If there is a province that is known for its mountain, Rizal is definitely it. Aside from Mt. Cayabu and Mt. Maynuba circuit that we did a few months ago, my co-teachers and I again organized another trail hike to Montalban, Rizal and that is Mt. Binacayan and Mt. Hapunang Banoi.
See: SUPREMO 4K : An Action Camera Perfect for Adventure Seekers On a BudgetWe are supposed to do a trilogy hike but because it was EDSA Revolution Day, there were so many people also doing the same hike and a number of people trying to climb Mt. Pamitinan, it was just impossible for us to do three in one day.We all met up at midnight in Cavite and left at 2:00 am to Montalban, Rizal. After 2 hours, we arrived at the DENR in Montalban, Rizal which is the jump off point.
COST OF THE REGISTRATION: Php 50.00 per head
COST OF THE PARKING FEE: Php 30.00
GUIDE FEE: Php 500 x 5 pax per summit
All hikes at Montalban start at 4:30 am, just in time for hikers to witness the famous SEA OF CLOUDS. Be sure to bring your headlamps or torches just to see the trails clearly.
When we were almost at the summit of Mt. Binacayan, we were not disappointed as the view overlooking the sea of clouds left us speechless.
Every hiker doesn’t want to miss the opportunity of seeing the sea of clouds. Just be careful because the rocks are quite sharp on this mountain.
From here, it’s just a few minutes walk to the summit of Mt. Binacayan. The Karst limestone formation on the mountains of Montalban, Rizal add to the character and difficulty of the trail. For your safety, it is best to use hand gloves for Php 30.00 to protect your hands from sharp edged rocks.
The summit of Mt. Binacayan in the early morning offers the amazing view of the province and nearby mountains to explore. We were also lucky with good weather and clear blue skies. When we asked our guide where to go next, he pointed out Mt. Hapunang Banoi.
On our way down from Mt. Binacayan, we descended this very steep vertical cliff. They told us that this was the fastest way down and also saved us time before moving on to our next hike.
On our way up to Mt. Hapunang Banoi, you will cross some scenic areas such as this hanging bridge overlooking the Wawa river.
With only a few minutes to spare, we started our ascent. Brace yourself for some steep trails on your way up to the summit.
Halfway through, you will arrive at a place that they call JUNCTION. Here, you will find stalls where you can eat lunch and rest for a while before you head for the summit.
After a few refreshments at the junction, we continued our climb. Out of the 3 famous mountains in Montalban Rizal, Mt. Hapunang Banoi is one of the toughest to climb and we were going to find out why.
On your way to the summit, your guide will take you to some scenic places – perfect if you want to a capture some stunning photos.
I envied those hikers who had the guts to pose like this at the edge of the cliff. I am still scared of heights and there is no way I could do something like this! Never!
As we get closer to the summit of Mt. Hapunang Banoi, it became more obvious that the trail is also changing. Karst limestone became more challenging to climb.
My hands were so sore from gripping the sharp edges of the rocks. Even the shoes that I wore were put to the test, stepping over these rocks. While climbing this part, I was thinking that this is a place where there is no margin for error. Accidents could happen anytime. While climbing Mt. Hapunang Banoi, please BE EXTRA CAREFUL!
Thank goodness, we finally reached the highest point of the summit. From this picture, it may look like a plain summit. Do not be fooled as the other side of the summit is a sheer 90-degree drop. I didn’t even dare to stand on the edge!
After Mt. Hapunang Banoi, we felt that we had enough and it was time for us to swim and freshen up after the intense heat. We also saw that there were so many people in the queue wanting to climb the summit of Mt. Pamitinan. So we decided to give it a skip and save it for our next climb.
From the Junction, we did a traverse towards WAWA DAM where you could walk next to a river stream.
The river was a bit dry because of the lack of the rain in the area. The walk to the river took us around 30 minutes from the spot where we wanted to go for a swim.
The Cottage Fee is Php 150.00 for the whole day.
Another great place to relax and swim at Wawa dam is this place just below the dam. It was so hypnotic to stare at and tourists can just lie downstream and enjoy the waterfall.
Our trip would also not be possible without the help of our tour guides during our trip. Mandy Raposa along with his father were very entertaining especially when we were exhausted. They were also very good when taking photos. So if you are looking for guides, look no further because these two are highly recommended!
2. Get off at LUVERS and take a trycicle to WAWA Dam.It was a challenging twin hike for us all but we really had a great time. The scenery and landscape while crossing over these mountains became the main highlights of our hike. Until now, it still lingers in my mind. In addition, the SUPREMO 4K really is an excellent action camera to bring with you on any adventure you may have without breaking your budget and yet can take amazing photos!Want to see more photos of our trip? CLICK HERE
