Mt. Maculot/Rockies (706+) and Rockies-Summit-Grotto Traverse (930+)

MT. MACULOT

Cuenca, Batangas
Major Jumpoff: Mountaineer's Store, Brgy. 7 "Siete", Cuenca

Exit point (traverse): Brgy 5 (to Grotto), Cuenca

LLA: 13°55 N; 121°2 E; 706 MASL (Rockies) / 930 MASL (summit)
Days required / Hours to Rockies / summit : 1 day / 1-2 hr / 2-4 hr

Specs: Minor, Difficulty 3/9 (Rockies); 4/9 (Traverse) Trail class 1-3.

Features: Scenic views of Taal Lake, rock formations, forests

Posting date: August 9, 2007

Last updated: February 16, 2013

LATEST UPDATES

As of February 2013, the trail to the Rockies was closed and a new one was opened. This new trail is well marked by white arrows and signs. The difficulty and distance of the new trail is practically the same as the old one, thus no changes in the itinerary will be made.

BACKGROUND
Mt. Maculot is one of the most popular daytrip destinations. It is so popular that on weekends and summer months, there is a sari-sari store, dubbed '7-11' at the campsite. This mountain, at the heart of Batangas, is known as a landmark for locals and travelers alike; it is easily identifiable because of its abruptly terminating east side - forming a cliff that is challenging for rock climbers and breathtaking to everybody else. Others describe the shape of the mountain as 'igloo-like'.

At 930 MASL, the mountain has three destinations: the famous Rockies (706m), the summit (930m) and the Grotto (510m). These can all be covered by a traverse dayhike, but most climbers head to the Rockies, which is the reason why Maculot is the paragon of an easy hike. Only 5% of hikers pursue the traverse, but we hope more people will explore the "forested side" of the mountain.

It is understandable, though, that the Rockies is Maculot's most powerful draw. This rocky formation stands beside Taal Lake, creating a scenic view, encompassing the whole of Taal Lake including the world-famous Taal volcano; as well the plains of Batangas. From a distance looms, on opposite sides, Mt. Makiling and the Tagaytay Highlands. If you follow Batangas Bay to the South you can see Maricaban Island, and beyond that, Mindoro's Mt. Halcon. The climbing time is variable; experienced climbers can reach the Rockies in less than an hour, but on a more relaxed pace, one could take up to two or three hours. Being a very popular trail, some entrepreneurial locals would sell drinks, like buko juice, at the rest stops along the trail, which is somewhat steep.

Moreover, there is a big store, dubbed '7-11' at the campsite which marks the end of the initial trail: this store offers everything from hard drinks to halo-halo and is open on weekends and peak season days during Holy Week etc. The campsite has space for 20 tents or more, but if you are a seeker of peace and quiet on a mountain on weekends, this is probably one of the worst places to camp in, being full of people, some of whom can get rowdy and noisy well into the night, talking and drinking. On weekdays, though, Maculot is very pleasant and quiet. Also, because of its popularity, Maculot has historically been dubbed one of the mountains with the dirtiest trails and campsites - a notoriety that has since been improved by clean-up climbs and an increasingly responsible hiking culture; nonetheless, garbage remains a big problem, and has diminished the beauty of the mountain.

Arriving at the campsite coming from the jumpoff, there are two trails, the left one leads to the Rockies, five minutes away; the right one leads to the summit, which is visible and prominent the campsite. For adventure seekers wishing to maximize a day or two of hiking, Maculot has plenty to offer beyond the Rockies. From the campsite, one can continue to the peak (930 MASL) and the Grotto on the other side of the mountain.

The trail to the summit, and past it, is mostly forested, and lends a different flavor from the usual Maculot trail. Some parts of the trail may be overgrown but is not difficult to follow through the long-established trail. It takes about an hour or so to reach the summit from the Rockies, and there, 930 MASL - the second highest point in Batangas - one can see the Rockies partially surrounded by the waters of Taal Lake; and Taal Volcano too visible and you can take a peek of the Crater Lake itself.

From the very summit of Maculot, there are two trails: one that follows the trail of origin, and another than goes down right from the summit, which is also the right side of the summit, when you're turning your back from the Rockies. Follow this trail, which gets quite steep (and there are some roped segments). The forest ends where the Grotto emerges, and from the Grotto, there are stations of the cross that follow you until you reach the end of the trail. The traverse, like the regular climb, is a relatively straightforward climb, and is doable for reasonably fit individuals.

Either way - as a traverse or as a regular climb - Mt. Maculot is a very nice climb, and its popularity is understandable. This is one of our highly recommended dayhikes from Manila!

Note: This mountain can be combined with Manabu Peak for a twin dayhike. Check out the Twin Dayhikes page for more information!

ITINERARIES

ROCKIES
0600 Board Lemery-bound bus from Buendia or Cubao (~P130)
0900 ETA Cuenca Poblacion - Highway. Walk or take trike to jump-off.
0930 start trek
1115 arrive at campsite, head to Rockies
1130 at Rockies; take pictures
1200 return to campsite for lunch
1230 start descent
1400 back at jump-off; tidy up then head back to the highway from Manila-bound bus.

TRAVERSE (Rockies-Summit-Grotto)
0500 Board Lemery-bound bus from Buendia or Cubao (~P130)
0800 ETA Cuenca Muncipal Hall. Walk or take trike to jump-off. Pay P10 registration fee.
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 Arrival at exit point.

GROTTO
0600 Board Lemery-bound bus from Buendia or Cubao (~P130)
0900 ETA Cuenca Poblacion - Highway. Take trike to "Grotto at Brgy. 5"

0930 Registration / Start trek

1100 Arrival at Grotto. Explore the area / Lunch

1145 Start descent.

1300 Arrival at exit point.

SPECIAL CONCERNS
Public transportation. To get to Cuenca from Manila, you can take a Lemery-bound bus from bus terminals in Cubao (MRT3: Cubao; LRT2: Cubao) or Buendia (LRT1: Gil Puyat). As of September 2010, the bus fare is around P150-160. Travel time is approximately 2.5 hours. Alternatively, one can take a bus to Lipa, also from Cubao or Gil Puyat, then take a jeepney to Cuenca (P28). Ask the bus or jeep to drop you off at Poblacion (town center) along the highway. From there, you can either walk to the jumpoff or take a tricycle. The tricycle will detour you to the Barangay Outpost where you can register, get their contact number for security purposes, and pay a nominal fee (P10).

Private transportation. Take SLEX, then Star Tollway, take the Lipa exit and head towards Cuenca via the highway to the left. Turn right on a fork, and go straight to Cuenca Poblacion. Turn right upon reaching the market area; it is easy to ask around for where the Mountaineer's Store is. Take note that there are two jumpoffs, one for the Rockies and one for the Grotto. There is some parking spaces near the Mountaineer's Store and you can also bring your vehicle through the first kilometer of the trail. As of 2013, there have been parking spaces (for a fee) installed by the locals up to the very end of the cement road.

Guides. You can ask the Barangay Outpost for guides; sometimes, the barangay kagawads themselves offer their services. You can also ask at the Mountaineer's Store, which is at the major jumpoff. However, the trails are generally easy to follow and are safe, so in general, guides are not necessary. As of 2013, kids along the initial leg of the trail have also begun offering themselves as guides.

Camping notes. There are no permits required in Maculot and it is generally safe, even for beginners. During April weekends, however, there may be too many climbers. The Rockies is quite small and can only accommodate about 30 people. 

Climbing notes. Although taking less than 10 minute, the trail from the campsite to the Rockies is very steep. Beginners must be assisted during this leg of the trip. There is a brief portion where you need to scramble up the rocks, some of which may hit you on the head if you are not careful during the ascent. 

Security concerns. Mt. Maculot is generally safe, and in the past years, we've had no reports of any untoward incident involving hikers. However, since it is a popular place, there are a lot of campsite in the campsites so caution is advised.

Environmental concerns. Mt. Maculot is one of the most popular mountains in the whole Philippines, and as such it has been grossly commercialized. To reduce impact on this mountain, PinoyMountaineer suggests avoiding camping in the weekends, or minimizing group number to 15, and whenever possible, bringing down trash from the campsite. Moreover, PinoyMountaineer does not advice hikers to buy refreshments from stalls on the trails, as this would encourage further commercial activities on the mountain itself.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Note: Cellphone numbers do change often, I can't assure if they're viable, but please help us update them!

(1) Barangay Outpost - +639103172853

(2) Cuenca Police Station - (043) 342-9952

MT. MACULOT PICTURES

The aerial view of Mt. Maculot shows its spatial relationship to Taal Lake. (March 2012)

The scenic view at Mt. Maculot's Rockies is the mountain's most spectacular attraction. This picture was taken in February 2007.

It's me again! Same spot, same blogger, November 2011.

At the Rockies, with Ms. Agot Isidro (Feb 2012)

Views from the summit of Maculot include Taal Volcano and a glimpse of the Crater Lake within.

There are some roped segments on the descent, but this part of the trail is much easier than it looks!

The summit of Maculot, as viewed from the Grotto. From here, the exit point is just 30-40 minutes away.

TRIVIA
Batangas folk continue to tell their children that if they don't comb their hair before they sleep, "the kuto (head louse) will take them to Mt. Maculot!". Another variation of this anecdote claims that there's a giant louse that lives in Maculot. It is also said that curly-haired aborigines (Aetas) once lived in this mountain, hence it was named Maculot from "kulot", meaning curly.

There are only a few cases of hiking-related accidents in Mt. Maculot. One, involving a girl climber, was a case of falling from the Rockies in the 1990s.

Although less than 1000 MASL, Mt. Maculot can actually be seen from Puerto Galera and parts of Northern Mindoro.

As of February 2013, the blogger has climbed Mt. Maculot ten times: 1999, 2007, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 twice, and 2013. The latest seven of these hikes were narrated in Hiking matters.

THE BLOGGER'S CLIMBS IN MT. MACULOT

Hiking matters #22: Same old Maculot
Hiking matters #40: Maculot night trek

Hiking matters #95: Mt. Maculot's Rockies with the OGKL

Hiking matters #215: Maculot Traverse and Manabu Peak in one day

Hiking matters #233: Refreshing dayhike of Mt. Maculot's Rockies

Hiking matters #246: Mt. Maculot's Rockies, yet again

Hiking matters #327: The new trail of Mt. Maculot (to be posted)

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