Crowds at Chocolate Hills

Next to the beaches in Panglao Island, high on the list of must-see in Bohol is the Chocolate Hills. Our guide Lenelle Isabela shared many stories and insights about these natural wonders. She says there are around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills. The hills has been declared the country's 3rd National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the 7 Natural Wonders of the world, together with Mayon Volcano and Tubbattaha Reef in Palawan. The hills are basically found in the town of Carmen and other municipalities of Sagbayan, Batuan, Bilar, and others.

From the "Chocolate Hills Complex.", we could see different shapes and sizes of these hills, spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometers. They are covered in green grass that looks like the color of pandan says Lenelle.

They are not really man-made like the pyramids or great wall. The domes vary in sizes from 30 to 50 meters (98 to 160 ft) high with the largest being 120 meters (390 ft) in height. The lands, in between the hills, are cultivated to rice and other cash crops. Quarrying activities threatens some of the hills.

Lenelle says some local residents claim ownership of the hills besides their property but the local government has jurisdictions on these hills. No houses are allowed to be built on top of these hills. Dapat! These are wonders of natures not to be abused or used.

Our guide told us a few stories of how these hills came to be, from simple limestone formations to an ancient active volcano that self-destructed and spewed huge blocks of stone which were then covered with limestone.

Whatever the reason how these hills came to be, we are just glad to have been here! And hope to visit again really soon!