This mountain has a combination of beauty and trekking adventure; it has a lot to offer in terms of natural beauty and richness. Birds are singing, colourful flowering plants on the ground, orchids hanging on the branches, bananas, and fruit-bearing trees like coconuts and mangoes. Reaching the top of the Monolith or the Parrot's Beak is a must-have because it will measure your fear and agility. Just to share, it is also known as Mt. Palay-palay located in Ternate, Cavite. Its name was given by the Spanish sea-fairer because it looks like a ‘parrot’s beak’ from afar.
Specifications:
- Location: Maragondon, Cavite and Nasugbu, Batangas
- Major jump-off: DENR Station, Magnetic Hill, Ternate, Cavite
- LLA: 14° 12.855 N; 120° 38.785 E
- Height and Elevation: 664 MASL
- Hiking Difficulty: 3/9, Minor climb, Trail class 1-3
The Trails of Mt. Pico de Loro:
- From DENR, it’s a moderate ascent and the terrains are covered with hardwood and fruit-bearing trees while shrubs and grasses are on each side.
- I can say the trail is well-established, but there are fork trails that might confuse anyone, especially if hikers prefer a night trek.
- Trail marks on the trees and branches are visible and they are accurate. Hikers need to prepare for the 75-80 degrees ascent.
Special Feature | The Waterfalls: Before enjoying the beauty on Mt. Pico de Loro's summit, there’s a waterfall that can replenish your tired muscles, your choice either before you continue ascent or descent. The trail to the waterfalls is out of way towards the summit but trail marks can be seen guiding hikers to its exact location.
The Campsite of Mt. Pico de Loro:
- Its campsite is open and wide space that can handle more than 20 tents at the same time. This space is situated by the cliff and bamboo on the other side; it has a perfect view of the summit and the monolith.
- The ambience is cool because of the sea breeze, and the air is fresher.
- The surroundings are also refreshing because it is covered with grass and trees. On the summit, this mountain has a 360-degree view of the nearby provinces. There's also a big picture of the stunning crystal blue waters.
- The Monolith or Parrot's Peak is a huge and towering vertical stone perched on the side of the mountain, which has its own platform on the top. Hikers would need to do wall climbing up to the top. For those people looking for something unique and thrilling, some organizers added rappelling to this part. It is definitely a must-visit.
After hiking, the perfect side trip and a recommended tourist spot in Cavite is the Philippine Marines Headquarters. You are correct; it's the place where our strong marines stay. The beach here has fine white sand with cottages, souvenir shops, videoke, and a shower area. This headquarters is open to the public until 12 midnight.
How to Get to Mt. Pico de Loro:
- At the Coastal Provincial Bus Terminal, we rode in a bus bound for Ternate/Maragondon and alighted at Jetti Gas Station by the highway.
- Then, we chartered a jeepney to DENR for registration, passing on the magnetic highway in Ternate. Just so you know, on the downhill part, our driver switched off the engine of the jeepney, but instead of going forward, since it was downhill, it moved backwards. So amazing, right?