Ultimate Review: Is Bohol Firefly Watching Worth It
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Bohol Firefly watching is the cheapest tour amongst all the other activities on the island. The entire tour lasted approximately 2.5 hours. If you are staying on Panglao Island or near Alona Beach, like me, the tour’s starting time (~6 pm) is fitting for most of its itineraries. It is one of the most active activities for your Cebu / Bohol journey.
If you are looking for a short trip with a new experience, firefly watching is worth it.
However, there are various options online, and some may not be worth it (at least from my perspective). Some tours cost over 50 USD per person, while the one I took was merely ~13 USD. That’s why I am writing this blog post to share my experience with you.
⛰️ Standalone Firefly Watching Tour Is Available Here ✅
Online Booking Is Possible
Bohol firefly watching standalone tour is possible to be booked in advance online with hotel-pick up from Panglao. However, the cost would be around 26 USD as compared to ~ 13 – 20 USD booking locally.
What to Expect from Firefly Watching in Bohol
There are various firefly watching sites in Bohol. If you are staying at Alona Beach for water activities like island hopping, snorkeling with sardines, and scuba diving, then the closest location would be the Loboc River.
As for tour options, the only one I take every time during my stay in Panglao is the standalone, join-group firefly watch tour. The tour departs daily around 6:00 pm from the McDonald’s near Alona Beach and returns at around 9:00 pm.
You will hop on a van taking you to the Loboc River for around 50 minutes. From there, you will board a traditional bangka boat ride with life vests provided. The boat ride lasts around 45 minutes, gliding silently along the river’s calm waters.
As darkness falls, the real magic begins: thousands of fireflies light up the trees lining the banks, synchronizing their flashes in a hypnotic rhythm. It’s like watching a living Christmas tree. You’ll also enjoy a starry night sky overhead, unpolluted by city lights, adding to the ethereal atmosphere.
Unfortunately, it would be close to impossible to take a photo of the “Christmas tree” in the darkness. However, seeing the beaming fireflies under the starry night was one of the best experiences I have ever had with my family.
I also tried to take a video of the fireflies as below, which shall give you a sense of how it feels.
Around 8 pm or earlier, you will take the same van to get back to Panlao island. Despite being a short tour, this firefly watching Bohol itinerary is straightforward and family-friendly, with minimal physical exertion—just sit back and let the boat do the work.
There are also other firefly tour options, including a full day countryside tour in Bohol, including firefly at night or kayaking at Abatan.
⛰️ Book Your Bohol Countryside Tour Here ✅
Bohol Countryside + Firefly Watching Is Possible
The Bohol Countryside tour is a full-day tour that includes most of the icons in Bohol with cultural significance, including the Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Conservation, Man-made Forest, Baclayon Church, and Blood Compact Shrine. Although adding a firefly watching tour is possible, it is NOT recommended, given that the tour fee would increase from ~ 10 USD to over 60 USD.
How Much Does Firefly Watching in Bohol Cost?
Costs for firefly watching in Bohol vary depending on how you book and the type of tour. You will find numerous mobile vendors near Alona Beach selling the firefly standalone tour. If you buy locally, the cost is around 700 PHP (~ 13 USD) to 1,000 PHP (~ 19 USD) during my last visit. Alternatively, GetYourGuide also has a similar tour at ~26 USD. It is more expensive, but it provides hotel pick-up and probably a bit more accountability.
If you are planning to do the firefly watching together with a full day Countryside, the cost is around 86 USD. While the all-inclusive Bohol Countryside tour may include most of the non-water icons in Bohol, it could be very exhausting, given that most of these tours start at around 8 am.
Other Alternative Firefly Tours in Bohol
While, standalone tour for firefly watching is flexible and probably cheapest, there are alternative options to fit your agenda. For example, the full day Countryside tour that I mentioned, where you will be visiting the Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Sanctuary, and Loboc River Cruise, before culminating in an evening firefly watching session. This would be ideal for those who have very limited time in Bohol. For example, if you want to budget more days for Cebu City visit by choose to return there early via the Ferry service.
Another standout is firefly watching at the Abatan River, which offers a variety of tour types. Here, you can choose from boat cruises, kayaking adventures, or even eco-friendly paddling trails. The Bohol firefly kayak option is particularly thrilling—imagine gliding through mangrove tunnels in a kayak as fireflies illuminate the canopy above.
Is Firefly Watching in Bohol Worth It?
Yes, absolutely—especially the single tour from Panglao to Loboc and back at night. If you’re staying on the island for more than three days, night activities are scarce beyond beach bars or resort dinners, making this a refreshing change. The starry night combined with the fireflies creates a profoundly memorable experience, one that feels almost otherworldly. It’s cheap, starting at just 700 PHP locally, and incredibly family-friendly. If you have 4 people or more, it is very likely that you can bargain the price to 500 PHP (less than 10 USD) per person.
I took the tour first time with my friends and the second time with my family. Despite going to the same place twice, each time I was amazed by the immersive environment I enjoyed. Furthermore, the tour is only around 2 hours and departs daily at night. So it is one of the best supplementary activities after a long day of snorkeling or an exhausting tour like whale shark watching.
⛰️ Standalone Firefly Watching Tour Is Available Here ✅
Bohol Firefly Watching Is Great For Family Trip
The Bohol firefly watching standalone tour is the best for every itinerary, especially if you are going to Panglao with your family. It is the best way to create a unique memory for your family’s travel.
Frequently Asked Questions About Firefly Watching In Bohol
Are there fireflies in the Philippines?
Yes, the Philippines is home to various firefly species, thriving in mangrove areas like Bohol and Palawan, where clean rivers support their habitats.
What is the best firefly tour in Bohol?
The Loboc River boat tour is often hailed as the best for its classic, relaxing vibe, though Abatan River kayak options offer more adventure. I would recommend the standalone firefly watching tour at Loboc, because the timing fits most of the water activities near Alona Beach.
What is the firefly watching entrance fee?
The ~ 700 – 1,000 PHP fee already includes the entrance, boat, and transportation fee.
What is the Bohol firefly watching price?
The cheapest vendor I have seen is around 500 PHP (~ 10 USD), and normally it would cost around 1,000 PHP (~20 USD).
What is a firefly boat tour in Bohol?
A serene cruise on rivers like Loboc or Abatan, where you relax as fireflies light up the trees, typically 1-hour hour.
How do I combine firefly watching with the Bohol itinerary?
Typically, the tour starts at around 6 pm. So it would not clash with other tours like island hopping (ends around 2 pm), whale shark watching (ends around 2 pm), or Napaling sardine run (the last entrance is 4 pm and ends around 5 pm).
