If you're in Panglao looking for a place to eat, then you should try Bohol Bee Farm in Dao, Dauis. Not only their food is good and organic, the place is very relaxing. You can eat at their restaurant which have an amazing view of the ocean. Although its name is the Bohol Bee Farm, no bees can be seen in this place anymore. Bohol Bee Farm also offers accommodations and tour packages. You can refer here at their site for more info.

A bee farm without the bees

The place

We went there last year, late August 2014 to be exact. It is included in our Panglao Island tour. The place is a little far from Alona Beach, so you need to ride a tricycle or Habal-habal to get there. If you booked a room, they will provide a transport to fetch you at the airport or seaport.

Vegetable Garden

Some vegetable and herbs plants for sale

At the entrance of the place, you will see a garden of plants and vegetables. They do also have a shop that sells jams, organic rices and other stuff that you can see at their online shop. They also have a bakery that sells organic bread made from their vegetable plants. There is also a small pool for stay-in guests.

Pool for staying guests

The Buzzz Shop

top-left: Pasalubong Items, top-right: pure honey, bottom left: Malunggay and Mango Spread, bottom-right: Organic Rice

The restaurant area

The restaurant has a view deck that have a breathtaking view of the ocean. Below is a small dock and there are some small boats, I'm not sure if they are selling something.

Amazing view of the ocean

Restaurant on a cliff

You can enjoy and relax, while eating

small boats below, probably selling something

The Food

I always though that organic food doesn't taste delicious that much, but that changed when we had our meal here after our dolphin watching and snorkeling activity. Some of the ingredients of the dishes came from their own garden. They have many dishes on the menu, like organic salad, pizza and pasta, vegetable and seafood soups, and meats. They also have of course a vegetarian option.

Buzzz Cafe

Price is not that expensive, but not that also cheap. A single meal costs around PhP 200++. But I can say it's worth the price. They also have some group meals which is good for around 3 persons.

A preview of what Buzzz cafe serves

Since we are 7 in the group we decided to get 2 group meals, We got the Seafood and Vegetable Platter for PhP 1680.00 (good for 3), and a Family Combo for PhP 940.00 (good for 3). Serving is good, just enough for the all of us.

Appetizer

Organic Garden Salad (Seafood & Vegetable Platter - yup you can eat the flower)

Organic bread with malunggay and mango spread (must try)

Cassava Lumpia (Family Combo - dressing has a peanut butter taste, very nice)

Crabs with Cocomilk (Seafood & Vegetable Platter)

Fresh Herb Pasta (Family Combo, there is also a cheese pizza, but I don't have the photo of it)

Red Rice with Mango (Seafood & Vegetable Platter)

Chicken Barbecue (Family Combo)

Seafood Soup (Seafood & Vegetable Platter)

Garlic Shrimps, Grilled Squid and Fish (Seafood & Vegetable Platter - there is also a Kinilaw na Tanigigue included, again no photo of it)

Malunggay and not sure if Cheese or Mango, (LOL, I forgot) Ice Cream

The weird tasting Coco Drink with Celery (Seafood & Vegetable Platter)

Cheers! They are drinking Bahalina (a coconut wine)

If you want to stay here, but on a budget, I suggest to look for other places since their room rates are a little expensive. It's also far from the beach area. Overall, I enjoyed their food, and the place. I recommend this place to eat, especially for the healthy conscious ones. So if you are in Bohol, you should definitely add this to your itinerary.

Tara, Mangaon ta!

Bohol is very popular for its world class diving sites and the best coral reefs in the country. It is blessed with an abundant sea life and beautiful long stretches of white beaches. That's why your Bohol experience wouldn't be complete without seeing some dolphins and snorkeling to have a glimpse of its amazing sea creatures.

A starfish in "Puntod" Island

Dolphin Watching

We got this sea tour by the way, courtesy of Naldix. You can see the rates and contact information here. Anyways, this activity must be as early as 6 am because that's the time most dolphins are seen. You can catch them until 8 am but, there is just a few of them and a little hard to spot.

Tourist boats searching for some dolphins

The boatmen will take you to the spot where dolphins swim around the area. About 20 - 30 minutes and you'll reach the destination. Once you get close to the dolphins, the engine of the boat will be turned off, so the dolphins won't be driven away. Of course, you can't swim with them, they're too fast. Some dolphins even jumped out of the water. It was really amazing to see dolphins swimming in the wild.

There they are!

It's really amazing to see them

More dolphins!

Yey! A little close!

Snorkeling in Balicasag Island

After watching some dolphins, and about 20 - 30 minutes of boat ride again, We arrived in Balicasag Island. It's an island popularly know for diving and snorkeling activities. This is where Balicasag Island Dive Resort is. The island has a light tower in the middle of it. There are also places here that you can eat lunch. We didn't explore the island much, as we immediately went snorkeling in the fish sanctuary.

Balicasag Island, there is a lighthouse in the middle of it

Boat ride to the snorkeling spot

Only 5 snorkeling gears are provided by the boatmen so we needed to rent another 2 snorkeling gear (PhP 150.00 each) since we are 7 in the group. There is also an entrance fee (for the sanctuary) and tour guide fee for PhP 150.00 each and environmental fee of PhP 50.00. The tour guide also offers some aqua shoes rental starting from PhP 150.00 (just try to haggle, since we got ours for PhP 75.00). You can also bring some bread or buy from the small stores on the island for the fish feeding.

Fish feeding

The island have a rich sea life

The shallow area of the snorkeling spot where you can feed the fishes, is quite rocky because of the corals so you actually need to wear an aqua shoes. The tour guide will be taking you to different spots where colorful fishes can be seen.

Snapshot taken by our tour guide when he plunges deep

This area is quite deep, approximately 20 feet

Look who I found, actually it's the tour guide who found him, it's too deep

Our tour guide chillin' out

Deep blue, I wonder what's beyond there, It's a little scary

A Virgin Island

Weather is gloomy, but still a good time to go island hopping

Last stop on the tour is at "Puntod" Island, also know as Virgin Island. It is a small uninhabited crescent shaped island. The island kinda reminds me of "Luli" Island in Palawan but Puntod is smaller. From far, you might see some people that looked like walking in the water because the island also submerge a little in the water.

The Virgin Island

I read on some blogs that there are vendors before, selling some shells and sea urchins, but we didn't find anyone selling when we got there. You can also see a golden statue that I supposed is Padre Pio (not certain though) on the island. The island is perfect for beach bumming and picture taking.

"Puntod" Island

I supposed it is Padre Pio

We went back to our place of stay after Puntod Island, and prepare for the Panglao Island Tour. The sea tour can be completed half the day, but it will surely give you a great experience with Bohol's beautiful sea life.

Cheers from Puntod Island

Quick Tips

• Dolphins are seen early morning
• Snorkeling is optional
• Best to wear aqua shoes for protection from corals
• Snorkeling rates: PhP 150.00 (tour guide fee), PhP 50.00 (environmental fee)
• You can also rent snorkeling gear for PhP 150.00, and aqua shoes for PhP 75 - 150
• There is a "Palutuan" in Balicasag Island for lunch
• You can check some tour providers and rates in this guide