REVIEW · BALICASAG ISLAND
Bohol Chocolate hills and Waterfalls Ecotour
Book on Viator →Operated by Ecotravelers Travel & Tours · Bookable on Viator
Bohol’s best nature stops in one clean day. I like the way this private ecotour strings together Tarsier Sanctuary, Chocolate Hills, a Loboc River meal break, and Panga Falls, with pickup and drop-off so you’re not doing the logistics dance.
I also love that breakfast and lunch are included, so you spend less time hunting for food and more time enjoying the day. One thing to consider: it runs about 6 to 7 hours and you’ll likely do a bit of walking at viewpoints and around the falls area, so bring a moderate-mobility mindset (and if you plan to swim or jump, be comfortable with that).
In This Review
- Quick hits before you go
- Morning pickup at Tagbilaran Port, with breakfast built in
- Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary: close-up, not just a quick photo
- The Bilar Man-Made Forest and the “Little Baguio” break
- Chocolate Hills Natural Monument: the viewpoint works best with time
- Loboc River lunch: a real meal pause (not a snack stop)
- Panga Falls: swim time, with an optional cliff-jump moment
- Air-conditioned transport and a day that doesn’t feel rushed
- Price and value at $119 per person for a full day
- Who this Bohol tour suits best
- Should you book this Bohol Chocolate Hills and Waterfalls ecotour?
- FAQ
- What time does the tour start?
- Is breakfast and lunch included?
- Is this a private tour?
- How long is the tour?
- What are the main stops on the tour?
- Are admission tickets included?
- What is not included in the price?
- Does weather affect the tour?
Quick hits before you go

- Private day with your group: only you and your people ride together, so pacing stays flexible
- Breakfast and lunch handled: Filipino breakfast at Tagbilaran area, plus local-style lunch on the river
- Admission tickets included at major stops: every big attraction stop lists tickets as included
- Less crowd time: the tour is designed to get you away from the busiest moments for key sights
- Guides get real praise by name: Josephus, Dolly, Jessy, Boyee show up often in the feedback
- Panga Falls is a swim stop with an option to jump from a cliff if you want to
Morning pickup at Tagbilaran Port, with breakfast built in

The day starts early for a reason. You’re picked up at 8:00 am and routed toward Tagbilaran City Sea Port, where breakfast is part of the plan. If you arrive through Tagbilaran Port, the smart move is to tell them your arrival time so the timing actually lines up with your ferry or boat.
This is one of those small-but-important details that makes a difference in real life. When breakfast is scheduled at the start, you avoid the “Where do we eat now?” scramble, especially before the first animal and viewpoint stops. And because the tour includes pickup and drop-off at selected Bohol hotels, you can keep the morning simple.
The tour includes about an hour in the morning area tied to the first stop. That feels right for getting fed, getting briefed, and getting moving before crowds thicken.
A few more Balicasag Island tours and experiences worth a look
Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary: close-up, not just a quick photo
The second stop is the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary, and it’s set up for more than a drive-by. You spend about an hour here, with admission included, and you’ll learn a lot about tarsiers while having a chance to see them up close.
A private format helps at this kind of wildlife stop. With your own guide, you’re not stuck in a line of stop-and-go group pacing. You can ask questions, time your viewing, and generally spend your hour the way you want rather than rushing because someone else is waiting.
In the feedback, guides like Josephus and Joseph get special credit for how they handle the day, and that matters here. If someone can explain what you’re seeing (and why those behaviors matter), the hour feels more rewarding than just collecting photos.
Tip for your body: animal viewing often includes waiting for a good moment. Even if you don’t have long stretches of walking, wear comfortable shoes and keep your schedule flexible.
The Bilar Man-Made Forest and the “Little Baguio” break

Between the tarsiers and the famous hills, you’re routed through scenic, off-main-route style stops. The route includes a pass by the Bilar Man-Made Forest, which is the kind of place where the drive itself becomes part of the experience. If you like scenery that doesn’t feel like a postcard queue, this segment is a good momentum builder.
You’ll also have a stop locally nicknamed Little Baguio in PH. The specifics aren’t detailed here, but the intention is clear: a breather stop that breaks up the day so you’re not only thinking about the big-ticket attractions.
Why this section matters: a “highlights only” itinerary can feel jagged. Adding these smaller stops helps the day feel smoother—like a real road trip with stops that locals recognize, not just an extraction route between landmarks.
Chocolate Hills Natural Monument: the viewpoint works best with time
Chocolate Hills Natural Monument is the headline for many people, and this tour gives it a proper block of time—about an hour—with admission included. You’ll see the iconic “cone” hills, plus surrounding nature views, from the perspective that fits the stop you’re doing.
Here’s what I’d pay attention to: when an itinerary gives you time (instead of two hurried minutes), you can actually compare viewpoints, watch how the light shifts, and get photos that don’t look like everyone else’s.
The best part of this tour setup is the pacing goal: it’s designed to escape the worst crowd pressure for key sights. That doesn’t mean it’s empty—Chocolate Hills is popular by nature—but it does mean your day has a better chance of feeling calm rather than chaotic.
If you’re the type who likes to read a place through a guide’s explanation, this is another spot where your guide’s voice matters. In the feedback, guides repeatedly earn praise for story-telling and clear explanations, and Chocolate Hills is one of those stops where context makes the view click.
Loboc River lunch: a real meal pause (not a snack stop)

Lunch is one of the strongest value points here. You get about an hour at the Loboc River area, with a local-style lunch included.
This is where the “private tour” format pays off in an unglamorous way: your meal stop doesn’t have to be fast because another group is coming in. You can actually eat, reset your energy, and enjoy the river setting instead of wolfing down food while your driver glances at the clock.
It also helps that lunch is part of the price. You’re not doing the mental math mid-day—What’s open? Where’s reasonably priced? Is it good? If you’ve got food allergies or strict preferences, you’ll want to communicate ahead of time, but based on the info here, the tour handles the meal planning for you.
I also like that the day keeps moving without turning lunch into the whole event. You’re not losing the day to one meal; you’re using lunch as a comfortable reset before the final nature stop.
Panga Falls: swim time, with an optional cliff-jump moment

The final big nature stop is Panga Falls. You’ll spend about 30 minutes here, with admission included. The timing is short, but the purpose is clear: cool off and refresh.
The falls stop includes a chance to swim and enjoy the area. There’s also an option to jump from a cliff if you prefer. That gives the stop two “levels,” depending on your comfort: you can keep it calm with a swim and scenic break, or you can go all-in if you’re adventurous.
Important practical note: because the stop is brief, treat it like a window, not a lingering park day. If you’re planning to swim, arrive ready to act quickly—water conditions and your own comfort will matter more than hanging around with photos.
In the feedback, the falls stop is repeatedly described as a highlight. That usually means two things: the scenery is genuinely enjoyable, and the timing works. You get enough time to cool off without the day dragging.
Air-conditioned transport and a day that doesn’t feel rushed
A lot of tours claim they’re smooth. This one signals smooth with a few concrete choices: an air-conditioned vehicle, pickup and drop-off at selected hotels, and an itinerary designed to avoid time waste.
The feedback strongly emphasizes that nothing feels rushed. People describe a relaxed pace while still hitting the scheduled stops. That balance is rare. On some day trips, you get either “rushed and exhausted” or “slow and boring.” Here, the goal seems to be: cover the main sights, but keep your energy intact.
Two more value details stand out:
- The tour is private, so your schedule is more flexible if you want to adjust the order of stops.
- Your guide and driver are central to the experience. Names like Dolly, Jessy, and Josephus show up in feedback tied to friendliness, organization, and helpful explanations.
If you care about having a clean, comfortable car and a guide who can make the drive feel informative, that’s what this format tends to deliver.
Price and value at $119 per person for a full day
At $119 per person, you’re paying for more than “getting driven around.” This price includes:
- Breakfast and lunch
- All fees and taxes
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Admission tickets listed for the stops
- A private setup with pickup and drop-off in selected areas
That’s the key value logic: you aren’t stacking separate costs for meals, entries, and transport. Even if you’d normally negotiate or shop around, the convenience is real—especially for a day that covers multiple nature destinations.
You should also note what’s not included. Additional activities like ATV rides and zipline rides are excluded. So if you’re the type who wants the adrenaline add-ons, you’ll likely spend extra on top of the base tour price.
One more practical value consideration: this tour has shown strong recent demand (over 10 bookings in a recent month). That can be good news for consistency, but it also means you’ll want to book ahead during peak dates if you want your preferred pickup time and a private feel.
Who this Bohol tour suits best
This is a great match if you:
- Want a full day that combines animals, viewpoint scenery, and a real swim break
- Like the idea of being with a guide who can explain what you’re seeing
- Prefer a private day instead of a group shuffle around crowded attractions
- Want meals handled, so your day isn’t broken up by hunting for food
It may be less ideal if you:
- Only want the “famous” sights and don’t care about the smaller scenic stops
- Strongly prefer extreme adventure (since ATV and zipline are not included)
- Have very limited comfort with walking or uneven ground (the tour asks for moderate physical fitness)
Should you book this Bohol Chocolate Hills and Waterfalls ecotour?
I’d book it if you want an organized nature day that still feels calm. The biggest reasons are practical: meals are included, the tour includes admission tickets for major stops, and the pacing is described as not rushed. If you value a guide-led day (names like Josephus and Dolly come up often), you’ll probably feel the difference from the start.
One last thing before you decide: this experience requires good weather. If weather is shaky, it can affect the schedule, and you may be offered a different date or a full refund.
If your ideal Bohol day is: tarsiers early, Chocolate Hills with time to breathe, Loboc lunch as a real pause, and Panga Falls for cooling off, this tour lines up well.
FAQ
What time does the tour start?
The tour starts at 8:00 am, with pickup arranged from your location.
Is breakfast and lunch included?
Yes. Breakfast and lunch are included in the tour.
Is this a private tour?
Yes. It’s a private tour for just you and your group.
How long is the tour?
The duration is listed as about 6 to 7 hours.
What are the main stops on the tour?
Key stops include Tagbilaran City Sea Port (morning), Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary, Chocolate Hills Natural Monument, Loboc River for lunch, and Panga Falls.
Are admission tickets included?
Admission tickets are included for the listed stops.
What is not included in the price?
ATV rides and zipline rides are not included.
Does weather affect the tour?
Yes. The experience requires good weather, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.








