Wiam. [Wildelyn]: March 2014

TOP 5 of Mt. Manalmon

January 05, 2014
Mountain: Mt. Manalmon
Jump off: Sitio Madlum, San Miguel, Bulacan
Difficulty: 2/9 Minor Climb, 160+ MASL
Climb: Dayhike
Budget: P600

Day-hike Itinerary:

06:00-08:00 Drive from Manila to San Miguel Bulacan

08:30-09:00 Arrival at Sitio Madlum & Registration Site

09:00-10:00 Start climb

10:30-11:00 Arrive at the Peak of Mt. Manalmon

11:00-12:00 Back at Registration Site

12:00-01:00 Lunch

01:00-01:30 Start Bayukbok Cave

02:30-03:00 End of Bayukbok Cave

03:00-03:30 Wash up or swim at Madlum River

03:30-05:00 Travel back to Manila

Going up North is easy due to NLEX. It took us 2 hours drive to arrive at the Mt. Manalmon, as we approached our destination there were available parking spaces and just have to pay parking fee for the entire day. The locals are very friendly and they welcomed and expect visitors to hike on weekends.

Fee: 20Php

1. Cross the Madlum River

This is the view of the Matnub River.
In order to register, you have to cross the river by a bamboo float.
Fee: 5Php.

2. Climb MT. MANALMON

Once registered, pay the registration fee and it is mandatory to get a guide going to mountain.

Registration Fee: 5Php

Guide Fee: 300Php/group

This marks the start of the trail.

At first of the trail, expect to enter the Manalmon cave.

There will be a river

so get ready to get wet at the early start.

The trail is wide open, some will be shaded while most of the time are not. Overall, it is an easy climb highly recommended for beginners.

Seeing this huge rock formation, indicates the peak of Mt. Manalmon

At the top of Mt. Manalmon facing Sierra Madre

Heading back to the registration site for Lunch.

there is a wide spacious area open for hikers. tables and chairs are available for rent.
Our group cooked Adobo and recovered ourselves from the hike.
Table: 50Php

3.Bayukbok cave

This additional side trip is one of the popular activities at Mt. Manalmon. If your looking for more ultimate outdoor challenge, then this is a "must" do. Try it! and see for what the cave has to offer.

Fee : 300Php/group

According to our Local guide, this cave was part of the Philippine history where this was the hide-out of the president Biak-na-bato.

The caves are dark and it is advisable to bring head lamps or you could rent flashlights available at the registration site, that would be additional 30Php.

Expect to have intense challenges in the caves, first challenge starts with a rappel going down. Followed by different challenges such as inserting inside tight holes, squeezing entire body into S shapes and the Ladder going up to the "Musical Room".

It's one physically challenging yet worth it experience. An indeed intense and the whole cave took us 1hour and 30 min to finish.

4. Cross the "MONKEY BAR"

The locals use this "Monkey Bar" to cross over the Matnub river, they say this is their bridge that even children have to cross everyday as they go to school.