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Beyond the chocolates and primates of Bohol, there is a beach destination tucked on the eastern side of this island province that lets you enjoy its white sand without the usual crowd and touch of commercialism. It also prides itself to having a collection of cave pools where you get a leap into its still waters to discover what’s beneath. Perfectly matched with its bucolic vibe, guests of this town couldn’t help but mutter… “grabe naman ang ganda Anda!”  Enjoying the morning colors of Anda. Anda, and the southeast peninsula of Bohol, is often referred to as the cradle of civilization of the province after archeological excavations yielded that the early inhabitants of the island-province initially settled within the peninsula. It was originally called Quinale, a barrio under the town of Guindulman, before being established as a separate town in 1875 and adopted its current name, Anda. The town is a hidden gem of the province that gained traction on the tourism front with its white sand beach spots and cave pools. You get to enjoy these attractions without the usual tourist crowd. Exploring Anda gives you that thrill of having to experience the place in its raw and unadulterated beauty. Combento Cave Pool System When I was reading on Anda, I thought that Combento Cave Pool was a single cave pool. It came as a surprise that the area is actually a complex of three small cave pools - Combento, Kaligoon, and Dakit. These attractions are hidden behind plain sight and with no signage to tell you that it is what you are looking for. We followed a google map along the backroads of Anda to its exact location. I followed a trail that eventually led me to Combento Cave. I met a local along the way who helped me in exploring the two other caves in the area - Kaligoon and Dakit.  Pumasok ako sa Combento. Photo by Glen Lorenzana. Combento Cave is the most popular among the three caves in the complex. It is tucked on the farther end of the area with a dirt trail that leads to it. It is easy to find since it is the most visited in the area. The water in the cave pool was clear and still that you would actually think that there is no water, if you are looking at it from the outside. The cavern is small but can accommodate swimmers inside who wants to enjoy its cold and still waters.
The two lesser-known caves are both closer to the entrance but they are covered in the shrubs so you really do not notice the entrances to these cave pools. Similar to Combento, the base of the cave has pools but it is smaller than that of the former. Getting into these caves can also be a challenge as there is no established trail going into it. Good thing I met with a local who helped me get close to the cave entrances of the lesser-known cave pools in the area of Combento. Bitoon Beach The baranggay road, where Combento Cave Pool lies, leads to one of the beach spots in Anda - Bitoon Beach. This beach spot has both a sandy cove with rock formations on both ends. Unfortunately, the sandy white sand cove is privately owned so only guests of the resort are allowed access to the area.
The rock formations on the side of the cove can be accessed by the public. The rock formation gives a perfect overlooking view of the sandy cove and the clear turquoise waters of this beach spot. The rockies of Bitoon Beach is also a great place to catch the sunset to cap off your day. We did enjoy exploring the rocky area and enjoying the sea breeze while relaxing after a full day of exploration. Cabagnow Cave Pool The Cabagnow Cave Pool is one of the tourism draw of Anda. The advent of social media brought to light this destination among off-beat travelers and gave Anda the opportunity to be an alternative destination for those who want a more laidback Bohol vibe. Whether you want to enjoy a cool dip or be more adventurous by jumping into the pool, Cabagnow Cave is worth a visit when you find yourself in Anda.  Cabagnow Cave is the most popular cave pool in Anda. Cabagnow Cave Pool is the largest limestone cave pool in Anda and was formed when the bedrock collapsed and eroded. The water inside the cave is a mix of both salt and fresh water. From the ground, it looks like a huge crater that has a deep blue-turquoise pool when the sun strikes its surface. Locals have installed a ladder that guests can use to go down and take a dip in its cold waters. If you are in a more adventurous mode, you can take an easier way by jumping off from the edge of the cave opening into its deep waters.
The cave is bigger when you are inside swimming in its waters. The laughter and cheers echo within its chambers as we enjoyed a quick dip in its deep waters. The water is clear and the sun rays penetrate the surface of the water giving it that ethereal look when you take a video or photo underwater. We came in at around 8am so there were very few people visiting so we really got to enjoy the cave all for ourselves. Talisay Beach Talisay Beach is another white sand beach strip near Cabagnow Cave. We went there after enjoying the waters of Cabagnow Cave, this time to enjoy the sand and the sun. We got to access the beach for free because we were only there for a quick visit. If you intend to stay longer, there are a huts and picnic tables that you can rent from the local caretaker.  Talisay Beach is an unadulterated beach spot in Anda. I enjoyed strolling around the beach. It is raw and unadulterated and we had the beach all for ourselves. I found my spot where I enjoyed the peace and serene vibe that the beach was giving me. The white powdery sand was nice to feet while I enjoyed a quick tan under the sun. If you want a more serene white sand beach vibe in Anda, Talisay Beach is the best place to go. It doesn’t have any establishment around. This is literally an island beach in the raw. Quinale Beach Quinale Beach is the prime tourist beach spot in Anda. With its fine white sand, it can compete with other prime beach spot destination in the country. Its fine sand and its low water depth, even if you are already far from the shoreline, reminds me of the country’s premier beach destination. The only difference is the length of the beach strip and the commercial development in the area. Quinale Beach is the most developed beach destination in Anda but a stretch of the beach remains for public use.  Quinale Beach is the prime beach spot of Anda. One thing that I love about Quinale Beach is that it gives you front seat to an amazing view of the sunrise. You get to enjoy the experience of watching a new day break through with all the amazing colors breaking out on the sky. It is like watching a theater spectacle while being serenaded by the sound of waves slushing along the shore and the cold morning breeze touching your skin. Every now and then, the sound of dogs barking join in the morning sounds of nature. You get to enjoy the moment and you realize that the best things in life are free.
You also get to enjoy walking along the beach while enjoying the warmth of the morning sun on your skin. Not far from you, you get to see a fisherman returning from the sea with his fresh catch. A tourist doing his morning run by the beach. The locals slowly streaming in the beach as they start their day. I also enjoyed capturing the ripples made by the water as a white egret flies low along the waterline of the beach. These were calming scenes in Quinale Beach that I experienced. POST TRAVEL NOTES I am glad that I have seen Anda in its rawness and as an off-beat spot. Similar to other places that I have been to before the place boomed as a mainstream destination, I enjoyed the rustic appeal of the town. It made me see and feel how locals enjoy Anda as their home, and not as an attraction. I got to enjoy calm mornings just watching the sun rise, walking by the beach in solitude, and simply getting the adrenalines pumping just exploring what it has to offer to visitors like us. At the end of the day, we came home happy because we enjoyed ang ganda ng Anda.  Are you ready for the Lenten season? Where are you going? This is what I like the most about exploring off-beat destinations. You get to see how locals see their place. You get to enjoy the interactions with locals as they give you a glimpse of their lives. You get to enjoy the place the way they enjoy it, beyond being a tourist destination. It is rewarding to realize when you watch how a destination, once off-beat, blooms into a much-loved destination by many; that I have experienced it when it was still raw and untouched. That is why I keep exploring. Watch out for the release of our Bohol Roadtrip adventure video on my Youtube Travel Video soon. #MahalinNatinAngPilipinas Getting there: There are direct flights to Panglao International Airport, the gateway to the island of Bohol, from major airports in the Philippines and some international airports. Alternatively, you can also take a Supercat Fastcraft from Cebu Pier 1. Travel time from Cebu to Bohol is 2 hours. We enjoyed Bohol at your own driving pace aboard a rented car. You can check out JAR Car and House Rental in Tagbilaran, Bohol. This is ideal if you are traveling with a group with off beat destinations as part of your itinerary. Stay Here: We stayed at Casa Eduardo located in Anda, Bohol when we explored Anda. They offer basic accommodations and is just 5 minutes away from Quinale Beach by foot. Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels.
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Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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