Amphitrite Resort

Amphitrite Resort: One of Panglao’s Newest Properties

Amphitrite Resort opened in 2021, making it one of the newer hotels along the Panglao tourist strip, set in Barangay Tawala about 1 kilometre from Bohol-Panglao International Airport. On Booking.com it carries a 6.3 review score from 139 reviews, and Stay22 benchmarks rates from around PHP 2,000 a night against comparable Panglao properties scoring near 6.3.

The Pool and Rooms

The resort’s centerpiece is a 700-square-metre pool combining deep and shallow sections, sized well beyond the small plunge pools typical of budget properties this age. All 23 rooms are air-conditioned with free wireless internet, and the property runs a 24-hour front desk, a bar, a garden, and a terrace. A complimentary American breakfast is included, and the front desk offers free airport transfer along with tailored tour assistance for countryside and reef trips.

A Property With No History Yet

Where the Panglao Watchtower has stood since 1851 and the parish church beside it traces to the 1890s, Amphitrite has been open only since 2021 — long enough to gather 139 reviews but short enough that it carries none of the layered renovation history common to older Alona-area lodges. That newness shows in practical ways: wiring, plumbing, and the pool itself are recent builds rather than additions to an older structure, which is part of why the 700 sqm pool is unusually large for a 3-star property at this price point.

Reaching the Water

Alona Beach and the quieter White Beach are both a short distance away, within range for dolphin-watching trips, scuba and freediving outings, and Loboc River cruises — all bookable through the resort’s own tour desk rather than requiring guests to walk into town to find an operator. The house reef off Alona drops from shallow coral gardens to a wall at 20–30 metres, still showing mixed recovery from the 2016 coral bleaching event, with boat trips to Balicasag Island — capped at 150 divers a day by the municipal government — running the standard offshore excursion.

The Aquifer Underneath

Panglao’s entire tourist strip, Amphitrite included, draws water from a freshwater lens rather than any river system — the island has none. That lens floats above denser saltwater within the limestone bedrock, and published studies have measured chloride levels in some wells well above the World Health Organization’s 250 mg/L safety threshold, largely from dry-season over-extraction outpacing rainfall replenishment. It’s why tap water isn’t potable anywhere on Panglao and bottled or filtered water is standard practice for guests and residents alike — a real constraint on how much further new construction like this one can keep expanding.

A Fiesta on the Calendar

Panglao’s largest civic celebration, Hudyaka sa Panglao, falls on 28 August, the feast day of the parish’s patron, St. Augustine of Hippo — “hudyaka” being Cebuano for communal revelry. All ten of the island’s barangays, including Tawala where Amphitrite sits, take part in street parades and dance competitions built around local seafood specialties. Guests staying around this date should expect livelier streets than usual, well beyond Alona’s typical evening pace.

Coconut Country Nearby

Tawala sees more tourist traffic than Panglao’s interior, but the island’s farming economy hasn’t disappeared behind the resort strip — barangays like Tangnan, Binoon, and San Isidro a short drive inland still produce coconut and root crops much as they did before the 2018 airport opening reshaped the coastline’s economy. It’s a reminder that Panglao’s 44 square kilometres support two distinct livelihoods side by side, even within a few kilometres of a pool this size.

Practical Details

Tricycles to Tagbilaran run roughly PHP 150–250; the airport, at 1 kilometre, is a short and often complimentary transfer given the resort’s free airport pickup. Fast ferries connect Tagbilaran to Cebu in about two hours.

Who Should Book Here

The large pool, complimentary breakfast, and free airport transfer make this a reasonable value pick for travelers prioritizing amenities over review-score prestige, particularly families or groups who’ll use the pool during non-beach hours. The 6.3 score sits lower than most properties in this batch, so travelers with strict service expectations should weigh that against the newer build and larger pool before booking. It’s a fit for anyone landing late at Bohol-Panglao International Airport who wants a short, complimentary transfer rather than a longer tricycle negotiation after an evening flight.

Getting There & Booking

The free airport transfer covers the 1-kilometre run from Bohol-Panglao International Airport directly. Book through Stay22 or Booking.com to confirm current rates against the PHP 2,000 benchmark and current guest feedback.