The Chocolate Hills get their name from the brown-colored grass that covers them during the dry season, which makes them look good enough to eat. The rest of the time they are just as green as the forest that surrounds them. There are 1,268 cone-shaped hills spreading across 50 square kilometers, in the middle of Bohol Island.
Geologists from all over the world came up with different theories about how these perfect limestone cones were formed, but so far no one can really say for sure. The most widely accepted theory is that the Chocolate Hills were once coral deposits that rose up from the sea during a huge geologic shift. The shapes we see today were molded by winds and erosion over hundreds of years.
Just like most of nature’s masterpieces, the Chocolate Hills have legends passed on by the locals, from generation to generation. The most popular one tells of two rival giants who threw rocks and boulders at each other for days. Exhausted, the giants forgot about their meaningless conflict, became friends and left the island without cleaning up the mess they made. The hills are testimony of their great battle. Another myth tells the story of Arogo, a young, powerful giant who fell in love with Aloya, a mortal girl. When she died, Arogo shed thousands of tears and when they dried up, they formed the Chocolate Hills.
They may look like just a bunch of hills to some people, but they managed to put Bohol Island on the international tourist map long before its hot, sandy beaches became so popular. People travel from all over the world just to gaze at the spectacular scenery offered by the seemingly infinite number of hills. The fact that they are all about the same size (between 30 and 50 meters) and shape makes the view even more surreal
Getting to the Chocolate Hills is easy once you get to Bohol. Once in Tagbilaran, catch the bus to Carmen. The locals are always happy to help strangers who want to take a look at their national treasure, so they’ll direct you to the right bus station. The Chocolate Hills Complex lies 4 km before Carmen and you’ll have to walk 10 minutes from where the bus drops you off, but it will be worth it once you arrive to your destination. There are plenty of tourist hostels and restaurants in the area so the only thing you have to worry about is running out of funds.
