Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
island congregate to sell locally made handicrafts such as baskets, hats and various
home decor items like linen tablecloths, mirrors and attractive bowls made from stone
or coconut shells. Prices are significantly cheaper than in the cities and it's a fun place
to haggle and pick up a few inexpensive souvenirs.
The Tarsier Visitors Center
Tues-Sat 9am-4pm • P50 • Hiking guides P500 per group of two for 4hr •
T
0927 541 2290,
W
tarsierfoundation.org • No flash
photography • Bus or jeepney (P25) from Tagbilaran to Corella and then a tricycle for the last 4km, or stay on the bus towards Sikatuna and
ask to be dropped at the entrance from where it's a 500m walk to the sanctuary; alternatively you can visit as part of a day-trip
Ten kilometres northeast of Tagbilaran, the
Tarsier Visitors Center
is dedicated to
protecting what is left of the native population of tarsiers, cuddly saucer-eyed creatures
you will see on posters throughout the country. Often mistakenly referred to as the
world's smallest monkey, the
tarsier
- all 10-15cm of it - is more closely related to the
lemur, loris and bushbaby and has been around for a staggering 45 million years.
It is also possible to do
jungle hikes
from the centre. Knowledgeable
guides
at the
centre can usually lead visitors to their favourite haunts, though spotting them among
the thick foliage is di
cult during the day when these nocturnal creatures rarely move.
When they are awake they study visitors with wide-eyed curiosity, sometimes
swivelling their heads a disconcerting 180 degrees to get a better look. Night hikes
(6-8pm) offer the chance to see more wildlife, but need to be scheduled two to three
days in advance.
6
The Loboc River
Private boats cost P600 for the return trip (1hr); all-you-can-eat floating barge buffet P350 per person • Loboc Riverwatch (
T
038 537
9460) is one of the most professional outfits
Eleven kilometres east of Corella, the town of
Loboc
is the starting point for
boat trips
along the jungly
Loboc River
to
Tontonan Falls
. Whichever way you choose to cruise,
it's a pretty journey past idyllic villages, green paddies, twisted roots and towering
palms. After rounding a bend you approach the falls themselves, which are attractive,
but not breathtaking. Some boat operators offer photo opportunities with captive
tarsiers - note that this is illegal (visit the Tarsier Visitors Center instead).
Simply Butterflies
Bilar • Daily 8am-4.30pm • P40 •
T
038 535 9400,
W
simplybutterfliesproject.com
Halfway between Loboc and Carmen,
Simply Butterflies
is a well-run butterfly
sanctuary with over 150 different types of lepidopterans. The ticket price includes a
guided tour, and night safaris to spot nocturnal wildlife can be organized, including of
course, the tarsier. It's also possible to stay and eat here (see opposite).
The Chocolate Hills
Chocolate Hills Adventure Park
P60 •
T
0932 667 7098 • To get to the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park or Complex independently take a bus
to Carmen (hourly; 90min; P60) from the Dao terminal in Tagbilaran, and then hop on a habal-habal (around P50) •
Sagbayan Peak
P20 • Bus
from Tagbilaran to Sagbayan town, then rent a motorbike or walk to the peak complex
Renowned throughout the Philippines, the surreal
Chocolate Hills
are one of the
country's biggest tourist attractions. Some geologists believe that these unique 40m
mounds - there are said to be 1268 of them if you care to count - were formed from
deposits of coral and limestone sculpted by centuries of erosion. Most locals, however,
will tell you that the hills are the calcified tears of a broken-hearted giant; others prefer
the idea that they were left by a giant carabao with distressed bowels. What you think
of the hills will depend largely on the time you visit. During the glare of the day the
light casts harsh shadows and the hills lose their definition. But at
dawn or dusk
they
look splendid, especially during the dry season (Dec-May) when the scrub vegetation
that covers the hills is roasted brown, and they really do resemble endless rows of
chocolate drops.
