The Chocolate Hills are the most famous tourist attraction in Bohol in the central Philippines. They look like giant mole hills. They are among nature's wonders, uniform in shape and between
30 and 50 meters high.
There are about 1,268 of them. Some say that it is the exact number.The hills are covered with grass, which turn chocolate brown during the dry season. That's between March and June. That's the reason why they are called chocolate hills.
There are at least two legends about the hills. One is about two giants who threw stones and sand at each other in a fight that lasted for days. When they got exhausted, they made friends and left the island, but left behind the mess they made.
The second is a romantic tale of Arogo, a young and strong giant who fell in love with an ordinary mortal named Aloya. When she died, Arogo cried bitterly. His tears then turned into those hills.
Legends aside, geologists have no definite explanation on how the hills were formed with uniform shape.The most commonly accepted theory is that they are weather formations of some marine limestones on top of an impermeable layer of clay. This explanation is found on a bronze plate on top of an observation complex, which is accessible on a 214-step pathway.Tour operators with their own tour guides are available to bring tourists to chocolate hills.
One can make an arrangement even in Manila. If you want to go there on your own, go to Tagbilaran, the capital of Bohol, and take a bus at the integrated bus terminal in Dao to Carmen. At the terminal, people will tell you which bus to take. The Chocolate Hills complex is four kilometers before Carmen so don't forget to tell the driver to drop you at the complex.
A package tour to the Chocolate Hills include dolphin watching, watching tarsiers in the woods, island hopping, snorkeling and a visit to a bee farm.
Here's some info about a tour to Chocolate Hills from my niece Lala who went on a three-day tour with four friends in mid-August this year.
Package tour = P6,793.33 each (Prices change from time to time)
Bohol Tour Packages:
* DOLPHIN WATCHING, ISLAND HOPPING (Balicasag and Virgin Island) TOUR PACKAGES INCLUDES:
· Pick-up resort/hotel in Panglao 0530hr
· Proceed for Dolphin Watching
· Snorkeling at Balicasag Island
· Lunch
· Explore Virgin Island
· Trip to Bee Farm ( Afternoon )
· Back to resort/hotel
Costs Breakdown:
1. Accommodation Cost: Php 4,460.00/passenger
2. CountrySide Tour Cost: Php 850.00/passenger
3. Dolphin Watching, Island Hopping (Balicasag and Virgin Island) & Trip to Bee Farm Cost: Php 1,250.00/passenger
4. Roundtrip Airport Transfer: Php 1,400.00 (VAN)shared
The Travel Bureau
Travel Agency:
CORETRAVEL, INC.
G/F COHERCO CORPORATE CENTER
116 V.A. Rufino Street,
Legaspi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila
TEL. NO.: (02) 814.08.44 , (02) 813.40.16
