Tarsiers and Chocolate Hills – symbol of the Philippines

Saying: ‘The Philippines’, thinking: Tarsiers and Chocolate Hills! And you can find them on the same island – Bohol is its name! You cannot skip these 2 attractions – being an indisputable symbol of the Philippines!

Have you ever heard of an animal called tarsier, tarsius tarsier? You can encounter this cute creature mainly in the Philippines in Bohol Island (the other place is Sulawesi in Indonesia).

Mistakenly called the smallest monkeys in the world, the tarsiers are in fact the world’s smallest primates (they are 75-160mm tall and they weigh 80-160 grams). They have huge eyes which are bigger than their brain and they possess a long tail which resembles the tail of a rat (and it’s the only hairless part of the tarsier’s body). These predators are active during the night, they hunt for food at night time hopping from tree to tree snatching insects, small lizards and birds that come across their way. The tourists cannot hide their excitement when they see these little monsters (the entrance fee to the Tarsier Sanctuary is 60 pesos only / 1,20 USD). These amazing creatures are also able to jump 40 times more than their own length and they are able to climb within a day of birth! They normally live for 24 years, however, they are limited to 12 years in captivity.

The most surprising news about the tarsiers that we heard about was the fact that scientists differentiate  tarsier species through their songs and singing styles. Tarsiers do sing in high-pitched voice! Inviting you to get to know them better 🙂 Aren’t they awesome?

Chocolate Hills are situated 20 minutes away from the Tarsier Sanctuary  (by car) and they look impressive especially during the dry season when the grass on their surface dries and turns brown. We had a chance, however, to see the view of the hills in the rainy season in October, when the hills were yellow and green. There are about 1,300 mounts of which we heard 2 legends. According to the 1st legend, there were two giants fighting and throwing the stones at each other, who got tired after the fight and decided to make it up and leave the island. The 2nd legend says that a giant named Arogo fell in love with a simple mortal named Aloya; the girl did not want him, she fell ill very soon and when she died, the giant broke down. The residents claim that the hills are the giant’s tears 🙂 To see the view of the hills you need to get to the viewpoint (admission fee is 50 pesos / 1USD) by climbing quite steep stairs.

How to get to Bohol Island?

You can take a cheap AirAsia flight from Manila to Tagbilaran (the ticket costs around 35-50 USD including the luggage).

How to get to Tarsier Sanctuary and Chocolate Hills?

Option 1: by scooter (rental cost: 300 pesos per day / 6USD)

Option 2: by organized package tour coach/private van (the price both ways from Panglao is 400 pesos per person/ 8USD and it takes 2-3h one way; private vans require at least 4 people)

Enjoy the trip!