Pandanon Island

The shallow warm waters around Pandanon Island don’t have much to offer snorkelers or divers, but they’re great for photos, lounging, and swimming, and sometimes there’s a volleyball net on the beach. Between the beach and the Roman columns, Pandanon Island is a popular stop on island-hopping tours from Cebu City. These usually leave from Mactan Island and visit other islets in the Olango Island Group, such as Olango Island, Nalusuan Island, Caohagan Island, and Hilutungan Island; they’ll often include snorkeling gear and lunch.

• Pandanon Island is perfect for beach bums and Instagrammers.

• There’s a small fee to visit the island, payable in cash.

• Pandanon Island has basic bathrooms but no real food options, so bring a picnic.

• To reach the island, you need to climb out of an outrigger (bangka) boat and wade through shallow water; it’s not an option for travelers who rely on wheelchairs or have limited mobility.

Pandanon Island nestles in the Olango Channel, between Cebu and Bohol, and while it’s closer to Bohol, travelers most commonly reach it from Cebu’s Mactan Island. There are no regular public boats, so your options are to charter a boat at Hilton Port on Mactan Island, or from Jetafe Port on Bohol, or join an organized island-hopping tour, which will often include pickup.

For a serene Pandanon Island experience, it’s best to avoid weekends and major holidays such as Easter. March through May brings clear skies, calm seas, and sunny weather—perfect conditions for an island escape. Be aware of the risk of high waves and canceled trips July through September; the sea is at its most turbulent in August.

Across from Cebu City, Mactan Island (also known as Lapu-Lapu) is the main jumping-off point for discovering the tiny, tranquil islets of the Olango Channel. Olango Island is by far the largest of the group, with a bird sanctuary that welcomes migrating species September through May. Nalusuan Island and Hilutungan Island have lovely coral reefs in areas shallow enough for snorkeling. Caohagan Island boasts a photogenic sandbar and white sand beach, with snorkeling too.

Yes. While the shallow, warm waters around Pandanon Island don’t offer much snorkeling or diving, the destination is ideal for lounging and swimming and worth an extended visit. It’s also a popular stop on island-hopping tours from Cebu City and offers scenic water views on the way there.

For a serene experience, skip Pandanon Island on weekends and major holidays such as Easter when it's crowded. Tourists flock to Cebu in early January for the popular Sinulog Festival. March–May brings clear skies, calm seas, and sunny weather, but typhoon season runs August–December, so avoid traveling then.

A tiny island in the Camotes Sea, Pandanon Island is between Cebu and Bohol in the Olango Channel. Even though the island is closer (and politically connected) to Bohol, most travelers reach it from Cebu’s Mactan Island. It’s a bit over an hour away via an outrigger boat from Mactan.

Yes. There are no regular public boats to Pandanon Island, but you can charter one at Hilton Port on Mactan Island or from Jetafe Port on Bohol. Or, join an organized island-hopping tour from Cebu City. From an outrigger (bangka) boat, you'll wade through shallow water to reach the island.

Yes. Pandanon Island has basic bathrooms but no real food options, so bring a picnic. You can also cook food on the island at designated grilling stations. Because facilities are sparse, travelers usually make a brief stop on the island as part of a guided boat tour.

Tiny Pandanon Island sits between Cebu and Bohol. It's home to a densely packed village on its western side and white sands on the eastern side. The eastern side has beach cottages for rent, a small chapel, and building remains with Roman-style columns that are a popular photo spot.