Before we embark on an unforgettable mountain-climbing adventure, let's explore the beauty of Benguet. Join me and my two closest friends as we push each other to conquer Mount Pulag, one of the Philippines' most breathtaking mountains, and discover the splendor of Mount Pinatubo, one of the country's most stunning volcanoes. Here's a detailed itinerary that outlines our journey, which will not only help us reach the summit but also strengthen our bond as friends. Let’s go!
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Budget Plan
- SGD 300 / PHP 10,000
- Mt. Pulag Tour: 9,600 PHP ( 4 pax ) Manila- Pulag only
- Mt. Pinatubo Tour: 7,770 PHP ( 3 pax ) Tour only
- Spa Package: 1,650 PHP (1 pax)
April 29, Friday - Arrival
- Mt. Pulag Itinerary
- Tour Operator: I won't recommend our Tour Group
- 1035am - 1415pm Cebu Pacific - Singapore to Manila, Philippines
- Flight Travel time: 4 hours
- 0900pm ETD Victory Liner Pasay
- Manila to Baguio
- Travel time: 4-5 hours
April 30, Saturday - Mt. Pulag Basecamp
- 0200am ETA Baguio arrange jeep
- 0500am ETA Sightseeing in Benguet
- 0730am Briefing
- 0900am ETD DENR to Ranger station
- 1100am ETA Ranger Campsite
- Set up camp and free time to explore the ranger campsite
May 1, Sunday - Mount Pulag, Philippines
- 0100am ETD Ranger to summit
- 0500am ETA Summit
- 0900am ETA Ranger
- Breakcamp
- 0100pm ETA DENR *Lunch
- 04.00pm ETA Baguio
- Dinner with a Friend in Tarlac
- Check-in Blue Inn Hotel
- 350 PHP each per night
May 2, Sunday - Mt. Pinatubo Hike
- Tour Operator: Tripinas Travel and Tour Ventures
- Mt. Pinatubo Itinerary
- 0530am Meet up at base camp in Brgy. Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac (there is paid parking if you bring your car)
- 0530am - 0630am Board 4×4 vehicles.
- 0800am Start trekking (around 1h30 walking using the old way, you can also choose the short trek: 45 minutes walking – as of today, the short trek is not available)
- 0930am Arrival at the crater of Mt. Pinatubo.
- Relax, photos, early lunch (at the client's account)
- 1130am Start return trek (1h30 walking using the old way)
- 1300pm Back to the 4x4s.
- 1430pm Back at base camp. Freshen up
May 3, Monday - Spa Time in Antipolo
- Luljetta's Hanging Gardens and Spa
- Hanging Gardens Retreat Package: 1,650 PHP
- 2020pm - 2355 Flight: Cebu Pacific - Manila, Philippines to Singapore
Basecamp of Mount Pulag in Benguet, Philippines
April 30, Saturday - Sightseeing in Benguet & Mt. Pulag Basecamp
I've been dreaming of clouds in my head for the past few days. The moment we start planning our next climb, the excitement overwhelms me almost every day. I love the mountains, and I believe it's mutual. I have this feeling that the mountains are calling me to meet them. I'm just drawn to its beauty, addicted to the pain of climbing its slopes, the motivational view, the summit climb, and the deep sense of friendship between man and nature. This is love, this is love, and I'm loving it.
It's been a year since our most challenging climb on Mount Kota Kinabalu, and now we're heading to another epic adventure. This time around, we're heading to the Sea of Clouds. It is considered one of the most beautiful mountains in the Philippines. Mt. Pulag stands 2,922 metres above sea level and is located between the border provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya. A few years ago, it was the second-highest mountain after Mt. Apo in Davao; however, according to the latest standing, it is officially the third-highest mountain in the Philippines. I'm glad we chose the Philippines for our climb, our country can offer so much more than just its natural beauty, but also the ambiance, the people, and the weather; it is simply the perfect destination for everybody.
Bus Ride from Manila to Baguio
Day 1 - April 29
Cebu Pacific, Singapore to Manila, Philippines 1035-1415
There are four of us climbing Mt. Pulag: my two loyal climbing buddies plus an additional member of the gang, my buddy's sister. All of us booked our promo flight months before our desired trip. I've settled our Mt. Pulag camp package with the 8 Wonders travel tour, which includes our transportation, meals, tent, and a guide. I wanted a DIY plan, but with the permits and all the news about limited climbers per day, prioritizing the tour groups, I figured it wasn't really a good idea.
The scheduled meet-up time was 9 in the evening with Victory Liner Bus Service in Pasay. We arrived on time in Manila, so there was ample time to eat, shop, and maybe watch a movie. Traffic is bad as usual. It took us 2 hours to get to the Mall of Asia from the airport, which was just 30 minutes away. We planned on watching The Jungle Book, but surprisingly, all the cinemas only show The Avengers Civil War. Instead of watching the movie, we spent our remaining time eating at Congo Grill, which my friend insisted we should try. While waiting for our food, we went inside the department store to buy Sandugo sandals for our Mt. Pinatubo hike, which cost around 600 PHP. Even though our bus was still around 9 in the evening, we arrived an hour early. However, when we got there, the tour coordinator told us that our scheduled bus was still around 10:30 pm. It's a good thing the bus terminal has clean toilet facilities, so we were able to wash our faces and brush our teeth. I'm getting accustomed to this kind of habit; most of my travels now involve night bus rides.
- Victory Line Bus from Manila to Baguio
- Travel time: 4-5 hours
- Fare: 450 PHP- 700 PHP (Covered with our Tour Package)
- Tour Operator: I won't recommend our Tour Group
What To Do in Benguet
Ambuklao Dam
Baguio is different from Manila, less crowded, has fewer vehicles, and the temperature is cold. Though the city is getting more urbanized now compared to the last time I visited, I still like it because it's closer to the mountains. The temperature in the city can drop up to 11-13 degrees in the early morning, so better to get those jackets ready during the trip. We arrived early in the morning, giving us ample time to go sightseeing. Our first stop is the Ambuklao Dam, a hydroelectric facility in Bokod, Benguet Province.
Daclan Sulphur Spring
The next stop is the Daclan Sulphur Spring, also known as "Badekbek Sulfur Spring." No swimming is involved at all; it was just a sightseeing side trip. A boiling pot of muddy, sulfur water with a faint smell of something metallic.
Jangjang Hanging Bridge
The last stop was the Jangjang Hanging Bridge, 290 metres long and one of the longest bridges in Benguet. There's a 10-person limit notice on the bridge, and people don't mind it at all. During that time, it was pretty much crowded; I'm sure there were more of them there. We were hungrier than adventurous at that given time, so we just had a quick peek, and that's it. We went straight to the DENR office afterwards for a brief orientation of our climb and signed our attendance. Reached base camp early in the afternoon; however, we were not able to set up camp right away, as our equipment was left behind by the tour group. One of the reasons why I do not recommend the tour coordinator to anyone is to climb.
Packing for these trips was a challenge as we were carrying our bags on our shoulders most of the time. I wanted my bag to be as lightweight as possible. Here are a few things I've packed for the trip. I needed to prepare clothes for two hikes: Mt. Pulag and Mt. Pinatubo, and winter wear for the summit climb.
Things to Bring for the Hike: (5 days, 4 nights)
- Motto: Travel light. Less is More.
- Top (2 dri-fit shirts, 3-5 sleeveless tops) - I ended up buying one top for the last day.
- 2 Compression leggings - I washed one of them, which I used for the last day.
- 1 Jogging Shorts
- 1 Windbreaker Jacket with Fleece -Temperature at the summit drops up to 2 degrees. Better come prepared.
- 1 Heatech top and leggings (optional)
- 2 Poncho - The weather is unpredictable in the mountains.
- 1 Waterproof Trekking Pants
- 3 Extra Hiking socks - Choose thick and breathable hiking socks.
- Trekking Shoes - I prefer hi-cut shoes for good support.
- Slippers -Life-saver after a long hike.
- Waterproof Gloves
- A Bonnet, Neck scarf - Buy those outdoor neck scarves which are multipurpose: as you can use them as a face mask against the wind during the summit climb, a neck warmer, or even as a headgear and sweat absorber.
- Small hiking bag - I've purposely brought it with me for my camera and to pack my snacks, first aid, whistle, jacket, gloves, and bonnet during the descent as it gets warmer in the morning.
- Plastic bags - For soiled clothing after the hike.
- Sleeping bag (optional)
- Large Garbage bags (at least 2 pcs) - This comes in handy when it rains, as it serves as a bag cover and, more importantly, as a mat you can sit on at the summit, at the same time, to collect your trash.
- Headlamp plus extra batteries - Test it again and again, or you'll end up like me, using my phone light while hiking in the dark.
- Personal whistle - Hook this up with you all throughout the climb. A necessity for climbers, emergency situations happen when you least expect them.
- First Aid Kit (bandage, plaster, alcohol swabs, antibacterial ointment/betadine, vomiting meds, paracetamol)- A must-bring for everyone. Be a responsible climber)
- Tissue Paper (wet and dry)
- Mess kit (plate/container bowl, camper utensils) - The tour group can provide this.
- Water bottle (at least 3 liters for those with sensitive tummies; if not, then a 1-2 liter container will do, which is easily refillable with cool, fresh, and clean mountain water)
- Personal Trail food (candies, chocolates, cookies)
- Camera - Pack lots of silica gel to absorb moisture. I've also placed it inside the corners of my bag. These are camper's life hacks I'm graciously sharing with everyone as it really works big time.
- Powerbank - There's no electricity in the base camp, welcome to the outdoor life!
- Passport, Ticket, Visa, COE (for OFW)
- Shades - This is a must-have as it hides tired eyes and is a great sleeping tool.
- Toothbrush, Cotton buds
- Sunblock, Toothpaste, Shampoo, Soap - Distribute these among your gang, which we always do with my climbing buddies. Maybe leave the shampoo and soap in the hands of your hotel service. Besides, a sachet of shampoo is always on hand in all Sari-Sari stores(Convenient stores) in the Philippines.
- Underwear - I prefer a sports bra as it is a climbing trip. Avoid cotton for the undies.
- Two-piece Bikini - I would never leave without these babies. We planned on pampering ourselves at a Spa resort in Antipolo after all our climbing.
Bus Ride to Meet-up Place
The bus took off around 10:30 pm from Manila, thus arriving at 5 in the morning the following day in Baguio. The first word that woke me up that day was this guy shouting Strawberry Taho. My senses were brought to life after sleeping on the bus for hours. But then it's not advisable to have some soy milk early in the morning, especially for someone who is lactose intolerant, just in the morning, and embarking on a climbing expedition. I like the sound of the word 'expedition', though it doesn't fit the climb we're partaking in. I let it go, which is something I shouldn't have done. They said once you bump into something good, get it and have it. Anyway, it's not really a bad call, I knew that, but my craving was pushing me to go for it. I can't afford a serious toilet break-up in the mountains. The bus dropped us off at a certain point where a van was waiting to take us to the basecamp. We went for breakfast and had our orientation in the DENR office.
The guide told us the wake-up call is around 12:30, yet we were woken up as early as 11:30 in the evening. The Mt. Pulag climb was successful, and by 5 pm the next day, we were already on our way to another adventure. We took a van to Tarlac City to meet a friend of mine for dinner. While my friend's sister took the bus back to Manila along with fellow climbers in our group. Next on our itinerary is Mt. Pinatubo, a famous active volcano located between the provinces of Tarlac and Zambales.
Read more: Mt. Pulag Climb, Philippines
May 2, Sunday - Mt. Pinatubo Hike
We woke up early the next day to prepare for our hike, checked out and left our baggage with the hostel. Little did we know the hassle of getting to our meet-up point at "Bong parking and showers" parking area in Barangay Sta. Juliana, Capas. There was no pick-up transfer included in the package, so we were on our own. The tricycle ride to the meet-up place was 30 minutes away and cost us 300 PHP for a one-way trip.
The 4x4 ride won't be so exciting if you have the enclosed back part of the vehicle, though you're sheltered from dust, rain and the heat of the sun. But hey! How will you enjoy the great outdoors? I always wonder why most people are afraid of getting a tan, or for some, they would say it's to avoid getting skin cancer. It got me thinking it's just a few minutes' ride, even if it's an hour ride, just go for it. This kind of activity doesn't happen every day unless you live in the desert or in the jungle. I wouldn't mind at all; you will still see me standing at the back, holding on to the metal railing for my dear life. Yes, we did that. We stood up and held on tight to the side of the rover to avoid being thrown out of the vehicle. Bounce here, bounce there, smack here, and smack that. Howling, laughing, giggling, and goofing around at the back of the rover was all we did throughout the tour.
May 3, Monday - Spa Time in Antipolo
It's important to have a blast on your vacation; these activities highlight the trip and, at the same time, balance it with a day full of relaxation. I tried to end most of my travels with a spa treatment or a massage. Having your mind at peace before you hop onto that plane will clear out those messy strings clinging to your goals and objectives in life. On this trip, we had it after our sightseeing in Benguet, climbing Mount Pulag and hiking Mount Pinatubo. A perfect fix for all those twisted muscles after all the adventures we had. Our last day in the Philippines was entirely focused on relaxation and rejuvenation in a spa resort located in Antipolo.
- Reservations need to be made at least 7 days before the arrival date.
- Email: reservations@bienvenidotours.com / SMS (+65) 9175444432 / 09286278897 with complete name, contact number, number of persons, date & time of arrival, package or service, time of service.
My friend had her eye on this spa resort for quite some time, and when we had the chance to travel together again, we made sure to visit the resort on our last day. It is advised to book the package days before the spa treatment and pay the whole amount. We had some issues with the reservation process, and adding à la carte services made it more complicated. All ended well, we got what we wanted thanks to my friend's patience and perseverance.
Have fun and be safe ^__^
When you're missing home, this Philippines Notebook brings back cherished memories, filling the gaps with warmth and comfort. Check out Flying Starfish Studios for unique journals, notebooks, and planners.
Do you want more adventure?
Where am I going next?
- My next adventure is to Bangkok, Thailand, for a one-week foodventure.
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