In the heart of Bohol lies the Chocolate Hills, one of the island’s most iconic natural landmarks. These fascinating geological formations are made up of over 1,200 dome-shaped hills that stretch across the landscape. Their name comes from the way they turn brown during the dry season, resembling giant chocolate mounds.
We visited the Chocolate Hills during the dry season, and the hills had their signature chocolate-brown color, contrasting beautifully with the surrounding greenery.
In this article, we’ll delve into the details surrounding a visit to the Chocolate Hills, including how to get there, the best time to visit, and our own personal experience visiting there.
If you are looking for a guided tour you can check out the top-rated Bohol Countryside Day Tour, which includes transportation to the Chocolate Hills and a few other popular tourist spots in Bohol.
Chocolate Hills Complete Guide
The Chocolate Hills are located in the center of Bohol in the Philippines. It’s one of the most popular tourist spots in Bohol and is a symbol of the island, featured in its official flag.
Geologists believe the Chocolate Hills were formed from the uplift of coral deposits and the effects of rain and erosion over thousands of years, which gives them their unique shape. The Chocolate Hills are even considered a National Geological Monument, making them not only a visual wonder but also a significant part of the Philippines’ natural heritage.
If you visit the Chocolate Hills on your own, you’ll need to park at the bottom, and then ride a tuk-tuk shuttle up the hill to the observation area. Then there is a walk up a 214-step staircase to the top of one of the hills where you’ll find panoramic views of Bohol.
Visiting the Chocolate Hills can be done on your own or as a day tour. No matter how you get there, you’ll have an awesome time at this 360-degree viewpoint in the heart of Bohol.
How to Get to Chocolate Hills
From Alona Beach in Panglao, it takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to reach the Chocolate Hills.
If you decide to go there yourself, the best way is to rent a motorbike and ride there. We rented a Honda PCX in Panglao for 400 pesos per day, but you can rent smaller motorbikes for as low as 250 pesos per day.
When you ride up to the Chocolate Hills, be sure to use the official parking lot! We made the mistake of thinking it was a scam and drove straight to the top but were turned back by the staff.
The Chocolate Hills parking lot linked here is legitimate. Once there, park your vehicle and pay the 100-peso entry fee per person. You’ll get a ticket that includes a tuk-tuk ride to the Chocolate Hills Viewpoint.
Best Time to Visit the Chocolate Hills
We recommend visiting the Chocolate Hills for sunset since it is less hot and the lighting is the most beautiful during that time of day. It’s also less crowded during sunset since most tour groups come earlier in the day. However, keep in mind that you’ll be leaving after dark, so only stay for sunset if you’re comfortable riding your motorbike at night.
Additionally, if you arrive after 4:30 p.m., you can skip the tuk-tuk and ride your motorbike to the top after paying the entry fee at the parking area.
Chocolate Hills: Our Experience
The Chocolate Hills is one of Bohol’s biggest attractions, and we were excited to see what all the hype was about! We arrived around 4:30 pm, just before sunset. Normally, visitors park at the bottom and take a tuk-tuk shuttle to the viewpoint, but since it was late in the day, we were allowed to drive our motorbike straight up the hill because the shuttle service was ending for the day. This worked out perfectly since we got to enjoy the views without worrying about the tuk-tuk ride.
At the top, we found a rest area with souvenir stands, bathrooms, and a restaurant. Unfortunately, because it was sunset, the restaurant was already closing. We made our way up the 214 steps to the observation deck. Thankfully, there are shaded benches along the way if you need to take a break—I definitely did! Even the views from the break stops were pretty nice.
At the top, there are multiple platforms with incredible 360-degree views of the surrounding hills. It was a bit crowded, and we had to take turns for photos at the main deck, but it wasn’t too bad compared to waiting for photo spots in Japan, which can take hours!
We stayed to watch the sunset, and it was absolutely worth it! The sky shifted from soft pinks to fiery reds, and since we visited in May during the burning season, the small fires on the hilltops created a smokey backdrop that was absolutely beautiful.
Most people spend about 45 minutes here, but we stayed for nearly two hours, waiting for beautiful light.
Where to Stay in Bohol
Depending on how long you stay in Bohol we recommend splitting your stays between Panglao and Anda. If you are in Bohol for less than 4 days we recommend basing yourself out of Panglao, but if you are staying longer I recommend staying at least 2 nights in Anda. Here are recommendations on places to stay:
- Luxury: Amorita Resort (Panglao)
- Mid-range: Casa Amihan (Anda)
- Budget: Bluewaves Apartment (Panglao)
If you prefer to find your own place to stay, you can visit Booking.com to explore all your accommodation options in Bohol.
What to Pack for Bohol
Here are some of our must-have items you might not have thought of when packing for a trip to Bohol.
- Crocs: During our time in Bohol, I was so glad to have Crocs to protect my feet when exploring rocky terrain and chasing waterfalls. They are the ultimate shoe in the Philippines for a reason – many Filipinos wear them too!
- Snorkel: With all the amazing snorkeling spots in Bohol, it helps to have your own snorkel set like this one if you plan to do some underwater activities! Plus, you won’t need to worry about renting a snorkel, which may be of… questionable quality.
- Sunscreen: For some reason, sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines and I’ve even encountered places selling fake sunscreen that doesn’t work! So I recommend bringing your own sunscreen to Bohol.
- Dry Bag: With all the sand, salt, and water flying everywhere during our adventures, I was so glad to have a dry bag to keep all my things safe from the elements!
- Travel Towel: In my opinion, a travel towel like this one is super necessary for a trip to Bohol! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Are You Following Our Bohol Blog Series?
During our 11-day adventure in Bohol, we found some of the island’s most stunning natural wonders—epic waterfalls, caves, and incredible snorkeling spots. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start planning your trip here: Bohol Travel Guide
- Our Bohol accomodation/area guide: Where to Stay in Bohol
- Our Ultimate Guide to Bohol: 24 Awesome Things to Do in Bohol
- How to plan your Bohol vacation: Bohol 3 Day Itinerary
- Interested in chasing waterfalls?: 5 Best Waterfalls in Bohol During Dry Season
- Our favorite hike in Bohol: Alicia Panoramic Park Hike
- Our favorite day tour in Bohol: Balicasag Island Snorkeling
- Our favorite waterfall in Bohol: Dimiao Twin Falls (Pahangog Falls)
- Our favorite place to swim in Bohol: Cabagnow Cave Pool
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
We hope our guide to Chocolate Hills in Bohol helped you out in planning your adventure.
Any comment regarding the best spot to view the Chocolate hills from? Carmen or Sagbayan Peak?
Am interested.i wish i was a liilte bit younger. What we have in guam.is also fascinating…places to adventure.please send me more info about the fascinating place .is it a coral that keeps growing under that chocolate hill?