Pico de Loro

INFORMATION:

Pico de Loro is located 85 kilometers southwest of Manila. It is bounded by the island of Corregidor and the Caraballo Mountains in the north, Nasugbu, Batangas in the south, Maragondon on the east and the South China Sea on the west. With the height of 664 meters above sea level, it is considered the highest mountain in the generally flat Cavite province. Pico de Loro is the highest point on a series of rolling hills and mountains within the boundary of Cavite and Batangas. According to some Mountaineers, Pico de Loro (Mt. Palay-palay) is one of the easies mpountain to climb. Though not really that high, the view from the summit is awesome, facing the tranquil seas on the north-eastern side particularly the Manila Bay area giving you a good vantage point to watch the ships passing by while the entire Batangas and Cavite on the south-eastern side will give you a glimpse of the south-eastern mountains like Batulao and Talamitam.

My Experience: 

It was the first mountain summit i’ve been. Our way to the top was easy because probably I’m more excited to be on the top of this mountain. It took us 4 hours to reach the summit (dami namin pahinga). Along our way was big trees and tweets of the birds. When we reach the basecamp near the summit.

  We decide to set the tent and to rest overnight. At that time we still have a lot of water to drink, so we brush our teeth and wash as face as well. On the next day. I woke up early to see the sunrise in a slope near our basecamp. But unfortunately, their’s fogs or clouds that make it impossible to see whats within a 200 meters area. And so we decied to head the summit. Its almost noon when we reach the top. Its really amazing, I became speechless and I just enjoyed that moment looking around just like a little kid. I’m afraid of heights that I think i conquer my fear. We take pictures and its sad because at that time none of us brought a decent camera. When we’re heading our way down, we realized our water bottle are half empty. Along the way we have no more water to drink and its really exhausting. Our way down the mountain is like forever, Its more hardert to go down than climbing that mountain. Finally after (i think) 4 or 5 hrs we reach (I’m not sure) Marogondon or Nasugbu and headed toKabaong island to rest and take a bath at the beach. 

How to get there

Take the bus bound (Saulog) for Maragondon or Ternate Cavite at the Lawton or Liwasang Bonifacio area.  When you’ve reached Maragondon Cavite, take or hire a jeep to the jump-off area.  There are two jump-off points for Pico de Loro.  The first jump-off point is a point along Ternate Hi-way going to Caylabne Bay Resort.  Passing by Puerto Azul entrance, the trail is marked by a DENR sign within the “magnet” area (hill was claimed to be magnetic, try putting your engine’s vehicle in the neutral or it is turned off, the vehicle will climb up, similar to the magnetic hill of Laguna.  For the second jump-off site, you have to take a bus ride to Nasugbu from Manila (BLTB) and from there arrange transportation for Barangay Papaya

From the first jump-off or trailhead, there is a 30 minute walk and you will pass by a NIPA hut, you can replenish or refresh yourself, just ask the resident.  A 2-hour hike will take you to a base camp passing by open fields, farms and grazing lands.  The base camps are either open fields or the area at foot of Pico itself and, typically covered by trees.  A 45-minute hike to the summit is usually done without the packs.  Another alternative is to camp on the summit though it can accommodate only few tents and winds at the summit are usually strong which will continually pound your tents.  From base camp to the summit, the climb is very steep.  Usually, the trail going to Nasugbu is the one used in going down.  Follow the same trail straight to Barangay Papaya, Nasugbu Batangas.  It is accessible from Nasugbu town proper by pump boat or a long jeepney ride along the rough road to Nasugbu (this is basically the route of the second Jump-off point).

GOING UP TO PICO via Puerto Azul (Ternate Cavite):

• Bus from Lawton to Maragondon = P 60.00 (or if the fare increased)
• Maragondon to Jump-off point (magnetic sign) = P 300.00 - 500.00 (Hired Jeepney)
• Pay an “entrance” fee to the Nipa Hut described (not much but it will also be as payment for the use of urinal and replenish water).

GOING BACK TO MANILA via Brg. Papaya Trail (Nasugbo, Batangas):

• Brgy. papaya to Nasugbu town banca ride = P600.00, P100.00/head (or if the fare increased)
• Tricycle ride = P6.00 per head (or if the fare increased).

Waypoint narrative by: paulperez 2002

Quotes from "the beach"

 ”Trust me, it’s paradise.

This is where the hungry come to feed. For mine is a generation that circles the globe and searches for something we haven’t tried before. 

So never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamiliar, never fail to be polite and never outstay the welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience.

 And if it hurts, you know what? It’s probably worth it.”

“And me, I still believe in paradise.

But now at least I know it’s not some place you can look for, ‘cause it’s not where you go.

It’s how you feel for a moment in your life when you’re a part of something,

and if you find that moment… it lasts forever… “ 

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