Review · Bohol Countryside & Chocolate Hills

2025 Tarsier, Waterfalls & Chocolate Hills Tour

5.0 · 3 reviews From $65 Operated by Christopher Seloterio · Bookable on Viator
Book on Viator →

Bohol packs three big sights into one day. This private tour combines the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, and one waterfall near Bilar, giving you wildlife, famous views, and time in the water without arranging separate rides.

I like the simple route and the private setup. Your driver collects you at your hotel, your group travels in an air-conditioned vehicle, and you can ask for lunch along the way. I also like the choice of three waterfalls, although you can visit only one, and the 4 to 6 hour schedule may feel tight if you want a slow visit at every stop.

The tour is priced at $65 per person and includes entrance fees, transportation, and hotel pickup and drop-off. That is fair value for a private outing, especially if you are traveling with several people and qualify for a group discount. Christopher Seloterio is the listed provider, and Chris has been praised for being helpful and kind.

Key points to know before you book

2025 Tarsier, Waterfalls & Chocolate Hills Tour - Key points to know before you book

  • Three classic Bohol stops in one short outing: Visit the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, the Chocolate Hills Viewing Deck in Carmen, and one waterfall in Bilar.
  • You choose one waterfall: Pangas Falls is the planned stop, with Ingkumhan Falls or Camugao Falls available as alternatives.
  • The waterfall is active, not just scenic: You get about one to two hours for swimming and jumping.
  • Private transport keeps the day flexible: Only your group participates, and you can ask the driver to stop for lunch.
  • The price covers the major costs: A vehicle, taxes, entrance fees, hotel pickup, drop-off, and the three listed activities are included.
  • Pack for water, not just photographs: Bring extra clothes and a towel, since the final stop is built around getting wet.

Starting from Panglao with a private vehicle

The tour starts with pickup in Panglao, Bohol. Your driver collects you from your hotel and takes you inland toward Corella, then Carmen, and finally Bilar. The order makes sense: begin with the quieter wildlife stop, continue to the island’s famous hill country, and finish with a swim.

The advertised duration is about 4 to 6 hours. That is a useful range rather than a promise of a fixed timetable. The waterfall alone gets one to two hours, so the remaining time covers pickup, road travel, and the first two attractions. If you like to linger, take many photographs, or stop for a full meal, expect the day to move at a brisk pace.

I like the private format here. You are not tied to a large group’s preferences, and only your own party joins the activity. The air-conditioned vehicle matters in Bohol, especially when you are moving between warm outdoor stops. Hotel pickup and drop-off also remove the need to find transport at both ends of the day.

The tour has mobile ticketing, and confirmation is received at booking. Public transportation is nearby, but that is less important when pickup is already included. Most people can participate, although the waterfall portion requires enough comfort for swimming and jumping.

A few more Tagbilaran City tours and experiences worth a look

Meeting the tiny tarsiers in Corella

2025 Tarsier, Waterfalls & Chocolate Hills Tour - Meeting the tiny tarsiers in Corella

The first stop is the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella. Tarsiers are tiny primates with very large eyes, and seeing them is one of Bohol’s most memorable encounters. The sanctuary gives this visit a clear purpose: you go to a protected setting to observe the animals rather than treating them as a roadside photo prop.

Keep your expectations sensible. This is a viewing stop, not a long wildlife outing. The tour includes tarsier viewing, but it does not promise a set amount of time or a private animal encounter. Your driver brings you to the sanctuary, and the visit forms the first part of a day that continues to two very different settings.

I like starting here because the stop asks you to slow down before the more dramatic scenery. Look carefully, follow the sanctuary’s directions, and give the animals space. Their small size can make them easy to miss if you rush through while thinking about the next stop.

The Corella visit also gives the itinerary a useful balance. You begin with living wildlife, then move on to geological scenery, and finish with a physical activity. That range is one reason this works well for a first taste of Bohol.

The Chocolate Hills Viewing Deck in Carmen

2025 Tarsier, Waterfalls & Chocolate Hills Tour - The Chocolate Hills Viewing Deck in Carmen

Next comes the Chocolate Hills Viewing Deck in Carmen. This is the tour’s big panorama, with the rounded hills spreading across the view in their unusual repeating shapes. The hills are famous for their appearance, and the viewing deck gives you the easiest way to take in the scale of the scene.

You should think of this as a viewpoint stop rather than a hike through the hills. The package includes Chocolate Hills viewing, not an extended walk or a separate hill excursion. Bring your camera, but also take a moment to look without it. The odd symmetry of the hills is what makes the place memorable.

The timing matters. Since the full outing lasts only 4 to 6 hours, the deck visit may be fairly focused. That suits you if you want the classic view without spending half a day on one attraction. It may disappoint you if your ideal visit includes a long, unhurried stay and many scenic stops.

Still, the Chocolate Hills are an important part of the route. Pairing them with the sanctuary and a waterfall gives you a more complete picture of Bohol than visiting the viewpoint alone. You get one stop for wildlife, one for scenery, and one for recreation.

Choosing one waterfall near Bilar

The last stop is the most unusual part of this tour. You spend about one to two hours at Pangas Waterfalls in Bilar, with time for swimming and jumping. Many Bohol day trips focus only on sightseeing, so this water stop gives you a chance to take a break from the vehicle and cool off.

Pangas is the planned waterfall, but you may have the option of visiting Ingkumhan Falls or Camugao Falls instead. The wording is important: only one waterfall can be visited. You are choosing between alternatives, not fitting all three into the same afternoon.

This choice can make the tour more useful for different groups. You can ask about the available waterfall option when arranging the day, then select one that suits your plans. The supplied information does not give separate details about the swimming conditions, access, or facilities at each waterfall, so I would not book this expecting a precise comparison between them.

The water stop also changes the packing list. Bring extra clothes and a towel. A swimsuit or other clothing suitable for getting wet is sensible, though the tour information specifically confirms only the need for extra clothes and a towel. If you arrive dressed only for photographs, the final stop may become a spectator visit instead of the active break it is meant to be.

The waterfall can be the most enjoyable part for people who like to participate rather than only look. On the other hand, it may be less suitable if you do not want to swim or jump. You can still ask about the stop, but the package is clearly designed around spending time in the water.

Lunch is flexible, but you pay separately

2025 Tarsier, Waterfalls & Chocolate Hills Tour - Lunch is flexible, but you pay separately

Meals are not included. You can tell the driver that you want lunch near one of the three destinations, and the driver can help fit that into the route. The meal cost comes from your own pocket.

I see this as a practical arrangement rather than a major weakness. Fixed meals often waste time or leave you eating at a place that does not suit your schedule. Here, you have a chance to decide when you are hungry. The tradeoff is that adding lunch may push the tour toward the longer end of its 4 to 6 hour range.

If you want the full waterfall time, tell the driver early that you also need a meal. That gives the day a better chance of staying organized. You should not assume lunch is part of the $65 price, because it is not.

What the $65 price really covers

2025 Tarsier, Waterfalls & Chocolate Hills Tour - What the $65 price really covers

At $65 per person, this is not simply a ticket to the Chocolate Hills. The price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, all listed fees and taxes, tarsier viewing, Chocolate Hills viewing, and one to two hours at the waterfall.

That package has good value for a private tour. You are paying for transport between several towns as well as the attraction costs, and you avoid the work of organizing each stop yourself. The value improves for a small group, especially since group discounts are available.

The price is less attractive if you want only one main sight or prefer public transportation. It also does not include meals, and the non-refundable policy means you should be confident in your date before paying. Cancellations or requested changes do not receive a refund.

The strongest value comes from the variety. For one fee, you move from Corella to Carmen to Bilar, with the vehicle and entrance costs handled. You are buying convenience and a complete half-day plan, not just admission to three isolated places.

A private day that suits active sightseers

2025 Tarsier, Waterfalls & Chocolate Hills Tour - A private day that suits active sightseers

This tour fits you best if you want Bohol’s major inland sights but do not want a long, formal sightseeing day. The route is especially useful for first-time visitors who want to see the tarsiers and Chocolate Hills, then add something more physical.

Families may like the mix of animals, unusual hills, and water time, provided everyone in the group can manage the waterfall activity. Friends and couples who enjoy swimming will probably get the most from the final stop. A private vehicle also helps groups that want to keep the pace among themselves.

I would be more cautious if you need a slow schedule, have no interest in swimming, or want detailed information about each waterfall before booking. The listing confirms the three choices, but it does not provide a full comparison of them. The tour is also not a good fit for someone who wants a guaranteed long lunch or a full-day exploration of every corner of Bohol.

The feedback tied to the experience is strongly positive, with a five-star rating from three reviews. Chris is specifically praised as a lovely and helpful guide, and that personal touch matters on a short tour. A good driver can make the difference between a rushed transfer day and an outing that feels easy.

Practical tips for a smoother outing

2025 Tarsier, Waterfalls & Chocolate Hills Tour - Practical tips for a smoother outing

Pack light, but include a towel and dry clothes. The waterfall is not an optional photo stop in spirit, even though the exact activity level is up to you.

Keep your phone or camera protected around the water. The information confirms swimming and jumping, so ordinary care with electronics is wise. Also wear something that lets you move comfortably between the vehicle and the falls.

Tell the driver about lunch needs early. Since meals are not included, you can plan the stop around your own budget and appetite. If you want the full one to two hours at the waterfall, avoid letting lunch take over the schedule.

Ask which waterfall is planned before setting out. Pangas is the listed stop, while Ingkumhan and Camugao are alternatives. You can visit only one, so this is worth clarifying at the start rather than assuming you will see all three.

Finally, allow for the 4 to 6 hour range. Pickup time, road conditions, meal stops, and the time you spend at each attraction can affect the total. The schedule works best when you treat it as a flexible half-day outing, not a minute-by-minute timetable.

Should you book this Bohol tour?

Book it if you want a private, varied half-day with Bohol’s tarsiers, Chocolate Hills, and one waterfall in a single plan. The included transport and fees make $65 reasonable, and the option to ask for lunch or choose an alternative waterfall adds useful flexibility.

Skip it if you want a slow day, a full meal included, or visits to all three waterfalls. For most first-time visitors based in Panglao, though, this is a practical way to cover three very different Bohol experiences without spending the day arranging transport.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts in Panglao, Bohol, Philippines, with pickup offered from your hotel.

How long does the tour last?

The approximate duration is 4 to 6 hours.

Which places are included?

The route includes the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, the Chocolate Hills Viewing Deck in Carmen, and one waterfall in Bilar.

Which waterfall will I visit?

Pangas Waterfalls is the planned stop. Ingkumhan Falls or Camugao Falls may be available as alternatives. Only one waterfall can be visited during the tour.

Are meals included?

No. You can ask the driver to stop for lunch near one of the destinations, but the meal cost is your responsibility.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What is included in the price?

The $65 price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, all fees and taxes, hotel pickup and drop-off, tarsier viewing, Chocolate Hills viewing, and one to two hours at the waterfall.

Not for you? Here's more nearby things to do in Tagbilaran City we have reviewed

Leave a Comment