Major jumpoff: Brgy. San Andres, Tanay, Rizal
LLA: 645 MASL / 780 MASL
Days required / Hours to destination: 1 day /1.5h (Mapatag); 3-4 (Susong Dalaga Peak)
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3
Features: Grassland slopes, views of Laguna, Rizal, and Quezon

— Source: Pinoy Mountaineer

THE JOURNEY

We started to climb around 6 PM and thought that it would be an easy trek but it was not. The trail going to the first peak named as Duhatan Ridge which is the campsite was truly a difficult one. It was like a total ascent, the trail was really steep. Per our guide, there are three main stations where you can actually rest on the trail and there is also a store that opens as early as 4 AM near the campsite. One good thing about Mt. Batolusong is its water sources. There are actually three water sources in this mountain. One near Duhatan Ridge, another near Mapatag plateau and lastly near Kayibon falls. So if your stomach is not too sensitive, you can drink from it to help you lighten your backpack.

After almost two hours of climbing, we were able to reach the campsite. Note that you can either choose to camp at Duhatan Ridge or Mapatag plateau but it is recommended to camp at Duhatan Ridge because of the following reasons:
(1) near the store; (2) near the water source; (3) the best view of the sea of clouds. After setting up our tent, we had our dinner under the glimmering infinite number of stars in the sky. The feeling was very ecstatic with the thing we have just beheld.

It was around 4 AM when we started our trek to Mapatag Plateau and it took an hour to reach it. It was unfortunate that we were not able to witness the sea of clouds in Duhatan Ridge due to the strong winds from last night but nonetheless, it was still amazing to witness Mt Batolusong from a total darkness unfolding to its exquisiteness. We continued our climb to reach its third and highest peak which is the Rangyas Peak.

The changing color of the sky, the flowers that bloomed overnight, the city lights, the greenest grasses in the mountain that were turned into gold, it was indeed a wonderful scenery!

Kay-Ibon Falls

We descended at around 7 AM and took the route going to Kayibon falls. This is the most well-known side trip when climbing Mt. Batolusong. It took us roughly around 2 hours to reach the place and we were the first group to dip into the base of the falls and it was so satisfying! The trail going to the falls was absolutely easy! 

TIPS/REMINDERS:

1. Leave no trace policy (LNT). Always respect the mountain!
2. Bring a flashlight for overnight and for those who will start the trek at dawn.
3.  Bring at least 1 liter of water, get it refilled from the water sources in the mountain if your stomach is not that too sensitive since the water comes directly from the mountain.
4. Bring your packed lunch/dinner and trail food.
5. Bring extra clothes.
6.  From Kay-ibon falls, you can exit from there and wait for jeepney back to Cogeo.

1. From Cubao Aurora Blvd, ride a jeepney going to Cogeo. Drop off is at Cogeo Gate 2 or Cogeo public market.
2. Walk to  Cogeo City Mall and look for the jeepney terminal going to Barangay Sampaloc. Drop off is at Barangay San Andres or just tell the driver that you will climb Mt Batolusong.
3. Rent a tricycle will take you the jump off area.

1. From Kay-ibon Falls, hire a tricycle that will take you to the jeepney terminal bound to Cogeo. The fare is around 150-200 good for four. From there ride a jeepney for 30 pesos. (You can also wait from the highway for jeepney bound to Cogeo, but this is not advisable for big groups because most of these jeeps that passed by are already full.
2. From Cogeo Gate 2, there are already jeepneys that are bound to Araneta Cubao for 25 pesos.

Related Links:
MT. PULAG TRAVEL GUIDE
Hiking Guide for Beginners: Mt. Maculot (Rockies) 2017
230 pesos Hiking Guide to Mt. Balagbag 2017
500 pesos Dayhike Guide to Mt Batulao + Caleruega Church

FOLLOW OUR BUDGET FRIENDLY ADVENTURES THRU:

The post 500 pesos Dayhike Guide to Mt. Batolusong + Kay-ibon Falls  appeared first on byajayro.

Location: Nasugbo Batangas Elevation: 811+ MASL Difficulty: 4/9

Guide: Not Required

Life gets more of its flavor from the adventures we get to experience- from a simple trip to somewhere where we can have the serenity we have been looking for and just like any other human being in this world who loves to explore the beauty of nature, once again, we climbed another beautiful mountain.

Mt Batulao is  2-3 hours away from Manila that has been tagged as one of the most famous hiking destinations for enthusiasts that offers a magnificent view of provinces of Batangas and Cavite.

THE JOURNEY

There are two trails to choose from when climbing this mountain namely the New Trail and the Old Trail wherein these two can be combined for a traverse hike. The Old trail consists of 10 peaks to the summit while the New trail consists of 12.

We went for a traverse hike and decided to take the OLD-NEW trail and started trekking around 5:30AM.

Peak 1 (Longest trail among the 12 peaks)

It took us roughly around an hour to reach peak 1 since the trail from jump-off to peak 1 is the longest. From peak 1, you’ll get pass peak 2 to 7 without any difficulties. However, starting from peak 7 going to peak 10 which is the summit, it required us to double our effort because it is from here where the steepness of the trail becomes burdensome.

Photo taken at Peak 7. This is the starting point where the difficulty of the trail is leveled up.

After almost three (3) hours of trekking, we were able to reach the summit and was welcomed by a very breathtaking scenery.

SIDE TRIP

After your hike, you may want to visit the most iconic and popular Chapel for weddings in Tagaytay, the Caleruega Church.

HOW TO GET THERE?

 ride a bus from Cubao or Buendia bound to Batangas and tell the conductor to drop you off at Hillcrest or tell him that you will climb Mt. Batulao. The fare is 111/way if you’re coming from Buendia. From there, hire a tricycle that will bring you to the jump-off point for 100pesos.

 SIDE TRIP: Hire a tricycle at the jump-off point that will take you to the Chruch for (80-100 pesos good for four). 

REMINDERS/TIPS:

• You can opt not to hire a guide since it is not required. However, if you are alone or a beginner, it is better to hire a guide. Guide fee is 500 pesos
• Registration fees will be paid along the way to the summit and back to the jump-off point for 10, 20 and 30 for a total of 60 pesos.
• Better to camp at Old Trail’s campsite since its located at the lower part of the mountain which means strong winds at night can be avoided. In addition, the trail NEW-OLD is easier compared to the OLD-NEW trail.
• If you have extra money to spare, then you can visit Caleruega Church as a side trip.

Related Links:
MT. PULAG TRAVEL GUIDE
Hiking Guide for Beginners: Mt. Maculot (Rockies) 2017
230 pesos Hiking Guide to Mt. Balagbag 2017
500 pesos Dayhike Guide to Mt. Batolusong + Kay-ibon Falls

FOLLOW OUR BUDGET FRIENDLY ADVENTURES THRU:

The post 500 pesos Dayhike Guide to Mt Batulao + Caleruega Church appeared first on byajayro.

Rizal province is undoubtedly one of the most favored places to visit for mountaineers. It is a perfect place for beginners to celebrate their first mountain hike since it is in here where you can find the right mountain to climb based on your specifications. Aside from the beautiful mountains, the province of Rizal also offers unspoiled rivers and waterfalls as well as impressive rock formations inside those century old caves.

One of the mountains in Rizal that is considered a favorite is Mt. Daraitan. It is categorized with a difficulty of 4 out of 9 and it offers a scenic view of the Sierra Madre and the ever-bustling Tinipak river.

THE JOURNEY

We started our trip to Mt. Daraitan and Tinipak River a little passed 4AM. At around 6AM, we reached our destination which was at the Jollibee Tanay. From here, many tricycle drivers are waiting and will offer a ride going to Barangay Daraitan.

The fare is fixed at 500 pesos and the trike can accommodate up to 6 persons. Banca Transfer Fee is Php 5 per way

After more than an hour of the bumpy ride, we transferred to a banca to cross a river and rode another tricycle going to Brgy. Daraitan Barangay Hall where the major jump-off point is located. We reached the Barangay Hall around 8AM.

The guides in Barangay Daraitan are well organized. Before we started our adventure, our guide, Kuya Melvin, provided us an orientation to discuss the pros and cons of the hike.

We immediately started our trek after the orientation as our feet were too hungry to conquer this mountain. The first part of the trek appeared to be just fine that made us think that it was an easy hike but it was a big mistake to think that way! The trail going to the summit was almost a total ascent plus the difficulty doubled due to the muddiness of trail brought by yesterday’s rainfall.

We were on an almost non-stop climb up to the summit. We passed Camp 1 and rested for awhile and immediately got back to our trek passing camp 2 and eventually reaching camp 3. The longest of these was the trek going to camp 1 and it was the most difficult part of the trek.

THE SUMMIT

Finally, after almost 3 hours of trekking we eventually reached the summit and what else can we say, it was a total beauty! The Sierra Madre Range is so mesmerizing plus the natural rock formation on the summit made it all perfect.

SIDE TRIP

We took a different route, traversing to Tinipak River. The difficulty tripled! It was too slippery plus the trail going down was too demanding and you really need to be extra careful to avoid getting slipped and hurt your precious butt with that hard and pointed limestone.

If your shoes looks like this, no worries! You can wash the mud off at Tinipak River.

After more than 2 hours of trekking down, we reached Tinipak River. It was a perfect way to end our hiking, dipping into its cold water.

Inside the cave.

HOW TO GET THERE?

Ride an FX at Starmall Crossing and tell the driver to drop you off at Jollibee Tanay. From there, hire a tricycle that will take you to Brgy Daraitan (be prepared for an adventurous ride since the way is a rough uphill road).

TIPS/REMINDERS

1. Leave no trace policy.
2. The first trip of UV Express going to Tanay is at 4AM just in front of Starmall Shaw.
3. Take with you at least 2 liters of water, trail food, and your packed lunch.
4. Bring extra clothes.
5. Be more cautious when you are in Tinipak River especially if you plan to swim because the underwater current is strong.
6. Take a jeepney when going back to town proper, it is safer than hiring a tricycle.

Related Links:
MT. PULAG TRAVEL GUIDE
Hiking Guide for Beginners: Mt. Maculot (Rockies) 2017
230 pesos Hiking Guide to Mt. Balagbag 2017
500 pesos Dayhike Guide to Mt. Batolusong + Kay-ibon Falls 
500 pesos Dayhike Guide to Mt Batulao + Caleruega Church

FOLLOW OUR BUDGET FRIENDLY ADVENTURES THRU:

The post 600 pesos Dayhike Guide to Mt. Daraitan + Tinipak River appeared first on byajayro.

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.

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.

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Related post:
MT. PULAG HIKING GUIDE
Hiking Guide for Beginners: Mt. Maculot (Rockies) 2017

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!

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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.

1. Leave no trace policy as always. Respect the mountain!
2. Bring packed lunch or dinner/Trail food
3. 2 liters of water
4. You can also bring some kiddie food for the children along your way up to the summit.
5. Always bring extra clothes, umbrella, and extra money.
6. Personal meds
7. 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.
8. 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.)

Related post:
MT. PULAG HIKING GUIDE
Hiking Guide for Beginners: Mt. Maculot (Rockies) 2017

 FOLLOW OUR BUDGET FRIENDLY ADVENTURES THRU:

The post 230 pesos Hiking Guide to Mt. Balagbag 2017 appeared first on byajayro.