Bohol
Bohol countryside: Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers, Loboc
Photo: Jesse Alegre, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Chocolate Hills, a Tarsier Sanctuary visit and a Loboc River cruise sit along the same inland route out of Panglao or Tagbilaran, and almost every visitor who does one does all three on the same day.
Chocolate Hills: the viewing deck in Carmen
Over a thousand grass-covered limestone mounds that turn brown in the dry season, giving the hills their name. The main public viewing deck is in Carmen, reached by a short set of stairs for the hilltop view.
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| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance | ≈ ₱100-150 | Government-set fee, does not move with season |
Sourced against current Chocolate Hills visitor listings, last checked 12 October 2026.
Tarsier Sanctuary
A protected patch of forest where guides point out Philippine tarsiers, among the smallest primates in the world, resting in the undergrowth during the day. Quiet is the rule here, tarsiers are easily stressed and sensitive to noise and flash photography.
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| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance | ≈ ₱60-170 | Paid at the gate |
Sourced against current visitor listings for the Tarsier Sanctuary, last checked 12 October 2026.
Loboc River: the buffet cruise
A floating restaurant drifts along the Loboc River while you eat, with live music on some boats. The floating-restaurant operators charge one standardised rate, so this is sold as a buffet cruise rather than a cheaper boat-only ride.
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| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buffet cruise, including lunch | ≈ ₱1,000 pp | Standardised rate, lunch included |
Sourced against current Loboc River floating-restaurant listings, last checked 12 October 2026. This is the single biggest line item in the countryside loop, and the reason a DIY day costs noticeably more than the three entrance fees alone would suggest.
Putting the day together: DIY versus a packaged tour
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| Option | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DIY (self-drive scooter) | ≈ ₱1,500-1,800 pp | Scooter rental (≈ ₱300-500/day) plus all three entrance fees above |
| DIY (hired habal-habal driver) | ≈ ₱1,700-2,000 pp | As above, plus a day-rate driver fare, cheaper per person if shared with a second rider |
| Packaged van tour | ≈ ₱2,500-3,000 pp | Covers all three stops plus transport on a fixed schedule, sometimes with the Loboc buffet bundled into the headline price |
Built from the three stop prices above plus current scooter-rental and countryside day-tour listings, last checked 12 October 2026. The Loboc buffet cruise is the biggest part of the DIY total.
Where this fits in a Bohol trip
This loop is one full day on its own, see a 3-day Bohol itinerary for how it pairs with Panglao’s island hopping and the ferry day, and Bohol: best time to visit and what a trip costs for how it fits a wider budget.
Before you book
A tricycle, habal-habal or van for the day is arranged through your accommodation or a tour desk rather than booked online in advance, prices and availability are set locally. A session with me is the fastest way to ask how this loop fits around the rest of a Bohol trip.
Questions people ask
What is included in the Bohol countryside loop?
Three stops most visitors pair on one inland day: the Chocolate Hills viewing deck in Carmen, the Tarsier Sanctuary, and a buffet-lunch cruise on the Loboc River. All three sit along the same inland route, so a single tricycle, habal-habal or van hire covers the day.
How much does the Chocolate Hills entrance fee cost?
Around ₱100-150 for the main viewing deck in Carmen. It is a government-set fee and does not move with season.
How much is the Tarsier Sanctuary entrance fee?
About ₱60-170 per person, paid at the gate.
How much does the Loboc River cruise cost?
₱1,000 per person, a standardised rate that includes a buffet lunch on the boat. It is sold as a buffet cruise, not a cheaper boat-only ride.
Can I do the countryside loop without a tour, just DIY?
Yes, by self-driving a rented scooter or hiring a habal-habal driver for the day between the three stops, paying each entrance fee separately. It costs less than a packaged van tour but takes more planning, since you're arranging transport and timing between stops yourself.
How long does the countryside loop take?
Most of a day. Carmen, the Tarsier Sanctuary and Loboc town are spread along the same inland route but still involve real driving time between them, plus time at each stop, so it is not something to combine with Panglao's island hopping on the same day.
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