Exclusive Bohol,Philippines Chocolate Hills-Tarsier Tour

Bohol packs its best sights into one long day. This private tour links the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, Baclayon Church, the Loboc River, an animal park, and several cultural stops without asking you to share the vehicle with strangers. I like the private format, which gives your group room to adjust the plan, and I like that the price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, driver, parking, admission fees, and a buffet lunch cruise.

The main consideration is the guide service. Albert receives praise for being courteous, professional, and informative, but one booking found the driver more useful behind the wheel than as a source of detailed history. If you want expert explanations at every stop, ask about the guide’s role before booking. At $70 per person, the tour offers good value for a private eight to nine-hour outing, but the quality of interpretation may depend on who drives your vehicle.

The essential details at a glance

• A private Bohol day out: Only your group takes part, with pickup offered and an air-conditioned vehicle provided.
• Chocolate Hills with a 360-degree view: You get about 30 minutes at Bohol’s best-known natural attraction, with admission included.
• Mouse-sized nocturnal primates: The Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area gives you a short visit focused on one of the island’s rare native animals.
• A two-hour floating lunch: The Loboc River Cruise includes a buffet meal and a ride toward Busay Falls.
• A flexible schedule: One booking found the operator willing to replace the animal park with another stop when requested.
• A practical all-in price: Fuel, parking, the driver, vehicle, admissions, and lunch are included, while optional activities cost extra.

Why this private tour works well for Bohol

Bohol’s main sights are spread across the island, so a private vehicle saves you from piecing together separate rides. This experience lasts roughly eight to nine hours and gives you a simple way to see both the famous inland sights and several stops closer to Tagbilaran City.

I especially like the private setup for families, couples, and small groups with different interests. You can spend less time waiting for other people and may be able to adjust a stop. The operator accepted a request to skip the animal park for one booking, which is useful if you would rather give more time to the Chocolate Hills, church, or river cruise.

The price is $70 per person, with group discounts listed as available. That figure deserves a fair reading. It is not simply the cost of transport. You also receive the driver, fuel surcharge, parking, admission to the scheduled attractions, and a buffet lunch on the Loboc River Cruise. For a private full-day outing, that is a solid package, particularly if your group values comfort and convenience.

The tour is often booked about 29 days in advance. That does not guarantee that every date will sell out, but it suggests you should not leave it until the last minute if your Bohol schedule is fixed.

Chocolate Hills: a short stop with a big view

The Chocolate Hills Natural Monument is the visual centerpiece of the day. You have about 30 minutes to see the rounded hills from a 360-degree viewpoint and take photographs. The hills are naturally formed and have inspired different local stories, making this more than a quick photo stop.

Thirty minutes is enough for the main view, especially if you arrive ready to walk directly to the lookout and take your pictures. It is not a long visit, so you should not expect time for a slow exploration of the wider area. The tour also lists optional activities such as Chocolate Hills ATV rides, but those are not included in the $70 price.

Bring your camera. The attraction is highly visual, and the lookout is the reason most people want this stop. If you hope to learn the scientific explanation for how the hills formed, ask your driver or guide directly. One booking specifically found the explanation lacking, with the guide unable to answer basic questions about the hills’ formation. That is the clearest weakness in the experience.

Meeting the tiny tarsiers in Loboc

The Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area offers a close look at one of the island’s most unusual animals. Tarsiers are described as the smallest primates, roughly the size of a mouse, and they are nocturnal. The conservation area in Loboc has seven to nine of these animals being conserved.

Your visit lasts about 30 minutes, with admission included. That is a short window, but it fits the nature of the stop. Tarsiers are not an attraction to rush through noisily. The value comes from seeing this tiny native primate in a conservation setting and learning why it is so unusual.

I would treat this stop as one of the day’s main highlights rather than a filler between bigger attractions. The Chocolate Hills give you the grand view. The tarsiers offer the small, surprising detail that makes Bohol feel distinct from other Philippine destinations.

The itinerary describes tarsiers as found in Southeast Asia, including Bohol and three other places. That limited range gives the visit extra weight. You are not simply looking at a generic small animal in a park. You are seeing a creature closely linked with the region.

Baclayon Church and a brief look at Bohol’s past

Baclayon Church is a centuries-old stone church and one of the day’s historical stops. It was damaged in the 2013 earthquake and has since been restored. You have about 30 minutes here, and photographs are allowed inside the church and in the museum on the second floor.

This is a compact visit, so it works best if you want a quick cultural stop rather than a long architectural tour. The stone construction gives the church a different feel from the day’s natural attractions, and the museum adds context to the building and its religious past.

The schedule does not promise an expert guided explanation, so you may need to ask questions or read available information yourself. That matters because the tour’s strongest praise centers on courteous service and driving, not consistently detailed interpretation. If historical detail is important to you, make that clear when arranging the tour.

Two hours aboard the Loboc River Cruise

The Loboc River Cruise is the longest stop, at about two hours, and includes a buffet lunch served on board. The boat travels toward Busay Falls while you eat and look at the river and its surroundings.

This is the most relaxed part of the day. After the early sightseeing stops, you get time to sit down, eat, and watch the scenery rather than move from one attraction to the next. A buffet also makes the lunch practical for groups with different appetites.

I like that the lunch is built into the tour instead of being left for you to organize in the middle of a packed schedule. The cruise is also one of the experience’s best values because it combines transport on the river, a meal, and sightseeing in one stop.

Allow yourself to enjoy the full two hours. The tour covers many places, but the river cruise is where the day slows down. If you prefer active excursions every minute, the pace may feel long. If you want a break from the vehicle, it is a welcome change.

Admission and buffet lunch are included. Optional activities at places such as Loboc Adventure Park are not included, so you should budget separately if you want to add them.

Xzootic Animal Park: the most optional stop

The visit to Xzootic Animal Park lasts about 45 minutes. The featured attraction is an albino python, described as large but gentle-looking, along with butterflies and their life cycle.

This stop will appeal most to families and people who enjoy animals. The butterfly display adds something beyond simply seeing a snake, since you can view different stages of the butterfly life cycle. Still, this is the least essential stop for many people on the itinerary.

That judgment is supported by the tour’s flexibility. One booking had no interest in seeing the python and was able to customize the schedule. If the animal park does not appeal to you, ask in advance if the stop can be shortened or exchanged. A private tour should give you more control than a fixed group itinerary, and this experience appears to allow at least some adjustment.

The admission is included when you follow the scheduled plan. Optional activities elsewhere are not part of the price.

The Blood Compact Monument in 15 minutes

The Blood Compact Monument is a quick cultural stop, lasting about 15 minutes and costing nothing extra. It commemorates the meeting of Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna, the chieftain of Bohol, on March 16, 1565. The monument represents their friendship ceremony, which formed part of a local tribal tradition.

Fifteen minutes is enough for photographs and a short explanation. It is not enough for a long museum visit or extended historical discussion, so think of this as a roadside monument stop that adds context to the day.

The site helps connect Bohol’s present-day sightseeing with a specific moment in the island’s past. It also breaks up the natural attractions with a reminder that this is not only a day of views and wildlife.

Aproniana for souvenirs and Bohol treats

Aproniana is a 30-minute shopping stop. You can look for T-shirts, Bohol delicacies, and other souvenirs.

This is a standard stop, but it can be useful at the end of a long day. You have a planned chance to buy gifts instead of searching for a shop later. The downside is simple: if you do not want souvenirs, half an hour may feel unnecessary.

Because the tour is private, you may be able to ask for less shopping time. The operator’s willingness to customize one booking suggests it is worth making a polite request, especially if you would rather return earlier or spend more time at another attraction.

What the driver and guide service are really like

Service is a major part of this experience. Albert is praised for being kind, professional, courteous, and informative. Those qualities matter on an eight to nine-hour tour, since a respectful driver can make a long day feel much easier.

But you should separate driving service from guiding service. One booking found the driver respectful and safe but unable to answer several questions, including how the Chocolate Hills formed. That is a meaningful limitation if you expect a traditional tour guide who explains every site in detail.

My advice is practical: before the day begins, ask who will guide the stops and what level of commentary is included. If your priority is comfortable transport and a flexible schedule, the service should suit you well. If your priority is detailed geology, church history, and local interpretation, you may need to arrange extra guiding or do some reading beforehand.

What $70 includes, and what it does not

The package includes:

• Fuel surcharge
• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Driver fee
• Parking fees
• Buffet lunch on the Loboc River Cruise
• Admission tickets for the listed stops

The price does not include places not mentioned in the schedule or optional activities such as Chocolate Hills ATV rides and Loboc Adventure Park activities.

For a private outing, the value is strongest when two or more people share the experience. You receive more control than on a group tour, and the included lunch and admissions reduce the need to keep paying at each stop. Group discounts may improve the price for larger parties.

The value is weaker if you want only the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers. In that case, a shorter or more focused tour may suit you better. This package is designed for people who want a broad sample of Bohol in one day.

Timing, pickup, and cancellation advice

Pickup is offered, and the activity is private, so only your group participates. The listed operating period runs from December 21, 2019, through February 3, 2027, with Monday through Sunday hours shown as 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Confirm the exact pickup time when booking, since the full experience lasts about eight to nine hours.

Confirmation is provided at booking, and most people can participate. The tour requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellation inside 24 hours is not refundable, and changes made inside that period are not accepted. The cutoff follows local time, so keep that in mind if you are booking from another country.

Who should book this Bohol day tour?

I would recommend it to:

• Couples who want a private vehicle and a relaxed lunch cruise
• Families who need a flexible schedule
• Small groups sharing the $70-per-person cost
• First-time visitors who want many major Bohol stops in one day
• People who value courteous driving and simple all-in pricing
• Anyone especially interested in the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers

I would be more cautious if you:

• Want long visits at every attraction
• Expect a specialist guide at each stop
• Have no interest in the animal park or souvenir shopping
• Prefer an active tour with ATV riding or adventure activities
• Want to focus only on Bohol’s history or only on nature

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want breadth, privacy, and convenience in one full day. The Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, and Loboc River Cruise are the strongest parts, while the included lunch, air-conditioned vehicle, parking, and admissions make the $70 price reasonable for a private experience.

Before paying, ask two questions: Can the animal park be replaced if you do not want to visit it, and will your driver provide detailed commentary at the historical and geological stops? If the answers suit you, this is a practical way to see much of Bohol without managing several separate bookings.

FAQ

How long does the Bohol Chocolate Hills and tarsier tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight to nine hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, but you should confirm the exact pickup details when booking.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch is included during the Loboc River Cruise.

Are admission tickets included?

Admission is included for the listed attractions, including the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument, Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area, Baclayon Church, Loboc River Cruise, and Xzootic Animal Park.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refundable.