Bohol Countryside Tour: Chocolate Hills & Tarsiers

Seeing wild dolphins at sunrise is one of the best ways to start a day in Bohol. Here is how a dolphin morning works with us, who it suits and what to bring, so you know what to expect before you book.

Start early

Dolphins are part of our island hopping tour, and the day starts before sunrise. Group pickups start at 5:30 AM, or you can meet us at 6:00 AM at the beachfront of Bohol South Beach Hotel. Being out early means you are on the water before the heat and the crowds.

The dolphin-spotting cruise

The first part of the morning is a dolphin-spotting cruise. Keep your eyes on the water and your camera close. When dolphins are around, you see them surfacing beside the outrigger boats in the soft early light.

Will we see dolphins?

Dolphins are wild, so we can't guarantee sightings, but we see them most days. Sightings depend on nature and sea conditions, so every morning is a little different. That is part of what makes it special.

Watch them gently

The sea is their home, not a show. Enjoy them from the boat, keep your voice low and let them come and go on their own. Take your photos, then put the phone down for a moment and just watch.

Then turtles and a sandbar

After the dolphins, we head to Balicasag, a small island surrounded by a protected marine sanctuary. You snorkel the reef and swim with sea turtles, with a local coordinator in the water with you. The last stop is the Virgin Island sandbar. Most days we are back around 11:30 AM, so the afternoon is yours. Read more about Balicasag and Virgin Island.

Who it suits

You snorkel in open water at Balicasag, so you should be comfortable swimming. Balicasag has no dock: you may need to step onto slippery rocks and walk through shallow water, so a reasonable level of fitness helps. The tour is not suitable for babies or children under 3. Travelling with children? See which tours fit.

What to bring

Swimwear and a towel, reef-safe sunscreen and a hat, shoes that can get wet for the boat landings, and a waterproof bag for your phone. Bring pesos in cash for the ₱500 environmental fee per person. Masks and life jackets are included, and fins can be rented. Our full packing list.

Prefer a private boat?

With Private Island Hopping you have your own boat, captain, crew and coordinator. Pickup from your hotel is around 5:45 AM to catch the dolphins early, and most days you are back around noon. For a slower day on the water, our private yacht takes up to 6 guests, with dolphin watching, snorkeling and meals on board.

If the sea is rough

Your safety comes first. If the Coast Guard stops boats, sea tours cannot run, and you choose a free new date or a full refund. That is why we suggest planning your sea day early in your stay. See our 3-day itinerary.

Bohol is famous for the Chocolate Hills, but there is much more: tiny tarsiers, dolphins at sunrise, sea turtles, whale sharks, waterfalls and quiet beaches. These are the things our guests love most, and how each one fits into a day from Panglao.

1. See the Chocolate Hills

More than 1,200 grassy hills roll across central Bohol, about 2 hours by road from Panglao. About 200 steps lead up to the main viewpoint. The hills turn brown in the dry months and green in the wet months. Read our Chocolate Hills guide.

2. Meet the tarsiers

The Philippine tarsier is one of the smallest primates in the world. Tarsiers sleep by day, so you watch them quietly in a protected forest, not in cages. No touching and no flash. How to see tarsiers the right way.

3. Cruise the Loboc River

Have lunch on a floating restaurant while musicians play and the jungle drifts past. Our Chocolate Hills tour combines the hills, the tarsiers, the Man-Made Forest and this river lunch in one day, with pickup around 7:30 AM and back around 4:25 PM.

4. Dolphins, sea turtles and a sandbar

Boats leave early to look for wild dolphins, which we see on most days. Then you snorkel with sea turtles at Balicasag and walk the Virgin Island sandbar. Our island hopping tour is back around 11:30 AM, so the afternoon is yours. More about Balicasag.

5. Swim with whale sharks

The whale sharks are in Oslob, across the water in Cebu. It is a long but well-organized day by van, ferry and jeep, with about 30 minutes in the water and back around 2:00–2:30 PM. See the whale shark tour.

6. Chase waterfalls

Hidden falls, jungle trails and turquoise pools, in small groups of up to 15. Best for ages 10 and up. See the waterfall tour.

7. See fireflies after dark

In the evening the river goes quiet and fireflies light up the trees along the banks. It is calm and good for all ages, with pickup at 6:00 PM. See the firefly cruise.

8. Try your first scuba dive

No license needed. After a short briefing and practice in shallow water, you dive the reef with your instructor beside you. It takes about 4 hours. See the first-time scuba dive.

9. Head east to Anda

Bohol's quiet east coast, about 2.5 hours from Panglao, has spring-fed cave pools, rice terraces and long white beaches. See the private Anda tour.

10. Relax on Panglao's beaches

Alona is lively, Dumaluan is wide and calm, and Doljo has some of the best sunsets. Many beaches get shallow at low tide, so swim when the tide is higher. Our Panglao beach guide.

How many days do you need?

Three days covers the highlights: the countryside one day, the sea the next, then whale sharks or waterfalls. Book sea tours early in your stay, in case the Coast Guard stops boats for a day. See our 3-day itinerary.

Bohol packs a lot into one island. Here is what most guests do, and how to fit it in.

The countryside

The Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers, the Man-Made Forest and a lunch cruise on the Loboc River. It is a full day, best started early, and it is the day guests remember most.

The sea

Dolphins and sea turtles at Balicasag in the morning, whale sharks on a longer day trip, or a first scuba dive with no license needed.

The jungle and the night

Hidden waterfalls with turquoise pools, then fireflies along the river after dark.

Further east

Anda has a quieter coast, cave pools, waterfalls and rice terraces. Plan a full private day.

How to plan it

Three days covers the highlights. Put the countryside and the sea on different days, and keep evenings free for fireflies or sunset at Alona.

Want the full list? Read our 10 things to do in Bohol.

The whale sharks are in Oslob, across the water in Cebu. From Panglao it is a long but well-organized day.

How the day works

An early van to Momo Beach, a ferry crossing, then a local jeep to the government-regulated site. You spend about 30 minutes in the water, then return the same way. Most days you are back around 1:00 PM.

What to bring

Swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen and some cash. Mask and life vest are included. Fins and dry bags can be rented.

Be kind to them

Keep your distance, never touch, and follow the coordinators in the water. The rules protect the sharks and keep the site open.

Tours run all year. The weather changes how the day feels, not whether it is worth it.

Drier months

December to May is drier, and March to May is the driest and sunniest stretch. April and May are the hottest, so start early.

Wetter months

From June to November, expect showers. They usually pass quickly, and the hills and waterfalls are at their greenest.

If the weather turns

When the Coast Guard stops boats, sea tours cannot run. You choose a free new date or a full refund, and we message you the moment the Coast Guard announces any change.

Panglao is small and easy to get around.

• On tour days we pick you up from your hotel, so you do not need transport at all.
• Short hops by tuk-tuk cost about ₱200 for 15 minutes.
• The Maxim app books cheap motorbike rides.
• Cash still matters for entrance fees and small shops. The 7-Eleven ATM in Alona lets you take out ₱20,000 at the standard fee.

The Chocolate Hills are more than 1,200 grassy domes rolling across central Bohol. They are the island's most famous sight, and about 2 hours by road from Panglao.

Green or brown?

The grass turns brown in the dry months, which gives the hills their name. In the wetter months they are green. Both are beautiful, so go when your trip allows.

The viewpoint

About 200 steps lead up to the main viewing deck. Take it slowly in the heat, and bring water and a hat.

Beat the crowds

Tour buses arrive in waves. An early start, or a coordinator who plans the order of stops, means more space at the top and better photos.

Make a day of it

Most visits pair the hills with the tarsiers, the Man-Made Forest and a lunch cruise on the Loboc River.

The Philippine tarsier is one of the smallest primates in the world, with huge eyes and a body that fits in your palm. Bohol is one of the best places to see one.

They sleep by day

Tarsiers are nocturnal. During the day they rest in the trees, so you watch them quietly from the path while they doze.

Be gentle

They are protected and very sensitive to stress. No touching, no flash and no loud voices. A calm visit keeps them healthy.

Where we go

Our countryside tours stop at a conservation area where tarsiers live in a protected forest, not in cages.

Balicasag is a small island off Panglao, surrounded by a protected marine sanctuary. It is the best-known snorkeling spot near Alona.

Start early

Boats leave Alona in the early morning. On the way, we look for wild dolphins, which we see on most days.

In the water

Sea turtles feed along the reef, and the coral drops into deep blue water. A local coordinator snorkels with you.

Good to know

There is a ₱500 environmental fee per person, paid in cash. Masks are included, and fins can be rented. You should be comfortable swimming in open water.

The Loboc River winds through thick jungle in central Bohol. A cruise here is one of the most relaxed parts of a countryside day.

By day

Floating restaurants serve a local buffet while musicians play on board, drifting past palms and small waterfalls. On our tours, the lunch cruise package is ₱1,200 per person.

After dark

In the evening the river goes quiet, and fireflies light up the trees along the banks. It is calm and good for all ages.

Bohol is a great family island. Here is how our tours suit different ages.

• All ages. The firefly cruise is calm and quiet.
• Easy days. The Chocolate Hills tour has short walks, plus about 200 steps to the viewpoint.
• Confident swimmers. Island hopping means snorkeling in open water. Life vests help.
• Not under 5. The whale shark trip is a long day with an early start.
• Not under 10. The waterfall tour has jungle trails and river crossings.

Tell us your children's ages in the notes when you book, and we plan around them. Private tours let you go at your own pace.

Getting to Panglao is easy, because the airport is on the island itself.

By air

Bohol–Panglao International Airport is on Panglao Island, a short drive from Alona Beach and most resorts.

By ferry

Fast ferries from Cebu arrive at Tagbilaran port. From there it is roughly 30 to 45 minutes by road to Panglao, depending on traffic.

Once you are here

On tour days we pick you up from your hotel. For short trips, tuk-tuks and the Maxim app are cheap and easy.

Pack light, but bring these.

• Swimwear and a quick-dry towel for island hopping, waterfalls and whale sharks.
• Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat. The sun is strong, even on cloudy days.
• Shoes that can get wet for waterfalls and boat landings.
• A waterproof bag for your phone and cash.
• Pesos in cash for entrance and environmental fees, lunch and small shops.
• Insect repellent and a light layer for the firefly cruise.

Anda sits on the far east side of Bohol, about 2.5 hours by road from Panglao. It is quieter, greener and far less crowded.

Cave pools

Clear, spring-fed pools hidden in limestone caves are the reason most people come. The water is cool and calm.

Rice terraces and waterfalls

On the way, the Cadapdapan Rice Terraces and nearby waterfalls make the drive part of the day.

White sand

Anda's beaches are long, soft and quiet. It is the Bohol many visitors never see.

Three days is enough to see the best of Bohol without rushing. This is the order that works for most of our guests.

Day 1: the countryside

The Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers, the Man-Made Forest and a lunch cruise on the Loboc River. Pickup is around 7:30 AM and you are back around 4:25 PM. If you still have energy, the firefly cruise picks you up at 6:00 PM the same evening.

Day 2: the sea

Dolphins at sunrise, sea turtles at Balicasag and the Virgin Island sandbar. Pickups start at 5:30 AM and you are back around 11:30 AM, with the afternoon free for the beach.

Day 3: whale sharks or waterfalls

Swim with whale sharks (pickup 5:30 AM, back around 2:00–2:30 PM), or spend the day at hidden waterfalls and jungle pools (pickup around 7:30 AM, back around 2:00 PM).

A tip on order

Plan the sea day early in your trip. If the Coast Guard stops boats for a day, you still have time to move it.

Virgin Island is a long, curved strip of white sand off Panglao. It rises out of the sea as the tide drops, with clear, shallow water on both sides.

On our island hopping tour

It is the last stop of the morning, after dolphins at sunrise and snorkeling with sea turtles at Balicasag. You have time to walk the sandbar, swim and take photos before the ride back. Most days you are back in Panglao around 11:30 AM.

The tide decides

The sandbar changes with the tide. At high tide much of it is under water, so its shape is different every day.

Good to know

Local vendors often sell fresh fruit and snacks, so bring some pesos in cash. There is almost no shade, so wear sunscreen and a hat. Water shoes help when you step off the boat.

Panglao is ringed with white sand. Each beach has a different feel, so here is a quick guide.

Alona Beach

The lively heart of Panglao, with restaurants, dive shops and boats. Island hopping tours leave from here, and the south end is our meeting point. The water is best in the morning.

Dumaluan Beach

A long, wide stretch of soft sand on the south coast, calmer than Alona. Some access points charge a small entrance fee.

Doljo Beach

A quiet beach on the west side, with some of the best sunsets on the island. At low tide the water gets very shallow.

Momo Beach

A peaceful beach in the north-west, away from the crowds and good for a slow afternoon.

A tip on tides

Many Panglao beaches get shallow at low tide. For a proper swim, go when the tide is higher.

The wetter months in Bohol run roughly from June to November. Rain is often a short, heavy shower rather than a whole grey day, and many mornings are still sunny.

What still runs

Countryside tours like the Chocolate Hills run in most weather. Waterfalls are fuller after rain, though river trails depend on water levels on the day. Fireflies also depend on the weather, so every night is different.

Boat tours

For island hopping and whale sharks, the Coast Guard decides whether boats can go. If it stops boats or the weather makes your tour unsafe on the day, you choose a free new date or a full refund.

Simple tips

• Book sea tours early in your stay, so there is time to move them.
• Pack a light rain jacket and a waterproof bag for your phone.
• Check WhatsApp the evening before. We message you if anything changes.

Panglao is one of the best-known diving areas in the Philippines, and you do not need a license to try it.

How it works

First, a short theory session with video. Then you practice the basic skills in shallow water. Then you dive the reef with your instructor beside you the whole time. It takes about 4 hours.

What you see

Coral, colorful reef fish and, on some days, sea turtles.

Before you book

• Basic swimming skills are recommended.
• Tell us about any health conditions, such as heart or lung problems, recent surgery or pregnancy, so the instructor can advise you.
• Don't fly for at least 24 hours after your dive. Plan your dive early in your trip.

Full dive equipment, boat transport, marine fees, a professional instructor and a GoPro are included.