Tired of being stuck in the metro? Feeling exhausted to loads of work? Why don't you take a break and reward yourself a great adventures even just for a day? Imagine yourself away from the bustle and hustle of the metro, embracing the awe-inspiring views from the top of the mountain! It might be difficult to get to the top but I am pretty sure that once you see the priceless view at the summit, you would realize it is worth all the sweat.
Mountaineering is now getting more popular in the Philippines. From only hundreds of hikers I've known before, there's now more than ten thousands of hikers in the country as of this day. Well, Philippines has a lot of beautiful mountains that you could climb up to. There's some for a seasoned mountaineers and there's also some for the beginners. So if you would want to try hiking, here are the top 5 best mountains for beginners near Metro Manila.
Mt. Maculot - Cuenca, Batangas
(947 MASL)
I had been conquered this mountain quite a lot of times already. I must say this is one of my favorite mountains in the Philippines. Located at Cuenca, Batangas - just more than an hour away from Manila, Maculot has been favorite hiking destination not only by me but also to many hikers in the country seasoned and beginner hikers alike.
​​
Climbing up to the Summit of this mountain requires a lot of determination and patience. It has a steep trail which can be a bit exhausting specially for new hikers, but most part of it is fenced with tall trees which make shades for hikers. The view from the rockies-part of the mountain is breathtakingly beautiful. You will be greeted by the stunning view of Taal Volcano and Taal lake. For the safety, be advised that there's part of the rockies which hikers is not allowed to go to. But apart from that, this mountain is absolute one of the most beautiful mountains in Southern part of Manila.
Mt. Pico De Loro - Ternate, Cavite
(664 MASL)
Mt.Pico De Loro or Locally known as Mt.Palay palay is considered as the blockbuster mountain in Cavite probably because of its proximity to Manila. It is famous for its monolith or the Parrot's beak. As like in Mt. Maculot, the trail going to the base camp of Mt.Pico de loro is fenced with tall trees which make shades for hikers.
From the base camp, It is another 15 minute assault going up to the summit where you can see a panoramic view of Cavite and Batangas. From there, It is again another 5 minutes going down to the bottom of the Parrot's beak or the monolith. Please be advised that climbing the monolith is quite challenging, but you can always have the option if you will climb the rock formation or not. But once you get to the top, I am sure that the view is worth all the hardships.
(As of August 2016, the monolith is closed for hikers)
Mt. Batulao - Nasugbu, Batangas
(811 MASL)
The tranquil vibe at the top of Mt. Batulao and its proximity to Manila are just some of the reasons why this mountain has been a popular hiking destination for weekend climb. Batulao has two trails to choose from, the Old and the new one and you can choose whether to take the former or the latter first. If you are thinking of hiking for the first time, I personally suggest the old trail. It is a combination of gradual rolling slopes and some steep assaults. But if you want to challenge yourself, then you may want to try the new trail which would give you challenges getting to top. You will be greeted by the breathtaking view of Tagaytay and Nasugbu once you get to top.
Mt. Binacayan - Montalban, Rizal
(424 MASL)
Mt. Binacayan is the one of the most visited mountains in Rizal by many hikers, mountaineers and soul searchers. Aside from the awe-inspiring view from the top. It also one of the easiest mountain to climb in Montalban area. The trail going to the summit of Binacayan is a combination of agricultural terrain, rocky and bamboo ascent.
Personally, I included this mountain on my top list because the summit is reachable just more than an hour. Just don't forget to wear hand gloves as you may encounter sharp rocks and narrow cave passages. At the summit, you will be greeted by the jaw-droppingly beautiful view of Sierra Madre Mountains and Rizal Province.
MT. MANALMON - SAN MIGUEL, BULACAN
(196 MASL)
This mountain is beautifully located in Sitio Madlum in the town of San Miguel, Bulacan. It is part of Biak-na-Bato National park and is one of the most visited place in San Miguel. There's two trails going to the top of this mountain, the easy trail and the Balikatan trail. Personally, I recommend the Balikatan trail for ascent and then take the easy trail for descent. The stunning views of Mt. Mabio and Mt. Gola will greet you at the summit. You can also have the Bayukbok Caves and Madlum cave as the side trip when hiking to Mt. Manalmon to maximize your biak na bato experience.
There you have it! Don't forget to try out these five mountains if you are planning to start hiking. And if you already did! comment and share your experience with us. Happy Hiking !
