Aside from Mt. Sembrano, this mountain located in Talim Island is another spot where you can get breathtaking views of the largest lake in the Philippines, Laguna de Bay.
🇵🇭MT. TAGAPO ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭
✈️🛳🚌 How to get to Mt. Tagapo, Rizal:
⏺ Ride a van/FX/jeepney from EDSA Crossing-Shaw to Binangonan, Rizal (travel time: 1.5 – 2 hours depending on traffic condition).
⏺ Walk or ride a tricycle to get to the port.
⏺ Take the public boat bound for Talim Island and alight at Barangay Janosa (travel time: 1 – 1.5 hours).
⏺ Register and secure guide/s.
⏰⏳ SAMPLE DAY HIKE ITINERARY:
4:00 AM ETD for Binangonan
5:30 AM Breakfast / ETD for Talim Island
8:00 AM Commence trek
10:00 AM ETA Summit
2:00 PM Start descent
3:30 PM Wash up
4:00 PM ETD for Binangonan Port
5:00 PM ETD Manila
💰💶 ESTIMATED BUDGET (for a solo traveler): Php 800 – Php 1,000
***Expenses may vary depending on personal consumption of food and other necessities. If traveling alone, you will solely shoulder the guide fees.
I learned about Talim Island in 2012. I wasn’t yet a hiker back then so I didn’t really know what is there to see in this island. I have scaled Mt. Tagapo twice. It may be a short hike but it offers picturesque views of Laguna Lake at its summit.One interesting thing you get to experience once you visit Talim Island is the boat ride to get to the jump-off. But you also need to take into consideration the schedule of the boat trips. Upon your descent, you have to catch the last trip going back to Binangonan Port (confirm with the boatmen the exact time as the schedule changes depending on the number of passengers). Moreover, always ask the locals if the boat you’re on will pass by Janosa. There are loads of public boats at Binangonan Port en route to different barangays.I was accompanied by my workmates during my first hike in Tagapo. My friend and I decided to go ahead since my other workmates were still stuck in Shaw waiting for the other group of joiners who arrived late. I just told them that I couldn’t afford to wait for them because I still had to hike another mountain the next day.The trail of Mt. Tagapo is really perfect for newbies and first-timers since its assault is gradual. Considering a number of rest stops, reaching the summit for two hours would actually be a leisurely trek.
📜✏️ Tips/Reminders:
📌The hike takes about 1.5 – 2 hours depending on your pace.
📌This mountain is recommended for beginners.
📌It’s much better to hire a guide since there are forks along the trail.
📌Bring enough hydration as some parts of the trail are exposed to the sun. There are no available water sources.
📌Expect rain during monsoon season.
📌You may opt to join organized hiking events online.
📌Always observe the LNT principles.
☎️ Contacts:
📌Tour Guides:
Kuya Philip (09503016034)
Kuya Orlie (09466971505)
I went back to Tagapo in April 2017 with my high school friends. We always have our annual backpacking trip every summer but because we were all busy, we weren’t able to plan for a longer trip so we just opted to go on a day hike at Talim Island.The first time I noticed when we reached the summit was the color of the grasses. Then I just remembered that the summit was still recuperating from when it got burned months ago.I could actually say that we stayed a bit long at the peak even if it was in the middle of the day and the temperature was at its hottest. The strong blows of the wind made our photo shoot tolerable anyway.Just like Mt. Balagbag, Mt. Tagapo is one of the mainstream hiking destinations you can visit without breaking the bank. The cost to get here is relatively cheaper than that of other mountains in Southern Luzon.
***For more photos of Mt. Tagapo, please click this link. For other destinations in Rizal and CALABARZON, you may visit this link.
