CHERRYBER URDANETA

CARMEN’S CHOCOLATE HILLS

Do you want to stay in a place that is the stuff of legends? Legend has it that the world
famous Chocolate Hills were built in ancient times. This happened when two feuding giants
fought for several days, hurling earth, stones, rocks and boulders at each other until they finally
fell due exhaustion. They become friends once more and fell into each other’s arms. These
resulted into a huge mess of hills.
Another legend is more romantic. This happened when a handsome young giant, Arogo,
fell in love with a mortal woman. When she died, the giant wept and his great huge teardrops
turned into the Chocolate Hills.
However, geologists have a different story on how these hills are formed. They
contended that the hills are weathered formations of a marine limestone lying on top of an
impenetrable clay base.
 One we can conclude from these stories is that the formation of the Chocolate Hills is
still shrouded with mystery. Whatever their origin, being in their presence is a surreal
experiences, and as landscapes go, it is one of the most bizarre you can possibly encounter. This
is even more so, since at the end of the dry season, the famous hills earn their name when the
grass turns from green to brown. This usually happens from the months of November to May of
the following year. At all times, though, they retain a uniform look as, curiously, no trees or
even clumps of shrubs will grow on them.
The Chocolate Hills are a group of unusually shaped hills located in the middle of the
island of Bohol in Philippines. This extraordinary landscape is unique to this small island. It is
unknown how many chocolate hills there are. It is known that at the bare minimum there are
1268 hills but some estimates put this number as high as 1776. The hills are not huge. The
highest hill barely reaches 120 meters in height. Even so, most hills are between 30 and 50
meters. The conical Chocolate hills are scattered within a fifty square kilometer area.
The Chocolate Hills of Bohol are spread over an area covering the towns of Sagbayan,
Batuan, Bilar, Sierra Bullones, Valencia and Carmen. Most of the hills though are found in
Sagbayan, Batuan and Carmen, wherein the most cone-shaped hills are located in Carmen. The
Chocolate Hills Complex is also located at the highest hill in Brgy. Buenos Aires in Carmen,
which is about 5 kilometers from the town. Carmen is 55 kilometers from Tagbilaran City.
HOW TO GET THERE?
From Panglao International Airport, you ride the bus going to Dao’s Integrated Bus
Terminal in Tagbilaran. Just ask the driver to drop you off at the junctions leading to the resort.
In Carmen town, the road leading to the resort is just a ten-minute walk along a winding uphill
road. This might be exhausting. You may take a habal-habal or motorcycle for hire, which are
parked at the bottom of the hill.
You may also rent a car or a motorcycle in Panglao, input the place in your Waze App or
through Google maps. Follow the map going to Chocolate Hills Complex.
Last option would be to hire a van with a driver and enjoy guided tour. This is the most
convenient and informational way. Just include Chocolate Hills Complex. in your booked tour
package. This will normally cost you around Php3,000 to Php4,000.
SERVICES OFFERED:

The complex has a restaurant, souvenir shops, hotel with swimming pool, and a viewing deck.

Where to stay?

If you would like to stay at the Chocolate Hills, you have no choice but to stay at the
government-run Chocolate Hills resort. Currently, this hotel is undergoing renovation and
extension, but since funds have run out, work on this is suspended, and thus guests have to
deal with the mess of a half-completed resort, but the staff in the place are friendly.
However, if you stay there overnight, you will be able to witness the sun rise over this
bizarre landscape which is worth the wait and inconvenience. The place still has a functional
and maintained swimming pool, which is located behind the unfinished building, situated a little
bit downhill.
Prices range from Php820 to Php1,700.