Batangas - Mt. Batulao

Mt. Batulao
Evercrest Golf course, Nasugbu, Batangas
811 MASL
Difficulty: Minor, 3/9(New Trail) & 4/9(Old Trail)
Trail Class: 1-3 w/ 60-70 degrees assault
Trekking Time: 2-4 hours

Mt. Batulao is one of the most popular hiking destination in the CALABARZON(Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region as Mt. Batulao offers a package of experience and views. This is because, Mt. Batulao has two faces, the Old trail and New trail. Although both are majorly a vast of cogonland(which create muddy trail during rainy season and a well exposed trail during summer season), the two trails still offer different levels of challenges.

Trekking Mt. Batulao will technically starts at a community, few minutes away from the entrance of the Evercrest Golfcourse. Some opt to take tricycle to drop them on the said community, rather than walking as exposure to the sun or rain begins the moment you step your feet at the entrance. But if you are cost cutting, walking is the best option to save money as tricycle may cost you around Php 30.00 if I remember right.

Moving forward, the majority of your trek passes through the ridges of the mountain until the fork of the Old and New trails. A slightly descending trail on the left after a nipa hut will lead the visitors of Mt. Batulao to the Old trail, while continuing straight forward will lead them to the New trail.

Old trail of Mt. Batulao offers a higher level of challenge as this one is steeper, 60-70 degrees assault to be exact, which you will soon after an hour of trek. From the fork, the trail is leading to a forest which gives you opportunity to pass by creeks(active during rainy season)before reaching the campsite.

From the campsite, the trails are now steep and the real challenge begin. The trail from camp 8 to 9 might look challenges for beginners but it is nothing compared to the 60-70 degrees rocky trail of camp 9 to camp 10 or the Mt. Batulao's summit.

New trail of Mt. Batulao is a relaxed trail, although you may have to pass ridges still, the steepness is nothing compared to the steepness of those in the Old trail. But don't underestimate the New trail, as you need to pass the ups and downs the slopes of Mt. Batulao.

Generally, as I said before, the two trails of Mt. Batulao is a vast of cogonland and this made them open in not just sun but also winds which made them cold during night especially around December to February.

TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

You may take the Crow Bus Lines that are bound to Nasugbu which will drop you straight at Evercrest Golfcourse OR you may want to take bus/van going to Tagaytay and having some sidetrips (such as Bulalo festive!:p)before taking jeep bound to Nasugbu. From Evercrest, you may opt to take tricycle or have a warm up trek.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

Day 1

10:00 Assembly at EDSA-Taft
10:30 ETD to Nasugbu via Crow Busliner
13:00 ETA Evercrest, Take packed lunch
13:15 ETA Jumpoff/Start trek to Old trail
15:00 ETA Campsite/Start Assault
16:00 Summit
17:00 Start Descend to New trail
18:00 ETA New trail campsite/Set camp/Cook
19:00 Dinner/Socials

Day 2

06:00 Wake up call/Cook
07:00 Breakfast/Break camp
08:00 Start Descend
09:30 ETA Jumpoff/Head to Tagaytay for sidetrips

*To maximize the visit, I intentionally made an itinerary of Old-New traverse.