Bohol Country Side Tour – Private w/ Lunch

Bohol’s best-known sights fit into one long, well-paced day here, from the strange rounded hills of Carmen to tiny tarsiers and a floating buffet on the Loboc River. I like the private vehicle, which keeps the day flexible, and the fact that lunch, entrance charges, environmental fees, pickup, and drop-off are already covered. The main drawback is the pace: eight and a half hours on the road can feel full, especially if you want long, quiet stops.

I also like the mix of nature, culture, and easy sightseeing. You get the Chocolate Hills and forest views, but also Baclayon Church and a village-side look at Bohol. If Daniel is your assigned driver, expect someone able to discuss a wide range of subjects and add local insight while driving. Just confirm the operator name at booking, since the tour description refers to Lagum Adventure while the provider information names El Nido Adventure Tours.

Key points at a glance

• Chocolate Hills viewpoint: Spend about 90 minutes at Bohol’s famous formation of at least 1,260 rounded hills.
• Private touring comfort: Travel in an exclusive air-conditioned car or van with pickup and drop-off included.
• Tarsier encounter: Visit the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary, with about 90 minutes set aside for the stop.
• Loboc River lunch: Eat a buffet lunch during a two-hour river cruise, with local dishes and views along the water.
• Optional adventure: Add an ATV ride for P1,100 per person if you want more action than sightseeing.
• Flexible small-group format: Only your own party takes part, and group discounts may be available.

Why this private Bohol day works

This is a classic Bohol sightseeing day, but the private format changes how it feels. You do not share the vehicle with strangers, and you can focus on the stops that matter most to your group. The tour begins at 8:00 a.m. and lasts about eight and a half hours, so plan on giving it most of your day.

The route brings together five major stops. You’ll see a geological wonder, a planted forest, one of Bohol’s best-known wildlife sites, a river cruise, and an important old church. That variety is the strongest reason to choose this tour over a short sightseeing transfer.

The price is $119 per person. That is not the cheapest way to see Bohol, but it covers a private air-conditioned vehicle, pickup and drop-off, entrance charges, environmental fees, taxes, and buffet lunch. For a group of friends or family, the cost may make more sense than arranging separate transport, admissions, and meals. Group discounts are offered, though the exact reduction is not specified.

You should also remember that private does not mean slow. The schedule still covers a large portion of Bohol. If you want time for long walks, careful photography, or an unplanned village stop, you may find the day a little tight.

Chocolate Hills: Bohol’s strange inland landmark

The first major stop is the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument, with about 90 minutes included. The hills are a geological formation spread across more than 50 square kilometers. At least 1,260 hills are recorded, and estimates reach as high as 1,776.

The name comes from their rounded shape and the way their covering changes color during the dry season. The sight is less about one dramatic peak than about looking across a field of repeated, almost symmetrical mounds. From the viewing area, you get the broadest panorama of the day.

Ninety minutes gives you time to take in the view without being rushed through the stop. It also gives you room for photographs and a little wandering. The drawback is that this is a popular, highly organized attraction, so the experience centers on the viewpoint rather than a quiet walk among the hills.

For the best use of your time, take in the full view first instead of spending the entire stop on photographs. The hills are the visual centerpiece of the tour, but their scale makes more sense when you pause and look beyond the nearest mound.

Bilar Man-Made Forest: A cool, shady road stop

The Bilar Man-Made Mahogany Forest receives about an hour. It is a planted forest, created through deliberate tree planting rather than formed naturally. Tall mahogany trees line the road, creating a shaded section that feels very different from the open views around the Chocolate Hills.

This stop is valuable as a change of pace. After the exposed hilltop, you move into shade and greenery. The road itself is part of the attraction, and the regular rows of trees make it easy to see why the area became a well-known photo stop.

The one-hour allocation is generous for a road-side forest. You might find that you need less time here than at the Chocolate Hills or the tarsier sanctuary. Still, the break helps keep the day from becoming a string of viewpoints and indoor stops.

Stay aware of traffic and follow your guide’s instructions around the road. The tour information describes this as a planted forest, so it is best appreciated for its appearance and atmosphere, not as untouched woodland.

Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary: A careful wildlife visit

The Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Corella is scheduled for about 90 minutes. This is where you can see the Philippine tarsier, a very small primate found mainly in Southeast Asia. The sanctuary provides a more focused wildlife stop than the broad natural views earlier in the day.

Tarsiers are tiny, wide-eyed creatures, and their small size can make them surprisingly easy to miss. Your guide can help you understand where to look and how to behave around them. Keep your voice low, avoid sudden movements, and follow the sanctuary’s rules rather than treating the visit like a quick photo session.

The stop is particularly worthwhile if you want more than scenery. It gives the day a connection to Bohol’s wildlife and offers a chance to learn about an animal you are unlikely to see in ordinary city parks or zoos.

The sanctuary is not a hands-on animal attraction. You should expect observation, not touching or holding. That may disappoint anyone hoping for a close encounter, but it is the right approach for a small, sensitive animal.

Loboc River cruise: Lunch with the river moving by

The Loboc River stop lasts about two hours and includes a buffet lunch cruise. The river is one of Bohol’s major sightseeing areas, and the cruise gives you a slower middle section after the morning’s road stops.

Lunch is included, along with local dishes. That matters because you do not need to spend time finding a restaurant during an already full day. You can eat while the boat moves through the river setting, taking in views from the water instead of from another roadside platform.

I see this as the tour’s most relaxing section. The boat ride gives your legs a break, and the two-hour schedule allows time to eat without racing through the meal. It also adds a social, scenic element to a day that otherwise depends heavily on private road transport.

Do not expect a quiet, private river meal simply because the land portion is private. The tour itself is private, but the cruise experience may have its own setting and arrangements. The information confirms a buffet cruise, not an exclusive boat charter, so keep that distinction in mind.

The optional ATV rental costs P1,100 per person. The supplied details do not say exactly where or how long the ATV ride takes, so ask about the arrangement before adding it. You should also remember that the standard package already has a full schedule. An ATV ride adds fun, but it may leave less time for a relaxed lunch or sightseeing.

Baclayon Church: A valuable cultural finish

Baclayon Church receives about an hour and adds a strong historical note to the route. It is recognized as a National Cultural Treasure and National Historic Landmark. It is also described as one of the Philippines’ oldest Catholic churches, with original structure and authentic materials still in place.

This stop gives you something the hills and river cannot: a direct connection to Bohol’s religious and colonial past. The building is not simply a photo backdrop. Its age, construction, and continuing cultural importance make it worth approaching slowly.

An hour should allow you to look around without turning the visit into a rushed five-minute stop. If you care about architecture, local faith, or Philippine history, this may be one of the most meaningful parts of the day.

Because the tour gives equal billing to natural sights and cultural sites, Baclayon Church also helps the route feel balanced. You are not spending the entire day chasing famous views. You are also seeing a place tied to the island’s identity.

Daniel and the value of a private driver

A private tour is only as useful as the person behind the wheel. One named driver, Daniel, is noted for handling the route and discussing a wide range of subjects while sharing his own insights. If Daniel is assigned to your group, that conversational style can make the driving time more useful.

The private vehicle also gives you a direct point of contact throughout the day. You are not trying to find a pickup point after each stop, and your bags can remain with your group in the vehicle. Air conditioning matters in Bohol’s warm climate, particularly after time outdoors at the hills or forest.

Pickup and drop-off are included. The tour also lists nearby public transportation, although the practical advantage here is the provided pickup rather than having to make your own way across the island.

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The day includes several hours of sightseeing, getting in and out of a vehicle, and walking around outdoor and cultural sites. It is not described as a strenuous hiking tour, but it is still a long active day.

Service animals are allowed. If that matters to you, confirm the arrangements when booking so the vehicle and stops are suitable for your needs.

How the eight-and-a-half-hour schedule feels

The listed stops add up to about six and a half hours: 90 minutes at the Chocolate Hills, one hour in the forest, 90 minutes at the tarsier sanctuary, two hours on the Loboc River, and one hour at Baclayon Church. The remaining time covers driving, pickup, drop-off, and the movement between sites.

That is a sensible structure for seeing the major sights in one day. You get enough time at each place to understand why it matters, rather than simply stepping out for a photograph. Still, this is not a slow countryside ramble.

I would choose this schedule if you have limited time in Bohol or want one organized day to cover the main sights. I would choose a shorter or more focused tour if you have several days on the island and prefer to linger.

Starting at 8:00 a.m. helps. An early departure gives you a better chance of reaching the first sights with energy and leaves more of the afternoon for the river and church. Exact driving times are not provided, so you should be ready for a full day in the vehicle.

Weather, cancellation, and booking details

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations made inside that period are not accepted.

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the tour offers a mobile ticket. Since the description uses Lagum Adventure while the provider field lists El Nido Adventure Tours, check the confirmation carefully for the correct contact and pickup details.

The tour is private, so only your group takes part. That makes it a good choice for families, couples, and friends who want the convenience of a set route without joining a large coach group. Group discounts may improve the value for larger parties, but the amount is not stated.

Should you book this Bohol tour?

Book it if you want Bohol’s main sights handled in one private day, with lunch and standard fees already covered. The best reasons are the air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, the mix of nature and culture, and the generous time at the tarsier sanctuary and Loboc River.

Think twice if you dislike full-day schedules or want to spend hours at one site. The route is broad rather than slow, and the optional ATV ride costs extra. At $119 per person, the value is strongest for a small group that wants comfort, convenience, and a private guide-led day instead of piecing together transport and admissions.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 8:00 a.m.

How long does the Bohol countryside tour last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours and 30 minutes.

Is transportation included?

Yes. The tour includes exclusive air-conditioned van or car transportation, pickup, and drop-off.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private activity.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch during the Loboc River cruise is included.

Which major sights are included?

The tour visits the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument, Bilar Man-Made Mahogany Forest, Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary, Loboc River, and Baclayon Church.

Does the tour include an ATV ride?

No. ATV rental is optional and costs P1,100 per person.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You can choose a different date or receive a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather.