Day trip from Manila: Mt. Balagbag – mountain hike for beginners

My very first hike was Mt. Batulao and it scared me like CRAZY. If this was what a beginner hike looks like, then count me out from all hikes eveeer. Thankfully, I’ve had less traumatic experience since. One of my arguably favorite hikes would be Mt. Balagbag, which is roughly ~1.5-2 hours from the city proper.

It’s touted to be one of the easiest hikes near Metro Manila, but with a wonderful payout – as you’re greeted by a beautiful Bulacan/Rizal cityscape at the top, thrown into stark relief as the sun sets (if you opt to do an afternoon hike) or the sun rises (if you opt to do an early morning hike).

What really convinced me? You don’t even have to hike! LOL If you have a 4 x 4, you can ride a car all the way to the top. Knowing lazy me, I was absolutely sold on the plan.

Some quick background:

• Elevation: ~777 meters above sea level
• Jump-off point: Sitio Balagbag Registration Area in Rodriguez, Rizal
• Budget: PHP 30 registration fee per person, PHP 100 (or PHP 200) per 4×4

What to bring (for an afternoon hike):

• Windbreaker jacket – it gets REALLY COLD. I was wearing shorts and short sleeves, you bet I regret it.
• Tent / blankets (with weights at the end), so you can lie down and chill
• 1L water bottle – keep in mind there’s no bathroom at the top though, so make sure to pee at the registration area
• Snacks! We just bought Jollibee and chips, but some of the campers made legit campfires and were eating steamed dimsum and smores at the top. I was sooo jealous (and hungry LOL)
• Camera – the views at the top are so beautiful. You’ll regret not being able to capture it to relive the moment. You’ll understand when you see the photos below (c/o Jed – he is an AWESOME photographer)
• Flashlight – you would want to stay until sunset, to really see the cityscape awash in red and gold hues. Past sunset, it gets dark really quickly, so you may want to have a flashlight handy to make sure you don’t trip

Gentle reminder:

• Check the weather beforehand. This mountain is BEAUTIFUL when it’s not raining. If it is, I suggest you scrap your plans and hike another day instead. Same advice applies if it rained the previous day – if this was the case, I wouldn’t bother either, as the grounds are super muddy and just stressful AF to hike / camp.
• Make sure your car is a legit 4×4, otherwise, it won’t be able to survive the bumpy ride up the mountain. Don’t worry, the folks at the registration area will tell you if they don’t think you’ll make it. If that happens, you can just park your car and hike your way up

Without further ado, let’s show you what Mt. Balagbag has in store for you!

Now that COVID’s around and who knows when else I’ll get to go out and meet up with friends, let alone be able to hike and really bask in nature – I’m ever more thankful to God – for family & friends that keep me sane, for the reminder of His majesty and glory through his awe-inspiring mountains/sun/moon/stars/creations, for the lovely break from the daily hustle and bustle of the city (right before this big pandemic hit!), and for His constant grace and protection. Thank you Lord!