Mount Daguldul, San Juan, Batangas (670+ MASL) : Swim and Hike!
Mount Daguldul specifications :
Major jump-off: Brgy. Hugom, San Juan
LLA: 13°40.380N 121°19.160E, 672 MASL (+ 672 m)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 5 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3
The original plan was to hike Mount Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas. But for security reasons we looked for an equally interesting mountain which is Mount Daguldul. The investigation about the mountaineer Victor Joel Ayson is still on-going and NBI said that the suspect may still be around the area and we couldn't exchange our safety and security for an adventure more especially we are hiking with our kids.
We just came from Cavite but it still took us more than four long hours of traveling. We left Amadeo, Cavite (8 kilometers from Tagaytay) by 5am and we arrived at San Juan at around 10 am (with multiple stop-overs). From the municipality proper, it is around 30 to 45 minutes to get to beach areas. The popularly known Laiya is flocked with local and foreign tourists.
There was like a checkpoint area where the police will signal that you take the right turn and this is what the almost checkpoint area is all about. All tourists entering the municipality need to pay a Php20 tourism ecological fee. Our jeepney was composed of 15 hikers plus a driver so it's Php20 x 16. Matindi pa sa toll fee! But we are not against the fee, it's just that it may be a small amount to others but for us who always travel by group, the amount can already be spent in purchasing food.
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| Upon entering the municipality of San Juan |
San Juan is a first class municipality in the Philippines, province of Batngas. It is 43 kilometers (27 miles) east of Batangas City, also the same distance southwest of Lucena City, the capital of Quezon Province, and 115 kilometers (71 miles) south of Manila.
Considered today as the second largest municipality (land area) in Batangas, San Juan is located at the easternmost part of Batangas province. North of San Juan is the neighboring town of Candelaria, Quezon, with Malaking River defining its geographical boundary. Tayabas Bay lies east and the hills on the eastern portion separate it from the towns of Lobo and Rosario.
Located at the southeastern tip of the province of Batangas, San Juan is
approximately 120 kilometers from Metro Manila and 43 kilometers from
the provincial capital of Batangas City. It is accessible by land
transportation from National Roads coming from the West (through Lipa
City and the town of Rosario), and from the East (through the Quezon
route). San Juan is bounded on the North by the Quezon towns of
Candelaria and Tiaong with the Malaking Ilog river defining the
geographical boundary between Batangas and Quezon; on the South by the
Verde Island Passage; on the East by the Quezon town of Sariaya and by
Tayabas Bay; and on the West by the mountain ranges of the Batangas
towns of Rosario and Lobo.
Jump-off
point is at Brgy. Hugom. You can hike first and swim after or swim then
hike. The place is so perfect for beach-goers and at the same time
hikers like us, a two-in-one destination!
We
decided to camp first near the shore. Entrance fee to the beach area
is Php100/person. What is so good about the Php100 entrance fee is that
we can use their toilets, baths and lavatory. There is also a big drum filled with water that we can use for cleaning and cooking. There are a lot of kubos in the area with bed and mattresses.
Rooms ranges from Php4000 (good for 10 persons I think) with toilet
& bath, lavatory, a terrace like area and free gas for cooking.
There is also one 2-storey house at Php25,000 per night with 3
air-conditioned big rooms, a living room and a kubo in front. If you
are going to rent just one room in that 2-storey house it is
Php7,500/room. Kaya okay na kami sa Php100/head, hehehe =) Anyway we
are here as mountaineers and we are so used to camping. Camping near
the shore... perfect!
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| this is the Php25,000 2-storey house for rent, rooms at Php7,500/night |
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| relaxing view in front of us |
We noticed that the boats coming from the famous Laiya usually stops in our area. They are snorkeling and diving and my group found out that there are a lot of untouched and beautiful corals in the vicinity.
After the siesta, we explored the long beach area.
Start of picture overload...
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| Amadeo Mountaineering Group (AMOC) so prepared for photoshooting |
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| Raymart and Alvin |
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| JP, dad and Josh |
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| mom waiting for Dyesebel, hahaha =) |
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| the sweet lovers Tephie and Ace |
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| jayshelle at the other side of the beach |
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| mommy and the beach... |
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| Thank You so much to my photographer... Daddy... =) |
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| rock climbing daw |
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| jump shot? ang hirap kaya |
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| with our two kids |
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| we happily ate here |
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| and we soundfully slept here |
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| the fresh faces... may mga katabi pala kami nag camp =) Nice to meet you guyz |
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| prayer before the climb |
We've learned from our hired guide that the campsite and summit at the same time is privately owned but the area is open for climbers. Thank you so much Mr. owner of Mount Daguldul campsite and summit, whoever you are. Thank you so much for sharing your place.
At Bgry. Hugom, all hikers are required to register and pay the registration fee of Php35. Although the trail is simple, every group of hikers is required to hire a guide for a fee of Php350.
We heard 4 sets of gunshots during our entire climb, we don't know maybe because we hiked on a fiesta day. During regular climbing days, these gunshots (parang armalite) must not be experienced. Because if it is just a normal thing, I may say this mountain may not be that safe for climbing. But to be fair, all the people we passed by are so friendly, hospitable and so accommodating. Hire a guide, wag pasaway at wag magtipid ng Php350. Overnight guides are at Php700 but you can do it already with the Php350 guide.
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| first stop-over |
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| and rest again |
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| when you get here, it means you are already halfway hiking =) |
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| buko for Php20 |
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| BaseKamp hope we can hike with you soon |
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| the super huge rock formation along the way |
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| the water source near the Gulugod Baboy campsite |
There are two campsites, the first one is the Gulugod Baboy with water source, and the other one with the hill-like summit and campsite is the Niyogan. Campsites are only 5 minutes hike apart.
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| with the yellow team, haha =) the Manila Teachers hikers, hello po =) |
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| okay solo naman ng AMOC |
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| the so-touchy mommy kahit mainit ang panahon |
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| gwapo eh! the view of the beach was gone and was replaced by fog |
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| Josh said, mommy picturan mo nga ako dito =) |
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| that ray of light |
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| if only I was allowed to post his other picture before this, hahaha =) with Jorell, our amazing singer and the super funny hiker =) |
The nearby mountains such as Maculot (NW), Malipunyo (NNW), and more
distant Mt. Banahaw (NE) can be seen; and also Mindoro (and perhaps
Verde Island, SE), Tayabas Bay (SW) and a faint island, Marinduque
(SSW). Visible also is Naguiling Peak in the same range - a pristine,
promising destination.
Source : http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/11/mt-daguldul-670.html
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| AMOC at the summit |
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| Bantog Backpackers at the summit |
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| summit at high noon! |
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Itinerary for Swim and Hike!
Day 1:
4am to 9am - Manila toBrgy. Hugom, San Juan, Batangas
9am to midnight - stay at the beach, pitch camp, swim, eat, socials and sleep
Day 2:
5am to 7am - Break Camp, breakfast and prepare to hike!
7am to 8:30am - Brgy. Hugom jump-off to resting area with buko
8:30am to 9am - stayed at the resting area with buko
9am to 10am - Resting area to Camp Gulugod Baboy
10am to 10:30am - stayed at Camp Gulugod Baboy (with water source)
10:30am to 10:35am - Camp Gulugod Baboy to Camp Niyogan (summit)
10:35am to 11:30am - stayed at the summit
11:30am to 1pm - summit to jump-off (1 1/2 hour hiked down)
1pm to 2pm - lunch and freshening-up
2pm to 7pm - San Juan, Batangas to Manila
Nice post.Thanks for sharing this.we were at laiya coco grove and we were wondering what mountain can be seen near the resort.nice pics as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for reading Trekker ranger =)
DeleteThank you so much for reading Trekker ranger =)
DeleteHi maam.
ReplyDeletePwedi po bang pa turo kung panu pumunta nang nang mt.daguldol for makati.. thank you po..