10:17 Name: Mt. Pico De Loro (Mt. Palay-Palay)
Location: Maragondon, Cavite
Height: 664 m
Mt. Pico De Loro (translated to english as „Peak of the Parrot“) is definitely worth your day. When you live around Metro Manila area or just have few spare days after travelling along, this is one of the great day hikes, that dou can do with less than 12 hours, including transportation from and to mountain.
You don’t need to be super fit athlete or in my opinion this could also be your first mountain hike – If you pace yourself, it is doable for everybody. Only preparation you should do, is have a great night of sleep and strong breakfast before heading out.
Getting there:
We started from Metro Manila, Mandaluyong. Take bus, jeepney, taxi or uber to Coastal Mall. Leaving as early as possible helps to prevent traffic congestions and also the midday heat when hiking. From Coastal Mall (An abandoned big shopping mall) bus station look for bus going to Ternate, Cavite. You could also probably get a minivan, that would be a lot faster but more expensive. We got the big bus – It had air conditioning, but was full of people (seats and standing). Bus will eventually get more empty, but letting people on and off takes a lot of time and this short journey takes long time. Ternate is final stop – get off and find tricycle. You should always bargain over the price and probably you will get little discount. Beeing tourist outside Philippines you will probably be asked higher price anyway (unfair, but true). Tricycle ride is pretty long and trikes are really small, but it will take you directly to registration site and starting point.
Forest part of the hike:
Most of the trail goes through thick and beautiful forest trail – That means you are well hidden from sun, but there is also little or no wind at all, to cool you down. Most of the track is stair like rocks and mud ground – little level ground. There are a lot of places on the way to catch your breath and take a seat if needed. There are some really steep on slippery climbs, if necessary us bamboos, trees and ropes to help yourself up. Track itself is very well maintained and guides do really take good care of it (cleaning up garbage, that some fools have left behind). We saw a lot of athletes running up and down the trail – But average hiker should take little more settle pace.
Watch tower:
About 3/4 of the track there is a small watchtower looking over the mountains – I would consider it as the first peak, because afterward you have steep and long ascent before final climb. Take your breath and look at the beauty of nature 🙂
Camp site:
Is a larger area, with seating and roofing, where you can relax and have a lunch. Packing you own lunch is recommended. On Sunday there were a lot of merchants, who sold some snacks, drinks and possibly food – but the prices were multiplied, as they have to drag all this stuff up the mountain for several kilometres. There is also nide 180 degree view of the valley and both peaks of the Pico de Loro.
Final ascent:
Final ascent to the peak is definitely the hardest. Is is very steep, full of loose sand and gravel. Pace yourself and be careful, when you slip, you could have a bad fall and take of lot of other hikers with you – although there is no possibility of falling down a cliff, it would still heart. There are bamboos most of the way, that you could hang on. Final lenght of the climb there is nothing to hang on and you just have to count on your grip.
The Peak:
It will reward you with a beautiful 360 degree view around the forest and sea. Although on weekends there are lot of hiker, blocking the nice view and making it feel crowded, it is still worth a few minutes of taking it all in. And ofcourse take some photos and silly selfies 🙂
For the adventurous – Monolith peak:
If you are adventure seeker, like me, you should definitely climb the second peak – Monolith. It is really a work of art by nature. High peak, surrounded with 90 degree steep edges 360 degrees. You have to have nerves of steel to climb there – The first part you just have to walk on a narrow path, with possibility of sliding or falling down some ten to twenty meters (wouldn’t want that). Next you have to climb up the cliff (with rope helping you) about 5-6 meters – wont suggest looking down. Afterward another really narrow path and little bit less steep climbing with a help of rope. After few final rocks to blimb you will reach the peak. Another rewarding view and possibility to make some great pictures.
Is it hard climb? Is it dangerous climb? Should I do it?
Yes, yes and yes 🙂 Although are millions of harder climbs, it is still a challenge for rookie hiker, with rewarding peaks. Danger is relative – Is walking on a street dangerous? You can twist an ankle in both scenario, but climbing this certain mountain will give some dangerously deadly parts, where some of you might get your heart beating faster 🙂 But if you ever happen to have the opportunity, you should climb this mountain, you wont regret!
Our trip iternatury:
4:30 – Wake up
6:00 – Take Uber from Mandaluyong to Coastal Mall Bus Station
6:30 – Bus starts going from Coastal Mall to Ternate, Cavite
8:00 – We arrived Ternate, Cavite – Took tricycle to Starting point
8:30 – Register, pay fee and start Trek
10:30 – Arrive to the peak of Pico de Loro
11:30 – Due to heavy traffic, I wait long time, to climb monolith part of the mountain
12:30 – Trek down to Camp point and have lunch
14:00 – Take trike back to Ternate
14:30 – Bus to Manila
16:30 – Arrive in Manila
Cost of hike (for 2 persons):
Bust tickets – 185PHP x2
Tricycle fee – 220PHP x2 (they charge for 3 persons)
Mountain permit fee – 25PHP x2
Total –860 PHP ~ 17€
(Cost of food and Uber is up to you – for smaller cost, you can always us bus or jeepney to travel around Manila)
