The Philippines is full of great trekking and mountaineering spots. Mountaineers flock to the nation’s highest peaks, like Mount Pulag in the North and Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak, In the southern island of Mindanao. But there are other great hiking and trekking sites, like the eerily beautiful Mount Pinatubo crater. Light treks can also be enjoyed in the outlying provinces of Metro Manila, like Laguna Batangas, and Bulacan.
See you at the summit!
Mt. Maculot (Cuenca, Batangas)
Mt. Maculot is one of the most popular daytrip destinations. It is so popular that on weekends and summer months, there is a sari-sari store at the campsite. This mountain, at the heart of Batangas, is known as a landmark for locals and travellers alike; it is easily identifiable because of its abruptly terminating east side - forming a cliff that is challenging for rock climbers and breathtaking to everybody else. Others describe the shape of the mountain as 'igloo-like'.
Mt. Maculot Day Climb
DATE: DECEMBER 8, 2012
AVAILABLE SLOTS: 20/30
Php 800 per person
| Day 1 |
Early Pick-up in Manila
Departure for Cuenca Batangas (5 AM)
Arrival in Mt. Maculot Jump-off Point
Stretching
Start of Trek
Arrival in Campsite, Rest
Explore Rockies
Lunch
Head back to Jump-off
Departure for Manila
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Mt. Romelo (Famy, Laguna)
This land of waterfalls is a captivating retreat at the southwest border of the Sierra Madre, known to hikers as Mt. Romelo. Nestled in the bucolic town of Siniloan in Laguna, it is as tropical as mountains can get. Easy trails, taking just two hours to complete, lead to a wide campsite, and from there the awaited exploration can begin.
Mt. Romelo Night Trek
DATE: DECEMBER 25-26, 2012AVAILABLE SLOTS: 65/90
Php 2300 per person
| Day 1 |
Pick-up in Manila
Departure for Famy, Laguna (6 PM)
Arrival in Mt. Romelo Jump-off Point
Stretching
Start of Trek
Arrival in Campsite, Set Camp
Late Dinner
Lights Off
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Day 2
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Breakfast
Explore Buruisan Falls and other waterfalls
Lunch, Break Camp
Head back to Jump-off
Departure for Manila
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Mt. Pico de Loro (Ternate, Cavite)
Centuries ago, the Spaniards aboard their galleons to Manila Bay noticed the form of a giant parrot, perched in the forested mountains in Cavite. They named it "Pico de Loro" - "Parrot's Peak" Today, mountaineers who visit Pico de Loro discover that it is as enchanting as its name. High on Cavite's highest point, they could behold the rocky tower that the Spanish sailors once saw as the parrot's beak, and they could gaze towards South China Sea where the galleons once sailed, all the way to the historic island fort of Corregidor. Gusts of sea breeze reach the peak, refreshing hikers after a four-hour climb. The peak's rocky outcropping is dramatic, and sharply contrasts with the plains of Cavite and the waters of South China Sea.
Mt. Pico De Loro Night Trek
DATE: JANUARY 10-11, 2013
AVAILABLE SLOTS: 61/85
Php 3400 per person
| Day 1 |
Pick-up in Manila
Departure for Ternate, Cavite (6 PM)
Arrival in Mt. Pico De Loro Jump-off Point
Stretching
Start of Trek
Arrival in Camp 1, Registration
Continue Trek
Arrival in Camp 2, Set Camp
Late Dinner
Lights Off
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Day 2
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Breakfast
Trek to Summit and explore "The Monolith"
Back to Camp 2
Lunch, Break Camp
Head back to Jump-off
Departure for Manila
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Mt. Sembrano (Pililia, Rizal)
At the helm of Jalajala peninsula, jutting into Laguna Lake like a frigate, is Mt. Sembrano in Pililla, Rizal. Once a haven of NPA insurgents, it is now a popular hiking destination. The trails are challenging for a daytrip, and takes 3-4 hours to climb. First there’ll be a wide rough road which leads to a rocky path. Locals, if you encounter them, would offer to get fresh coconut juice for P10. Characteristic of the earlier portions of the trail are the numerous mango trees; it is like an orchard. If it is mango season, you might just be tempted to pick a fruit or two. Thus the area is called Manggahan – and there is a campsite here, before the trails become moderately steep (~45 degrees).
Mt. Sembrano Night Trek
DATE: FEBRUARY 25-26, 2013AVAILABLE SLOTS: 59/105
Php 2750 per person
| Day 1 |
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Departure for Pililia, Laguna (6 PM)
Arrival in Mt. Sembrano Jump-off Point
Stretching
Start of Trek
Arrival in Campsite, Set Camp
Late Dinner
Lights Off
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Day 2
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Breakfast
Trek to Summit and explore the area
Back to Camp
Lunch, Break Camp
Head back to Jump-off
Departure for Manila
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Mt. Batulao (Nasugbu, Batangas)
The cool and arid climb of Mt. Batulao is a pleasant escape from the tropics. The moment you alight from the Crow bus at Evercrest Golf Course – the jumpoff – you will feel the same coolness felt by the visitors of Tagaytay. And this temperature will be with you all the way. Batulao is the only mountain in the region where you can wear jackets at high noon. You have to. There is no tree cover throughout the climb. On sunny days, this paradoxical blending of heat and cold, on dramatic, sometimes steep landscapes, with forceful winds that make the cogon grass dance, forming beautiful waveforms across the slopes, earns for Batulao the distinction of being the most spectacular of the mountains in Batangas.
Mt. Batulao Day Climb
DATE: MARCH 16, 2013
AVAILABLE SLOTS: 100/130
Php 1500 per person
| Day 1 |
Early Pick-up in Manila
Departure for Nsugbu, Batangas (5 AM)
Arrival in Mt. Batulao Jump-off Point
Stretching
Start of Trek
Arrival in Summit, Rest
Lunch
Head back to Jump-off
Departure for Manila
Sidetrip to Tagaytay (Optional)
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