Making the most of Bohol
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The Philippine government on July 16, 2024, launched the ‘cruise visa waiver,’ making entry into the country easier and seamless for visa-required foreigners vacationing on board cruise ships. Eligible foreigners may apply for the waiver at the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) e-services portal at
This is a tender port. You will be tendered to the center of Tagbilaran. The city is a start-off point to Bohol province's attractions: the Chocolate Hills, Tarsier, white sandy beaches, dive spots, heritage sites and old stone churches.
For the past 45 million years, tarsiers have inhabited rainforests around the world, but now they only exist on a few islands in the Philippines, Borneo and Indonesia. In Bohol, the Philippine Tarsier was a common sight in the southern part of the island until the 1960's. Once protected by the humid rainforests and mist-shrouded hills, these mysterious primates struggle to survive as their home is cleared for crop growing and poaching.
The Chocolate Hills are probably Bohol's most famous tourist attraction. The hills, which look like a giant mole hill, are considered unusual geological formation that consists of at least 1,268 individual mounds that are scattered throughout the municipalities of Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan. The hills range from 30 to 50 meters high and are covered in green grass, which turns to brown during the dry season, making them look like chocolate mounds.
Getting around
Tagbilaran is small enough that the city center can be covered adequately on foot. However, as is the case with the rest of the Philippines, sidewalks are few and far between.
With over 3,000 of them throughout the city, tricycles are the main form of public transportation in Tagbilaran, and can be hailed from any part of the city. They can normally seat up to two people.
Nearby places
Tarsier Research and Development Center. 9AM-4PM. Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) is one of the world's smallest primates, and it is endemic to Bohol. At the sanctuary, a spacious net enclosure keeps a number of Philippine Tarsiers for feeding, captive breeding and display. Here, visitors can observe the Philippine Tarsier in their natural habitat.
Food and shopping
Shopping Malls are plenty.
Money
The local currency is the Philippine peso.