The Chocolate Hills

Quick answer

• What it is: a protected landscape of about 1,776 cone-shaped limestone hills in the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan.
• Where to see them: the viewing deck at the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen, or Sagbayan Peak.
• Best time: the dry months, roughly February to May, when the grass browns; early morning for soft light and fewer crowds.
• Getting there: a day trip by car, tour or bus from Tagbilaran City or Panglao.
• Pair it with: a Loboc River cruise and the beaches of Panglao.

Why it is a wonder

Stand on the viewing deck in Carmen and the Bohol countryside breaks into hills in every direction: about 1,776 of them, almost all the same rounded cone shape, spread across the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. In the dry season the grass on them turns brown, and the whole landscape looks like a tray of chocolates. That is where the name comes from.

The hills are limestone. UNESCO’s description explains them as uplifted coral deposits shaped over a very long time by rainwater and erosion. The Philippines put them on its UNESCO Tentative List for World Heritage, and in 1997 a presidential proclamation made them a protected natural monument.

The hills are also a reminder of how fragile protected places are. In 2024, a resort built inside the protected zone in Sagbayan caused a national outcry and was shut down, and lawmakers have since debated how the protected area should be drawn.

Beat the crowds

• Go early. Tour vans tend to arrive mid-morning. The first hour after opening is quieter, and the low sun gives the hills more shape.
• Try Sagbayan Peak as well as the main Carmen complex. It is a second viewpoint over the hills, a short drive away.
• Avoid Philippine holiday weekends, especially Holy Week, when Bohol fills with domestic visitors.

Getting there

The Chocolate Hills are in central Bohol, inland from the capital, Tagbilaran City, and the beach island of Panglao, where most visitors stay.

• By tour: the easiest option. Countryside tours from Tagbilaran and Panglao usually include the hills, the Loboc River and other stops.
• By private car or van: good for families and small groups, and lets you go early.
• By bus: buses from Tagbilaran’s terminal run towards Carmen. Ask the conductor to drop you at the Chocolate Hills Complex.

To reach Bohol itself, fly into Bohol-Panglao International Airport, or take a fast ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran. See our guide to getting around the Philippines.

A perfect day

1. Start early at the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen. Climb the steps to the viewing deck at the top of the hill and give yourself time to take it in.
2. Continue to Sagbayan Peak for a different angle, if you have your own transport.
3. Lunch on the Loboc River, where floating restaurants drift along a jungle-lined stretch of water.
4. Head back to Panglao for a late-afternoon swim and sunset.

Through the seasons

• February to May: the dry months, when the grass browns and the hills earn their name. March to May is also the hottest time of year.
• June to January: the hills turn green after the rains. They are lush and quieter, but tropical storms can bring heavy rain and cancel ferries, especially from July to October.

See our guide to the best time to visit the Philippines.

Respect the place

The Chocolate Hills are a protected area, and people live and farm between them. Stay on stairs, paths and official viewpoints, don’t climb other hills or damage the grass cover, take your rubbish with you, and don’t fly drones without checking the local rules first.

Photo gallery

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Frequently asked questions

How many Chocolate Hills are there?

About 1,776, the figure used in the 1997 presidential proclamation that protects them and in the Philippines' entry on the UNESCO Tentative List. Older signs and some sources give 1,268.

Why are they called the Chocolate Hills?

The grass that covers them dries out and turns brown in the dry season, so the rows of rounded hills look like chocolate drops.

How were the Chocolate Hills formed?

They are made of limestone. UNESCO's description explains them as uplifted coral deposits shaped over time by rainwater and erosion.

Can you climb the Chocolate Hills?

Visitors climb the stairs to the viewing deck at the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen. The hills themselves are a protected area, so stay on the marked paths and viewpoints.

Are the Chocolate Hills worth it in the rainy season?

Yes, though they are green rather than brown. The view of hundreds of hills to the horizon is striking in any colour.

Next wonder · No. 2

The Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras

Stone and earth terraces climbing whole mountainsides in Ifugao, built and farmed by hand by generations of Ifugao families.