Chocolate Hills

Why the Chocolate Hills are special
Over a thousand tall, natural conical domes dot the landscape in the center of the island of Bohol. Most of the Chocolate Hills soar 30 to 50 meters (100 to 160 feet). The tallest measures 130 meters (430 feet). During the dry season, the grass blanketing these formations turns brown, giving the hillocks the appearance of gargantuan Chocolate Kiss candies.

Chocolate Hills tips and insights
Two popular legends
One tells us that the Chocolate Hills are the stones and sand that two fighting giants hurled at each other. The other says they are the teardrops shed by a giant for his beloved mortal who passed away

How were they formed?
No one knows for certain. Geologists have different theories, but most agree that the formations are the wind-and-rain weathered remnants of an uplifted ancient limestone seafloor.

Unique?
They are rare, but not unique. Similar mounds exist elsewhere, notably in Indonesia. However, the Chocolate Hills are by far the most symmetrical and spectacular in the world.

Best time to visit
The mounds become brown during the rain-scarce months, especially from January to April. Their brown hue stands out in marked contrast to the surrounding coconut trees, rice paddies and other green vegetation. However, even when the domes are grass-green, the sight is remarkable.

Best time of the day
Early morning and late afternoon are the finest for viewing and photographing the Chocolate Hills. The sun's low-lying rays emphasize the conical forms.

Best view
There are two major viewpoints for visitors.

• One is near Carmen town
• The other near Sagbayan town

Each has a viewing platform perched on top of a Chocolate Hill, which is reached by a long flight of stairs. I recommend the Carmen, but the not the Sagbayan complex. The latter is tacky with large dinosaur and Walt Disney figures, which are grossly out of place for a natural wonder such as the Chocolate Hills.

Other Bohol Island attractions
The long list includes these tourism stars:

• Tarsier (see photo)
  This native Philippine creature is the world's tiniest primate. The adorable tarsier has incredibly big round eyes and easily fits in the palm of your hand. You can see them up close by walking into their enclosure at the Tarsier Sanctuary
  
• Loboc River restaurant cruise
  Loboc River restaurant cruise Your barge glides slowly through lush inland scenery as live music serenades you. You have a choice of two departure points: Loboc and Loay. I recommend the latter because it has a more remote feel - and you stop at an Ita village for an interesting tribal dance presentation.
• Panglao
  This Bohol satellite island boasts beautiful white sandy beaches and outstanding coral-reef dive sites. Panglao also offers a wide variety of tropical resorts ranging from basic to luxury. The Eskaya is the finest.