TREK GUIDE | Mt Maculot (Maculod) Traverse (MacTrav) 947 MASL

Mt Maculot (Maculod) Traverse (MacTrav) 947 MASL
Mountain Trek Guide

Mt Maculot is a popular hiking destination near Metro Manila. It has three foremost sites; The Rockies at 706 MASL is a high volcanic rock wall that is the Highest Caldera Rim of the former Taal Crater Cone, The Mt Maculot Summit at 947 MASL and The Grotto at 510 MASL which is a pilgrim site during the Holy Week.

 The Rockies is a Volcanic Rock Wall that provides an Aerial view of Taal Lake. Note: This photo is on the South West of the Rockies, taken was during my 2nd climb to Mt Maculot.

The Rockies, on North East side can be seen the silhouette of Mt Makiling and also the Taal Volcano and its Volcanic Island.

Mountain Facts

• Mt Maculot lords over the Municipality of Cuenca at 947 MASL.
• This mountain’s close counterparts in height with mountains near Metro Manila are Mt Makiling and Mt Arayat at over 1000 MASL.
• The Rockies is its most popular site adjacent to that of Taal Lake; it’s a Volcanic Rock wall at 706 MASL that offers a sweeping Aerial view of the Taal Lake, The Taal Volcano, the silhouettes of Mt Makiling and Mt Batulao.
• The Grotto is a site for Pilgrimage during the Holy Week.
• During World War II, Mt Maculot became a stronghold of Japanese forces in Batangas.
• Cuenca is not only popular because of this mountain, it is also known as "The Home of the Bakers".
• Mt Maculot is thickly forested and is rich in Fauna and Flora, its regular to hear reports of sightings of Macaque (Ungoy) monkeys and Musang (Civet Cat).
• Most hikers in Mt Maculot would only opt for The Rockies, at 706 MASL it is an easy hike with steep to moderate trail. The Rockies has an open vantage view of the Taal Lake, the experience is not complete though if the trails are not traversed to the Grotto side. The trail from the Rockies, The Summit to the Grotto is lushly forested with evidence of moss growths near the summit.
• The trail just above the Grotto side of the mountain has 2 roping segments which can be challenging for newbie hikers.

Trail Notes

As of this post; I've traverse Mt Maculot twice last Easter Sunday of April and middle of May of 2015, the same trail for both occasions. I noticed immediately that the town of Cuenca has one too many local bakeries, some are even facing each other in the streets, it's only until I've gathered data for this blogging that I learned that Cuenca is tagged as "The Home of The Bakers". I also learned that Mt Maculot and Cuenca had to go through rehabilitation after the World War II, since the mountain became a stronghold for Japanese forces, and the clashing of military forces left a part of the mountain battered and bombed. 

On the negative side, among the many popular mountains near Metro Manila, Mt Maculot especially the campsite near The Rockies is dirty. On my first climb here, I've seen firsthand the aftermath of holy week climbs, the entire place reeked of fecal waste and littered with plastic bottles that it looks like a landfill on some part. It’s difficult even for guides to educate a herd of climbers during Holy Week. On my return climbed though, the garbage debris has cleared, the fecal waste odor has minimized, I would commend the guides for their effort to clean the mountain. Although it is the hikers responsibility to lessen their impact on this mountain, the guides and vendors are the most affected as these trails provide a livelihood for them.

Mt Maculot is one of those mountains wherein you have to be specifically careful in managing your garbage or food, Civet cats here have been caught foraging the garbage’s that should not be part of their diet.

Suggested Itinerary

Option 1

TRAVERSE (Grotto-Summit-Grotto)

0500 Board Lemery-bound bus from Buendia

0800 ETA Near 7/11 Cuenca. Take a Tricycle ride to jump-off. 

     Along with this ride is registration at the Brgy outpost.

0830 Start trek

0930 Arrive at Grotto.. Take pictures.

1100 Summit -Option for pictures only then head for campsite, or take lunch.

1230 ETA Campsite before the Rockies. Option for Lunch.

1300 Head to Rockies.

1400 Descent from Rockies

1445 Resume descent.

1600 Paliguan to Freshen Up

Option 2

TRAVERSE (Rockies-Summit-Grotto)

0500 Board Lemery-bound bus from Buendia

0800 ETA Near 7/11 Cuenca. Take a Tricycle ride to jump-off. 

     Along with this ride is registration at the Brgy outpost.

0830 Start trek

1000 Arrive at campsite, head to Rockies

1010 At Rockies; take pictures

1110 Leave for the summit

1230 ETA Summit of Mt. Maculot. Lunch

1300 Start descent to Grotto

1430 Arrival at Grotto. Rest.

1445 Resume descent.

1600 Paliguan to freshen up.

Guides are required,

Php 400 for 5 Pax Rockies only.

Php 800/1,000 for 5 Pax Traverse.

Estimated Expenses

Php 147 - Lemery Bound Bus from LRT Buendia Bus Stations, to Cuanca Batangas.

Php 20  - Tricycle Ride per pax from Tricycle Terminal to Mountaineer Store, jump Off.

Php 20  - Climb Registration at the Brgy Outpost, will be brought by the Tricycle Drivers.

Php 400 - Guide fee per day, for Rockies Only, 1-5 Pax.

Php 800/1000 - Guide fee for day, for Climb Traverse.

Php 35  - Tricycle ride per pax from Grotto Side back to Mountaineer Store jump off for wash up.

Php 15  - Bath fee/per tub of water in Paliguan.

Php 25  - Jeep Ride for SM Lipa.

Php 125 - Bus Ride from SM Lipa terminal back to Makati.

How To Get There

• Take a Lemery Bound Bus from Bus Stations in Cubao or even anywhere in EDSA, or in the Bus Stations in LRT Buendia.
• Another option is to take Lipa Bound buses to SM City Lipa terminal. From there, you can take a Jeep bound for Cuenca.

On The Map

 Mt Maculot in relation to the Cuenca National Highway.

 Trail Map.


Ang Pala-lagaw Photo Gallery

These photos are all published in my Flickr Account.

Click here for more: Mt Maculot Traverse

 The first group I climbed with in Mt Maculot during Easter Sunday 2015. On the road to the Rockies trail.

I returned with this group after a month, to let some of my Mountaineering friends experience the MacTrav.

Between the Campsite and the Rockies is a Mountain pass with Ravines on both sides.

 

 Mt Makiling as seen from Mt Maculot summit.

Volcanic Island in a Lake, the dome Taal Volcano.

This is one of the Two Roping Segments in the Traverse Trails.

The Grotto Site is marked with these.

Francis Balgos is a Call Center Agent, Weekend Travel Warrior, Amateur Spelunker, Sometime Surfer, Newbie Mountain Climber, Photography Enthusiast, Certified Beach Bum, A first born son, True Explorer...

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