⌛ Mt. Maculot: Mountain Climbers' Favorite

Mt. Maculot in Batangas is a famous destination for mountain climbers in the Philippines. You may experience many challenges along the way, but the trip is worth the effort when you get to view the beautiful Taal Volcano and Taal Lake.

Mt. Maculot is considered as one of the popular mountaineering destinations in the Philippines. Mt. Maculot has a well-established trail, fine panoramic view at the summit, wide campgrounds, and an average hiking difficulty.

The Rockies is Mt. Maculot's main attraction. It is a rocky outcropping that is looking over Taal Volcano and Taal Lake. To reach the Rockies' top, some rock climbing skills are needed. But the effort is worth it when you're at the top. The breathtaking view that you will see below, especially the Taal Volcano and Taal Lake, is a delight to the soul.

The campsite is situated on Mt. Maculot's shoulder. On weekends, this campsite is busy with many hikers that climb to Mt. Maculot. It's kind of chilly at night due to the strong to moderate wind up the mountain. To go to the Mt. Maculot's summit, you have to hike for one hour from the campsite. There is also an alternative trail called the grotto trail. Mt. Maculot's summit has an obscured view due to the forest growth and the camp space is minimal.

To get to Mt. Maculot in Batangas from Manila takes about two hours of travel time. Take a bus that is bound for Lemery, Batangas. There is a registration store where your party can register before climbing Mt. Maculot. The registration fee is only PhP 5.00 per climber. At the jump-off point, there's a store where you can buy your last minute necessities especially drinking water. There is no reliable water source up in the mountain.

The trail going up to Mt. Maculot in Batangas is quite easy. Any average mountain climber can make it to campsite in an hour. A normal, leisurely walk can get you to the campsite within two hours. Along the way, you'll get into a fork road. You must take the left trail and another fork road will appear a few meters ahead. Take the right trail this time and that will lead you to the Mt. Maculot's campsite.

Much of Mt. Maculot's trail is forest-covered. At the end part of the trail is an open grass field. Make sure to bring some protection for the sun's harmful rays because it could be very hot and sunny. It is good to start your climb to Mt. Maculot on the mid-afternoon to avoid the scourging heat of the sun. Don't be surprised if you'll find a store within the mountain's campsite.

Climbing Mt. Maculot in Batangas is a great destination for mountain climbing enthusiasts. Having a great panoramic view of Batangas and the famous Taal Volcano and Taal Lake is truly rewarding.