Intro: Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area
I visited the Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area during my trip across the Central Visayas region. I wanted to learn why the Philippine tarsier is so protected here. This sanctuary offers a quiet place to observe one of the most fragile primates in the world.
How I Got to Bohol from Dumaguete
To reach Bohol, I travelled from Dumaguete City (Negros Oriental) to Tagbilaran Port via the OceanJet Fast Ferry. The crossing took about two hours, departing at 1:00pm and arriving around 3:00pm. Tickets should be booked in advance on the OceanJet website.
There are three ticket options for a one-way trip:
- Tourist Class and Open Air – ₱900 each
- Business Class – ₱1,400
Tourist Class is an enclosed deck with rows of very-basic plastic chairs, while Open Air offers the same very-basic seating on an outside deck. Business Class isn’t airline-level luxury, but you get a quieter enclosed upper deck with longer distance views, with larger comfortable train-like seats and a hostess serving drinks and a snack. I chose Business Class for the extra comfort, and the calm seas made the trip smooth and enjoyable.
Arriving at Tagbilaran: How to Avoid Overpriced Transfers
When I arrived at Tagbilaran Port, I was immediately surrounded by a swarm of tricycle drivers and minivan operators inside the gates, all eager to charge me a small fortune for a short ride. Some even got right in my face, thinking that aggression would make me say yes—it didn’t.
Here’s my tip: don’t negotiate inside the port gates. Prices there are inflated beyond reason for foreigners. I walked straight past the crowd and exited the gates before starting any negotiations. Outside, I spent about five minutes bartering with several drivers who quoted ridiculous amounts—anywhere from ₱1,500 to ₱4,000 for a tricycle ride to Panglao!
Finally, luck struck when a young couple pulled up after dropping someone off. They offered me a ride for ₱300 since they were heading back to Panglao anyway. I accepted immediately. Moral of the story? Walk outside the port, stay calm, and negotiate smart. You’ll save thousands of pesos.
TL:DR
This Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area guide shares my experience visiting this quiet and peaceful tarsier sanctuary in Bohol, Philippines. I explain why the Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta) is a prosimian primate, not a monkey, and what it is like to see the tarsiers up close, and try durian ice cream afterwards.
Arrival at Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area
I visited the Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area during a day trip from Panglao Island. I was staying at Alona Northland Resort.
My minibus and driver for the day were arranged through personal connections in Cebu. This stop at the Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area was the part of the route I looked forward to, moreso than the ‘man-made forest’, which amusingly, only the Filipinos could make a tourist destination out of a normal road between two blocks of man-made woodland. Many travellers still assume the Philippine tarsier is a tiny monkey, which is not correct at all.
The Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta) is a prosimian primate, not a monkey. Monkeys and apes are simians, which belong to a different branch of the primate family tree. Tarsiers have different skull shapes, different eye structures, and different bone features. Their eyes cannot rotate, so they turn their entire head instead. These biological differences make the “tiny monkey” assumption inaccurate.
As I arrived at the Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area, welcoming staff reminded visitors to speak softly. Philippine tarsiers are extremely sensitive to noise and stress, so a quiet setting is essential.
Walking the Silent Path at Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area
The walking path inside the Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area is narrow, shaded from the sun by the trees, and calm. Signs along the route explain that loud voices, touching branches, and flash photography are not allowed. I slowed my pace and adjusted to the silence. The quiet atmosphere felt respectful and matched the fragile nature of the animals living there and the tourists visiting them.
Walking through the woodland in Bohol was hot and humid, so staying hydrated while travelling was essential throughout the visit.
I followed the marked route through the trees, guided by signs and the influx of other tourists, although we had been split into smaller groups. The ground is flat and manageable so take your time. Every few metres I paused and scanned the branches, hoping to spot a tarsier without disturbing it. That said I was looking for something around the size of a monkey.
Bohol Tarsiers are Tiny with Disproportionate Eyes:Body Ratio
My first clear view of a Philippine tarsier came as another tourist pointed quietly towards a low branch. Bohol tarsiers are so tiny that you could miss them entirely if you did not know where to look. Adults measure only 8.5 to 16 centimetres in body length.
Their eyes are huge and disproportionate compared to their bodies. This gives them a wide eyed, almost surprised expression. Long slender fingers wrap around the branches, and their light bodies make it easy for them to leap between resting spots.
The Philippine tarsier is strictly carnivorous. It eats insects, frogs, lizards, and even small snakes as part of its carnivorous diet.
They are shy and solitary. Even a small noise can disturb them. Even so, watching tarsiers in near silence at the Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area made it clear why the rules here are so strict.
Prosimian vs Simian
To begin with, it is important to understand what the Philippine tarsier actually is. The Philippine tarsier is a prosimian, not a simian. Prosimian primates include tarsiers and lemurs. Simian primates include monkeys, apes, and humans.
Tarsiers belong to the Tarsiidae family. They have fixed eyes, long thin fingers, unique skull shapes, and elongated tails. Their brain development and movement patterns differ from simians. Because of these traits, scientists classify the Philippine tarsier as a prosimian primate, not a monkey.
Many people visit the Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area expecting to see a tiny monkey. Instead, they leave with a clearer understanding of this separate branch of the primate family.
Durian Ice Cream
After leaving the viewing path at the Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area, I walked back towards the parking zone. Here there are small cafés, toilets, and a handful of vendors. This is where I decided to try durian ice cream for the first time.
The sign claimed it “smells like hell, tastes like heaven”. I strongly disagree. It triggered olfactory-gustatory synesthesia and reminded me of roast beef, vanilla custard, raw sewage, and smelly feet all mixed into one cone. The smell was even worse!. Instead, I would choose ripe jackfruit flavour next time.
Other nearby attractions in Bohol include the ‘man-made forest’, Baclayon Church and you can read my guide to The Chocolate Hills which should definitely be on your to-do list.
Final Thoughts
Despite the worst tasting ice cream experience!, my visit to the Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area felt memorable and worthwhile. Seeing the Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta) in a protected environment, supported by clear rules and quiet paths, gave me a better appreciation of this fragile prosimian primate and the care it needs.
