No matter how frequent you climb the same mountain, it will always be a unique experience every single time.
🇵🇭MT. BALAGBAG AND MARANAT ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭
✈️🛳🚌 How to get to Mt. Balagbag, Rizal and Maranat:
⏺ Ride a bus from EDSA-Cubao (at Jollibee-Farmers Plaza) bound for Tungko, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan (travel time: 1.5 – 3 hours depending on traffic condition).
⏺ Alight at Jollibee Tungko and walk to the terminal of jeepneys bound for Licao-Licao (beside BDO).
⏺ Ride the public jeepney to Licao-Licao (travel time: 30 minutes to 1 hour).
⏺ Hike for 1.5 – 2 hours to get to the summit.
Honestly, I have lost track of how many times I have conquered this mountain. Whenever I am on a tight budget and I want to train and tune up for a much harder climb, I always consider Mt. Balagbag.The trail of this mountain is relatively easy and is advisable for first-timers.But still, never underestimate any mountain. It may be a piece of cake for hardcore mountaineers but the assault is still challenging enough for your legs and quads.Considering it’s one of the cheapest to climb among the mountains near Manila, it has become a mainstream hiking spot which is why you also get to see runners training for marathons and mountain bikers along the trail.
⏰⏳ SAMPLE DAY HIKE ITINERARY FOR MT. BALAGBAG:
5:00 AM ETD for Tungko
7:00 AM ETA Tungko / breakfast
8:00 AM ETD for Licao-Licao
9:00 AM Commence trek
11:00 AM ETA Mt. Balagbag summit
3:00 PM Start descent
4:30 PM Wash up
5:00 PM ETD for Tungko
6:00 PM ETD for Manila
💰💶 ESTIMATED BUDGET (for a solo traveler): Php 800 – Php 1,200
***Expenses may vary depending on personal consumption of food and other necessities.
Way back in 2014, I’ve been hearing about this mountain from my friends from the hiking community. They were already experienced mountaineers back then and Balagbag was sort of their playground.I joined an organized hiking event in Bakun, Benguet and since it was going to be my first ever major climb, I decided to go with my friend to Mt. Balagbag as our training for Bakun Trio.Boy was I so elated once we reached the summit. You could see in this photo how lush and healthy the grasslands were considering it was rainy season.We passed by this view deck upon descent and captured some more pictures.We trekked back and walked the same trail then stopped by the store at the trailhead en route to Maranat then continued our journey after taking a breather.Please keep in mind that Maranat’s trail is much longer and more difficult than that of Balagbag. There are also forks along the trail so make sure to hire a guide. My friend has been to Maranat a couple of times so she’s familiar with the trail.If my memory serves me right, this was my first time ever to cliff-jump. I know, I’m such a pussy since it’s not that high but hey, I was able to conquer my fear and because of this first jump, I’ve begun to appreciate and enjoy the adrenaline rush whenever I jump into waterfalls, rivers and lagoons which are way higher.The cascades of Maranat may not be as majestic as the waterfalls in other parts of the country but they are amazingly pure and clean. I now understand why some climbers would opt to head to Maranat after they scale Mt. Balagbag and take a swim in its refreshing pools.It was past 2:00 PM when we agreed to go back. I could still remember when my friend and I got lost along the trail. Unfortunately, there are still some portions that are enough to confuse and disorient you. It was almost dusk but thank the gods, we made our way back to the jump-off. ***My piece of advice especially to newbies: don’t trek here without an experienced guide.By 2015, the same friend who went with me the first time and I decided again to visit the waterfalls of Maranat and we were also accompanied by another friend of ours from the hiking community.We just focused on Maranat for this hike so we didn’t need to trek quickly as if we’re on a time constraint.This second visit of mine to Maranat transpired when it’s still not required to procure a permit from the authorities.We headed back to the store at the trailhead then made our way to the direction where the summit of Mt. Balagbag is located then asked some locals where we could find this spot with a swimming pool.The entrance fee was quite cheap and we chilled out for quite some time before washing up then descended to the terminal of jeepneys en route to Tungko.
This was yet another Balagbag hike the same year when I asked my college friends if they would want to go with me. They’re amateur mountaineers so I chose to take them to a relatively easy climb.We started off with a gradual ascent but it was getting harder and harder for my newbie friends so they were like, “Is this what you call easy?” I was laughing so hard while we moved forward.It was quite a bit hot due to the weather which made the hike challenging for them. After all, the trail of Balagbag is exposed to the sun. I was used to Balagbag’s heat anyway.We took our last shots here at this viewing deck before descending then made our way to the next phase of our day trip, conquering Lioness Back in Norzagaray, Bulacan.The same year, I went back to Mt. Balagbag for another tune-up climb.I may have been to this mountain a couple of times but it felt like a different experience whenever I paid a visit. Luckily, Mum Nature always grants me the best weather during my climbs here.Although there was one instance when my friends and I went on a training hike in Mt. Balagbag amidst heavy rains due to a low pressure area. We had to abort our ascent to the summit as we were greeted with harsh winds. I didn’t take any photos of that horrendous hike though. The muddy descent, our wet clothes and the cold temperature made our feat so unforgettable.In case you run out of hydration, that’s actually the least of your worries. After all, there are available stores along the trail where you can buy refreshments.If you have scaled Mt. Tapulao, you’ll notice that the trail of Mt. Balagbag is akin to the rocky trails of Tapulao.Mt. Balagbag though seems like a much easier and shorter version of Tapulao. Nevertheless, they both turn into a river of mud after a heavy rain shower.
📜✏️ Tips/Reminders:
📌Mt. Balagbag is recommended for newbies. Its trail is exposed to the sun so make sure you are well hydrated.
📌You will be required to pay twice for registration (one at the barangay hall and another one near the summit).
📌Please be reminded that you need to secure a permit from DENR-PENRO Bulacan if you plan on going to Maranat. It is possible to do a day hike of Mt. Balagbag and Maranat but it is not recommended for first-timers.
📌Mt. Balagbag, located in Rizal, is part of the Sierra Madre mountain range while Maranat is geographically part of Mt. Oriod in the province of Bulacan.
📌The trail of Mt. Balagbag is pretty much straightforward so guides are not mandatory but it is advisable to hire a guide if you will be exploring the waterfalls of Maranat since there are a lot of forks along the trail. Just coordinate with the barangay hall for available guides.
📌Expect rain during monsoon season (June-February).
📌Always observe the LNT principles.
Fast forward to 2016, I joined a hike in Mt. Balagbag organized by one of my acquaintances from the travel community and met some new friends on this trip.The overcast weather greeted us this time but thankfully, it wasn’t raining cats and dogs compared to my stormy hike before.Most of the participants were first-timers so the climb was kind of challenging for them. It was nonetheless a memorable and fun experience for these newbies.Pitched tents of mountaineers who spent the night was a typical sight here at the summit but we were still able to capture the shots of our chosen angles.I was again welcomed by this fatty cat here at the summit. I gave my packed food to this cat during my first hike in 2014. I noticed that it got bigger from the last time I saw it. My fellow climbers for sure always give it food to munch on.The cloudy weather pretty much covered us from the scorching sun as we leisurely trekked back to the jump-off point.I revisited again Mt. Balagbag in 2017 for a weekend day hike with my former workmates.Just like my previous climbs here, we left for Tungko early morning. Boy were we still sleepy as we walked towards the terminal of jeepneys en route to Licao-Licao.The dry season gave us these orange and brown hues of the grasslands.If celebrating New Year’s Eve within the walls of restaurants or your house is too mainstream for you, spending it at the summit of Mt. Balagbag is an extraordinary and exciting way to spice up the celebration. I’ve heard that watching the fireworks display of Metro Manila is an epic experience atop the mountain’s peak.My friends were newbie climbers that’s why I chose Mt. Balagbag. We opted for a slow pacing for this relaxed hike.Of course we wouldn’t be going home without taking loads of these Instagrammable shots.I noticed that a lot has changed with the topography of Mt. Balagbag. There were portions which where smoothened out and the grasslands were leveled for a more beginner-friendly hike. More stores where you could buy snacks were constructed at the trailhead going to the summit.The hot weather was definitely perfect for a refreshing dip at the waterfalls of Maranat but because my friends are inexperienced hikers, scaling two mountains in a day was out of the question.I’ve been meaning to camp out and spend the night at the summit of Mt. Balagbag. My friend who stayed here overnight once told me that it’s a perfect spot for capturing the metro’s city lights. I’ll surely go for it in the near future.When the summit of the mountain looks like a painting and you are amazed like…
***For other destinations in Rizal and CALABARZON, you may visit this link.
One Comment
Judith
pwede na po maliguan Maranat Falls?