Mt. Tagapo: A Complete DIY Guide

Tagapo: A mountain in an island

There are times that almost everything just gets in your nerves. That's the sign that you need a time off, away from the bustles of your fast-paced existence. It's time to go somewhere isolated, where you can stretch your cramped muscles and make your heart race. 

Now, the question is, where can we find such place? The answer: Mt. Tagapo



Mt. Tagapo, or to quote Jose Rizal, "Susong Dalaga", is located in the island of Talim in Laguna de Baie. Compared with other mountains in CALABARZON, it is less crowded with climbers. 

This mountain offers a very different experience as you have to ride a barge for an hour to reach the jump off. Enjoy the stunning view of Laguna de Baie and the city lights of nearby Metro Manila.

Background

Jumpoff point: Brgy. Janosa, Binangonan, Rizal

Trail Difficulty: 2/9
Height: 438+ MASL
Trail Class: 1 - 2

Guide: Required, P500 for dayhike, P800 for overnight
Beginner Friendly? Definitely!

Mt. Tagapo is located in Talim Island, the largest island in Laguna de Baie. It is within the municipality of Binangonan, Rizal, about 33 KM south of Metro Manila. 

The Team

Pearly and Iantot, the Princess and the Pauper

The date of the climb was February 18, 2017, Saturday. There are only two of us in the climb party.  

HOW TO GET THERE

Barge Ride to Brgy. Janossa

1. Go to Starmall, Shaw Boulevard
2. From Shaw Boulevard, ride a jeepney going to Binangonan, Travel time 1 - 1.5 hours, fare P35.00
3. Alight at Binangonan Port
4. From Binangonan Port, ride a barge going to Brgy. Janosa, Travel time 45 min - 1 hr, fare P30
5. Register at the barangay hall and secure a guide

Note: The barge ride is not really long. However, the travel time is usually lenghtened due to numerous stopovers to different barangays in Talim Island. You can opt to alight in the very first barangay then ride a tricycle to Brgy. Janossa. However, we recommend you to choose the first option to have a fuller experience. 

Barangay Hall, jump-off point to Mt. Tagapo

The Trail

The initial part of the trail cuts through residential area. You will pass by the elementary school and the community clinic on the way to the trail head. As of the writing of this blogpost, hiring a guide is now required. (See Background). This segment is cemented and will be only a small portion of the climb. After 10 - 15 minutes, you will reach the end of the cemented path and the real climb begins. 

The trail is mostly gentle ascent through a wooded area. From Brgy. Janosa, it will take you about 1.5 - 2 hours to reach the summit of Mt. Tagapo. Majority of the trail leading to the main campsite is shaded so no worries of getting sunburned

The first sign that you are halfway through is the big mango tree. Here, you can take a breather and maybe a quickbite. In our case, we decided to continue on since it was already 8PM when we arrived at the mango tree and the sky decided to bless us with too much rain. 

The second part of the trail is a grassland. Reaching the grassland means that the main campsite is just 10 - 15 minutes away. The main campsite is a bit narrow as it can only accommodate 3 - 5 tents at a time. 

We immediately pitched our tent and prepared our dinner upon arrival. The thunderstorm was gaining momentum so we have to be fast. 

The blogger practicing his culinary skills

DINNER RECIPE

Century Tuna

Luncheon Meat

Rice

The Summit

The summit of Mt. Tagapo is just 10 - 15 minutes way from the campsite. The trail going to the summit is a bit trickier than the first. The trail steepness now range from gentle to about 60 degrees. However, the rewards waiting for you at the summit overshadows the task. 

We were only given a short window to enjoy the summit. It was raining all night so when the morning came, the summit was shrouded with low clouds. Visibility in the main campsite was so poor that we almost decided to just skip the summit assault. However, the rain pettered out and the clouds dispersed. We left our things in the tent then alternately ran and walked to the summit, hoping to reach it before the clouds set in again.

The main campsite is visible from this photo. (the orange dot on the background). 

10 minutes later, after many near-slips, we finally reached the summit. 

The Princess and the Pauper 

Note: You can create field expedient poncho using a garbage bag. Just make sure that you will dispose it properly after use. 

We spent about an hour (we really enjoyed the view) on the summit. From the vantage point, you can see the distant high-rise buildings of Manila, Mt. Sembrano and the expanse of Laguna de Baie.

The Descent 

On the way down, all you have to do is to backtrack the trail. According to our guide and other locals, a new trail is in development so you can do a traverse. Watch out for it in the future. The descent took us only about 45 minutes to reach the registration area. There are facilities available at the registration area where you can wash up and eat before you go back to Manila. 

Too Many Goodbyes!

Mt. Tagapo, semi-covered with clouds

It was already late morning when we finally left the island. The feeling was bittersweet as the boat slowly pulled away from the quay. We looked back and saw the island fading in the distance. We bid our farewell, and look forward for new adventures. 

THINGS TO CONSIDER

1. If planning a day hike, make  sure that you reach the port early as the barge has to be full before it sails. 
2. Due to its relative isolation, it is quite difficult to leave the island immediately in case of emergency. You'll have to charter a barge if you have to do so which will cost you about P1,500.00.
3. Practice the LNT Principles all the time. 
4. And most importantly, keep a positive attitude. Your state of mind will decide the quality of your trip. Even the sunniest day will be dampened if you look at all things negatively. 

Hey, now that we are at the bottom, what are you still doing here? Grab your backpack now and just go! Don't forget to share, like and subscribe to our blog.