How to See Tarsiers in Bohol, Philippines

How to see tarsiers in Bohol, Philippines. I had never heard of tarsiers before visiting the Philippines, but oh my goodness are they cute! Getting to see these furry creatures was a definite highlight of my time in the Philippines. Read on for how to see tarsiers in Bohol, Philippines.

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Wait – What is a Tarsier?

Small, furry and big-eyed, tarsiers kind of resemble a mini ET / yoda type creature. Except that they’re actually real! Tarsiers are only found in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, so getting to see them is quite special. They have enormous eyes – sometimes these are even bigger than their brains! Given they’re so small, these saucer eyes make them super cute. Not to be underestimated though, these tiny primates can jump 3-5 metres, which is amazing compared to their size! Unfortunately tarsiers are vulnerable to extinction due to habitat destruction and illegal wildlife poaching. This makes their conservation very important. They are classed as conservation-dependent, meaning that without actively-managed conservation efforts, they will become extinct.

Where Can I See Tarsiers in the Philippines?

The best place to see tarsiers in the Philippines is at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella on the island of Bohol. This sanctuary prioritises the wellbeing of the tarsiers themselves.

Is the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary Ethical?

The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella is one of the only places where you can ethically see tarsiers. In theory you could see them in the wild, but this is very unlikely as they’re so good at hiding! Make sure to do your research and avoid other places advertising tarsier viewings, especially if the tarsiers are caged. (Avoid the sham “sanctuary” in Loboc – they cage their tarsiers at night). Tarsiers do not respond well to captivity and this reduces their lifespan by half from the 20-24 years they would expect to live to in the wild. In captivity, tarsiers are well-known to commit suicide by bashing their head against the cage.

By contrast, the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary is actually succeeding somewhat in increasing the wild tarsier population, which is a difficult feat with these animals as they do not respond well to captivity. Because of this, the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary has kept the environment as close as possible to what tarsiers would experience in the wild. The semi-wild enclosure is full of native trees and yummy insects and the tarsiers are free to come and go. However, as tarsiers are territorial animals, they naturally do not stray too far from their patch during the day (but will venture quite far at night). This is lucky for visitors as it makes it easier for the guides to guess where they’ll be hiding each morning.

What Can I Expect at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary?

When you arrive at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary you will need to pay a small entrance fee. You will then be directed to watch a short film about the sanctuary and tarsiers. Then you will be guided through the compound in small groups of up to 6 people. You are not allowed to walk around independently. This is to ensure that the tarsiers are not disturbed by unsupervised visitors behaving inappropriately. Your guide will know where the tarsiers are hiding that day and will point them out to you. The tour is fairly short to make sure that the tarsiers are disturbed as little as possible. Flash photography is not allowed but you can take photos and videos without flash.

How do I get to the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary?

The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary is located in Corella, which is a 15-20 minute drive from Tagbilaran City, Bohol’s main port. The easiest ways to get there are to:

• Hire a scooter in Tagbilaran City and drive there yourself
• Pay a tuk tuk to take you there. If you do this, you’ll need to ask them to wait for you as it’s quite remote so it can be difficult to find a ride back. (I didn’t realise this and ended up hitching a lift back from another visitor to the sanctuary!)
• Book a private or group tour with car transfer to the sanctuary. You can either book this in advance or negotiate a price with one of the many drivers hanging around the entrance to the port – be prepared to haggle!

Can I Visit the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary as a Day Trip From Cebu?

Yes! When I visited the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary I was actually staying in Cebu and visited Bohol as a day trip. They ferry from Cebu to Tagbilaran City takes 2 hours. You can buy tickets at the port or book them in advance via the 12Go ticket booking site. It’s also possible to book onto private and group trips that are run from Cebu and which will organise all the transport for you. If you’re booking a tour, just make sure that it’s the correct sanctuary at Corella that they’re taking you to.

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