CHOCOLATE HILLS

Chocolate Hills are a geological formation located in the province of Bohol the Philippines. There are at least 1,268 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres. It is covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, hence the name. This extraordinary landscape is unique to this small island. The Chocolate Hills is a famous tourist attraction in Bohol. It is featured in the provincial flag and seal to symbolizing the province. Listed by the Philippine Tourism Authority's recommended tourist destinations, declared as the country's third National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Chocolate Hills form a rolling terrain of haycock-shaped hills mounds of a generally conical and almost symmetrical shape. Estimated to be from 1,268 to about 1,776 individual mounds, these cone-shaped or dome-shaped hills are actually made of grass-covered limestone. The domes vary in sizes from 30 to 50 metres (98 to 164 ft) high with the largest being 120 metres (390 ft) in height. Bohol's "main attraction", these unique mound-shaped hills are scattered by the hundreds throughout the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan in Bohol.

During the rainy season, the grass blanketing the hills gives them a soft and lush appearance. In the dry season, the grass-covered hills dry up and turn chocolate brown. This transforms the area into seemingly endless rows of Hershey's "chocolate kisses". The branded confection is the inspiration behind the name, Chocolate Hills. The vegetation of the Chocolate Hills is dominated by grass species such as Imperata cylindrica and Saccharum spontaneum. Several Compositae and ferns also grow on them. In between the hills, the flat lands are cultivated with rice and other cash crops.

Legend explain the formation of the Chocolate Hills. The story of two feuding giants who hurled rocks, boulders, and sand at each other. The fighting lasted for days, and exhausted the two giants. In their exhaustion, they forgot about their feud and became friends, but when they left they forgot to clean up the mess they had made during their battle, hence the Chocolate Hills.

How to get to Chocolate Hills Bohol.

For private vehicles, use either Waze or Google Maps

For DIY travel.

Coming from Tagbilaran City;

- Head first to the terminal near Alturas Mall or in City Square Mall (formerly Agora public market).

There are public utility vehicles mostly multicabs going to Dao Bus terminal.

Fare is 8 for multicabs. For tricycles, it may vary depending on the number of passengers mostly 15-20 per passenger, you may bargain from the driver.

- From Dao Bus terminal, ride a bus or van (Vhire) going to Carmen and ask to be drop at the entrance going to Chocolate hills. Fare is 60 for bus.

Travel time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes for buses and Vhire is around 45 minutes.

Coming from Tubigon port;

- Ride a bus or van (Vhire) from Tubigon bus terminal going to Carmen public market. Fare is 60 for bus and 80 for van (Vhire).

- From Carmen public market, ride a tricycle or habal-habal (motorcycle going to Chocolate Hills).

Fare is 50/head for tricycle. For habal-habal, try to negotiate with the driver mostly from 60-80.

Chocolate hills entrance fee is 100 per person.