After a day full of exploring a cave and swimming in a watering hole, we decided to make our way to the famous Alicia Panorama Park for a sunset hike before heading back to our place in Anda.
Alicia Panorama Park is about 1-hour drive from Anda. Most people come here for a sunrise hike but we opted for sunset this time. Which I’ll be honest we regretted – but we’ll get back to that later on.
The Alicia Panoramic Park hike was one of our favorite activities in Bohol. The views of the island are gorgeous. We can see why this has become more popular in recent years.
How to Get to Alicia Panoramic Park
The road we took to Alicia Panorama was rough. Dirt road, rocks – definitely need to be careful while driving.
But on our way back, we found a different route to get to the main road – and it was all recently paved! One thing we’ve learned on this trip is to NOT trust Google Maps. They definitely aren’t the expert on roads here.
I’ve marked the location of the road that you should take to get to Alicia Panoramic Park below. Just in case Google hasn’t yet updated their map when you make your adventure up there.
Below is the location of the entrance to Alicia Panoramic Park. When we first reached this map pin, we were a bit confused because there was a large informational sign on the side of the road and not much else. So we drove a bit further and found the official parking area and sign-in station for Alicia Panoramic Park.
Location: Alicia Panoramic Park – Google Maps
- Alicia Panoramic Park Hours: Open from 4 AM – 8 PM. Closed on the last Wednesday of the month for trail cleaning.
Our Experience at Alicia Panoramic Park
When we arrived at the park, there were two guides lined up ready to take us on our adventure! Our guide, Ranil, was very professional and glad he was there to show us the way because honestly its a bit confusing. We entered and exited two different ways and I’m not even sure how that happened. The guide cost us 300 pesos and is good for groups of up to 5 people.
Now for the hike itself, it’s 2 km to get to the top which is 400 meters above sea level. And there’s a 1 km bonus section if you’re up for it – if you do that it’s a total of 5 km round trip. We started the hike at 4 pm in mid May in 94 degree fahrenheit with two bottles of water – a rookie move on our part.
The first thing we noticed when we started the hike was that most of the green grass on the hills was gone – replaced by a black charcoal color. Our guide explained that the hills are usually green but they were just burned 3 days ago. Just our luck.
Fortunately the hill that we were hiking on hadn’t been burned yet but would be soon. He said that this is a yearly burn that happens every May, and the hills would be green again in a month.
As we walked up the mountain we were neck and neck with a friendly Austrian who was hungover and hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. We joked with him about who will get to the top first as both of our groups took many breaks due to the hot weather.
The hike itself isn’t particularly hard if you’re in decent shape. There are times where you are walking straight uphill but honestly we didn’t think it was that bad. But the heat was killing us.
Two-thirds of the way to the top, we ran out of water and Trey noticed how exhausted I was. We made the heart wrenching decision to call off the rest of the hike. As I’m writing – I am still deeply regretting it but honestly it was for the best. No sense in testing your body in crazy heat without water.
We sat down and enjoyed the sunset for another 30 minutes until we climbed down the mountain. Thankfully we had a drone so we were able to send it up to the places that we weren’t able to make it to.
The Austrian man was nearing the top when he waved at our drone cheerfully as it flew by. Looks like we know who’s making it to the top first.
We enjoyed a filipino snack – bahug bahug – then began our trek down for sunset.
The hike down was incredible and definitely the most enjoyable part. We watched the sunset in the west and the full moon rise in the east. Fortunately, we didn’t need flashlights when it got dark because the full moon lit up the sky to guide us down.
On our way down, we exited the trail in a different place than we started. Not sure how that happened but we ended up at a cold drink stand. The perfect way to end our day.
As we parted ways with our guide, we promised him we would come back and finish it. He was such an awesome guide so Trey got his information so we can fulfill our promise one day soon. And maybe for sunrise next time?
Alicia Panoramic Park Map Location
How Long Does the Alicia Panoramic Park Hike Take?
One of the first questions we asked our guide was how long the hike to the top would take. He wouldn’t give us a straight answer, and just told us “it depends”. He gets that question a lot and told us that we can take as long as we need to hike. He was extremely patient with us and let us take as many stops as we needed along the way.
For most people, we estimate that it will take anywhere from 1 to 2.5 hours to get to the top. If you hike up for sunrise, the hike will be much quicker since you won’t need to contend with the sun and heat during your trek up.
We recommend bringing 2 liters of water per person for the hike. You may be able to get away with less than that. But if do the hike during the day like we did, don’t bring less than 2 liters since the Philippines sun and heat is brutal.
When you do make it to the top of the hike, there is a large viewing platform and a comfort room. You can even camp here for 500 pesos per person, though our guide explained that it gets busy on the weekends. He told us that last Saturday six groups camped there and that most people sleep on the platform.
Where to Stay in Bohol
Depending on how long you stay in Bohol we recommend splitting your stays between Panglao and Anda. If you are in Bohol for less than 4 days we recommend basing yourself out of Panglao, but if you are staying longer I recommend staying at least 2 nights in Anda. Here are recommendations on places to stay:
- Luxury: Amorita Resort (Panglao)
- Mid-range: Casa Amihan (Anda)
- Budget: Bluewaves Apartment (Panglao)
If you prefer to find your own place to stay, you can visit Booking.com to explore all your accommodation options in Bohol.
What to Pack for Bohol
Here are some of our must-have items you might not have thought of when packing for a trip to Bohol.
- Crocs: During our time in Bohol, I was so glad to have Crocs to protect my feet when exploring rocky terrain and chasing waterfalls. They are the ultimate shoe in the Philippines for a reason – many Filipinos wear them too!
- Snorkel: With all the amazing snorkeling spots in Bohol, it helps to have your own snorkel set like this one if you plan to do some underwater activities! Plus, you won’t need to worry about renting a snorkel, which may be of… questionable quality.
- Sunscreen: For some reason, sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines and I’ve even encountered places selling fake sunscreen that doesn’t work! So I recommend bringing your own sunscreen to Bohol.
- Dry Bag: With all the sand, salt, and water flying everywhere during our adventures, I was so glad to have a dry bag to keep all my things safe from the elements!
- Travel Towel: In my opinion, a travel towel like this one is super necessary for a trip to Bohol! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Ready to explore Bohol like we did?
During our 11-day adventure in Bohol, we found some of the island’s most stunning natural wonders—epic waterfalls, caves, and incredible snorkeling spots. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start planning your trip here: Bohol Travel Guide
- Our Bohol accomodation/area guide: Where to Stay in Bohol
- Our Ultimate Guide to Bohol: 24 Awesome Things to Do in Bohol
- How to plan your Bohol vacation: Bohol 3 Day Itinerary
- Interested in chasing waterfalls?: 5 Best Waterfalls in Bohol During Dry Season
- Our favorite hike in Bohol: Alicia Panoramic Park Hike
- Our favorite day tour in Bohol: Balicasag Island Snorkeling
- Our favorite waterfall in Bohol: Dimiao Twin Falls (Pahangog Falls)
- Our favorite place to swim in Bohol: Cabagnow Cave Pool
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope you enjoyed our guide to Alicia Panoramic Park in Bohol!
Hi , just read your story about alicia panoramic. I’m planning to there tomorrow,
I’d like to ask, if do I need to contact tour guide first before to there? Appreciate your help
There is no need to contact a guide prior to getting there. There is a group of guides on standby now as the hike has gotten more popular throughout the years.