Best Mountains to Hike in the Philippines

While the Philippines is known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and tropical islands, adventurers will be pleased to learn that the country also offers a number of mountains that may be explored on epic hikes. Within the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippine archipelago lies hidden away.

The presence of volcanoes and mountains around the three main island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao is due to its vicinity above the equator.

Hiking in the Philippines should be included in your trip schedule if you want to have a fun-filled vacation in the Philippines. Hiking trips in the Philippines’ highlands, in addition to conquering the country’s highest peaks, will provide you with breathtaking mountain views, golden sunsets, and panoramic sunrise views over a sea of clouds.

Listed below are the greatest hiking mountains in the Philippines to help you plan your trip:

Mt. Apo (Davao)

Mt. Apo, with a summit of 2,956 meters above sea level over Southern Mindanao, is the country’s highest and unquestionably best mountain to trek in the Philippines. The Philippine Eagle, which is severely endangered, lives there, west of Davao City.

From mossy marshes to jagged rocks and lush forests, it has a wide range of scenery to choose from. The Kidapawan track, which belongs to trail class 4 and has a difficulty level of 7/9 with steep slopes and cliffs, is one of the many trails you’ll face during the Mt Apo hiking package.

To get to the first campsite, you’ll have to trek through coconut logs to cross the Mabel River. Before traveling to the second campsite at Lake Venado, you can relax at the Mainit Hot Springs.

On the way between the Kapatagan and the Sta. There are huge volcanic boulders with sulfuric vents that emit fumes along the Cruz trails. It will take you three hours to reach the summit from there.

Aside from trekking to the top, visitors can take a day trip to Mt. Apo National Park for a short hike and enjoyable sports like cable riding and ziplining.

Mt. Pulag (Benguet)

Mt. Pulag, with an elevation of 2,922 meters above sea level, is the country’s third tallest mountain and Luzon’s highest peak, bordering the Cordillera region’s northernmost provinces of Benguet and Ifugao. In Luzon, it is one of the most popular places to go on a major hike.

It’s known as the Playground of the Gods because it has some of the nicest vistas in the Philippines, including one of the best seas of clouds in the country. It’s possible for the temperature to drop as low as -2 degrees Celsius. Vast vegetable gardens and lush pine trees surround the pathways.

When traversing the trail via the Ambangeg walk, hikers should expect difficult terrain with some steep slopes. It has a difficulty rating of 3/9, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced players.

If you’re going to hike the Akiki-Ambangeg trail, though, you’ll have to deal with extreme weather and excursions that are only suitable for intermediate hikers. The Akiki-Ambangeg trail has a 7/9 difficulty rating, with major hikes taking 5 to 9 hours on average.

Osmeña Peak (Cebu)

Osmena Peak, at a height of 1,013 meters above sea level, is Cebu’s highest peak and a popular hiking destination in the Philippines due to its stunning mountain vistas. It’s in Cebu’s Vegetable Basket or Dalaguete municipality. The craggy hills that surround the rocky top are evocative of Bohol’s famous Chocolate Hills.

The panoramic view of Cebu’s southwest coast may be seen from the peak of Osmena Peak. Osmena Peak has a small trek classification with a rating of 3/9 on the Pinoy Mountaineer difficulty scale, with developed routes that are easy to manage even for first-time hikers.

You’ll have to climb over some rocks at times, but it’s not too difficult. For beginners, the track is well-marked and simple to follow. There are other beautiful sights in Cebu near Osmena Peak, including Kawasan Falls and Lambug Beach, both less than 30 kilometers away.

Mt. Kabunian (Benguet)

The Cordilleras, the country’s greatest mountain range, is home to the majority of the country’s beautiful mountains, which can be found in Northern Luzon. Mt. Kabunian, along with Mt. Lubo and Mt. Tenglawan in Bakun town, Benguet, is one of them, and it is a mysterious mountain in the Bakun Trilogy.

The word “Kabunian” refers to the Kankana-ey tribe’s supreme deity in Mountain Province. The steep mountainside of Mt. Kabunian used to be a burial ground, with wooden coffins hung from the cliffs.

Mt. Kabunian reaches over 1,789 meters above sea level, overlooking the Bakun Rice Terraces. As the waterfalls tumble down the beautiful landscape on wet days, it transforms into a wailing mountain.

To get the most out of the journey, the Bakun trio normally climbs in three days on average. Each is classified as a minor climb, has a 5/9 difficulty rating, and falls into one of three trail classes. In addition, you’ll have to travel across rushing rivers, deep forests, and gloomy terrain.

Mt. Kitanglad (Bukidnon)

The country’s fourth-tallest mountain is Mt. Kitanglad. It is one of the Philippines’ protected natural areas and hiking trails. Mt. Kitanglad, in Bukidnon province, the Food Basket of Mindanao, is one of the Philippines’ top five tallest mountains, with a summit elevation of 2,899 meters above sea level.

The Mt. Kitanglad Range National Park is one of the Philippines’ few remaining rainforests that are still in good shape. It is home to some of the world’s most endangered plant and animal species, including the Philippine Eagle. It is also the headwater of the three main river systems in Mindanao, as it is one of the region’s lush landscapes.

According to the Pinoy Mountaineer guide, Mt. Kitanglad has a major climb classification with a difficulty rating of 6/9 and a trail class between 2 and 4. Despite the fact that the terrain is well-established, the path up is incredibly difficult, and only the most experienced hikers can overcome it.

Mt. Kanlaon (Negros)

Mt. Kanlaon, dubbed the highest mountain in the Visayas mainland, towers over Negros Island, the Philippines’ fourth largest island. It reaches a height of 2,435 meters above sea level. According to Pinoy Mountaineer, Mt. Kanlaon is a Trail Class 4 mountain that can take up to four days to climb.

A magnificent lunar-shaped crater top lies underneath Mt. Kanlaon. Lush woods, lakes, and waterfalls surround the volcano. It is a paradise for biodiversity, with over 200 plant species to choose from. Several endangered species, such as the Philippine spotted deer and the Visayan Warty Pig, live on Mt. Kanlaon.

Intermediate hikers used to try the summit because it has an 8/9 major hike difficulty rating. Because of the high likelihood of experiencing harsh weather conditions, the trail is challenging to traverse. You’ll pass through a variety of ecological zones, from farming fields to deep rainforests, in addition to the hard climb.

Mt. Halcon (Oriental Mindoro)

Mt. Halcon is one of the most challenging walks in the Philippines, with an elevation of 2,582 meters above sea level, and is comparable to Mt. Guiting-Guiting due to its incredibly demanding paths. This majestic mountain, located in Oriental Mindoro, has steep slopes that require skilled hikers to cross roaring rivers and travel through deep forests.

The Mindoro Tamaraw, a severely endangered species of flora and fauna, may be found on Mt. Halcon. Because of its difficult routes, it is also known as a “Knife Edge” like Mt. Guiting-Guiting. Except for the wooden ladder, you’ll have to climb, Mt. Halcon is easier to navigate.

It takes an average of 3 to 4 days to reach the peak of Mt. Halcon, which has a big trek classification and difficulty rating of 9/9. When you reach the top, you will be greeted with sweeping views of the entire island of Mindoro. If you look up, you might be able to see Mt. Banahaw in Quezon, Mt. Maculot in Batangas, and Mt. Mayon in Albay from the peak on a clear day.

Bottom line

The Philippines has so much to offer, whether you’re a hiker or a beach lover! Start arranging your mountain climbing experience in the Philippines now to conquer your worries! Check out the top hiking destinations in the Philippines and bookmark our collection of Philippine travel packages for Covid-19.

Enjoy Hiking and don’t forget to purchase a safety net for your hiking adventures.