Mt. Maculot is located in Cuenca, Batangas. This mountain is classified as minor climb with a trail difficulty of 3/9 which is good for beginners like me (As per Pinoy Mountaineer Site)
Mt. Maculot is popular because of its proximity and it is as well budget-friendly. I have heard about this mountain from fellow mountaineers I have known from the previous mountains I’d been.
How to go there?
To reach Mt. Maculot from Manila, go to Jam Bus Liner which is in Gil Puyat Station. Take a bus going to Lemery and tell to the bus conductor to drop you at Cuenca. The place is actually known so you don’t have to worry of getting lost. It will take 2 hours and 30 minutes for you to reach the place.
Once you reach this place, you’ll need to ride a tricycle going to the registration site and jump off point. The fee for the tricycle is just around P20.00/each. Some mountaineers prefer to walk, but for Mavie and I, we preferred to take a ride because we want to save our energy going up to the mountain.
At the registration area
We preferred not to get a guide since it is too expensive to get one. Of course, not just for monetary reasons but also we knew that there are other mountaineers ahead of us. We can ask for help in case we are lost.
Jump-off point to Mt. Maculot
The trail, as we have expected, is clear and obvious.
On that trail, you’ll see a place where you can take a bath/break/eat/etc – Herman’s Paliguan.
Disclaimer: I am not trying to promote this area for money or any other reason. There are several places in there where you can take a bath and eat as you preferred. But this place offers a tasty pansit and the people from this place are as well nice and friendly.
The trail is a bit hard due to the loose soil and sandy features of it plus the fact that there are no trees where you can hold on to get a pull. So the challenge was there – to reach the campsite without so much slips.
Lots of Buko/halo–halo stand in each trail and peak, as if they knew the cravings you will have as soon as you reach their point. Haha
Once you reach the Buko stand with an overview of Taal Lake, that means you are just 15-20 minute away to the campsite.
At the back is the beautiful view of Taal Lake
You’ll also encounter this pretty tree along the trail.
It will take 1 hour and 30 minutes or maximum of 2 hours to finish the trail until you reach the campsite.
When we were already set up, we took our lunch and waited there for two hours at the campsite and waited for the sun to slow down in giving us a hot temperature.
At around 3:30pm, we walked going to the famous rockies.
At the back is the way up to the top! – The Rockies
Conquering The Rockies
View from Mt. Maculot Summit
Mavie pointing the Taal Lake as seen from the Summit of Mt. Maculot
Mavie and I did it!
We stayed overnight and experienced one of the chilly nights at the top of the mountain. On the other hand, we were able to survive the noisy and coldest nights so far we had. (Sorry but not sorry. It was really noisy that night. As if we are not at the top of the mountain but rather at the disco bar)
Earlier the next day, we took a quick breakfast.
We packed everything we have, descended and took the old trail that we think is easier (which is really easier hehe)
Note that the Old Trail doesn’t have retailers or buko stand. You can access this trail from the left side when you reach the second buko stand when you go down from the rockies.
We were able to reach the Herman’s Paliguan after 2 hours. We get ready for our side trip in Tagaytay.
Going to Sky Ranch
From Cuenca, we rode a bus going back to Nasugbu and took a jeepney from the terminal going to Sky Ranch Tagaytay
Since we are in the area where Bulalo is known for, we set ourselves for a great dinner that day.
Itinerary we followed:
January 25, 2014
7:00am ETAQ Jam Bus Station Gil Puyat P147.00
9:30am ETA Cuenca, Ride a Tricycle going to the Registration Site and Jump off Point
9:45am ETA Registration Site, Prepare P20.00/person
10:00am Jump off Point, Start of Trek
12:00pm ETA Campsite, Lunch etc
4:00pm Start Trek to Rockies
4:20pm Rockies, Photo ops, Rest, Enjoying the view
5:000pm Start Descending from Rockies
5:30pm Reached the Campsite, Prepare for the Cold night.
6:00pm Early Dinner, Freshen up, etcetera
8:00pm Socials – Lights off
January 26, 2014
6:00am Wake-up call; Preparing for Pack up
7:00am Breakfast, Cleaning up etcetera
8:00am Start Descending from the Campsite
11:00am ETA Jump-off Point, Rest, Freshen up
12:00pm Ride a bus going back to Manila
Breakdown of our Expenses
Bus to Cuenca – P147.00
Tricycle to Jump-off – P20.00
Registration Fee – P20.00
Souvenir Shirt – P250.00
Pansit Bihon – P50.00 (Try it! hehe)
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