17 Jun 2025

Bohol’s Famous Tarsiers and Chocolate Hills

Heritage Adventurer arrived at Bohol Island at 0600 hours with a transferred by Zodiac ashore to experience the natural wonders of this gorgeous island by mini bus.

At the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary we were awe-struck by the smallest, and one of the most ancient primates, on Earth, with huge eyes and a neck that can turn nearly 360 degrees! 

It was then off to the top of one of the Chocolate Hills to view hundreds of near perfect limestone cones emerging out of the landscape. Formed a million years ago from ancient corals, they have been eroded away by rivers and shaped into these perfect conical hills, covered with luscious forest.

Our third experience for the morning was at Rajah Sikatuna National Park walking among the tall virgin rainforest and witnessing remarkable Philippine colugo/flying lemur (Cynocephalus volans) that can glide for 100 metres between trees and maintain the same altitude. We also saw numerous endemic Philippine long-tailed macaques and some great avian observations including the Azure-breasted pitta. A fantastic morning was concluded with a Zodiac trip down the Bohol River back to Heritage Adventurer. 

While we enjoyed lunch, our trusty expedition vessel relocated to Balicasag Island, where we explored the incredible coral sand beach and surrounding nature, while some opted to get the mask and snorkel out again to view the corals and beautiful marine life. This was the most exciting snorkel site of the voyage so far, with large drop offs, huge shoals of reef fish and the local guides providing interpretation and showing off their diving skills.

Images © C. Finch, Heritage Expeditions