Chocolate Hills tour from Cebu City: Tarsier & Loboc River lunch
The Chocolate Hills turn brown in the dry season, and you stand in front of them on the same morning you left Cebu.
This half-day private tour from Cebu City to Bohol takes in the Chocolate Hills, a tarsier conservation center, Bilar's man-made forest and a one-hour Loboc River cruise with buffet lunch and live music. The tour runs 5 to 6 hours total and includes private transportation, all entry fees and the ferry from Cebu City. A driver serves as guide in English. Children from age 3 are welcome.
Step-by-step itinerary
Bohol half-day tour highlights
- Take morning ferry from Cebu to Bohol
- Visit Chocolate Hills
- See Tarsier Conservation Center
- Drive through Bilar Man-made Forest
- Enjoy Loboc River Cruise with buffet lunch
- Return to drop off point in Tagbilaran or Panglao
- Take ferry back to Cebu City
- Chocolate Hills Entry included 30m
- Baclayon Church 20m
- Blood Compact Monument 20m
What’s included
- Private transportation from your Cebu hotel.
- ferry passage from Cebu City to Bohol and back.
- entry to the Chocolate Hills, tarsier conservation center and Bilar man-made forest.
- one-hour Loboc River cruise with buffet lunch and live music.
- all fees and taxes.
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Before you book
Operated by Experience Bohol by Betterman Tours
Prices and times updated 9 days ago
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The experience
The day starts with the earliest ferry from Cebu City. A two-hour crossing that gets you to Bohol by mid-morning. Once ashore, private transportation takes you straight to the Chocolate Hills, the conical, symmetrical formations that define the island. In the dry season they turn brown. In the wet season they stay green. From there you move to the tarsier conservation center, where you see the smallest primate creatures found in the Philippines and the official mascot of Bohol. The stop at Bilar's man-made forest comes next: a thick canopy of green foliage that surprises most visitors with how dense it is for something planted by hand.
Before the return to Cebu, you board a motorized covered raft on the Loboc River for a one-hour cruise. A buffet of Bohol-inspired dishes is served onboard, and a live acoustic performer entertains while you drift past the river banks. The meal and the music are part of the tour, not add-ons. Two optional stops (Baclayon Church, a centuries-old Roman Catholic structure that marks Spanish colonial history, and the Blood Compact Monument, another historical site) can be added if you want them. The driver will ask. By late afternoon you head back to the ferry for the return crossing to Cebu City, arriving by early evening.
Is this one for you?Book this if you're in Cebu City with a half-day window. The early ferry gets you to Bohol by mid-morning, and a private driver covers the main sights on a fixed schedule so you catch the late-afternoon ferry back.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 4 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What are the Chocolate Hills and why do they change color?
The Chocolate Hills are conical, symmetrical natural formations that cover Bohol and are the island's most famous attraction. They turn chocolate brown during the dry season and stay green during the wet season, which is why they earned their name.
Can I see the tarsiers up close at the conservation center?
Yes, the tarsier conservation center is a dedicated stop on the tour. The tarsiers are the smallest primate creatures found in the Philippines and are Bohol's official mascot. The center allows visitors to observe them.
What's included in the Loboc River cruise?
The one-hour Loboc River cruise includes a buffet of Bohol-inspired dishes served onboard and live acoustic music performed by a musician while you drift down the river. The cruise is part of the tour package.
How does the ferry work if I'm staying in Cebu City?
You take the earliest morning ferry from Cebu City to Bohol, a two-hour crossing. After the tour ends in the late afternoon, you return on the ferry back to Cebu City. The ferry is arranged as part of the tour, and you're picked up from your Cebu hotel.
Can I skip the historical sites if I'm short on time?
Yes, Baclayon Church and the Blood Compact Monument are optional stops. The driver will offer them, but you can choose not to include them on your tour if you prefer to focus on the natural attractions.
Chocolate Hills tour from Cebu City: Tarsier & Loboc River lunch
5h–6h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 86.24 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.