The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in the Corella region is one of the most interesting activities in Bohol. A guided tour around the sanctuary offers the chance to understand more about this small primate and how surprisingly delicate they are.
WHERE IS THE PHILIPPINE TARSIER SANCTUARY AND HOW TO GET THERE
Before I get started into the logistics of getting to the Tarsier Sanctuary, you should know where most tourists in Bohol spend their nights.
This will give a better perspective of where you will probably stay and an orientation on where you will be heading.
About 90% of tourists in Bohol book their accommodation on Panglao. This isn’t actually an area but rather a separate island. Panglao is an island in South West Bohol and a bridge connects the two islands together.
Panglao is popular for various reasons. But mainly it comes down to the broad choice of lodging options, western restaurants and tropical beaches all within close proximity.
Searching for ways to reach Bohol? The process is straightforward and you can get to Bohol with ferries or fast crafts from some of the most interesting islands in South Philippines. CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED GUIDE.
WHERE IS THE PHILIPPINE TARSIER SANCTUARY
Bohol’s Tarsier Sanctuary is in the Corella region in South West Bohol. From Panglao island, the sanctuary is roughly a 45 minute ride away.
Note: There are 2 Tarsier Sanctuaries in Bohol. One is in the Corella region and another one is in Loboc on the way to the Chocolate Hills. This guide is for the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella.
TARSIER SANCTUARY ON MAP
I have included the map below with the exact location of the Tarsier Sanctuary.
You can click on the view larger map in the top left corner and hit directions at the bottom of your screen. This will give you live directions from your location whichever part of Bohol you are at.
Bohol is a large island offering loads of interesting things to do besides the Chocolate Hills and Tarsiers. You can check our guide for a detailed 3 day or 5 day Bohol itinerary. CLICK HERE FOR A 3 DAY 0R 5 DAY BOHOL ITINERARY.
HOW TO GET THERE
TOURS
The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary can be done as part of a tour. Bohol’s most sought out tours will usually include the Tarsier Sanctuary, Bilar Man-Made Forest, Chocolate Hills, a cruise and lunch on the Loboc river and another spot which will depend on the tour operator.
Tours are a great and convenient way of visiting multiple spots in just one day without spending time on planning and convenient routes. Tours cost around $30.
SCOOTER
If you are confident riding on 2 wheels, then a scooter is a great option. You can cruise around exploring the island at your own pace and at a relatively cheap price.
It is a straight forward ride from Panglao island to the Tarsier Sanctuary and the roads are in good condition.
You can rent a scooter when you arrive by ferry at the Tagbilaran Terminal. On your way out of the terminal there are multiple rental stores to choose from. You can go by Taxi to your accommodation in Panglao and rent a scooter from one of the stores there.
Either way, there isn’t much difference in rental price. Scooter cost 400/500 pesos ($8/$10) for a 24 hour rental. Though you should negotiate a better price especially if you keep the scooter for a longer period.
South Philippines Guides: Are you planning a trip to Cebu, Siquijor, Bohol, Dumaguete, Siargao or Camiguin? You can hop from one island to the other by ferry. And check out the pages for inspiration on your next trip!
DAY ITINERERAY
It is a good idea to include other tourist spots that are in some way close to the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella.
The attractions I will list below are relatively easy to reach from the sanctuary.
A 30-minute ride further North from the sanctuary there is Camugao Falls. This is a stunning waterfall and not too many tourists know about it.
If you still have time and can spare an extra 30-minute drive, you should definitely check out Mag-Aso Falls. Mag-Aso Falls is probably one of our favorite waterfalls in Bohol. From the parking area, a flight of stairs leads through tropical trees and at some point opens up onto a stunning pool with vibrant blue water, a cascade and jungle wrapping around.
PHILIPPINE TARSIER SANCTUARY
Me and Jacqueline were on our way back Tagbilaran City after spending a couple of nights in Anda, a seaside village in East Bohol.
It was a rough 90 minute ride entirely in the rain sometimes with heavy downfall. But we managed and came out unscathed.
The tarsier Sanctuary was a short deviation off our route to Tagbilaran so we decided to include it on way. After all, the smallest tarsiers can only be seen somewhere in the Philippines.
When you arrive at the parking area you will see a ticket booth at the end of a path heading into the sanctuary. At the end of the path you will pay a 60 pesos ($1.20) entrance fee and be grouped up and assigned a guide.
Our guide lead us through the natural habitat and pointed out where the small primates where hanging out. We only managed to spot about 5 tarsiers with some be close enough to get a great picture. (if only we had a decent camera 🙁
It takes about 15 minutes to walk around the area which is only part of the entire sanctuary. This part of the sanctuary is where they mate the tarsiers or treat any that are in need. The actual sanctuary is large enough for the tarsiers to roam freely and a natural and ethical way without being in danger of any predators.
Check our Bohol and Philippines travel guides. It might convince you to extend your trip!
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