Mount Batulao is an 800+ meter peak in Nasugbu, Batangas very close to the popular tourist city of Tagaytay. The trail head can be accessed through Evercrest Golf Club, just a few hundred meters away from the corner going to Payapa Road. If the security personnel inquires about your destination just tell them you’re headed for Mount Batulao. The road inside the gate goes past the Evercrest clubhouse and then take the second corner where there’s a fork in the road that turns right. There should be a small group of houses soon after the corner and where there’s another corner that leads onto a dirt road.
But first, lemme take our Selfies (My Mare's Mountaineer)
Our ascend was through the old trail since it was more difficult and longer than new trail.
After taking a couple of snapshots , we bought halo-halo and buko juice to refreshed (a popular Filipino dessert made of shaved ice, evaporated milk, and various sweet beans and fruits) before going to Summit.
On our way to the summit
Rappelling before the summit
Main ridge of Batulao from close to the summit
Steep part going to Summit
Bought souvenir shirt and wore it before the Summit
Top of the world (Peak of Mt. Batulao)
Shortly you are on top, no more than one-to-two hours from the trailhead, depending on your speed. But we took more than three hours because of taking pictures and due to numerous stop overs. (Yes with 'S) Hihi Views extend back to Taal in the east, and over a patchwork of fields to the Batangas coast in all other directions. From here you can retrace your steps or perhaps try the Old Trail to make a circuit. Watch the exceptionally steep top sections which can be slippery with dust and loose rock.
We did not stay longer at the peak since the sun was furiously hot. We went down after a few minutes and go to the forest on the mountainside where we ate our merienda. Then we headed back through the new trail. It was longer yet an easy one than old trail.
At the peak, the rocky landscapes climax into beautiful formations. Set in the backdrop of the plains of Cavite and Batangas, the photo ops are excellent. Views include the peninsula of Calatagan (SE), the coastline of Nasugbu (E), Mt. Talamitam (ENE), the mountains of Maragondon, Cavite (N), the Tagaytay highlands (WNW), Taal Lake (W), behind it, Mt. Maculot (WSW), and the vast Balayan Bay (S). Here the breezes that menaced the assault are now a refreshment after few minutes.
The treacherous trail on the way to the top
TAKE RISKS. TAKE CHANCES.
Climbing Mt. Batulao was very excruciating, but also most worthy and fun. I feel great that I was able to scale this mountain. Will I climb Batulao again anytime soon? Probably not. Was I glad that I did it? Yes! Absolutely! This is awesome experience. Very rewarding!
They say that it was great for begginers and experienced hikers as well. Offers great view of Batangas and Cavite provinces. Trail can be very slippery during rainy season so exercise caution.
This is our second adventure for my loves and may be the first time for some of us, yet it brought a whole lot of experience, perhaps a new found love for hiking as well as the fortitude to test one’s limitations. More difficult than my first hike (Mt. Pico de Loro) but this trip was more fulfilling. I may say that you can conquer something, not just the mountain, but also meeting your challenge. Hiking is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. Literally.
DAYHIKE : TRAVERSE
0830H Traveled from Manila to Nasugbu
1030H Start of trek through the new trail
1100H Lunch and prepared to summit
1130H Way going to Summit
0330H Arrived at summit, enjoyed the view, took pictures
0400H Started descent from the old trail to the new trail
0630H Arrived at jump-off, had rest and clean-up
0730H Travel back to Manila
