I'll place Mt. Maculot as the second must climbed mountain in Batangas because of different factors. Can also be one of the best options for day hikes because of its minor trail type, and terrains that are covered with trees and surrounded by grass and shrubs, the air is the fresh, cool ambiance and a perfect location for a stunning shot with the world famous and most active Taal Volcano on the background. In addition, the Rockies is the best and famous part of Maculot.
WALKING ON THE TRAILS OF MACULOT: From the jump off to the campsite, the trail is ascending and got 3 rating out of 9 in terms of its difficulty, but never underestimate it. The trail is well-established, clean and covered with trees and shrubs on the sides. The ambiance is cool and the air is fresh. Buko juice and halo-halo stores are present in almost every 10 meters on the trail, perfect to replenish lost body fluids.
THE ROCKIES: From the campsite, the trail is well-established but has descent and an assault to the Rockies. Trail type is more technical because hikers would need to scramble to reach the summit. This part has different views, the actual Rockies where hikers have a death-defying pose or the side where Mt. Taal is a perfect backdrop. On either side, the sea breeze is cool and relaxing.
THE CAMPSITE: Its campsite has a wide and open area which can handle more than 20 tents, depending on the size. The area is clean, well maintained and has cottages. The breeze is cold, especially at night, so bringing a jacket is highly recommended. The "Price is Gold" store is also available. ALWAYS REMEMBER "LEAVE NO TRACE." DO NOT LEAVE YOUR TRASH AT THE CAMPSITE.
THE TRAVERSE: A traverse is another journey. Hikers need to trek to the summit which is 930 MASL; it took us two hours to reach the summit from the campsite but was certainly full of fun. The trails and terrains are pretty much the same, they are well-established. The sea breeze is still cool and has fresher air because everything is surrounded by greens with orchids hanging on the branches. Also, the area is abundant with a variety of birds that are singing lullabies. On the summit, there's a big picture of beautiful Batangas and the nearby provinces. The crystal blue water mirrors the spectacular image of the sky. THE ROPED SEGMENT: More than an hour from the summit is the challenging roped segment where the trails are steep and cliff-hanging.
OTHER THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW: Maculot doesn’t have a water source on the campsite or on the summit. Everyone needs to bring their own food and water. There’s a store at the campsite, but the price is gold. You can buy supplies at Cuenca Market. For overnight, Insect repellent lotion is recommended because the area is covered with grass and weeds. For the traverse, I would suggest wearing a comfortable outfit, especially on the roped segment. Guides and entrance fees are to be collected.
HOW TO GET HERE: At the Jam Liner terminal Buendia, we rode in a bus bound for Batangas and alighted in Cuenca. Travel time was 2-3 hours. Then, rode in a tricycle to the registration and to the jump-off (tricycle drivers already knew the place).