From Cebu: Bohol Countryside Private Tour with Buffet Lunch

Bohol packs a lot into one long day: cone-shaped hills, tiny tarsiers, a river cruise, and a ferry ride across the water from Cebu. The star of the trip is the Chocolate Hills Complex, where a climb to the viewing deck gives you the broadest view of Bohol’s famous natural oddity.

I like the private format, since you can move at your own pace rather than follow a large group. I also like the mix of nature and local culture, especially the Loboc River buffet cruise with performances by local artists. The main drawback is the schedule: with about two hours on each ferry crossing and several short stops, this is a full, tiring day.

Key points to know before booking

• The Chocolate Hills are the main event: You get time at the viewing deck, with an optional one-hour ATV ride available for 1,400 pesos per person.
• The tarsier visit is guided: You walk through the sanctuary and learn about efforts to protect these endangered little primates.
• Lunch comes with a river cruise: The buffet is served aboard the Loboc Riverwatch Floating Resto during a one-hour cruise.
• The tour is private: Your driver can keep the pace suited to your party, although a tour guide is not included in the listed price.
• Ferry comfort matters: Ask in advance about business-class seats, which provide reserved seating in the air-conditioned middle deck.
• The $148 price covers key costs: Ferry tickets, hotel transfers, admission fees, and the river lunch are included, but breakfast and a tour guide are not.

Crossing from Cebu to Bohol by express ferry

Your day begins with hotel pickup in Cebu City, Mactan, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cordova, Punta Engaño, Banilad, or Maribago. The exact pickup time depends on availability, so you should check the schedule carefully before booking accommodation or making evening plans.

The round-trip ferry connection runs between Cebu and Tubigon in Bohol. Each crossing is listed at about two hours, making the boat ride a substantial part of the day rather than a minor transfer. I suggest bringing a powerbank, as the tour specifically recommends one, and packing a light layer if you find ferry air-conditioning chilly.

A useful comfort tip is to request business-class ferry seating ahead of time. This provides a reserved seat in the air-conditioned middle deck. It costs attention rather than sightseeing time, but it can make a real difference after a full day of hills, roads, and walking.

The ferry schedule may change depending on available seats. Keep that in mind if you have a flight, dinner reservation, or other fixed plan in Cebu. The tour includes the round-trip express ferry tickets, so you do not need to arrange that part separately.

The Chocolate Hills viewing deck

The Chocolate Hills Complex gives you the clearest introduction to Bohol’s best-known natural feature. From the viewing deck, you can look across the repeating, rounded hills that stretch across the countryside. They are green in the wet season and turn brown in the dry season, which explains the name.

The guided visit lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough to climb to the main viewpoint, take photographs, and hear an explanation of how these unusual formations developed. It is not a long walk through the hills, so set your expectations correctly. You are visiting a major viewpoint, not hiking across the entire area.

I like this stop because it gives you a quick visual reward after the ferry crossing. The high platform lets you see the hills as a group, which is far more impressive than seeing one or two from the road.

The optional ATV ride is worth considering if you want a more active stop. It costs 1,400 pesos per person and lasts one hour. The ride is not a broad off-road tour through the hills. It takes place in a set area at their base, where you drive around loops. That still makes it fun for teenagers and anyone who wants more action, but you should not book it expecting to roam freely among the formations.

The ATV guides can also take photos along the way. If you add this option, expect the stop to become longer and more energetic. If you prefer a calm sightseeing day, the viewing deck alone may be enough.

A quiet encounter at the Tarsier Sanctuary

The Tarsier Sanctuary offers a very different experience from the open viewpoint at the Chocolate Hills. Here, you walk through a green setting to see one of the world’s smallest primates. The tour includes a guided visit of about 30 minutes.

Tarsiers are delicate, nocturnal animals, so the visit depends on respectful behavior. Keep your voice low, avoid touching them, and follow the sanctuary’s instructions about where to stand and when to take photos. The point is not to handle the animals or turn the stop into a petting encounter.

The guide explains conservation work aimed at protecting these endangered creatures. That context gives the stop more value than a quick photo opportunity. You get a look at the animals while also learning why their habitat and welfare matter.

The sanctuary stop is short, but it fits the pace of this day. You see something distinctive, walk a little, and then return to the vehicle. Comfortable shoes are useful, especially if the ground is uneven or damp.

Butterfly Farm and the Sikatuna Mirror of the World

The itinerary includes a 30-minute guided stop at a Butterfly Farm. The included-fee information also names Sikatuna Mirror of the World, so the exact attraction included in your booking deserves a quick check before departure.

The supplied details do not give a full description of the farm or the mirror attraction, so I would treat this as a short additional stop rather than the main reason to choose the tour. It breaks up the road journey and adds another point of interest between the better-known Chocolate Hills and Loboc River.

Because the tour includes several half-hour visits, you should expect an overview rather than a slow, detailed visit at each place. That is the tradeoff for seeing many of Bohol’s popular sights in one day.

The Man-Made Forest road stop

The Man-Made Forest is another 30-minute guided stop. This is a roadside section of tall, planted trees, and the dense canopy gives the drive a cooler, shaded feel. It is a simple stop, but it provides a change of mood after the open views at the hills.

You will likely have time for photographs and a short look around before continuing. This is not a major walking site, and the schedule does not suggest a long forest route. Think of it as a scenic pause on the road rather than a full nature walk.

I find these brief stops useful on a packed day because they prevent the journey from becoming one long stretch of driving. Still, if you prefer spending an hour or two at fewer sites, the number of stops may feel rushed.

Lunch aboard the Loboc Riverwatch Floating Resto

The Loboc River cruise is the most relaxed part of the day. You board a floating restaurant and enjoy a buffet lunch while the boat moves along the calm river for about one hour.

The setting is leafy and quiet, with the river and surrounding greenery doing most of the work. Cultural performances by local artists add a Filipino touch to the meal. This makes the cruise more than a restaurant transfer, although the lunch remains the practical center of the stop.

The buffet is included in the tour price. That matters because food on a full-day excursion can add up quickly, and you will have already spent several hours on the road and ferry. Breakfast is not included, so eat before pickup or arrange your own morning food.

I like having lunch here because it gives you a proper break in the middle of a busy schedule. You can sit down, eat, and watch the scenery instead of rushing through another roadside attraction.

Do not expect a long private river journey. The cruise lasts about an hour, and it is part of a wider sightseeing day. If the main attraction for you is a slow, quiet boat trip, this may feel brief. If you want a pleasant meal and a taste of the river without giving up the Chocolate Hills and tarsier visit, it fits well.

What the private format changes

The private setup is one of the tour’s strongest features. Your party has its own vehicle, and the day can be handled at your pace within the ferry schedule and planned stops. You can spend less time at a stop that does not interest you and more time taking photos or enjoying a favorite site, as long as the overall route stays on track.

Past participants have praised drivers such as Francis and Peds for being friendly, attentive, and helpful. Francis was also credited with handling a flat tire quickly without disrupting the day. Those details matter on a long excursion, since a calm driver can make a difficult road day much easier.

The listing says a tour guide is not included, so do not assume you will have a separate guide delivering formal commentary at every site. Your driver may provide practical help and local information, but the exact guiding arrangement should be confirmed with Mcrich Travel before departure.

The private vehicle also helps families and small groups. You avoid waiting for strangers at every stop, and you can manage your own belongings more easily. The drawback is that you carry the full $148 per-person cost rather than sharing a large coach, so the value improves when several people are traveling together.

Is $148 a fair price?

At $148 per person, this is not a budget ferry outing. The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, round-trip express ferry tickets, the Loboc River cruise, buffet lunch, Chocolate Hills admission, Tarsier Sanctuary admission, the Man-Made Forest stop, and the listed Sikatuna Mirror of the World entry fee.

That bundle is important. You would otherwise need to coordinate a hotel transfer, ferry tickets, a vehicle in Bohol, admission fees, and lunch. A private vehicle for a long day also gives you control over the pace, which is more valuable than it may first appear.

The price is less attractive for someone who wants only one or two sights or who is comfortable arranging transport independently. It is a better fit if you want the major Bohol highlights handled in one booking and prefer not to solve the ferry and land transport connections yourself.

The optional ATV ride is separate at 1,400 pesos per person. Breakfast, a tour guide, and any other personal expenses are also outside the listed price. Check the exact inclusions for the Butterfly Farm and Sikatuna Mirror of the World before paying, since both names appear in the supplied details.

Timing, comfort, and what to pack

The tour lasts about 10 hours, but it is a full day once you include hotel pickup, ferry boarding, road transfers, and the listed stops. Wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen, and pack a change of clothes. The change is especially useful if you choose the ATV ride or prefer to have a fresh outfit after a long day.

Bring a powerbank for your phone. You will have several photo stops, and the ferry ride and navigation can use battery quickly. A small bag is easier to manage than bulky luggage.

The schedule gives roughly 30 minutes at the Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Sanctuary, Butterfly Farm, Man-Made Forest, and Bohol guided stop, plus one hour for lunch. That tells you what kind of day this is: broad coverage, short visits, and limited time to linger.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Cebu plans may shift, though ferry seat availability can still affect the schedule.

Who should book this Bohol day trip?

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Cebu and want to see Bohol without arranging each piece yourself. It works especially well for families, couples, and small groups who value a private vehicle and want both the Chocolate Hills and Loboc River included.

It also suits anyone who wants a first look at Bohol rather than a slow, single-area visit. You get the headline sights, a wildlife stop, a meal, and several short roadside attractions in one day.

I would hesitate if you dislike early starts, long transport days, or tightly packed schedules. I would also think twice if you want a dedicated guide, since that is not included in the stated price. In that case, confirm whether your driver will provide the level of explanation you want.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is convenience and coverage. The private format, included ferry tickets, lunch, admission fees, and hotel transfers remove much of the planning work, while the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, and Loboc River give you a strong first taste of Bohol.

Before booking, ask for business-class ferry seating, confirm the guide arrangement, and clarify whether your included attraction is the Butterfly Farm, Sikatuna Mirror of the World, or both. Add the ATV ride only if you want a short, fast circuit at the base of the hills, not a long off-road exploration.

Skip it if you want a relaxed day with plenty of time at each stop. For most visitors with limited time in Cebu, though, this is a practical way to reach Bohol’s best-known sights in one ambitious day.

FAQ

How long does the Bohol tour last?

The activity lasts about 10 hours. Ferry travel takes about two hours each way, and the day also includes several guided stops and a one-hour river lunch.

Where can hotel pickup take place?

Pickup is available in Cebu City, Mactan, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cordova, Punta Engaño, Banilad, and Maribago.

Which ferry route does the tour use?

The tour includes round-trip express ferry tickets between Cebu and Tubigon in Bohol.

Is the tour private?

Yes. The tour is described as a private tour, with hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Is a tour guide included?

No. A tour guide is listed under the items not included. Confirm with Mcrich Travel what guiding assistance your driver will provide.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The tour includes a buffet lunch aboard the Loboc Riverwatch Floating Resto during a Loboc River cruise.

Does the tour visit the Chocolate Hills?

Yes. The tour includes entry to the Chocolate Hills Complex and a guided visit of about 30 minutes.

Can I add an ATV ride at the Chocolate Hills?

Yes. A one-hour ATV ride is available as an on-site add-on for 1,400 pesos per person.

Are the tarsier sanctuary fees included?

Yes. Entry to the Tarsier Sanctuary is included, along with a guided visit of about 30 minutes.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a change of clothes, and a powerbank.