Mount Maculot Traverse (930 MASL)
Major Jumpoff: Mountaineer's Store, Brgy. 7 "Siete", Cuenca
Exit point (traverse): Brgy 5 (to Grotto), Cuenca
LLA: 13°55 N; 121°2 E; 706 MASL (Rockies) / 930 MASL (summit)
Days required / Hours to Rockies / summit : 1 day / 1-2 hr / 2-4 hr
Specs: Minor, Difficulty 3/9 (Rockies); 4/9 (Traverse) Trail class 1-3.Days required / Hours to Rockies / summit : 1 day / 1-2 hr / 2-4 hr
Features: Scenic views of Taal Lake, rock formations, forests
Bantog Backpackers just came from a difficult climb 4 days before Mount Maculot. We are on a Christmas vacation as well as the kids. I always wanted to do a year-end hike and I scheduled Mount Malarayat on those dates. With a 13 days vacation, I guess I need another hike before I get back to work. It rained during our scheduled Mt. Maculot day-hike and we will be going back home to Bataan that night. When a little sun showed before we planned to go home, I said to my husband and brother-in-law, Raymart "Tara akyat tayo!" Raymart immediately texted and called again our clubmates who are willing to join us.
How to get to Mount Maculot?
The terminal buses going to Batangas areas are in Cubao, Kamuning and Buendia. Take buses going to Lemery, Batangas, bus fare Php150. Get off to Cuenca's town proper and flag a trike going to Mt. Maculot jump-off, trike fare Php15/person.
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| The comfort rooms and shower rooms for a fee |
There is a registration fee of Php20 at the barangay outpost and a required guide fee of Php400 for a group of 4 persons, additional persons will be charged Php50 each. This guide fee is only up to Maculot's Rockies which can be hiked for 1 1/2 to two hours.
I am not an arrogant or bragging person that I have climbed multiple mountains. But as a concerned mountaineer, Mount Maculot has an easy trail which can be easily followed even by beginners. I am so sure that they can't be misled by the trails and there are a number of hikers that you will encounter in about 2 to 5 minutes interval.
Mount Maculot has imposed a policy that all hikers are required to get a guide after the tragic death of Victor Ayson. The mountain has been also been closed for sometime because of the investigations.
The registration fee is okay with us but the required guides is a little burden and an additional expense to my fellow mountaineers especially those on a budget. Maybe you can require a guide for those climbing alone or for first timers but it will be their option to hire one. We have opted to climbed the traversed one so I guess it is middling for us to get a guide. Guide fee for the Mount Maculot traverse is Php1,000.
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| rest area |
Ang bundok na puro pahingahan, hahaha =)
After 5 minutes of hiking, another rest area ...
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| loves doing this with my kids |
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| the view of Taal Lake from Mount Maculot |
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| lunch at the campsite |
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| The Rockies |
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| groupie muna =) |
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| that very dangerous rock formation ... where Victor Ayson fell |
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| I didn't dare to sit at that area because the rock is not stable and it is where a mountaineer fell.... Kaya okay na ko dito =) |
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| Uy! may maganda sa bundok! |
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| Mt. Maculot's Summit as my background |
The other side of the Rockies ...
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| the lovers Tephie and Ace <3 |
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| AMOC at the Rockies |
After reaching the Rockies, the guide asked us if we will continue hiking up to the summit. We said "syempre!". He asked because the guide fee of Php400 is up to the Rockies only.
I've read in Pinoy Mountaineer blog that only 5% are continuing up to the summit and found it true. There are only three groups during that day who pursued.
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| view of the Rockies while assaulting the summit |
There is no source of water throughout the trail so if you will hike up to the Rockies, bring at least two liters of water but if you will continue with the summit and traversing the mountain, bring at least 3 liters of water.
From the Rockies up to the summit is a little easy but muddy one hour hike.
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| reached Mount Maculot's summit at 930 MASL (the second highest point in Batangas) with our new friends |
It is time to climb down ...
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| the forested trail of the traverse hike |
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| there are three roped segments after the summit |
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| my turn ... |
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| The traversed one is a little difficult ... |
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| that cute and colorful worm |
After 2 1/2 hours from the summit, we have seen the grotto ...
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| walking backwards ... |
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| while waiting for our service vehicle |
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| our mabait na guide, Jorvin cp no. 0906-2561665/0948-4253699 ... Thank You pre |
We were on a hired vehicle so we were able to stop at a Gotohan in Taal, Batangas.
Mount Maculot Traverse Dayhike Itinerary :
6:00am to 9:00am - bus ride from Cubao to Cuenca, Batangas
9:00am to 9:20am - trike ride or from Cuenca Town Proper to jump-off
9:20am to 9:30am - registration at Brgy. Outpost, negotiated with a guide
9:30am to 11:00am - Jump-off to Campsite
11:00am to 11:30am - lunch
11:30am to 11:45am - Campsite to Maculot Rockies (706 MASL)
11:45am to 12:30pm - picture taking at the Rockies
12:30pm to 1:00pm - Rockies to Campsite to Mt. Maculot Summit
1:00pm to 1:10pm - at Mt. Maculot Summit (930 MASL)
1:10pm to 3:40pm - Mt. Maculot Summit to Grotto
3:40pm to 4:10pm - Grotto to Brgy. Pag-asa
4:10pm to 4:30pm - Freshening Up
4:30pm to 7:30pm - Cuenca, Batangas to Cubao
My friends and I plan to hike at Mt. Maculot on April 18, 2015. We contacted the guide that you featured here on your blog. He is charging us PHP1,100 for 8 people for the traverse. But then you said that you guys paid 1K for 13 people? Kindly give us tips on how we can negotiate with Jhorvin to bring the price down. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi!!! There is actually a standard rate of Php400 for 4 persons and Php50 per person exceeding 4. At hanggang rockies lng yung rate. Ang sasabihin nyo sa brgy post is hanggang Rockies muna kc after nyo dun saka pa lang kayo tanungin ng guide kung mag traverse kayo, then that's the time to negotiate. Pakibanggit na lang na nirecommend namin sya sa inyo, banggitin mo name ng husband ko, Jayson Bantog at ayos na yun! Hehe =) pag ayaw pa rin, pa message ng full name mo tapos kami na mag text sa kanya... Message mo nlng ako what will happen ah. Ingatz sa climb =)
DeleteBtw, we were just 10persons when we climbed Mt. Maculot. Ingatz guys =)
DeleteHi! Can i join the April 18 climb?
Deletewill climb on sunday april 19. beginners lang po kami. open for joiners txt 0927 576 7597 or 0933 617 4321
ReplyDeleteIngatz and enjoy sa climb =)
DeleteMagkano po ba yung mismong price para sa hike at sino po pwede namin kontakin? Balak din po sana namin maghike ng family ko on sunday april 19.. :)
ReplyDeleteMr. Kurt, hello po =) Regular rate po ng guide is Php400 for 4 person up to the Rockies only. Php50/person exceeding 4 will be added sa guide fee.
ReplyDeleteHello Maam,
ReplyDeleteVery helpful blog you have there :) I would like to ask, if we choose to traverse, that would be 1k for 4 persons po right?
The regular rate for 4 persons is Php400 up to the Rockies. Baka mas mababa sa Php1,000 pag nagtraverse kayo tapos apat lang kayo. Contact nyo yung guide na nakapost yung number sa taas. Thanks for reading po =)
DeleteHello! It was mentioned that you hired a van for your trip? How much is it? Do you have the driver's number? We are planning to go this coming Saturday, April 25. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteHi ip21...we just rented the jeepney of my brother-in-law's. Anyway, there's an easy way on how to get to Mount Maculot. It is just a bus ride going to Lemery but tell the conductor to drop you at Cuenca Poblacion. And from there, trikes are everywhere to get you to Brgy. Siete (jump-off). Keep safe and God Bless!
DeleteThanks, Rochelle! :)
ReplyDeleteHi, tahnks sa info, very helpful... anyway, is it possible to stay overnight at the summit? yun kasi gusto ng group eh... thanks.
ReplyDeleteLanz hello!!! Super limited lang ang space sa summit, siguro hanggang 2 tents lang ang kasya. Sa may 7-11 store sila nagka camp... No source of water po throughout the trail. Enjoy your climb =)
DeleteHi Rochelle! Excellent blog! Ask ko lang kung crowded ba yung campsite malapit sa may rockies? Kasi plan namin mag overnight dito.
ReplyDeleteHello John Paulo, wala po halos nagca camp, puro dayhike. Hindi naman po siguro crowded pag nag camp po kayo doon. Ingatz po =)
Deleteposible po ba mag Overnyt sa mt maculot?? and is it necessary to get a guide??
ReplyDeleteHello po! Possible po mag overnight sa may 7-11 area. No water source po. Yung guide po ay required Sir Christian. Ingatz po sa climb at medyo maulan na =)
DeleteHi! Ang ganda naman ng blog nyo. Pwede ba kami makijoin sa next hike nyo? 3 lang kc kami ng friends KO. Ma's masaya pagmarami at d same time makakakilala kami ng new friends
ReplyDeleteHi Jobie. Nag a-announce kami ng climb sa facebook page namin. Kung jo join po, punta na lang po sa jump-off sa scheduled hike. Hope to see you soon guyz!
DeleteHi Maam Rochelle, nice blog! plano po namin mag maculot traverse this weekend,possible po ba magovernight dun?hindi po crowded?mga 8-9pm po kame papanhik.thanks po pala sa info bout sa guide :) hope makasama sa mga climbs nyo soon :) freelance mountaineers lang dn kame ng mga frens ko e.
ReplyDeleteHello po! Sorry po sa late reply dahil sa lugar kung saan ako ay nakadestino eh wala pong wifi. Pwede po mag overnight sa 7-11 area. Check nyo na lang po sa facebook page namin pag may schedule po kami ng climb. Ingatz po sa hike =)
DeleteNsa list n nmn Mt. Maculot...Nice blog mam thanks po sa mga info...keep it up...climb safe po always...God Bless...^_^
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking time to read po lakwatserongoso. Ingat po sa climb =)
DeleteHi po, first time to hike po, anong tips po pwedeng niyo pong maibigay, and 2 lang po kaming maghihike 400 parin po?
ReplyDeleteHello po Miguel =) Try nyo po muna mag day hike sa mga minor climb katulad ng Mount Maculot, Mount Pico de Loro (New DENR Trail), Mount Batulao. Pag dayhike po kc pwede na kahit packed lunch at trail food and water lang po muna dala nyo (plus extra shirt for changing). Bring at least 3 liters of water pag dayhike per person po. Trail food like jellyace, nuts, fruits and chocolate po. Sa una po bring light lang. Pag nagamay nyo na, itry nyo na mag overnight sa bundok. Kaya lang po kailangan nyo na magdala ng tent, sleeping bag, cook set at marami pang iba. Marami po kayo makikilala sa bundok na maaari nyo masamahan permanently na in the future. Just be friendly all the time lang. Ingatz po... God Bless!!!
DeleteHi po! Plano po kasi namin mag Maculot Traverse this coming sunday (Aug.30). Tanong lang po kung active pa po kaya yung number (given above) ni Kuya Jorvin na guide? kasi i tried to text him, pero wala syang reply :( okay sana ung sya din maging guide namin kasi 14 po kmi lahat aakyat. Anyways, Thank you for this super helpful blog :) Godbless you always Bantog Backpackers :)
ReplyDeleteHi!!! Marami naman pong nag ga guide doon. Standard ang rate hanggang rockies at makikipag nego lang po kayo sa presyo kung mag traverse po kayo. Cge po try po namin sya macontact para ma update po namin number nya. Maraming Salamat po sa pagbabasa sa aming blogs =) Ingat po sa climb lalo na ngayon maulan po =)
DeleteHi saan po maganda mag side trip sa mt. maculot if rockies lang po yung aakyatin ? thanks po :)
ReplyDeleteHello po, super late reply...sorry... Been so busy lang po sa work. Side trips are Submarine Garden in Lobo, Batangas; Sombrero Island in Anilao, Batangas; Taal Lake and Volcano; Bulalacao Falls in Lipa, Batangas... We just enjoyed the lomi and goto in Batangas after the hike. Ingatz po
Deletegood day po.. ask ko lng po kung pwde pa po ba mag overnight po sa mt.maculot? and magkano po.. salamat po :D
ReplyDeleteHello po, allowed po mag overnight sa Mt. Maculot. Ang magiging problema lang po ay wala pong source ng tubig sa Mount Maculot. Bring 3 liters of water per person per day po =) Ingatz!
DeleteHi, ano po earliest possible time to start?
ReplyDeletePlanning to hike bukas, November 18.
Hi Sir, Sorry for the very very very late reply. The hike is very easy at kaya makarating in less than two hours sa Rockies kahit slow pace lang. Kung magtraverse kelangan po mas maaga po talaga. When we did the traverse we finished hiking at 4pm when we started at 9:30am. Ingatz po =)
Deletethis site is very informative. thanks sa team nyo. We have schedule hike this weekend (jan 16, 2016). available pa din ba ung guide nyo na pinost sa taas? also can i get permission na imention ung name nyo sa knya na kayo nagrecommend. 1st climb namen to sa Maculot, we want it to be as safe and fun as possible. tnx.
ReplyDeleteMagandang araw po =) Pwede nyo po kontakin si Jhorven para maging guide nyo po. Okay lang po na banggitin nyo pangalan namin, inego nyo na lang po guide fee kung magtraverse po kayo. Pero yung guide fee to Rockies po ay standard po ang rate at required po sya. Ingatz po sa climb =)
DeleteHi! If we do the traverse, do we finish the hike at the same site of the jump off point? Were planning to bring a car kasi. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHello po =) You will climb at Brgy. Siete and go down at Brgy 5 (Singko) if you will do the traverse. You can bring your car, nalakad lang din namin ang Bry. Siete to Brgy Singko. Pwede rin po kayo mag trike pagbaba nyo sa Brgy 5 papuntang Brgy para mapuntahan ang nakapark nyong sasakyan sa jump-off. Ingatz po sa climb =)
DeleteIba pa po ba ang bayad kung mag traverse? Magkano po kaya? Saka tanong ko na din po kailangan po ba naming mag baon ng lunch? Thank you.. Ano nga po pala yung fbpage nyo.. Tnx..
ReplyDeleteHello Greyzie. Iba po ang rate kung mag traverse po kayo, medyo mahirap po kc ang trail ng traverse. Magbaon po ng lunch at trail food like jellyace. No source of water throughout the trail. Thank you for reading. Facebook Page po namin pa search po ng Bantog Backpackers. Maraming Salamat Greyzie =)
DeleteHello! we are planning to go there maybe end of march or 1st week of april. Gusto po sana namin mag overnight doon. And meron po kayang porter doon? o kasali na un sa guide namin? thank u po
ReplyDeleteHi!!! Contact nyo po guide namin kung pwede po sya mag porter. Bukod po porter fee sa guide fee. Ingatz po.
DeleteHi, would just like to ask if we could put up our tents for an overnight stay in Mt. Maculot?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Hello Cezarah. Pwede po maam mag pitch near the Rockies, sa tinatawag nilang 7-11. Ingatz po
DeleteHello Cezarah. Pwede po maam mag pitch near the Rockies, sa tinatawag nilang 7-11. Ingatz po
DeleteHi Rochelle! I saw you and your group eating lunch in one of the campsite. Did you pack your lunch or is there a store that serves lunch in the campsite? - Beng Mendoza
ReplyDeleteHello Beng =) We always pack our lunch and then cook our dinner, breakfast and lunch the next day. Sa Mt. Maculot may "7-11" store sa campsite. Medyo mahal lang mga bilihin. No source of water sa Mt. Maculot. Ingatz po =)
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi po solo lang ako kelan may sked akyat?please text me 09178052165
ReplyDeleteHi po, ask ko lang po if possible po ang night trip going to 711, were fr manila pa po. If aalis po ba kami ng 7pm or let say darating kami around 8 or 9pm po, paano po kami makaapunta ng 711 campsite? Plan po kasi namin mag overnight po. Thank you po.
ReplyDeletehi same lang po ba ang rate pag overnight sa guide fee??
ReplyDeletehi same lang po ba ang rate pag overnight sa guide fee??
ReplyDeleteNice article and it is worth reading
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing
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