If you’re in for a quick hike, there are many options in Rizal and Batangas that can be done in a day or less. One of these is Mt Batolusong in Tanay, Rizal which is very accessible and you can do it yourself! This blog will talk about how we did it.
About Mt. Batolusong
One of the many beginner-friendly mountains to climb in Rizal, Mt. Batolusong is located in San Andres, Tanay, Rizal. It features a beautiful mountainscape of the Sierra Madre range that you can view from its grassland and plateau. Unlike the other Rizal mountains, there are less rocky terrains here. As of this writing, it’s my second time to hike Mt. Batolusong – the first climb was overnight camping and this time, dayhike.
Depending on your pace, you can reach the summit in about 3-4hours max. There’s a mini sari-sari store that sells some food items and water before the summit.
How To Get To Mt. Batolusong DIY & Joiner Tour
Mt Batolusong jumpoff is in Barangay San Andres and it’s pretty accessible.
- From Shaw or Cubao, take a jeepney to Cogeo, Antipolo. If there are available UVs/express vans, that would be better. Because we wanted to go really early (trips begin at 5am for the jeepneys) and we came in a group of 5, we decided to share a Grab ride instead. Travel time should be about less or more than 30minutes.
- Alight at Jollibee in Cogeo (this was what we pinned on Grab) and take a jeepney that will take you to Batangasan.
- From the jeepney stop, take a tricycle that will take you to the jump off.
We also did a modification for steps 2 and 3 and hired a tricycle instead that will take us all the way to the jump off from Cogeo for our convenience. We got this contact from our tour guide.
To be totally transparent, we paid more because of that. But if you’re following the usual commute routine, you will still be able to stick with the budget of P600.
We paid P800 each tricycle so for 2 tricycles, P1600/5 = P320.
If you’re getting stressed with all these details of commuting and arranging, you can book on Klook for a joiner tour and use my code DESA5OFF for 5% discount:
Mount Batolusong Join In Day Hike from Manila – https://www.klook.com/en-PH/activity/87889-mount-batolusong-join-in-day-hike/?aid=36208
Sample Itinerary – DIY Mt. Batolusong Dayhike
Here’s our itinerary for a DIY Mt Batolusong Hike:
2:00am meetup at Shaw, depart to Cogeo
2:30am arrive at Jollibee Cogeo, meetup with hired tricycle
4:00am arrive at jumpoff, registration, prep
4:30am start trek
7:00am arrive at Duhatan Ridge
8:00am arrive at summit
9:30am descent
11:30am arrive at jumpoff, freshen up, depart to Cogeo
12:30pm arrive at Cogeo, take ejeep to Cubao
1:30pm Cubao
2:00pm home
Breakdown of expenses (per pax)
| Php 100 | E-jeep to and from Cogeo |
| Php 110 | Jeep to and from Batangasan |
| Php 100 | Tricycle to and from jump off |
| Php 100 | Environmental fee, tourism fee, cultural fee |
| Php 150 | Guide fee (If a group of 5) |
| Php 560 | TOTAL |
Tour Guide Contact
I found ate Agnes Dolinog from a Facebook page and she also helped us arranged the tricycle we hired for our commute. She’s kind and accommodating! Check out her Facebook page here: https://web.facebook.com/agnes.dolinog.5
Things To Bring For Mt. Batolusong Dayhike
- 1-2 L drinking water
- Pocket money
- Camera, phone
- Raincoat or rain jacket (in case it rains)
- Ziplock or waterproof bags for gadgets
- Extra clothes to change after hike
- INSECT REPELLANT (mosquitoes are all over the trail!)
- Trail food and snacks
- Sanitary kit – alcohol, wipes, tissues, etc
- Garbage bag
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