Chocolate Hills, National Geological Monument in Bohol, Philippines
The Chocolate Hills are a group of 1,260 to 1,776 dome-shaped mounds of grass-covered limestone in Bohol, rising 30 to 50 meters, with the tallest at 120 meters. They stand close together between flat plains, and in the dry season the grass turns chocolate-brown.
The limestone formations developed from geological uplift of coral deposits from the seafloor, followed by millions of years of erosion through rainwater dissolving softer materials and leaving harder structures behind.
Local folklore attributes the hills to tears shed by a heartbroken giant mourning his lost love, while alternative narratives describe battles between supernatural beings whose weapons formed these geological features.
Buses from Tagbilaran to Carmen take approximately two hours and cost around 100 pesos (about $2). The viewing platform charges an entrance fee of 50 pesos for adults. A small restaurant and souvenir shops operate at the observation point.
During the dry months from February through May, the green grass transforms into a characteristic brown color, giving the mounds their namesake chocolate appearance that attracts photographers from across the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,064 contributors worldwide.
