Chocolate hills, pyramids and palm-sized monkeys – Bohol seems like another planet. The beauty of the landscape certainly has a transcendental effect.
The Philippines consists of more than 7000 islands. More specifically, 7107. One of them is unique, however: in addition to sandy beaches and diving sites, Bohol offers an almost unearthly landscape.
The grassy hills in the center of the island turn brown during the dry season. Tour of ‘chocolate hills‘ It also pays off when they are green. The guests of Bohol should also visit Tarsire: these cute fur animals are among the least prosimians in the world and are indigenous from the island, which is a good hour’s flight south of the capital Manila.
landed on another planet
Although there are not so many ‘chocolate hills‘ As in the Philippines, 1268 is still a respectable number. Covering an area of several square kilometers near the cities of Carmen and Batuan, in some places they reach a height of up to 120 meters. Geologists attribute their creation to soil displacement and erosion, among other factors.
Usually, however, the rhymes that the locals agreed on such phenomena are more exciting. It is said on Bohol that the giant fell in love with a girl and kidnapped her. But the girl died, and the giant wept bitter tears – until they turned into the hills. Another popular story also revolves around giants: ‘The two were fighting and throwing stones at each other”, says tour guide Ruby Chinchez. The feud was eventually resolved, and the hills remained.
But you don’t have to know all that to be fascinated’chocolate hills‘. Standing on the viewpoint near Carmen, for example, you are only 60 kilometers from the capital Bohol, Tagbilaran, with its airport, traffic noise and numerous pawn shops. But you can easily feel as if you have suddenly landed on another Not all hills, but many are visible from here, some are almost perfectly shaped cones, others are more pointed and therefore resemble pyramids.The forests stretch between the hills, and footpaths meander, and some areas are cultivated by farmers.
Huge, sharp eyes
In souvenir shops there are plenty of stuffed items: another symbol of Bohol is tarsier. The brown fur Prosimian, just slightly larger than the golden hamster, probably got its name from its nocturnal activity. It doesn’t look spooky though.
Visitors can see this halfway between the hill and Tagbilaran: in a jungle-like enclosure on the Loboc River, where boat trips are offered. About 20 tarsians are held by the branches with sticky pads on the fingers and toes. With their big, round eyes, which are huge compared to their bodies, they seem to watch visitors closely – and do not move. When night falls over Bohol, they probably behave quite differently.
