Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary

Wildlife refuge · Corella ·

Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary

Wildlife refuge · Corella ·

See tiny, wide-eyed tarsiers in their natural forest habitat.

Information

Tarsier Sunctuary Rd, Corella, Bohol, Philippines Get directions

@afar

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

"Tarsier: The Philippines' Big-Eyed Primate in Bohol The province of Bohol seems to encourage the bizarre. It contains one of the world’s strangest landscapes, a collection of some 1,700 hills in a 20-square-mile area called the Chocolate Hills. It is also home to a peculiar creature called the Philippine tarsier (locally referred to as the mawmag or mamag ), one of the smallest known primates, no larger than an adult man’s hand, with giant round eyes and a tail that is longer than its body. These adorable beasts are spread across various islands in the southeast of the Philippines , surviving in rain forests with thick vegetation. They are nocturnal, can leap as far as 10 feet from tree to tree, and (like owls) are able to turn their heads 180 degrees. Unfortunately, habitat destruction via logging and mining threatens the Philippine tarsier with extinction. The best place in Bohol to see them and support their conservation at the same time is at the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Corella. Run by the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to tarsier conservation and education, this small but successful sanctuary provides the best possible environment to allow these tiny creatures to survive and thrive."

The Best Things to Do in the Philippines

Photo by age fotostock

Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary

@afar

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

The Best Things to Do in the Philippines

Photo by age fotostock

Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary

Thomas

Google

Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary – A Short but Meaningful Visit The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary is a well-organized and respectful place to see these fascinating animals. Admission is very affordable at 150 PHP. Before entering, you watch a short 5-minute educational video, which helps you understand the importance of protecting the tarsiers. From the reception area, it’s either a 5-minute walk or you can take a free shuttle to the actual sanctuary entrance. Visits are guide-only, which is great for both learning and ensuring the animals are not disturbed. The guide was informative and made sure everyone followed the “quiet please” rule. You get enough time to take photos and videos, and the setting offers nice views in a natural environment. The actual tour takes about 10 minutes, so it’s not very long, but it feels well managed and respectful toward the tarsiers. Bonus points for the clean and nice restrooms on site. Overall, a short but educational and worthwhile stop if you’re in Bohol and want to see tarsiers in a responsible way.

Douglas A.

Google

Much more to the point than the more touristy Tarsier Conservation Area, but less facilities. It's a mandatory video, a short walk or buggy ride, followed by a short tour on groups of about 6 to look at some sleepy Tarsiers in their large wild enclosure. They are adorable, but don't expect much to see. I like that they made everyone be quiet to not disturb them. Small gift store as well.

Angelina N.

Google

Lovely experience seeing the tiny tarsiers and learning more about them and the conservation work being done to protect them. My only concern was that the guide wasn’t strict enough about enforcing the rules. People were allowed to talk, sometimes the guide joined in, and camera sounds were not addressed — which felt contradictory, since at the entrance it’s clearly explained that tarsiers are extremely sensitive to sound and light. I think the experience would be much better (and more consistent with the conservation message) if the rules were reinforced more firmly, even if that means prioritising the animals over pleasing the crowd. Please be respectful of wildlife and keep conversations outside or at least to an absolute minimum.

Town T.

Google

This is non profit organization and doesn't exploit the tarsier. You won't see alot since they rotate them to avoid stressing them out. Its a good experience if you want to see a tarsier in person. There are some steps such as watching a safety video, tour guide and walking in a small enclosure where the tarsier are. The rest are protected on the other side of the walls.

Tessa S.

Google

One of my favourite experiences on the island. I opted to take a private tour here as the group tours take you to a crowded area. This sanctuary was quiet and well laid out. After watching a short video,and visiting the museum, I took the free golf cart into the area. I was a bit nervous I wouldn't see the tarsiers as they are nocturnal but the friendly guide easily pointed them out and I could see the small primate. The guide showed me the best spots to stand, to take photos whilst not disturbing the creatures. Afterwards, I visited the small gift shop. I would've paid far more for the ticket (150php) as this was a very enjoyable experience

Martin K.

Google

It is always difficult to judge when animals might be suffering because humans want to observe them. In this case, my impression was very positive, and it seems they are doing a genuinely good job. Visitors are asked to remain completely quiet, which creates a calm environment and allows you to observe the small animals up close without disturbing them. Overall, the experience felt respectful, well organized, and focused on the well-being of the animals rather than entertainment.

J and P

Google

Beautiful well-run little sanctuary, the guides are great, everyone was respectful and quiet. Only 150 peso entry fee. We saw 3 little tarsiers. Very lovely experience. Easy to self drive here from Panglao too.

dinesh R.

Google

A visit to the Tarsier Sanctuary in Bohol offers a peaceful and memorable encounter with one of the world’s smallest primates. Set amidst lush greenery, the sanctuary protects the endangered Philippine tarsiers in their natural habitat. Visitors walk quietly along shaded pathways, where trained guides help spot these tiny, wide-eyed creatures clinging to tree branches. Photography is allowed but strictly without flash to avoid disturbing them. The experience is short yet enriching, giving an insightful view into conservation efforts and the delicate world of these gentle nocturnal animals.

Janice C.

Yelp

I learned that Tarsiers were an endangered species during science class while growing up in Manila. I never really imagined that I'd see them after I moved out of the motherland, but I'm so happy I did. My family booked a private driver to bring us to Bohol's top sights and he said that the work done at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary is the real deal. Entrance fee is P60 per person. You're given the talk about what to expect, how Tarsiers look like, behave, what not to do, etc. Please listen to your guides, don't use flash photography as it stresses the little creatures and we don't want that. The sanctuary is an enclosed gated piece of the forest, but it's maintained by the workers quite nicely. They'll remind you to be quiet since sudden, loud noises are also stressful to the Tarsiers. There were certain hiding spots where they hang out, so we just followed our guide, observed in silence and watched them in pure awe. They're about the size of your hand with big, curious eyes. They can jump from one tree branch to another with the blink of an eye. The whole thing is over in 15 minutes and after you exit, there's a souvenir shop where you can buy keychains, snacks and water. New to the Philippines? make sure to get iced candy on your way out.

Livia S.

Yelp

I heard of the Tarsiers from my science classes during my elementary years and have always been curious to see one. Being that I am in the province where these little Yoda-like creatures reside, I made sure that I visited their sanctuary and learn about them. The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary was our first stop during our day tour. As soon as you enter the premises, there were signs as to what is expected from visitors -- no camera flash, no loud noises, and other facts you need to know about these little primates. The tour in their sanctuary is very quick, you're done in more or less than 15 minutes. You will be greeted by tour guides and again remind you of not using flash and not creating too much noise as it does create stress on the Tarsiers. Our tour guide pretty much let's us know where can we find them in the very lush forest-like sanctuary. We were told that before they open the sanctuary for visitors, they actually have to find the Tarsiers first so that they know where to direct guests. Apparently, these little primates don't like too much sun nor too much rain -- so they hide well underneath the trees. As much as you want to hold them or take them as pets, they cannot be held captive or cannot be taken away from their natural habitat as they are very territorial. The sanctuary is working on saving them from extinction as there are between 5,000 to 10,000 of them left in the world. After the tour, there is a small souvenir section where you can purchase Tarsier stuffed toys, magnets, key chains, and other little trinkets -- all for affordable prices. And because the area can be very humid, there are also refreshments available for purchase.

Cristito C.

Yelp

Boy, they are small. There a couple of places to see them. They are small & hide well in the trees. Good thing the place we went to had kids standing by pointing the tarsier out to you. We actually saw 6 of them, which turns out to be a good amount!!! Had a good time & took some great photos. Enjoy.

Jessica S.

Yelp

The Philippine tarsier is essentially the smallest primate/ ape (NOT monkey) in the world, and due to habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade, the species is now endangered. This sanctuary in Corella is run by the Philippine Tarsier Foundation and it is the only official sanctuary in Bohol supported by the Department of Tourism and Department of Environment and Natural Resources. You want to go here and NOT to the one in Loboc which isn't recognized as a sanctuary whatsoever. Entry is 60 pesos per person. After paying, a volunteer briefs you on the tarsier behavior and physical features, along with the rules each visitor should abide by while on the grounds. The research and development center where you start should be explored as there are plenty of informational cards on the tarsier. Wander off to the left and you'll find yourself on the Tarsier Trail. The grounds are enclosed to keep out predators, but the tall bamboo, palm, and mahogany trees do enable the tarsiers to climb out should they desire to. The main rule to follow is to keep your voice down to barely a whisper and to take photos without flash and at a distance. You don't want to startle these emotionally sensitive animals as they are easily stressed and have been known to commit suicide! I can't believe the Loboc sanctuary allowed you to hold and pet them in the past; perhaps another reason why you should not go to that one. There were about 4 tarsiers we could see visibly and at eye-level, another was hiding in the branches up above which a volunteer pointed out to us. A good sign was that they were all sleeping and seemed relatively at ease. Crowds were minimal however there was a group that I would have deemed too large and that lingered greedily for too long at each spot. Some might complain that they don't have "many" tarsiers, but this was a somewhat more natural setup. There was one though that seemed staged as a volunteer was nearby to take pictures of a conveniently placed tarsier in the foreground while you crouched in the back. I also didn't like how she waved at the tarsier to get it to open its eyes for the pictures. Overall, the visit was a positive one. Seeing these creatures up close was definitely something to marvel and wonder over. They really were SO small and cute with their googly eyes. Perhaps they will become the next panda as the cute species we want to legitimately make efforts to save.