i Heart PH
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I ♥ BOHOL

CHOCOLATE HILLS

Chocolate Hills | The Famous Icon of Bohol

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The Chocolate Hills, the most famous icon of the Bohol province, dot the lands of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. The view deck however is located only in the municipality of Carmen. This iconic natural wonder consists of more than a thousand hills which turn brown during the summer season, and hence the name Chocolate Hills. It turns green during the rainy season as trees and grasses grow on them but either way, this natural wonder remains picturesque. More information about the Chocolate Hills here:
​
  • Explore Philippines: Chocolate Hills
  • Bohol-Philippines.com: Chocolate Hills of Bohol
  • National Geographic: Soar Over the Otherworldly Chocolate Hills

The National Geographic drone video is by far my favorite among all videos​ of the Chocolate Hills. Worth the watch!
Picture
One of my photos of the Chocolate Hills back in 2013 (Photo © iHeartPH 2013)

To climb to the top of the view deck, you have to take 214 steps. I saw several elderly people climb up the stairs but took their time so should be possible to bring your grandmoms and granddads. I took my 80-year old grandmother here back in 2013, a few months before the earthquake. She climbed the steps without breaking a sweat while her children and grandchildren often took few breaks in between. LOL!

​It can also get sunny and hot so it is suggested to put on some sunblock, wear a hat and a pair of sunglasses. A bottle of cold water will also help beat the heat.

Entrance fee to the Chocolate Hills view deck as of 2019 is P50 or about $1.
​
Picture
Stairs going up the Chocolate Hills viewdeck (Photo © iHeartPH 2017)

There are several ways to book your tour to the Chocolate Hills:

  1. PRIVATE VAN. ​The Chocolate Hills is included as part of the Countryside Tour offered by several travel agencies and van rentals. The tour can be completed in one whole day and you can spend around 30 minutes in the Chocolate Hills view deck. Cost for the entire countryside tour is normally between P2,500 and P3,500 depending on whether you are getting a sedan or a van and on how many travelers there are. To book your countryside tour with a private van, you may call/text Kuya John at +639161765683. He is able to offer a car for smaller groups (4 people max) or a van for bigger groups (12 people max). 
  2. PRIVATE VAN VIA KLOOK (ONLINE). Alternatively, you can also book your private van/car tour via Klook. This is more applicable for those who would like to customize their tour, book ahead of time and have the booking save on their mobile phones. Click here to book through Klook: Bohol Private Car Charter
  3. JOINER (BEST FOR SOLO TRAVELERS). If you are traveling alone however, chartering a van/car might not be the best option. I would suggest to book a joiner tour still via Klook for a cheaper joiner fee where you also get a chance to see other places in Bohol apart from the Chocolate Hills. Click here to book: Bohol Countryside Tour
  4. PUBLIC COMMUTE. If commuting is your thing and you don't want to take a van tour, private or otherwise, Chocolate Hills should also be easy to get to via public transport. From any point in Tagbilaran City, you can go to Dao bus terminal and catch a bus going to the municipality of Carmen. Ask the bus driver to drop you off at the Chocolate Hills complex, where you will need to walk for about 10 minutes to reach the foot.
​

Filipinos are fond of alamat (legends) as to how things like fruits, trees, anyong lupa (landforms) and anyong tubig (bodies of water) came about. And as a kid in Bohol, I grew up being told several versions of the legend as to how these chocolate hills were formed. The most famous of them is the one where two giants fought and threw rocks and boulders at each other which then formed the famous site. Another one I've heard of is a more romantic version where a giant fell in love with a mortal who got sick and died. With her death leaving the giant with so much pain and anguish, he cried non-stop and his tears formed the chocolate hills. Interesting to imagine how people in the olden days have crafted these stories to make sense of things or to probably just answer their kids pestering them with such questions or maybe just as mere bedtime stories to entertain their kids with.

I have also found other versions of the Chocolate Hills legend or alamat:
  • Bohol-Philippines.com: Chocolate Hills Legend
  • Choose Philippines: The Legend of Chocolate Hills​
​
Picture
A more recent photo I took of the Chocolate Hills in 2017 (Photo © iHeartPH 2017)

The Chocolate Hills was also not able to escape the wrath of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2013. The earthquake destroyed the view deck first and foremost and have damaged some of the hills due to landslides. Here are some of my pictures of the Chocolate Hills before the earthquake, taken in September of 2013, about a month before the earthquake.


And here are the photos I've taken in 2017, a few years after the restoration of the view deck. The Liberty Bell has been reinstalled and a new wishing was built for it. The stairs leading up to the view deck is no longer a covered walkway but there are still two decks where you can enjoy the view of these picturesque hills.

​OTHER USEFUL LINKS

  • ​8 Places to Visit During Countryside Tour
  • 6 Tips on How to Maximize your Bohol Day Trip
  • 7 Things to Do in Panglao
  • Budget Hotels/Inns in Tagbilaran City
  • Panglao: Resorts and Accommodation
  • How to go to Bohol from Cebu

WHERE TO STAY IN TAGBILARAN

  • Belian Hotel
  • Metrocentre Hotel and Convention Center
  • Ocean Suites Bohol Boutique Hotel
  • Bohol Tropics Resorts 
  • 717 Cesar Place Hotel
  • More...

OTHER DESTINATIONS IN BOHOL

  • Loboc River and Floating Restaurant
  • Bilar Man-Made Forest
  • Baclayon Church
  • Blood Compact Site
  • Tarsier Conservation Center
  • Panglao Island

KEY CONTACTS

To book your countryside tour, you may call/text Kuya John at +639161765683. He is able to offer a car for smaller groups (4 people max) or a van for bigger groups (12 people max).

To book a hotel in Tagbilaran City, click here.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to post them here:
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  • Home
  • Explore Philippines
    • Luzon >
      • Metro Manila
      • Albay >
        • Cagsawa Ruins
        • Daraga Church
        • Tabaco Church
        • IshiAya Garden Bistro
        • Cheap Accommodations in Legazpi City
        • Mayon Volcano
        • Mid-Priced to Premier Hotels in Legazpi City
      • Sorsogon >
        • Subic Beach
        • Tikling Island
        • Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary
        • Calintaan Cave
        • Sorsogon - More than just the Butandings
        • Pink Sand Beach
        • Cheap Accommodations in Sorsogon City
      • Quezon >
        • Cagbalete Island >
          • Cagbalete Island: A Travel Guide
          • Cagbalete Island: Budget and Suggested Itinerary
          • Cagbalete Island: How to Get There
          • Cagbalete Island: Resorts and Accommodation
          • A Review of Dona Choleng Camping Resort
          • Cagbalete Fish Sanctuary
          • Yang-In Sand Bar
          • Ilog Bukana at San Jose River
          • Cagbalete White Sand Beach
        • Budget and Itinerary | Padre Burgos and Pagbilao
        • Borawan Island
        • Where to Stay and Eat in Mauban
        • How to Get to Mauban from Manila or Lucena
        • Tips and Suggested Itinerary for Pahiyas Festival 2015
        • Things to Do (or Eat) in Lucban, Quezon
      • Palawan >
        • Coron
        • El Nido >
          • Small Lagoon
          • Top 5 Spots in El Nido
          • Cheap Accommodations in El Nido
          • Mid-Priced to Premier Hotels in El Nido
    • Visayas >
      • Iloilo >
        • Budget Accommodations in Iloilo City
        • Isla de Gigantes >
          • How to Get to Isla de Gigantes
          • Tangke Salt Water Lagoon
          • Cabugao Gamay
          • Cabugao Dako or Cabugao Grande
          • Antonia Beach
          • Bantigue Sandbar
      • Bohol >
        • Panglao >
          • Dolphin Watching and Island Hopping
          • Top Things to Do for Overnighters and Daytrippers
          • Coco Vida Bar and Restaurant
          • South Palms Resort
          • Buzzz Cafe of Bohol Bee Farm
          • Bohol Bee Farm Resort
          • Alona Vida Beach Resort
          • New Panglao International Airport
          • Luxury Resorts in Panglao
        • Loboc >
          • Loboc River Cruise and Floating Restaurant
          • Tarsier Conservation Center
        • Bohol Day Trip Travel Guide from Cebu
        • Bohol Chocolate Hills
        • Bilar Man-Made Forest
        • Day Tour | Countryside Tour
        • The Mangrove Forests of Maribojoc
        • Cheap Accommodations in Tagbilaran City
      • Cebu >
        • Oslob >
          • Travel Guide to Oslob
          • 6 Things to Do in Oslob
          • How to Go to Oslob from Dumaguete
          • Oslob Whale Watching
          • Tumalog Falls
          • Sumilon Sandbar
          • Oslob Church and Cuartel
          • Cheap Accommodations in Oslob
        • Malapascua >
          • How to Get to Malapascua Island
          • Budget and Suggested Itinerary
          • Ocean Vida Resort
          • Travel Guide
          • Where to Stay
          • Where to Stay near Maya Port
        • Samboan | Aguinid Falls
        • Cebu City | Bayfront Hotel Review
      • Dumaguete >
        • Apo Island >
          • Apo Island: A Travel Guide
          • Apo Island: Budget and Suggested Itinerary
          • Cheapest Way to Experience Apo Island
          • Resorts and Homestays in Apo Island
          • Oslob-Apo-Bais-Siquijor in 6 Days
          • Apo Island: A Photo Gallery
          • Ronor's Lodging: A Homestay Review
        • Cheap Accommodations in Dumaguete City
      • Siquijor >
        • Siquijor Travel Guide
        • 7 Must-Do and Must-See in Siquijor
        • A Review of Islandia Beach Resort
        • Kagusuan Beach
        • Salagdoong Beach
        • Lazi Church and Convent
        • Cambugahay Falls
        • St. Francis of Assisi Parish
        • Santa Maria Church
        • Enchanted Balete Tree
        • Cheap Accommodations in Siquijor
        • Mid-Priced to Premier Resorts in Siquijor
    • Mindanao >
      • South Cotabato >
        • One Night Travel Guide to Lake Sebu
        • Dolores Lake Resort
  • Travel Tips
    • How to Cancel Agoda Bookings
  • Contact Me