Mt. Balagbag DIY Hike

Mt. Balagbag DIY Hike With Sample Itinerary

Mt. Balagbag Details

Location: Rodriguez, Rizal
Trailhead: Sitio Balagbag, Rizal
LLA: 777+ MASL
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-2
Features: Scenic views of the Sierra Madre
Source: PinoyMountaineer

Introduction

What’s going on guys? Here’s another blog post of mine where we went to Mt. Balagbag. Last year, I planned and organised to climb Mt. Balagbag with my churchmates due to its nearness to Metro Manila and where some scenes from the movie Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral were shot, particularly the Battle of Tirad Pass. According to the film producer, “actual Tirad Pass in Ilocos Sur wasn’t logistically viable to shoot there at all.” (Rephrased). So without further ado, I’m going to share with you about the itinerary, breakdown of expenses and other details about our DIY hike to Mt. Balagbag.

How to get there?

From EDSA Cubao northbound, take a bus going to Tungko, Bulacan. The cost is around P50 or more. Get off at the Tungko Jeep Terminal. You can take a jeepney ride to Licao-Licao. Jeepney fare is P32. The estimated travel time is 2.5 hours. Jeepney bound to Licao-Licao will not leave the terminal unless the maximum number of passengers are met. The start of travel is as early as 5:00 AM. So I suggest you come early.

Once you arrive in the registration area, do pay the registration fee for P10 each. After that, you can start trekking up to the jump-off or you can take a tricycle ride for 10 minutes which costs Php 30 each.

You can ask the locals about directions going to the summit. When we went there, we were not required to hire a guide. But as of now, I believe they made changes and required hikers/trekkers to hire a guide.

DIY Itinerary

3:30 AM – Meetup at Cubao
4:00 AM – Bus ride from Cubao to Tungko
5:00 AM – ETA Tungko
5:30 AM – ETD going to Licao-Licao
6:30 AM – ETA Licao-Licao Terminal; ride tricycle
6:45 AM – ETA Barangay Hall (jump-off)
8:15 AM – Summit
9:00 AM – Start trekking
10:30 AM – ETA jump-off
11:00 AM – ETD to Tungko
12:00 PM – ETA Tungko, ETD to Cubao
1:30 PM – ETA Cubao

Estimated Expenses

Bus from Cubao to Tungko – P50
Jeep from Tungko to Licao-Licao – P32
Registration fee – P10
Tricycle ride to Barangay (jump-off) – P30 (optional)
Another registration fee (jump-off) – P10
Overnight camping fee – P30 (optional)
Entrance fee to the summit – P20
Tricycle to the terminal – P30
Licao-Licao jeep to Tungko – P32
Bus from Tungko to Cubao – P50

That’s it! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to drop your message in the comments box 🙂
P.S. If you have time please follow and like my FB page at www.facebook.com/lakwatsanisay.

Watch our drone video at Mt. Balagbag