise of greenery, ocean surf, and quiet.
BUT…it’s not an isolated nowhere where you can’t get delicious food and a luxurious room to stay in.
Sound like a place you’d enjoy?
Then read on – in this blog, I’ll tell you everything you need to know before visiting Anda, such as:
- Fun facts about this beautiful small town
- How to get to Anda from Tagbilaran, Panglao, and Camiguin
- How to get around Anda
- Some places you can stay in Anda, and
- What you can do while you’re here
Let’s start with:
Anda Facts: 4 Fun Things to Know About this Secluded Coastal Paradise
Before getting down to the nitty-gritty of planning your trip…
…here’s a handful of fun stuff to know about Anda.
Anda Fun Fact #1: Anda Is Mostly Limestone…
…which means it’s full of little crevices and caves.
Cold springs make their way from the mountains to the sea below, cutting through the soft limestone.
Over time, this resulted in sinkholes and caves, not unlike Mexico’s Cenotes!
The caves are filled with cold, clean brackish water, making them a great place to go swimming…
…or even diving!
Anda Fun Fact #2: Anda’s Tourist Season Is November-February
I visited Anda in June.
It seemed deserted.
Like a ghost town.
Only a few locals walked across the square and the plaza, their figures blurry in the wide space around them.
Silence.
The resorts were empty. (Look at all those untaken seats.)
Curious, I asked a waiter at the Old Plantation why it was so quiet.
“How do you guys survive?” I asked. “With so few tourists around?”
“Oh,” he said. “It’s off-season. Tourist season begins in November, when it gets cold in Europe.”
He said most of the tourists were Europeans, older people who stayed months in the fancy resorts on the coast.
Or backpackers, taking advantage of the peace and the affordable but beautifully maintained places to stay.
So, listen up!
If you love being around other people, visit from November to February.
If you want to have the place all to yourself, visit anytime in between.
Enjoy! 🎇
Anda Fun Fact #3: Anda Is a Great Place to Bring Your Family
An Italian friend of mine visited Anda just a few weeks ago (early January 2025).
She brought her sister, brother-in-law, and their 11-year-old nephew.
They stayed at Island View Beachfront Resort…
…and they had a blast!
No, her nephew didn’t feel bored. He had his fill playing in the sand and the sea.
The adults had a lovely time soaking in the sun and enjoying the peace of the place.
So, young, old, or in-between, Anda is a paradise for everyone. (Dogs, kids, grandparents – bring them all!)
Anda Fun Fact #4: Anda is a Great Base to Explore East Bohol
Everyone flocks to Panglao, Tagbilaran, and the West side of Bohol.
But over on the East, you get a BUNCH of super cool tourist spots that aren’t nearly as crowded.
Think waterfalls, rice terraces, green rolling hills, cold springs, and much, much more.
But while there’s a lot to see in this half of Bohol, there aren’t a lot of great places to stay.
Except…
Except in Anda.
Anda has a BUNCH of resorts and inns that you can use as a base to explore the neighboring towns.
I’ll show you more of the tourist spots on this side of the island, but for now, let’s take a look at how to get here first!
How to Get to Anda, Bohol (And How to Get Around)
Anda is roughly 2-3 hours (100+ kilometers) from Tagbilaran City.
If you dock at the port there, here are 4 ways you can get to Anda:
- Bus. Want a convenient, affordable way to get to Anda? Take a bus from Dao Bus Terminal in Tagbilaran. The ticket costs around PHP100 for a single seat, and there are several buses that run all throughout the day. No need to book in advance!
- Mini-van. If you’re in for a faster trip, you can take a mini-van from the same station. A seat costs PHP130, and you can get to your destination as quickly as 1 hour and 45 minutes. Warning, though: this trip isn’t for the faint of heart. The mini-vans barrel through the roads at top speed, taking blind curves without slowing down. You have to be an adrenaline junkie to enjoy this kind of trip. (Also, don’t do this if you’re the type who gets car sick. 🤢)
- Motorcycle. Want to experience the beauty of the countryside as you move east to Anda? Driving a motorcycle rental is the perfect option for you. (This is what I did…and it was GREAT FUN!) Renting a motorcycle is super easy in Tagbilaran. In fact, you’ll be flocked with people asking you if you want one from the moment you step off the boat. Daily rental costs PHP400-600, depending on the model.
- Car. Taking your family to Anda, and looking for a more convenient, kid-and-pet friendly ride? You can rent a car in Tagbilaran. Simply ask around at the port (where the motorcycles are parked in rows for rental) to see your options. This will cost PHP1,700-2,000 per day.
How to Get to Anda from Panglao
Coming from Panglao?
Catch a bus or hire a tricycle to Dao Terminal, and from there take another bus going to Anda.
Or drive your motorcycle or car straight there (if you’ve already rented one).
Here are the directions on Google Maps:
How to Get to Anda from Camiguin
If you’re coming from Camiguin, take the Super Shuttle ferry from Mambajao to Jagna.
The ferry leaves once a day, and the trip takes about 4 hours depending on the sea conditions.
From Jagna, you can take a van or a bus to Anda.
Jagna is only about 40 kilometers and about an hour of travel away from Anda.
That’s why many people coming from Camiguin to Bohol opt to go for Anda instead of the more touristy Panglao!
How to Get Around Anda
If you’ve chosen the motorcycle or car rental option to get to Anda, getting around will be no trouble.
But if you’ve taken the bus or mini-van, there are a couple of ways you can get around Anda.
- Rent a motorcycle. There are a ton of motorcycle rental shops in Anda. If somehow you didn’t want to drive all those 100+ kilometers on your own, you can rent one there for a similar price.
- Take tricycles. A tricycle is a motorcycle taxi. You can find these in the square in the middle of town and ask the kuyas (drivers) to take you around. Price varies – you’ll have to make a deal with the driver, depending on where you want to go. The typical price would be PHP100-200 to have the whole cab to yourself.
Where to Stay in Anda (There’s an Option for Every Type of Traveler)
Solo backpacker on a budget.
Couple on a vacation.
Family with the kids and pets.
Luxury travelers looking for something rustic but comfortable.
There’s an option for everybody in Anda.
Let’s get into each one!
Hostels:
- One Peace Beach Resort – My brother stayed in the dorm room here for only PHP500 a night. The place has its own beachfront and garden, plus a friendly Belgian owner named Boris.
- Magdalenas Homestay. Affordable price and simple rooms with a big balcony to relax in.
Mid-Range Resorts:
- Blue Raven Resort. Blue Raven is a beautiful place sitting on ocean-edged rocks. It has a tree-filled garden and access to a sliver of beach down some steep stone steps. At night, crickets and cicadas fill the air, and the darkness is thick and velvety on the sea. The rooms cost PHP2,700 and are really cozy and comfortable. The resort also has a tiny restaurant and bar you can chill in if you don’t feel like going out. (Tip: Make sure to order your meal early, as the staff needs to go out to buy ingredients first. YES: Meals are fresh and made-to-order!)
- Casa de Corazon. Private cottages with beachfront and terrace.
High-End Resorts:
- Island View Beachfront Resort. This is where my friend and her family stayed. She said they never had to leave the resort – it had everything they needed.
- The Old Plantation. The Old Plantation is a beautiful, old-fashioned resort sitting within high stone walls. It really does seem like a plantation house, with roomy hallways, a winery, and large, airy, balconied rooms. The grounds wrap the buildings with soft green gardens, trees, lighted walkways, tiny ponds, and even a mini bamboo forest! Running along one side of the grounds is the sea – scuba diving trips are available from a tiny office near the water. Plus: the restaurant is one of the best in Anda. You can go into the Old Plantation just to have dinner (you don’t need a room booking to enter).
Here’s a photo of one of Old Plantation’s lighted archways…
…and don’t forget the pretty lily pond!
What to Do in Anda – 5 Things To Do and See
Anda is a quiet, peaceful place.
But that doesn’t mean it’s boring.
Not at all!
Here are a handful of things you can enjoy while there:
Things to Do in Anda #1: Swim in the Sea!
Yes, Anda is a beach town surrounded by the sea.
Go in any direction, and you’ll be met with stunning ocean views and rolling white-capped waves.
Even if you don’t leave your resort, you can easily walk down to the beach and go for a swim or simply sit on the sand and relish the beauty all around you.
Anda faces east, so you can see the pinpoints of the island Camiguin in the distance.
Here’s a plus: if you don’t go there during tourist season, you can have the beaches all to yourself!
I mean, look how quiet it is:
No crowds, no noise, and some soft, melancholic sunset views.
Things to Do in Anda #2: Jump in a Cave Pool
As mentioned earlier, Anda is made mostly of limestone.
Which means it has a lot of small sinkholes and caves.
These caves fill with seawater and spring water…and voila!
You have a lovely swimming pool brimming with cool water to soothe you during the sweltering Bohol days.
Two cave pools I recommend are Cabagnow Cave Pool and Combento Cave Pool.
This is Cabagnow:
And this is Combento:
Note:
Cabagnow is a deep cave pool. It’s around 6 meters deep, and you can jump into it from the overhanging rocky shelf. You can also climb down into it from a ladder if you’re not that type of adrenaline junkie.
Combento is a small depression that’s more like a sinkhole than a cave. It’s around 6 meters underground, and you can access it through some slippery stone steps. The water is super cool – a lovely place to hide away from the heat of the sun.
Things to Do in Anda #3: Eat at the Seaside Food Park
In the heart of town, right by the edge of the sea, sits the Anda Food Park.
It’s simple but loads of fun.
A circle of food stalls selling everything from Singaporean Milo Dinosaur to Pad Thai, Indonesian chicken with Sambal to Filipino-style dimsum.
Also, a wide variety of drinks, from milk tea to fruit shakes to soft drinks in bottles.
The best part, though?
You can eat while watching the waves roll into the white sand just a few meters away.
Also, your feet will be powdery with sand – the food court doesn’t have flooring!
I remember eating Siomai at that food court with the rain pounding on the corrugated iron roofing and the wild waves crashing into the shore.
I was soaking wet and super happy.
An experience to remember, for sure.
Things to Do in Anda #4: Go Scuba Diving!
Sadly, I didn’t get to experience Anda’s beautiful underwater gardens.
There aren’t many options for freediving, and I don’t have a scuba diving certificate.
However, the locals say the reefs surrounding Anda are rich, beautiful, and full of life.
You can book a tour with one of the dive shops and go on a discovery dive.
Or if you have certification, you can join one of the deeper boat dives.
Here’s a brochure I got from one of the resorts:
There are a lot of options for scuba diving.
You can do a discovery session, join a fun dive, or even take a Padi course!
Things to Do in Anda #5: Visit the Nearby Towns
Candijay, Alicia, Mabini…
These are just some of the neighboring towns of Anda that are also PACKED with cool spots to visit.
For example, you can check out the Cadapdapan Rice Terraces…
Can-Umantad Falls (Bohol’s tallest waterfall)…
The Alicia Panoramic Park…
Or take a dip at the Canawa Cold Spring…
Of course, there are MANY of these hidden gems tucked away in Anda’s surrounding towns, so go seek them out!
Anda, Bohol: Not Your Usual Tourist Getaway
I know, I know.
You’re sick of the crowds and want to go somewhere quiet and relaxing.
Tourist towns are exhausting, loud, and annoying.
BUT…
…you don’t want to land in some isolated place where there aren’t many comfortable places to stay or people who speak good English.
Perfect!
You will adore Anda.
Anda sits in the sweet spot between isolated and super comfortable.
It’s almost like a remote island crafted for comfort and people with money…
…but with affordable options to accommodate even the most budget-friendly solo backpacker.
Friends, this is truly a unique place!
It was one of the best places I visited in 2024.
I mean, it’s so great, I hope to go back to it someday soon!
Visiting Bohol soon? Check out my FULL Bohol travel guide here!