The Philippines, officially the
Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It
is situated in the western Pacific Ocean, and consists of about 7,640 islands,
that are broadly categorized under three main geographical divisions from north
to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The Philippines is bounded by the South
China Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Celebes Sea to
the southwest, and shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the north, Japan to
the northeast, Palau to the east and southeast, Indonesia to the south,
Malaysia and Brunei to the southwest, Vietnam to the west, and China to the
northwest. The Philippines covers an area of 300,000 km2 (120,000 sq mi) and,
as of 2020, had a population of around 109 million people, making it the
world's twelfth-most populous country. The Philippines is a multinational
state, with diverse ethnicities and cultures throughout its islands. Manila is
the nation's capital, while the largest city is Quezon City, both lying within
the urban area of Metro Manila.
The Chocolate Hills are a geological
formation in the Bohol province of the Philippines. There are at least 1,260
hills but there may be as many as 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than
50 square kilometers (20 sq mi). They are covered in green grass that turns
brown during the dry season, hence the name.
The Chocolate Hills is a famous
tourist attraction of Bohol. They are featured in the provincial flag and seal
to symbolize the abundance of natural attractions in the province.They are in
the Philippine Tourism Authority's list of tourist destinations in the
Philippines; they have been declared the country's third National Geological
Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Chocolate Hills form a rolling
terrain of haycock-shaped hills – mounds of a generally conical and almost
symmetrical shape. Estimated to be from 1,268 to about 1,776 individual mounds,
these cone-shaped or dome-shaped hills are actually made of grass-covered
limestone. The domes vary in sizes from 30 to 50 metres (98 to 164 ft) high
with the largest being 120 metres (390 ft) in height. One of Bohol's best known
tourist attractions, these unique mound-shaped hills are scattered by the
hundreds throughout the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan in Bohol.
During the dry season, the
grass-covered hills dry up and turn chocolate brown. This transforms the area
into seemingly endless rows of Hershey's "chocolate kisses". The
branded confection is the inspiration behind the name, Chocolate Hills.
The main viewing point of the
Chocolate Hills is the government-owned Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen,
Bohol, about 55 km (34 miles) from the regional capital Tagbilaran. The other
main point to view the Chocolate Hills is at Sagbayan Peak, in Sagbayan, 18 km
(11 miles) away from the Chocolate Hills complex in neighboring Carmen.
Like most parts of the Philippines,
Bohol has a tropical climate. But its peak season is during dry months, which
begins in December until May. The least chance of rainfall is during April.
These months make it an ideal time to travel around and experience activities,
such as swimming, snorkeling, and sightseeing, in the island province.
The Chocolate Hills showcase its iconic
chocolate brown look during the dry months of January to May. During the rainy
season, the hills' grass turns into a vibrant green, giving them that mint
chocolate color. More travelers visit during the dry season when the hills
appear exactly as it's called.
The province of Bohol is accessible
from major cities of the primary islands of the Philippines, namely Luzon,
Visayas, and Mindanao. Your jump-off to get here is Tagbilaran City and Panglao
Island in Bohol.
Air travel is the most convenient way
to visit Bohol. If you’re coming from Luzon, you have two gateways: from Ninoy
Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila and from Clark International
Airport in Angeles City to Bohol-Panglao Airport. If you’re flying from
Mindanao, you can fly from Davao International Airport.
From the Bohol-Panglao Airport, you
can make your way to the Dao Integrated Bus Terminal and ride the bus or van to
either Carmen or Sagbayan town. When you reach Carmen, ride a habal-habal to
take you to the Chocolate Hills Complex.
If you’re traveling by sea, you can
book ferry trips to drop you off at Tagbilaran City Seaport from Cebu,
Dumaguete, Siquijor, Cagayan de Oro, and Camiguin. While this route may take
longer, it offers a different kind of adventure. Upon arrival in Tagbilaran
port, you can hop on a tricycle to go to Dao Integrated Bus Terminal. From
there, take the bus or van bound for Carmen or Sagbayan town and ask to be
dropped off at the junctions leading to either Chocolate Hills Complex
Viewpoint in Carmen or Sagbayan Peak.
Here are some note for Asian
Destinations Readers :
While many major establishments in
Bohol accept credit cards, and even though you can find ATMs and money changers
in Tagbilaran City and Panglao Island, it would still be more convenient if you
bring Philippine Peso (PHP) with you. Always carry smaller bills in 20, 50, and
100 denominations and loose change for easier and faster transactions. This
comes in handy when taking public transportation and buying food from
vendors.
When it comes to what you should
wear, you don't have to overthink your options. Make sure to pick breathable
clothing pieces, such as light summer clothes, for your comfort. Since the
weather is always unpredictable, bring a light rain jacket.
Sources :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate_Hills
https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/ultimate-guides/chocolate-hills-bohol-travel-guide
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