12 Mountains near Manila for Newbie-Friendly Day Hikes
Wondering where to start climbing?
by Gene Loves Acosta | April 13, 2016
Mt. Maculot (Cuenca, Batangas)
Difficulty level: 3/9
Travel time from Manila: Approximately 2 hours
Hours to summit: 1-2 hours or 2-4 hours
You can already enjoy spell-binding sceneries even before reaching the summit but Mt. Maculot is popular for its breath-taking view of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. There are also quite a number of resting stations along the trail making it an ideal hike for beginners.
Mt. Pico de Loro (Cavite)
Difficulty level: 3/9
Travel time from Manila: Around 2 hours
Hours to summit: 2-5 hours
They said the Spaniards saw a form of a giant parrot perched in the mountains of Cavite, hence, the name Pico de Loro or Parrot’s Beak. Even experienced hikers love Pico de Loro for its awe-inspiring views at the peak. Sometimes there are also exotic birds and monkeys that you can see along the trail.
Mt. Talamitam (Nasugbu, Batangas)
Difficulty level: 3/9
Travel time from Manila: Around 3 hours
Hours to summit: 1.5-2.5 hours
The trail is easy and unlike other mountains, Mt. Talamitam features a grass field which makes it convenient for the hikers to see where they’re heading. The hike can be a bit exhausting because there’s little tree cover but the 360-degree from the summit is definitely worth it. You can also take a side trip to Layong Bato River which is just a few meters away from the starting point.
Mt. Makiling (Los Baños, Laguna)
Difficulty level: 4/9
Travel time from Manila: Around 2 hours
Hours to summit: 4-5 hours
The canopy of trees eases the hike so beginners won’t easily feel tired because of the heat. You won’t be able to see a view from the summit (although there are parts where you can have a glimpse of Laguna de Bay) but you’ll definitely love the mystical mountain’s abundance of greens.
Mt. Tagapo (Binangonan, Rizal)
Difficulty level: 2/9
Travel time from Manila: Approximately 2 hours
Hours to summit: 1.5 hours
From the summit, you can see the entire Laguna Lake as well as its coastal towns, the skylines of the metro and the nearby Mt. Sembrano. The trail is easy and mostly on flat terrain surrounded with bamboo forest.
Mt. Manabu (Sto. Tomas, Batangas)
Difficulty level: 2/9
Travel time from Manila: 2-3 hours
Hours to summit: 1-2 hours
There are a number of stations along the way to the summit and some local residents even offer fruits and vegetables as well as locally grown coffee. Marking the highest peak of the mountain is a white cross with trimmed grass covering the summit area.
Got tips? Post them in the comments!
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Mitch
What happened to Mt Makiling and Mt Arayat? How come they are not on this list? Day trips like this is a great escape far from the maddening crowd. Thanks for the info.
April 18, 2016 at 1:49 pm
Sahlee
Makiling is in the list.
April 19, 2016 at 9:22 pm
ramel chua
Interested, where can i get in touch.
May 11, 2016 at 6:58 am
Engr. Benitez
Msg me if you want im also looking for someone to hike with.
May 12, 2016 at 11:29 am
ramel chua
Interested.where and who toget in touch with.
May 11, 2016 at 6:59 am
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January 30, 2018 at 3:23 pm