If you want a hiking destination near the metro with breathtaking sea of clouds, head to Tanay in the province of Rizal. Being a popular tourist attraction, Tanay has a lot to offer newbie and seasoned hikers alike.
🇵🇭MT. BATOLUSONG ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭
✈️🛳🚌 How to get to Mt. Batolusong, Rizal:
⏺ Ride a jeepney from Cubao along Aurora Boulevard to get to Cogeo Gate 2 (travel time: 1 – 1.5 hours depending on traffic condition).
⏺ Walk to get to the public market where jeepneys bound for Sampaloc are parked. Ask the driver to drop you off at Batangas/Batangasan (travel time: 45 minutes to 1 hour).
⏺ Hire a tricycle that will take you to the jump-off.
⏺ Register and secure guide/s.
Batolusong back then was not yet a mainstream hiking getaway when I scaled it the first time. The fees being collected at the jump-off were still cheaper compared to how much the locals have been asking nowadays.It’s usually best to catch the sea of clouds during “ber” months. Just hope for a good weather since possible thunderstorms due to the northeast monsoon might ruin your itinerary. Always start your hike early. Majority of the trail is open to the harsh heat of the sun so make sure you minimize exposure by covering your skin.
⏰⏳ SAMPLE DAY HIKE ITINERARY:
4:00 AM ETD for Cogeo
5:30 AM ETD for Batangasan
6:30 AM ETD to jump-off
7:00 AM Commence trek
8:30 AM ETA Campsite
9:00 AM ETA Summit
1:00 PM Start descent to Kay-ibon Falls
4:00 PM ETD for Cogeo
5:00 PM ETD for Manila
💰💶 ESTIMATED BUDGET (for a solo traveler): Php 1,000 – Php 1,500
***Expenses may vary depending on personal consumption of food and other necessities. If traveling alone, you will solely shoulder the guide fees and tricycle transfer rates.
The sea of clouds is actually not a sure thing when you get to this spot. There may be rainy days especially if a typhoon is enhancing the monsoon so please don’t blame your guides, hiking organizers or friends who invited you as they cannot control the weather anyway. No one can guarantee in any mountain the sea of clouds commonly sought by mountaineers.Since Batolusong is a popular hiking attraction, expect the trails, campsite and summit to be heavily crowded especially during weekends. The first time I climbed this mountain, the part of the trail which I found challenging was the first phase of continuous assault towards Duhatan Ridge. My friends and I were still hoping to catch the sea of clouds during that time but it was already 9:00 AM when we arrived at the ridge. It was because it took time before the jeepney left from Cogeo since we still had to wait for other passengers. The barangays of Sampaloc back then was not yet famous among mountaineers. Even if it was a weekend, my friends and I were the only climbers inside the jeepney during our visit. We were disappointed upon seeing only the remaining thin layer of clouds when we got to Duhatan. I quickly thought of a revenge climb as soon as possible.
📜✏️ Tips/Reminders:
📌The hike to the summit takes about 1.5 – 2 hrs depending on your pace.
📌This mountain is recommended for newbies.
📌It is much better to hike early so you can catch the sea of clouds.
📌Bring enough hydration as some parts of the trail are exposed to the sun.
📌You can traverse the trail to get to Kay-ibon Falls. You can just walk for a few minutes from the waterfall to get to the highway where you can catch a jeepney back to Cogeo.
📌Always check the weather first before scaling this mountain. Expect rain during monsoon season (June-February).
📌You may opt to join organized hiking events online.
📌Always observe the LNT principles.
A friend of mine then invited me to his hike with other joiners in Batolusong. I quickly grabbed the opportunity to go with him. During that time, this mountain already gained fame in the hiking community due to social media. It was still dawn when we arrived at the terminal of jeepneys bound for Sampaloc but it only took minutes before the jeep got full of passenger. Majority of them were mountaineers. My friends and I even sat at the top of the jeepney since there was no longer available space inside the vehicle.We braced the assault to the ridge to catch the sea of clouds. We were lucky enough to see it. From this spot, we leisurely walked and took our time to reach Mapatag Plateau before finally commencing our final ascent to Rangyas Peak. It was a weekend so loads of climbers kept arriving.We capped off our climb by traversing the trail to Kay-ibon Falls. The waterfall was full of hikers taking a refreshing dip so I just took a rest while waiting for my friends who decided to bathe before we headed back to Manila.
***For more photos of Mt. Batolusong, please click this link. For other destinations in Rizal and CALABARZON, you may visit this link.
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