Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills received their name from how the abundance of hills looks like during the fall season.  During this time of year, the hills turn brown and look like mounds of chocolate.  Many people say that they affectionately look like a sea of Hershey’s Kisses.

The Chocolate Hills are located in Bohol, Philippines, with these bizarre geological features covering an area of over 20 square miles (50 sq km).  There are over 1,270 of these similarly cone-shaped hills creating a sea of hills.

The heights of the hills vary between 98 to 160 feet (30 to 50m) with the tallest one peaking out at 390 feet (120m). This sea of mounds is actually haycock hills comprised of grass-covered limestone. The “chocolate” aspect only occurs in the winter months when the grass is brown.

During the spring and summer months, the hills are green.  There are at least 1,270 of these cone-shaped hills but there are estimates that the number could be as high as 1,775.

Although not officially a national park, the government declared the Chocolate Hills of Bohol as a national geological monument on June 18, 1988.  Raja Sikatuna National Park is the only national park found on Bohol Island, however, this gives visitors two wonderful encounters with nature when exploring the area.

The region is a popular tourist attraction for the country of the Philippines.  The primary area for experiencing the hills occurs at the Chocolate Hills Complex about 34 miles (55 km) outside of Tagbilaran.

A second popular viewing spot is located at Sagbayan Peak in Sagbayan which is about 11 miles (18 km) away from the complex making it fairly easy for both views to be experienced.