Virgin Island: A Hidden Oasis

With the 7,107 islands that make up the Philippines, travelers are spoiled with an abundance of beaches available for them to visit. But a lot of these beaches have been commercialized due to the horde of tourists that the Philippines commands, and with tourism comes global brands setting up shop at many of the once rural getaways. So, if you’re looking for pristine waters and soft, white sand that are a far cry from touristy resorts, do read on…

Truthfully, there are tons of perfectly unspoiled beaches hidden in the provinces throughout the islands that are rarely visited by travelers. A writer for Backpacking Pilipinas has visited 80 out of the 81 provinces of the Philippines and can attest to the fact that there are so many beaches that go undetected. It’s a shame, but that’s what makes these hidden gems amazing destinations. However, one area that the previously mentioned blogger failed to mention was the Virgin Island in Bohol, which is just a short boat ride away from the more popular island of Panglao.

Though Panglao Island may be the “little paradise of pure hearts,” the Virgin Island is a paradise that is truly a “hidden oasis.” The uninhabited island offers breathtaking views of spectacular white sand beaches and is identified by its crescent-shaped sandbar. While the Virgin Island is limited when it comes to amenities, the myriad of sea creatures and crystal clear waters are enough of a reason to organize your next beach getaway to Bohol.

How to get there:

To get to the Virgin Island, you’ll have to travel to Tagbilaran. Most of our national airlines fly into Tagbilaran from Manila, so regardless if you’re on a tight budget or not, you have plenty of options when it comes to airlines. Each of the airlines operate daily flights at several points in the day, from early morning to late afternoon.

If you are looking to try and save some money booking a budget flight, just be careful of any extra costs that you might not be aware of unless you read the fine print on the website. Parking4Less explained in a blog post that these could include charges for hand luggage or even for something as simple as reserving seats, so just be careful of any hidden fees. Your typical choice of airlines will vary between Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, AirPhil Express, and Zest Air.