If you came to a sudden conclusion after reading its title that it is not very attractive, wired or unknown to backpackers in the world. But your assumptions could be completely wrong, just because its title is a weird one, destination offers the world’s best and brilliant geological formations including hills, and landscapes.
Chocolate Hills located in the Bohol of Philippines, home to more than 1,268 perfectly cone shaped hills spread across an area of about 50 square kilometers. These hills always captivate the minds of visitors stretching across multiple towns and even passing the country’s many incredible landscapes.
Due to its epic cone shaped hills and surrounding landscapes, Chocolate Hills exhibits the country’s most beautiful viewpoints creating the most eye-catching destination in the world.
Related Search: EI Nido, Palawan, Philippines.
Chocolate Hills History
Let’s discuss history of Chocolate Hills before going much deeper into its activities and things. These hills have deep rooted historical backgrounds, but the origin of these Chocolate hills is still uncertain one.
If you want to study its formation of hills you need to go back to millions of years ago from the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene epoch. According to some studies, these hills were once giant rice cakes or uplift of coral deposits created through a complex process of uplift and erosion.
Geologists believe that hills were originally waterwater limestone deposits that later emerged from its aggressive tectonic movements and upward of Earth’s crust. And they also stated that, as a result of land erosion caused by the movement of water and thousands of years of weathering effects.
Additionally, centuries of persistent action of rainwater eroded the soft limestone resulting in its unusual and symmetrical mounds which you are seeing today. Constant rainwater effects lead is wiped out of soil and vegetation makes the surface of limestone rocks turn to brown color especially during dry season.
Why Is It Called Chocolate Hills?
Yes it is true the name of the place is always the central point of our discussion since it is unique, weird and you’ll find nowhere in the world. If you ask why it is called Chocolate Hills, the answer is simple: its appearances, look like hills blessed by the rolling hills, covered in lush grass always look like giant Hershey kisses.
The dry season is an ideal time to catch up on the beauty of Chocolate Hills’ appearances, when grass covers the hills and turns its color to brown, where hills appear giant chocolate mounds.
Besides that, the hills ‘ unique geological formations such as its 1,268 perfectly cone shaped hills and reddish brown color appearances during the dry season give it the title “Chocolate Hills”. Dry season makes hills a chocolate color hence the name given as “Chocolate Hills”.
Interesting Facts about Chocolate Hills
There are some facts or things here in Chocolate Hills that are more interesting and you’ll never believe that. Let me help you to find out what those facts are.
- Hills are considered as the major tourist attraction in the Philippines, making it the country’s 3rd National Geological Monument.
- Backpackers need to climb hills 214 steps to reach the summit or peak of the viewing deck for exploring aerial view of the surroundings.
- Chocolate Hills are not too high, just 120 meters high or range from 100 ft to 164 ft in height.
- One of the interesting facts is the change of colors during the dry season. The dry season helps us to catch up, grass covers the hills and turns its color to brown that help to give it a title called “Chocolate Hills”.
- Chocolate Hills are home to various species of flora and fauna, like the country’s 200 peso bill, Philippine tastier and smallest primate making it ecologically significant.
- Hills are often dubbed and demanded for the spot as the 8th wonders of the world.
- The majority of the viewing desks are located in the hills in Carmen Bohal, where a perfect viewing deck is available to easily catch up to the surrounding beauties.
- Chocolate Hills once a marine deposits. According to Geologiest hills once home of coral, algae and mollusks marine species, after the result of tectonic activities these marine species turned into a massive hill.
- Once Chocolate Hills were damaged by the massive earthquakes. During 2013, earthquakes caused massive damages its portions of the hills, especially his viewing deck.
- These Chocolate Hills are being restored by the Philippines government. Annually the local government spends millions of pesos to uplift and restore things like viewing decks, pathways, parking spaces, water features and activity centres.
How Were the Chocolate Hills Formed?
This is very important to know how Chocolate Hills were formed, but visitors need to know that formations of these hills are not done by a single fact or process. There are multiple compositions of geological processes that make Chocolate Hill an eye -catching destination.
1. Tectonic Activity
Since the Philippines is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, tectonic activities are common. In the same ancient times the area witnessed many tectonic movements, and these movements lead the land to uplift and crack these hills.
2. Erosion and Sedimentation
As we discussed earlier, Chocolate Hills are once coral and marine deposits that formed under the sea millions of years ago. But due to uplift of limestone beds due to erosion and sedimentations (after thousands of years), hills have come into a conical shaped landscape.
3. Weathering Effects
Weathering is also one kind of reason for the current existence of Chocolate Hills. Present distinctive colonial shaped landscapes are made by the aggressive rain, wind and other climate factors, these are worn down the softer part of the limestones. Today what we are seeing are just behind the leaving portions after weathering effects in a cone shape.
4. Soil and Vegetation
Today a major part of the surface of the hills are filled by the grass, lush and other prosperous things. During dry season hills turn to brown color just because of solid soil support and unique vegetation species. Dry season makes hills a chocolate color hence the name given as “Chocolate Hills”.
Chocolate Hills Entrance Fees
Visiting Chocolate Hills has some cost, visitors need to pay 150 Peso per person to explore the beauty of Chocolate Hills. This amount includes your parking, and entry to Chocolate Hills Adventure Park and shuttle bus service to the top of the hill.
You need to pay an additional 60 Peso, if you wish to enjoy the activities in Adventure Park. After paying a certain amount of entry fee, you’ll be eligible to enjoy activities like Sky Rider and superman zipline activities.
But we suggest you visit early morning or later afternoon or even sunset is also ok. Since hills receives less tourist crowds and weather helps visitors to easily reach the top of the complex. If you are ready to pay 50 Peso, there are plenty of scooters and shuttle service available to drive up to the top of hills.
Click here to Buy your Entrance Fee ton Chocolate Hills.
Best Time to Visit Chocolate Hills
Visiting Chocolate Hills at the right time is very important, because we already discussed that in some season’s hills are really a brilliant destination to enjoy the epicness. Dry Season is most recommended for not just one reason, but for many reasons dry season is the perfect time to head on. Season starts from December to May, when the dry season makes hills a chocolate color hence the name given as “Chocolate Hills”.
Between these months, backpackers are going to experience ideal weather conditions that help them to catch up on sightseeing and activities like snorkelling, swimming and island hopping.
If you truly want to see the iconic chocolate crown color of the hills, then it is the right time to visit between January to May during the dry season. When these months transform and make them look exactly what the name says.
Rainy season is yet another best time to visit here when hills are completely filled by the lush green and mint chocolate minds. If you love to spend your travel time under the lushest and green surroundings, surely the rainy season is for you.
How to Get to the Chocolate Hills in Bohol Island
These incredible Chocolate Hills are nested in the Bohol Island in Philippines, where backpackers even come to these hills from different directions like Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
1. By Flights
If you are an international traveler and wish to land at Chocolate Hills, flight is the most convenient and ideal option to reach. There are ample of flights running directly between major cities of the Philippines to Bohol-Panglao International Airports.
We suggest you take your flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which departs from Luzon Region to Bohol Island. However, Davao International Airport is another option to travel to Bohol Panagalao airport from the Mindanao region.
Once you reach the respective Bohol Pangalao International Airport, there are plenty of public and private transportations waiting for you to take Chocolate Hills. Remember Tricycle or taxi only take you to the Bus terminals and thereafter visitors need to choose Taxi, rental cars or Bohol Island airport transfer to reach the hills.
2. By Ferry
If you love to spend your travel with sea routes, you can also reach Bool by Ferry services. Since the Philippines is home to many islands and island hopping’s, like Cebu city to chocolate hills and Dumagute, where a ferry is an ideal option to reach. Usually visitors take a stop at The Tagbilaran City Port, after that there are taxis or local transportations like buses, jeepneys and tricycles to help you to reach Hills.
What Visitors Will Expect in Chocolate Hill Adventure Park?
Chocolate Hill Adventure Park is an eco-friendly tourist park located in Carmen town on the Bohol Island near Chocolate Hills. Adventure Park is often known for many crazy outdoor activities like zip linking, horse riding, thrilling rides, surf zip lines and eco hiking trails and many other 30 different activities.
Adventure Park is a great place to spot panoramic views of the famous Chocolate Hills especially while experiencing the popular “The Rush” bicycle zipline. Activity which is 150 feet above the ground level and spans over 550 meters apart.
Bike Zip is another popular activity where visitors simply pedal midair along with enjoying an incredible view of the hills. Besides Bike Zip, activities like Wave runner and surf ziplines are activities that are equally thrilling.
In order to pay 100 Pesos (1.25$) adventure seekers can enter this park. Make sure that parks charge different fee structures for even parking and particular activities that you are taking, be aware. Open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, is a better idea to visit, even during the dry season if you actually made the decision to go to Chocolate Hills.
