Tips for safe and enjoyable treks and hikes in the Philippines are at the end of this section. Always pack out everything you packed in--including cigarette butts and candy wrappers--and remind your companions to do the same.
You don't hear much about hiking and trekking in the Philippines--but it's great. Near Manila are several volcanoes you can do in a day (assuming you're in OK shape), hiking through tropical rainforests and up to summits with fabulous views. Further a field are treks of 2 to several days. See below for a small sample of possibilities and check out Our Latest Hike in Anilao, and Our Latest Trek up Mt Apo.
Banaue offers 1/2-1 day hikes to treks of several days through its fabulous terraces (World Heritage site!) and, for the hardy, into remaining montane forest, guided by members of the Ifugao ethnic group (good English!).
Unforgettable! Here are steep, rugged, young mountains where the people learned centuries ago to carve terraces using the simplest tools yet a remarkably advanced hydraulics system. (Note: terrace walking is only for those without acrophobia.) Trekking between villages requires no equipment, just basic supplies. Spend time observing village live, talking with the people, enjoying the countryside, waterfalls, rushing streams. For mountain overnights beyond villages, bring full camping gear.
For arrangements, we use Hygie Cayong as trail master. E-mail brier@skyinet.net or call him at (6374)386-4023--if he's not there, ask for his sister Percy and arrange with her a time when you can call back to speak with Hygie. See Favorites for more info about Banaue. Jill has been trekking up to 7 days, and can't wait to go again! Jan-Mar is cool and terraces are just planted, Apr-July increasingly hot and terraces green; July-Aug harvest, rains starting; Sep-Nov rainy; Dec misty.
Pinatubo erupted in 1990 with such a fury that its ashes circled the globe 5 times and changed the weather patterns for years. The ash still coats Pinatubo's sides, up to 100m thick, but is eroding yearly. This ash--called lahar--is cement hard in dry season, becomes viscous and flows when wet. Fly over Pinatubo's lahar canyons in an ultralight. Hike to the interior crater (may be dangerous and only possible Jan-May). Jill has done this 4 times and it's always awesomely beautiful!
To get there, take a 4WD or hire a jeep through Capas, Tarlac to barangay Sta. Juliana. Ask for Popoy--he knows the way (if he's not available, be sure to find a guide who has been to the crater before). This is not a difficult hike--it is very hot, as you progress through a canyon of lahar with sun above and hot springs below! Can be done in 1 day by strongest hikers. Jill always takes 2 days--she's slow.
Taal is about the world's lowest volcano (above sea level) and one of its most active. It's inside a crater lake just 1-2 hrs from Manila. Cross by outrigger canoe and hike up about 15-20 minutes to view one crater (pony rides available). Walk through it to see others, further to swim in the sulfurous lake within volcano island. A great day trip from the metropolis. We start from Gloria de Castro's place in Talisay (0912) 310-5071. Best Dec-Feb--very hot during the summer months.
w wear hiking boots or comfortable
shoes, light clothing, hat;
Did you also know that there's a great hike to the top of the Peninsula? The first time (and perhaps the second and third) go with someone who knows the way—there aren't any trail markers, and there are lots of "wrong" turns.
You can start up the left fork just before Dive Solana's parking lot, and continue up the road, which becomes a trail that hooks up with another road.
Then you keep going quite a way and ultimately head uphill between guava trees—difficult to spot this one. A few weeks ago I was doing this alone, and an old woman along the road expressed her disapproval—said it wasn't safe to go alone, but I went on. Pretty soon I had 3 tails—boys aged 9, 11, and 13.
They decided to come along, and found the trail through the guavas for me. We worked our way up through the guava, then up through cow pasture, where they took some pleasure in upsetting the calves. (Do all young boys consider themselves mighty hunters?)
When we came to the top of the first rise they announced this was the top, and I pointed to a higher top. They said it wasn't safe to go there, and I asked why. "Snakes." What kind? "Cobras." I said I'd been there several times and not seen any. They asked if I was going to go there. "Yes" I replied. Would I come back the same way? "If you want" I replied. So off we went, my turn to lead. The spring along the way seemed dry—which could be a problem as I had only 3 liters of water, now for all 4 of us. Then we worked steeply uphill to the real summit and shared the view and an apple before heading back.
Then the youngest boy (2 were barefoot) stepped on a thorn, so we stopped in a shed to do surgery as the thorn had broken off in his foot. The older boy picked another thorn and extracted the offending article—a budding surgeon. I applied some first aid cream and we were off, downhill, and onto a trail I hadn't done before.
Another—and much shorter—way to
the top is up the steep road just before Mariko Resort, barangay Ligaya. At the top of the road you work your way
through a few backyards, then find a trail that leads to and
through a few more yards then up, up to the summit through
pasturelands with cattle, calves, ponies, to wonderful views. (I
even met one new brown-and white calf still unafraid of
people--he had not yet encountered the mighty hunters!). Again, a
guide is really important. 2 weeks ago on this trail I met a
lovely woman selling some wonderful sitao
(foot-long-beans)—they made a delicious dinner, although to
enjoy them I had to carry them up and down the mountain!
If you set out to do this hike, take 3 liters of water/person (on a cloudy day you'll not need it all; on a sunny day, you will), a snack or lunch, hat, and sun block—and have a great day! Reckon 2-3.5 hours each way for the route near Dive Solana, and 1-2.5 hours for the route from near Mariko. these times exclude the hike along the road to the starting point.
(also check out Our Latest Trek)