Easy Day Trip Hikes Around Metro Manila
November 20, 2019 - 3 min read
Want to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the city and find some fresh air? And not just a trip down to Alabang, but into the mountains for some scenery as well? Manila has some great hiking spots just outside the metro! Usually known for our sky scrapers and sadly, pollution, you can take a break by heading a few hours down south or north to get some air and exercise.
There are actually a bunch of great mountains to journey to for a quick hike, but some may be a little more challenging than others, so to start off “easy”, we gathered our top 5 picks for easy day trip hikes within Manila:
1. Mt. Pinagbanderahan (Gulugod Baboy Peak)
Where: Anilao, Batangas
Came because of the name, stayed for the views, which are indeed, spectacular. A fairly easy hike with a beautiful refreshing view. The name Gulugod Baboy is actually one of the peaks of Mt. Pinagbanderahan, since it looks like a pig from a certain angle. No pigs are part of the views, but with rolling hills upon hills and a wide lens view of the coast, you can’t go wrong with this hike. You can also take a swim in the nearby pebble beaches after your hike, so that’s definitely a reward after a long hot hike.
2. Mt. Manabu
Where: Sto. Tomas Batangas
Another great quick hike, would be Mt. Manabu. Also great for beginners, this hike is fairly easy with only a few hurdles here and there like crossing a river and a few steep trails to follow through. But it’s all worth it as the whole way through the hike, you have stunning visuals of a jungle surrounding you. Just be careful during the rainy season, as the trail can get a little slippery, so prepare poles to prevent you from falling over.
3. Mt. Binacayan
Where: Montalban, Rizal
Going up north to Rizal, you can find seven peaks in Montalban. The crowd favorite is Mt. Binacayan, where you can find a spectacular view of the Wawa Dam. You can even stay overnight and witness the morning view of clouds on top of the summit. It’s an easy climb so far, but with a lot of limestone formations, you just have to be wary of.
4. Taal Volcano
Where: Talisay, Batangas
A fantastic view you usually see whenever you’re in Tagaytay, but have you seen it up close and personal? Arguably the second best mountain, after Mt. Mayon of Legaspi, it’s no doubt a great visit everyone should chance upon. It’s not a hard hike, but you do have to take a tricycle to the boat dock to take you to the Taal island, then you can begin your journey there.
5. Pico De Loro
Where: Maragondon, Cavite
A definite must-hike is Pico De Loro, which if you have an early start in the morning, you might be able to see the monkeys roaming around looking for some breakfast. There are also some stray dogs, that are quite friendly that can show you around. It’s a fairly easy hike for beginners, but there are a few steep areas you have to climb through, but it’ll be worth it with the full turn view of Cavite and Batangas at the same time.