Things to Do in Bohol: Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers and Panglao
Bohol is the island province that most first-time visitors to the Visayas end up on, and for good reason: it packs a genuinely strange geological landscape, the world's smallest primate, decent diving and quiet beaches into an island you can cross in a couple of hours.
It is also easy to reach — two hours by fast ferry from Cebu, or direct by air.
The Chocolate Hills
Over a thousand near-symmetrical conical hills spread across the interior around Carmen, covered in grass that turns brown in the dry season — hence the name. They are limestone formations, and the sheer number and uniformity of them is what makes the landscape feel unreal rather than merely scenic.
The main viewing complex in Carmen has a stairway to a deck overlooking the field. It is around an hour and a half to two hours from Tagbilaran by road, and it is invariably combined with the other interior stops in a single day loop.
Go early. Midday haze flattens the view and the deck fills with tour groups.
Tarsiers — and doing it responsibly
The Philippine tarsier is one of the world's smallest primates, and Bohol is where most people see one. It is also an animal that is acutely sensitive to stress: they are nocturnal, they startle easily, and in poor conditions captive tarsiers have been known to injure themselves.
Visit an actual sanctuary, not a roadside attraction. The conservation-run sanctuary in Corella is the one generally recommended: the animals live in a forested enclosure, viewing is at a distance along a marked path, and guides enforce the rules.
The rules exist for a reason and are worth following without being asked:
- No flash photography. None.
- No touching, ever, and no holding — anywhere offering this is not a sanctuary.
- Keep your voice down and stay on the path.
- Switch your phone to silent.
Roadside operations that let you hold a tarsier for a photo are the ones to avoid entirely.
Panglao
Panglao Island, connected to the mainland by bridges just south of Tagbilaran, is where most of the beach accommodation is.
- Alona Beach is the main strip — a short run of white sand backed densely with resorts, restaurants and dive shops. Convenient and lively rather than pristine.
- Dumaluan, Momo and Danao beaches are quieter alternatives a short drive away with better sand and far fewer people.
- Diving is the real draw: Balicasag Island, a marine sanctuary a short boat ride out, has a spectacular wall dive and reliable turtle and jackfish encounters. Pamilacan offers similar and sees fewer boats.
- Dolphin watching trips leave before dawn. Choose an operator that keeps its distance rather than chasing pods.
The interior loop
Most visitors do the classic countryside tour in a day, usually by hired van or motorbike:
- Loboc River cruise — a floating restaurant up a green river. Touristy, pleasant, and the buffet is beside the point.
- Bilar man-made forest — a dense mahogany corridor planted as a reforestation project, and a genuinely striking few kilometres of road.
- Baclayon Church — one of the oldest stone churches in the Philippines, damaged in the 2013 earthquake and since restored.
- Blood Compact Shrine in Tagbilaran, marking the 1565 sandugo between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel López de Legazpi.
- Hinagdanan Cave on Panglao, with a swimmable underground pool.
- Danao Adventure Park for canyon swings and ziplines, in the north.
Getting there
| Route | Rough time |
|---|---|
| Fast ferry, Cebu City → Tagbilaran | ~2 hrs |
| Fly into Bohol-Panglao International Airport | Direct from Manila and other hubs |
| Ferry, Cebu → Tubigon (then road to Tagbilaran) | ~1 hr sailing + ~1 hr road |
Bohol-Panglao International Airport opened in 2018 and sits on Panglao itself, which makes the beach transfer very short. Ferries from Cebu run frequently; book ahead at weekends and holidays.
Practical notes
- Rent a motorbike or hire a van with driver for the interior. Public transport between the sights is impractical.
- Three to four days is the right length: one for the countryside loop, one or two for Panglao and diving, one spare.
- The dry season, roughly November to May, is best. Bohol sits within the typhoon belt.
- Bring cash. ATMs cluster in Tagbilaran and Alona; smaller places are cash-only.
- Environmental fees apply at several sites, including Balicasag. Carry small notes.
FAQ
How do I get to Bohol? Fast ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran in about two hours, or fly into Bohol-Panglao International Airport.
Where can I see tarsiers responsibly? The conservation-run sanctuary in Corella. Avoid roadside operations that let visitors hold the animals.
Can I photograph a tarsier? Without flash, from a distance, and quietly. Flash and handling cause real harm.
Where should I stay? Panglao — Alona Beach for convenience and nightlife, Dumaluan or Danao for quiet.
Is the diving good? Yes. Balicasag Island is the highlight, with a wall dive and reliable turtle encounters.
How many days do I need? Three to four, covering the countryside loop and Panglao.
When should I go? The dry season, roughly November to May.
Last verified: August 2026. Ferry schedules, site access and environmental fees change — confirm before travelling.
More: the Sandugo Festival guide, things to do in Cebu City, or what is on now.