Before 2020, Mt. Makiling, a dormant volcano in Laguna was one of favorite day hikes. The trail begins at the UPLB campus (trailhead here) and leads all the way to Peak 2, the summit at 1,090 meters (3,580 feet). It's an easy to follow route, close to Manila and surrounded by beautiful forest. Outside the summer months of March-May, leeches eagerly spring onto hikers like long distance lovers - but I got used to them.
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| view from Mariang Makiling trail |
Since reopening after the pandemic, things have changed. Hikers are now required to hire a guide at 1,200 PHP per group of five. That's reasonable for larger groups, but for solo hikers or small parties, it can feel a bit pricey. On top of that, traffic in Pansol - where most private resorts are located has gotten worse after 12 noon.
Thankfully, every year during Holy Week, the park's management makes an exception. Hikers taking the Mariang Makiling trail, which starts at the UP College of Forestry in Los Baños are allowed to reach Peak 2 without a guide. Instead, volunteer marshals are stationed at various points along the trail, all the way to the summit.
(Source : UPLB Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems Facebook Page)
It was time for a return visit! This time, I'm joined by my younger brother. It was Black Saturday, and with the long holiday, I knew it'll be crowded. A friend who hiked the day before advised us to come early and so we did. Still, it was not early enough to get a nearby parking spot. After circling around, we found one near the tennis courts, which added an extra 1.2 KM to our hike.
By 7 AM, we were on our way to the summit. The trail has 30 stations, starting near the registration area and ending at Peak 2. The first stretch, from Station 1 to 11 follows a winding, paved road that climbs steadily up the mountain - a total of 5.4KM! The uphill walk, mixed with the sticky summer heat, was tough—especially in hiking shoes meant for dirt trails, not concrete.
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| the long and at times, annoying winding road from Station 1-11 |
Near Station 11, there are numerous sari-sari stores offering hot meals and cold drinks. I couldn’t resist the chicken adobo and egg wrapped in banana leaves and fresh buko juice! After that simple but enjoyable breakfast, we continued walking.
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| chicken adobo wrapped in banana leaves and egg |
At Agila Base or Station 11, volunteers had set up a booth where we had to log our names again before entering the forest. The crowd had started to thin out by then, with other visitors heading to other destinations within the forest reserve like the mud springs, flat rocks, or the picnic area.
The good thing about entering this forest trail is how gently it begins - under a canopy of
towering trees that shield you from the harsh sun. I was hoping to spot a jade vine and a blooming rafflesia but unlike my past visit, I missed its blooms. Still, it was exciting to spot some rafflesia buds at Station 14. I'm one to appreciate flowers - and people on whatever stage they're in.
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| a decaying Rafflesia flower with ome soon to bloom buds |
After Station 20, the trail becomes steeper. On rainy days, this section gets very muddy and slippery. Fortunately, the summer heat that day had dried the trail enough to make the mud tolerable. It was past 1 PM when we reached the summit. I’ve been to the summit in various weather conditions. On some days, fog casts a dark blanket over the sky, obscuring the wonderful view of Laguna. But there are always the reliable blooms of Medinilla, a native flowering tree. This time, we were rewarded with clear skies and great views from all the summit viewpoints!
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| Medinilla flowers |
It was quite crowded at the summit, so after checking out the view, we headed down. Some sections of the trail only allow one person to pass at a time, so we walked quicker and minimized our stops to avoid waiting at the narrow parts. We made it down
On the way home, we ran into awful standstill traffic along Pansol, so my brother turned the car around and we began making our way back to Manila via the longer route through San Pablo city. What a day it was - but despite the inconveniences of a crowded holiday hike, I’m very happy I got to return to Mt. Makiling.
Mt. Makiling Hiking Info (Mariang Makiling trail) :
Trailhead - College of Forestry, UP Los Banos, Laguna (Google Pin here)
Fees:
Entrance - 30 Pesos/head if going to Mariang Makiling trail (This is the shorter trail going to Peak 2 summit. The longer and more adventurous route is via the Sipit trail via Sto. Tomas, Batangas)
Guide Fee (mandatory) - 1,200 Pesos for every group of 5. To ensure availability of guide, register online at least a week in advance through, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve Online Registration Form
Average time to summit : 4-5 hours
Average time to get down : 3-4 hours
Related Posts on hiking during the Holy Week: