Maybe this is the most exciting things you can do in the Philippines for a Low Cost Budget.
All you have to bring is Foods, Tent, Small Cooking Wares, Some Clothes, and Yourselves...
Things To Bring :
- Rice, Canned Foods, any food you like ( it depends on how long you stay and how much you eat, LOL)
- Flashlights
- Mosquito repelant
- Small Cooking Wares,
- Thick Clothes
- Tent
- Empty Bottles (small and big)
- Playing Cards
- I prefer to bring guitar if you know how to play it
- Camera (for souvenir)
- Salt and Singkamas (for emergency)
- Cigar (if you are smoker)
- 500-1000 pocket money
- Knife (any deadly weapon) don't worry,if you need it,you can borrow it from Organizers
- Liquor (this is strictly not allowed especially on holy Week)
Lets Go...
We preffer to go there during Holy Week, From Monday to saturday of any Holy Week,
This is because, there is a lot of people here during Holy Week.
And there is some programs organized by some Groups like Games, Music Jamming, Movie waching (Projector DVD) and many more... you will see it when you're there.
Mount Makiling is located inside University of the Philippines Los Banos, Laguna...
If you are living in Manila Area, there is a lot of ways to go to Los Banos.
Options:
Cubao: find Bus Terminals going to Sta. Cruz Laguna,
Buendia Taft: find Bus Terminals going to Sta Cruz Laguna,
Depart to UP, and ask people of where you can ride a jeepney going to Forest Tree...
Once, departed on Forest Tree, just a small walk and you will find the Entrance to Mount Makiling...
You have to pay 5 pesos for the entrance and additional 30 pesos (for the whole group) if you are going to stay there for a night or 2. I suggest to Camp there for 3 days for a maximum excitement.
After paying for fees, walk on the rough road until you reach the camp site.
Approximate Time of Walking: 2-3 hours (depending on who is your companion, LOL)
After you reached the Camp Site, find a good spot on where you can build your tent.
I suggest to build your tent under the trees and in between others campers,
This is because, there is a lot of snakes here and if you build your tent far from others, there is an instance that you encounter some snakes, don't worry, snakes here don't attack, they just go away if they encountered you, LOL...
Another reason why i suggest to stay under the trees is because of the strong sunlight at noon,
I don't want you to look like you went to a beach after this trip, LOL...
And now it's time to cook.
Here at the Camp Site, you are not allowed to make fire near to every tent.
There is a designated place where to build fire and cook.
If you are troubled of making fire, just ask from anyone on the cooking area if they are about to finish cooking, and say that you are next to use their fire. The people here are very friendly so don't hesitate to ask for anything you need.
BUT, not all items here are FREE, find your own wood to burn get your own water to drink, and bring your own food to cook,LOL...
And when you're done eating, what's the best thing to do?
Sleep (LOL)
If there is lot of time to spend, just walk around, and go to other place like Mudspring o Peak 2, (if there is still a LOT of time)
Otherwise, play a card game or just lay down on your tent and feel the nature...
Other places to visit:
there is lot of place that you can visit here at Mount Makiling.
Some are allowed to visit and some are not.
The Mudspring:
As the picture said,
The Mudspring is one of a mud pots left on
Mount Makiling, an inactive volcano.
A mud pot is a type of hot spring that is
formed when due to volcanic heat, sulfuric acids
breaks down surrounding rocks into clay.
This spring is very hot, +/- 80 degrees C...
NOTE; Don't come near the spring, this is not allowed...
Don't try what I've done.
I already regret this... LOL...hahaha!!!
Peak 2
Peak 2 is the Highest Peak of Mount Makiling,
I need to say that you have to go there right after you took your Breakfast.
Walking Time: 6-8 Hours (Camp Site - Peak 2 - Camp Site)
And additional, if you went there with a group,
i suggest to split your group to 2,
first group going to Peak 2, others remain to cook,
it is not nice when you get back to your camp and without any food to eat...
I bet for that....
This what happened to our shoes, LOL!!!
Flat Rocks
When you are about to leave Mount Makiling, you can also visit Flat Rocks,
Flat Rocks is just near the entrance, and its just a small walk to reach it,
If you still have time, you can swim there to refresh yourself...
Sorry, I still dont have any picture from there,
its because the battery of my cam drained for the 3-day stayed up in Mount Makiling...
ENJOY and SEE YOU THERE on next HOLY WEEK!!!
