Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary & Bilar Man-Made Forest Tour

The Philippine tarsier is Bohol's most iconic resident — a primate so small it fits in your hand, with enormous round eyes fixed permanently forward (they can't move them), ears that swivel independently, and the ability to rotate its head almost 180 degrees. The official Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella protects rescued and wild tarsiers in a semi-natural forest enclosure where they live freely among the trees rather than in cages.

A sanctuary guide leads you along elevated walkways through the enclosure, spotting the tarsiers roosting on thin bamboo stems at eye level — their gripping toes wrapped around the stems like tiny fingers. The experience is intimate and unhurried, with guides explaining the tarsier's biology, its nightly insect-hunting dives, and the threats it faces from habitat loss. Flash photography is strictly prohibited to protect the animals' enormous light-sensitive eyes.

A short drive away, the Bilar Man-Made Forest is a surprise: a two-kilometre stretch of road entirely canopied by towering mahogany trees planted in the 1950s, their trunks straight as columns and their branches forming a dense green tunnel overhead. It's one of the most photographed roads in the Philippines and the light through the canopy at midday is extraordinary. The combination of these two stops makes for an easy half-morning excursion that pairs well with any Bohol countryside itinerary.