Mt. Maculot Day Hike

At the Rockies in Mt. Maculot

Mt. Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas is a popular destination for mountaineers near Manila and nearby provinces because of picturesque of Taal Lake while when you are at the "Rockies".  The summit is 930 MASL. The mountain was put in bad lime light last April 2013 when a mountaineer that hike alone was missing and found dead. Many speculations arises that he was robbed and murdered.

Despite the news it didn't stop me from joining the hike when a good friend of mine invited me last November 9, 2014. The major jump-off is located at Barangay 7, Cuenca, Batangas.

Registration is 20 pesos per head and guide is now mandatory because of the recent accident. Guide fee is 50 0pesos for the first 5 persons/group and additional 50pesos/head in exceed of 5 persons on day hike and up to "Rockies" and summit only. But if you want a traverse route from summit additional guide fee is 50 pesos/head. Many mountaineers are against the pricey mandatory guide fee.

And so after the registering and a little stretching our hike has begun.

To Mt. Maculot signage

On the way up to the base camp has many small pit-stops. They sell fresh buko juice, energy drinks, water, biscuits, chips and many more so you no worries if you don't bring snacks with you.

On the trail, I think this is a dried river bed

It was drizzling while we are on the trail going to base camp. At the base camp there's a store that is dubbed as "7 eleven". Unlike other pit-stops they are the only one selling coffee.

Coffee at the base camp was a big help after the cold trek

The hike up to the  base camp was 2 hours. We had lunch at the base camp while waiting the rain to stopped so that we could proceed to the "Rockies" where according to our guide the trail going there is steep due to rain.

The trail leading to the "Rockies"

The rocky formation that draws the mountaineers to Mt. Maculot is famously called "The Rockies". Luckyly when we reach the summit the suddenly stopped and we got a clear view of Taal Lake and the smallest volcano in the world, the Taal Volcano

group picture at the other side of the "Rockies"