Location: Licao-licao, Rodriguez, Rizal
Elevation: 777+ MASL
Difficulty: 3/9
Guide: Not Required
It was a one fine Saturday morning when I decided to visit Mt. Balagbag located at Licao-licao, Rodriguez Rizal. At first, I was hesitant because that was my first time to hike a mountain alone but my adventurous spirit told me that I can do it even if it is just me. So I packed my things in a hurry and just like one click of the remote control to change the channel of the TV, I was there standing at the jeepney terminal bound to Licao-licao where my climb to the summit of Mt. Balagbag will soon start.
Table of Contents
The Journey
This mountain is a good climb for a beginner. The trail is very wide and is easy to follow, you’ll never worry about getting lost. Though it still requires a deal of stamina especially during rainy season. For less than two hours, I was able to reach the summit welcoming me with this amazing view.
When I was enjoying the view up to the summit, the clouds gathered and boom! Heavy rain fell. In less than an hour of “tampisaw sa ulan” experience, the rain stopped and it made me speechless to witness the magnificent view from the top. The green golden grass field, the sun, the clouds, the trees, everything!
Mt Balagbag is not only great at daytime but rather equally beautiful at night because it gives you a magnificent view of what a city light is. Just make sure to bring a jacket or something that will keep yourself warm when you plan to camp up there.
Surely, this won’t be my last climb here. All is well that ends well. Cheers to more adventures! ☺
It’s more fun in the Philippines!
Thanks to Daniel and Regina, new found pals for the coffee, the ride, and meaningful life lessons.
How to get there?
- From Edsa, ride a bus going to Tungko. Just look for buses that have the signage “Tungko.”Tell the conductor to drop you off at Jollibee Tungko or BDO which is just a few meters away from Jollibee. At the back of BDO is the jeepney terminal bound to Licao-licao.
- Leave no trace policy as always. Respect the mountain!
- Bring packed lunch or dinner/Trail food
- 2 liters of water
- You can also bring some kiddie food for the children along your way up to the summit.
- Always bring extra clothes, umbrella, and extra money.
- Personal meds
- A guide is not required since the trail is easy. You can also ask the locals if you’re in the right way up to the summit. Traversing to Mt. Maranat is “allowed” by the locals but as per the advisory from DENR, Mt. Maranat will be temporarily closed for rehabilitation.
- Tricycle going to Brgy Hall (optional)
- Solo= Php. 60 (for me I opted not to ride a trike going to Brgy hall. I started my trek after I get off the jeep and I discovered that it will only take you at least 30 minutes to reach the Brgy hall where you will register and pay a fee of 10 pesos and I recommend that you start from here.)
| Boni to Tungko (RT) | Php 136 |
| Tungko to Licao Licao (RT) | 54 |
| Registration Fee (10 at Brgy Hall and 30 near the summit) |
40 |
| Total Expenses | Php. 230 |
ILOCANO + TRAVELER + BLOGGER + ENTREPRENEUR
With over 8 years of global travel experience and a Master’s degree in Travel Journalism, our author brings a blend of academic expertise and real-world exploration to ByAJayRo.com. Passionate about discovering unique destinations and sharing insider tips, they provide practical advice and authentic insights to enhance your travel experiences.
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