Mountain Hiking

Philippines is a prime spot for mountain climbing and nature trekking activities, with its large forest reserve areas, its vast lowlands and foothills, and countless volcanoes.

The variety of terrain coupled with the abundance of clear streams, waterfalls and vegetation can make for a trekking experience as unique and challenging as one can plan.

When can you do this.

The best time for mountaineering in the Philippines is during the summer months from March to June. It is best to avoid mountaineering activities during the wet season from June to October, when strong typhoons typically buffet the province.  However, you may also opt to do so during November to Feb.

Where can you do this.

You have countless choices for your mountaineering locations.  Be it in the Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao.  The main important thing is for you to decide which level you would want to take. 

Level 1- Easy climb.  For beginners.  Usually a 1 to 2 day climb.

Level 2- Moderate climb.  For those with some mountaineering experience and those who do this irregularly.

Level 3- Hard climb.  Hard-core mountaineers. Regular trekkers with vast experience already. 

You can also choose from the following:

Mt. Pinatubo

In June 1991, after more than four centuries of slumber, Pinatubo Volcano in the Philippines erupted so violently that more than 5 billion cubic meters of ash and pyroclastic debris were ejected from its fiery bowels producing eruption columns 18 kilometers wide at the base and heights reaching up to 30 kilometers above the volcano’s vent.

This phenomenon caused the world’s temperature to fall by an average of 1 degree Celsius. Clearly, Pinatubo’s eruption signals the world’s most violent and destructive volcanic event of the 20th century — ten times bigger than the 1980 flare-up of Saint Helens in the U.S.

Now, this has been a popular tourist destination.  . The  journey : sixty minutes of bumping, grinding 4x4 action., followed by three hours of trekking. Raw, rugged yet beautiful, Mt. Pinatubo is no easy climb.

Surrounded by a vast expanse of lahar- filled valleys boulders the size of cars and inhabited by a number of Aeta people (a local tribe), Mount Pinatubo offers a breathtaking view of a hidden lake inside its crater- an enchanting reward for intrepid explorers and trekkers. 

Mt. Pulag

The awe inspired by the imposing mountains of Benguet is heightened by the stillness of the surroundings, and towering above it all is Mount Pulag. It covers 11,550 hectares, with parts in Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya. Mt. Pulag was declared a national park 1987, in order to protect the ecology and the endangered animals of the area. Several tribes call the mountain home, and consider it sacred.

The  journey towards Mt. Pulag can be long and winding but being the second- highest mountain in the Philippines at 9,640 feet above sea level, Mt. Pulag has one of the best sunset and sunrise views.

Here, you can opt for the easy climb thru the Ambangeg trail ( half- day climb) or the much harder climb thru the Akiki trail( 2- days climb).

Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano is called the smallest active volcano  in the world.  It is located about 70-km south of Manila on "volcano island" inside a lake called Taal Lake. 

This is one of the more easily accessible trekking destinations from the metropolitan.  Consequently, this has become a little bit commercialized.  The trail has become worn and does not really offer much effort in climbing it.  However, the view in the summit has not changed--- it is still awesome.

One other option to do there is to go for sailing lessons inside the Taal lake.

Mt. Mayon

Mayon Volcano is an active volcano in the Philippines on the island of Luzon, in the province of Albay in the Bicol Region. Its almost perfectly-shaped cone is considered by some to be the Philippine equivalent of in Japan. 15 kilometres to the southeast of the volcano is Legazpi City.

This volcano takes its name from "Magayon" or "beautiful" in the Bicolano dialect. Mayon has erupted about 47 times - and recently as of February 2000, a wisp of smoke continually whists around the cone's top, suggesting that this mountain is really a sleeping beauty.

Mt. Mayon is the most active volcano in the country, having erupted over 50 times in the past 400 years. Like other volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean, Mayon is a part of the "Pacific Ring of Fire".

Cordillera Loop ( Benguet Province, Mountain Province, Ifugao Province)

This trekking expedition brings you to three adjacent provinces known for their majestic mountains.

All of them are a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon.

Among the popular destinations that you will see include Sagada Cave,  Mt. Ampacad, Lake Panum, Bontoc, Banaue Rice Terraces, View Point, Batad Rice Terraces, Tappya Falls and  Mt. Data.