Climbing Mt. Maculot-Rockies is just one of the many activities you can do in Batangas. It is certainly a complete getaway from the stressful environs of the city. Experience a sweet view of Taal Volcano plus the nearby mountains in Batangas and Cavite areas near the Taal Lake.
Mount Maculot is one of the famous destinations for hikers and has been featured in several magazines and TV shows countrywide. Located at the heart of Cuenca, Batangas, Mt. Maculot is popular among mountain climbers and campers; it has become the major tourist attraction of the municipality.
Mt. Maculot is known for its steepness. Experienced hikers can reach the Rockies in an hour but if you take too long in resting in every stop, the climb might last up to 3 hours. The climb is not easy but it makes the effort worth it because of the mountain’s summit breathtaking view of the famous Taal Lake. The lake itself has a soothing effect on one’s nerves due to its calmness. Before nightfall, the spectacular sunset can be seen. The mountain’s shape resembles an igloo, with a rounded summit and a shoulder resembling the entrance of the igloo.
The main destination or feature of this mountain is its shoulder campsite overlooking Taal Lake, Makiling and the Batangas towns. “Rockies” is one of the mountain’s attractions. It is a popular vantage-point for viewing the Taal Lake. The other side of the Rockies is a 500-meter vertical wall, which leads all the way down to the lake. It is one of the most challenging walls for rock climbers here in the country, entailing two days of rock climbing and setting-up a suspended mid-wall camp. The summit is an hour away from the shoulder but only few people scale the summit since it has no viewpoints.
On the top, there’s what they called “7-Eleven in the mountain”. It is a store that offers what you need when you reach the campsite, like food and beverages. The store is open during Holy Week and on weekends, when campers usually flock the mountain.
Summer is the best time to go to Maculot although during those periods, the mountain can be crowded with hikers. Rainy season makes the trail slippery and the December wind makes it difficult to set camp in the open shoulder.
All your tiredness will surely be blown away as you reach this point. The spectacular view of Taal Lake and the lush green forest will make you forget the difficult and exhausting climb. For many climbers, no matter how easy or difficult the trail is, it is still an achievement for them. They climb Mt. Maculot for experience, for outdoor summer recreation, and for spiritual reconnection. And seeing the breathtaking view up the Mount Maculot might bring tears of joy down their cheeks any minute.
How to get there
From Manila:
Route 1: LRT-1/Jeep-Bus
- Arrive at LRT-1-Gil Puyat. In order to get there:
- Take the LRT-1 to Gil Puyat station.
- Ride a jeep to Buendia/Taft, and get off at Gil Puyat station (Taft Ave. corner Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. [Buendia]).
- Ride a Tritran bus to Batangas City/Batangas Pier (leaves every 30 minutes, PHP149 fare) or a JAM Transit bus to Batangas.
Route 2: LRT-1/Jeep-Bus
- Arrive at LRT-1-Gil Puyat. In order to get there:
- Take the LRT-1 to EDSA station.
- Ride a jeep to EDSA/Taft/Baclaran, and get off at EDSA station (Taft Ave. corner EDSA).
- Ride a BLTB bus to Nasugbu, Batangas or a JAM Transit bus to Batangas.
Route 3: Bus
- From Plaza Lawton, ride a JAM Transit bus to Batangas Pier.