The tarsier sanctuary in Bohol

Philippine tarsiers are small, nocturnal, and easily stressed. The sanctuary model — a protected patch with guides, not a roadside cage — is the visit worth making. If someone offers a tarsier you can hold, leave.

Go early. Animals that have been stared at all morning are a poor sight and a poorer outcome. Keep voices down, skip the flash, and stay on the boardwalk. A responsible guide will end the stop before you are ready. That is a good guide.

Do not combine this with a 2 p.m. Chocolate Hills slot that forces you to rush the trail. The hills will still be there at 11. A frightened animal is not a photo you should own.

Entrance fees support the sanctuary more directly than a plush toy does. Check the current gate rules for group size. This is a twenty-to-forty-minute walk, not a zoo afternoon.