As a travel destination, Calape combines an annual celebration with distinctive coastal and landscape features. The Pahinungod sa Calape festival is a cultural highlight; Pangangan Island is known for its beaches and reef, while Mantatao and The Red Land of Sohoton offer other geographic features. When planning your trip, it may help to first decide whether you are most interested in festival culture, activities by the sea or landscapes.

Festival culture on May 10

In the municipality of Calape, Pahinungod sa Calape is celebrated annually on May 10. The date is a clear reference point if you want to plan your stay around the festival. The 2025 tourism profile lists street dance parades, festival parades, a singing competition, a Karo-mugna competition and concerts as highlights. For the edition you plan to attend, it is best to check the specific date and program. Another historical landmark in the municipality is St. Vincent Ferrer Church, which became a parish in 1802.

Pangangan: Beach, reef and protected area

Pangangan Island in the municipality of Calape is accessible by a causeway. Its white-sand beaches are suitable for snorkeling and diving; activities available locally may vary. There are also several dive sites along the island’s rocky coast. The reef surrounding the island is called Pangangan Wall.

On December 29, 1981, Pangangan Island was declared a Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve through Presidential Proclamation No. 2152. This designation adds protected-area status to the island’s coastal and reef features. Beaches, dive sites and protected status are distinct aspects of the island and offer different points of reference for your travel interests. The annual May 10 celebration is relevant when planning your dates; December 29, 1981, refers instead to the historical designation.

Island and landscape features

Mantatao is a small island barangay in Calape, located within the Danajon Bank reef. The Red Land of Sohoton in Calape, Bohol, is a landscape of red earth with sweeping views of the mountains and sea. These are two distinct geographic features: Mantatao’s island setting and location within the reef, and the red earth and views of the mountains and sea at The Red Land of Sohoton.

Getting your bearings at Pangangan Causeway

At Kinubkoban, the midpoint of Pangangan Causeway, there is a fishing port, a public toilet, a Bantay-Dagat office and two publicly accessible beach shelters. If you plan to rely on the toilet or beach shelters, check that they are currently available before your visit.

This can help you decide whether your trip will be shaped more by the calendar, the coast or the landscape before you choose a hotel.

Discover more destinations: Anda, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Alegría, Guihulngan City, Larena, Oslob, Tabuelan, Bayawan City

For the broader travel overview: Central Visayas.