Private Bohol tour: Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, river cruise

Tarsiers that swivel their heads nearly 360 degrees, then chocolate-colored hills that stretch to the horizon

A private day tour of Bohol with hotel pickup, English-speaking guide and lunch included. Start at the Philippine Tarsier Foundation to watch the world's smallest primate leap between trees; hike through a mahogany forest to the Chocolate Hills viewpoint; cruise downstream on the Loboc River with lunch served on a floating restaurant; finish at the centuries-old stone church in Baclayon that houses religious art and Latin manuscripts. Eight hours total, suitable for all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Bohol's nature and heritage

• Visit Philippine Tarsier Foundation
• Pass by Bilar man-made forest
• Hike to Chocolate Hills viewpoint
• Enjoy Loboc River cruise with lunch
• Visit Baclayon Church and museum

The Experience

The day starts at the Philippine Tarsier Foundation in Corella, where you watch these rare nocturnal creatures move through their habitat—their heads rotating nearly 360 degrees as they leap from tree to tree. From there, you pass through the Bilar man-made forest, a thick undergrowth of towering mahogany trees that line the highway leading to the Chocolate Hills. The hike up to the viewpoint takes you above the surrounding landscape, where the hills themselves look like huge candy drops from a distance, their color shifting with the season—deep brown in summer when the grasses dry out, which is how they earned their name.

The Loboc River cruise comes with lunch served on a floating restaurant as you drift downstream. After that, you visit Baclayon Church, a centuries-old stone structure that houses a museum of religious art, ecclesiastical vestments, and librettos of church music inscribed in Latin on animal skins. Your guide handles the commentary throughout, and the driver manages the route and timing, so you move through each stop without arranging transport or logistics yourself.

Wear comfortable walking shoes for the hike to the Chocolate Hills viewpoint. The tour lasts around eight hours, though exact timing depends on traffic and the time of day. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for selected hotels, and any dietary requirements should be noted at booking.

What’s included

• Private hotel pickup and drop-off from selected hotels.
• professional English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• lunch on the Loboc River floating restaurant.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, Inc

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and leads the commentary, so anyone comfortable following a tour in English will follow the day easily. The eight-hour duration and mixed activity—wildlife refuge, hiking, river cruise, museum visit—suits travelers who want variety without building the day themselves.

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Top questions

What are the Philippine tarsiers, and what will I see at the foundation?

The Philippine tarsier is the world's smallest primate, a rare nocturnal creature found at the Philippine Tarsier Foundation in Corella. You'll observe them in their natural habitat, watching them leap between trees and rotate their heads nearly 360 degrees as they move.

How long is the hike to the Chocolate Hills viewpoint?

The itinerary includes a hike up to the Chocolate Hills viewpoint for a bird's-eye view of the surrounding area, though the exact duration depends on your pace and fitness level. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What's included in the Loboc River cruise?

The Loboc River cruise is a downstream journey on a floating restaurant with lunch served on board, so you eat while drifting along the river.

What will I see inside Baclayon Church?

Baclayon Church in Baclayon is a centuries-old stone structure that houses a museum containing religious art, ecclesiastical vestments, and librettos of church music inscribed in Latin on animal skins.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for selected hotels. Advise your hotel at booking to confirm it's on the pickup list, and note any dietary requirements at the same time.