ESCAPE TO MT. MAYNOBA'S SEA OF CLOUDS
Jump-off Location: Barangay Cayabu, Tanay, Rizal
Country: Philippines
Coordinates: 14°36′22.4′′N, 121°25′18.6′′ E, 728 MASL
Hike: 3-4 hours hike to the summit, can be arranged with twin hike to Mt. Cayabu. Campsite is at Peak 1.
What to do/see: 3 peaks, 8 waterfalls, river crossing, sea of clouds
Ideal time to visit: 3AM to witness the sea of clouds
Coordinates: 14°36′22.4′′N, 121°25′18.6′′ E, 728 MASL
Hike: 3-4 hours hike to the summit, can be arranged with twin hike to Mt. Cayabu. Campsite is at Peak 1.
What to do/see: 3 peaks, 8 waterfalls, river crossing, sea of clouds
Ideal time to visit: 3AM to witness the sea of clouds
1:00 AM
We met with Kuya Ronald at 1:30AM at 7-11 Cogeo. I found Kuya Ronald's number at Pinoy Mountaineer blog. Click here.
After 1.5 hours, we arrived at the DENR Tourism Center and signed our waivers. I noticed Kuya Ronald already fixed our waivers and had them worked out with the Tourism Center.
By 4:00 AM, we started our ascend. We can't really see much. We were unprepared to bring flashlights so we only used our phone lights. This would be my first time hiking at night, good thing the trail was gradually ascending. My guess that night was we passed by no cliffs, just hills.
We reached the first resting area. The steep assault starts here. Kuya Ronald told us to rest first and let others pass by. He said its better to hike at our own pace and not along with the crowd. Waiting at the crowd traffic can also be tiring for the muscles. (Hiking Tip #1)
After our little break we started with the assault. Kuya Ronald, our guide, moved from the front of the line to the back. He said this way we can follow our own pace. (Hiking Tip #2) We had a lot of stops during the ascend. Ropes and kawayan served as railings to assist us. The good thing about hiking at night, when you're way up the mountains, just at your side, or in our case our back, and appreciate the view of the moon and the stars. (Hiking Tip #3)
The assault would take 20-30 minutes depending on your pace. We rached the 1st peak by 5:30 am. From there on we waiting for the sunrise.
It was an exhilarating moment waiting for the sunrise. The mountains slowly peak through the sea of clouds. Truly surreal.
We tooked our time admiring the area. By 7:15 AM, we started our hike to the 2nd peak.
We reached the 2nd peak by 7:30 AM. The hike again started with a gradual ascend to a steep assault. A marker is located on the 2nd peak.
At 8:30 AM, we reached the 3rd peak.
9:00 AM
We started our descent. Mt. Maynoba has a circuit trail route. Meaning, hikers wont go back the same trail as their ascend. So as we reached the 3rd peak, a new trail awaits us.
By 10:00 AM, we reached the first waterfalls. There are 8 falls in total. The Nagtatagong Paraiso Falls, Katmon falls, Gugulong na bato falls, Giginto falls, Manganiso Falls, Lantay na Bato falls, Magpantay Falls and last is the Maynoba Falls.
Unfortunately, our friend's shoes gave up on its final hike. So we decided to skip all the remaining falls. Kuya Ronald said we can take the 'shortcut' so we wont pass these falls.
Basically, we circled the perimeter of the mountain and went down a very steep mountain side to reach the end of the falls. This time the hike wasn't a gradual descent.
When we reached the first store along the trail, Kuya Ronald said this would be the common point of the trail we took and the waterfalls trail. By 11:30 AM, we reached the jump off trail.
Tips:
↠ If you want to witness the sea of clouds, you can either stay overnight or hike as early as 4 am to reach the sunset at 6. You can view the sea of clouds around 5:30 AM to 9:00 AM depending on the thickness of the clouds as well as the wind.
↠ If you consider hiking early in the morning, I suggest hiring a van or bringing your own car. First trips heading to Batangasan Junction starts around 7 am.
↠ Bring water.
↠ You can pack food to save money. There are no sari-sari stores along the trail heading to the peaks, the only stores in the area are located at the end of the circuit (near the houses) and at the jump off.
↠ To save money on transportation, it is ideal to hike in groups. Always keep in mind: LNT Leave No Trace.
↠ There are bathroom fees: ranging from 5-20PHP
↠ Food are available at the the sari-sari stores. Porter: 300PHP (optional), Overnight fee 1250PHP
This is the end of the Maynoba Circuit. The trail at the right is for ascending and the trail at the left is where we descend.
ITINERARY (DAYHIKE):
Itinerary based on our trip. Good for four persons.
1. Itinerary via Private Transportation
Cubao to Cogeo Jollibee Cogeo: 20-30 mins via jeepney | 25php | Located along Gateway Mall/Aurora Boulevard
Cogeo to Jump Off: 1.5 hours via private van | 1300php | You can contact Sir Ronald (+639084330444), he is a DOT Accredited Guide. I highly recommend him! He's super cool! He'll be your driver as well as your guide. His van can fit 10+ pax.
Registration fee: 100php
↠ Breakfast
Ascend to Mt. Maynuba Peak 1: 1.5 hours
Ascend to Mt. Maynuba Peak 2: 1 hour
↠ Lunch
Ascend to Mt. Maynuba Peak 3: 30 mins
-
Descend to Falls: 1 hour.
Guide fee: 500php | Good for 5 pax
Jump Off to Cogeo: 1.5 hours via private van | 1300PHP | Contact Kuya Ronald.
Cogeo to Cubao: 1 hour via jeepney | 25PHP
Total: 925PHP For 4 pax
*Note: You can save more when you hike by group. This would lessen the guide and transportation fee.
2. Itinerary via Public Transportation
Cubao to Cogeo: 1 hour to 1.5 hour via jeepney | 25PHP | Located along Gateway Mall/Aurora Boulevard
Cogeo to Batangasan Junction: 30 to 40 minutes via jeepney 42PHP | These are the jeepneys bound for Sampaloc
Batangasan Junction to Jump Off: 30 minutes via tricycle | 150PHP
Registration fee: 100PHP
Ascend to Mt. Maynuba Peak 1: 1.5 hours
Ascend to Mt. Maynuba Peak 2: 1 hour
↠ Lunch
Ascend to Mt. Maynuba Peak 3: 30 mins
-
Descend to Falls: 1 hour.
Guide fee: 500PHP | Good for 5 pax | You can contact Sir Ronald (+639084330444), he is a DOT Accredited Guide.
Jump off to Batangasan Junction: 30 mins via tricycle | 150-200PHP | Tell the driver to drop you where jeepneys heading to Cogeo pass by
Junction to Cogeo: 30 to 40 minutes via jeepney | 42PHP
Cogeo to Cubao: 1 hour to 1.5 hours via jeepney | 25PHP
Total: 1084PHP for Solo hikers | 446.59PHP for 4 pax
*Note: You can save more when you hike by group. This would lessen the guide fee.
*Prices may change and travel time may vary.
PIN IT FOR LATER!
FOOTNOTES:
Credits to Cheloi Marasigan, Anne Cheng, Eric Lim | Tanay, Rizal | February 2018
RAESCAPE contains affiliate links in the website. By clicking and purchasing through this links, I get to earn a small commission to help me run this website without extra cost to you. Thank you for helping a fellow traveler and say yes to adventures!
Read about the Disclosure here.
RAESCAPE contains affiliate links in the website. By clicking and purchasing through this links, I get to earn a small commission to help me run this website without extra cost to you. Thank you for helping a fellow traveler and say yes to adventures!
Read about the Disclosure here.
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