DIY Travel Guide to Mount Binacayan, Rizal [Rizal Travel Guide]

Mount Binacayan is one of the rocky mountains in the Philippines with 423 meters above sea level.

What will you do to escape from your stress from your work, from the traffic in Manila, from your agony? Maybe you can say you will just eat an ice cream, a pack of chocolate or going to mall? Have you ever tried to escape by dating with nature?

Last October 11, 2015, I hosted my first event with my fellow friends where we decided to go to Mount Binacayan at Rodriguez Rizal.

We choose this mountain as training grounds since we are all new to mountain hiking and to witness the sea of clouds and sunrise.

Our day started at Jollibee farmers around two in the morning. While waiting with my fellow hikers, we had taken the breakfast and buy some foods for our trekking. After that, we ride to a utility van going to Eastwood but the driver offered us a direct ride to Brgy. Wawa and add ten pesos. Around 4:00 in the morning we arrived at the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) then I registered my group and pay two pesos for environmental fee and they also give us our guide going to Mount Binacayan and then we drop bye to the Brgy. Hall and give some donation.

Around 4:30AM we start trekking going to the Mount Binacayan as we walk we see the two mountains named Mount Pamintinan and  Mount Haponang Banoi. After an hour of trekking, we had noticed how blessed is this place thru natures. You will also see the people living in that place saying good morning with their warm smile.

Around 6:00 am we witness the sea of clouds and the sunrise. I had notice to my group how sweet their smile when they reach the top. And they said how God is great. I felt the happiness and warm smile in my heart and I feel that Gods love us. As he releases our worries and stress in our works.

After that, we had took some photos in the summit with my fellow hikers they were really glad that they see that place around 10:00AM we start to descend and we take the other way. Then we had side trip at the cave, at the Karugo Falls and Wawa Dam.

Nature is truly priceless. how can you escape the stress aside from eating chocolates, ice cream or going to a mall. Why not give yourself a little break working in the office. Pack up your things and go to some beautiful places. Will you say that travelling is expensive? What if I’ll say to you that when I was a kid it’s also my big problem? My mother always saying when I invite her to go to beautiful places she always says maybe some other time. I know how poor we are but thanks God my father love’s to go to the fiesta and I always had a chance to go to some places like churches.

What if I say we had only spent PHP250.00 during our trek. Travelling is just a matter of choice. If you want to travel you should make your priority. If you are investing some money with non-sense staff why don’t you try to explore the nature?

Mother nature has a lot to offer with you. She heals the broken heart, she eases your worries and as well as your stress in the work.

One day you will say how blessed you are as you explore the world. Seeing beautiful place and meeting new friends and maybe you can meet your lifetime partner.

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.”- Jack Kerouac.

Anything is possible as you pursue you dream to travel. Little by little you will meet the whole world. Try the Mount Binacayan as your training grounds to climb a mountain, it is really recommended for the first timer and you won’t believe how amazing is that place. Try also to explore on the Karugo falls and take some swimming and relax with the amazing view of the waterfalls.

Related Article: Looking for affordable accommodation in Rizal? Check out these Agoda deals.

As you start to go leave the placed, you will pass by at the Wawa dam. Feel the place as they whisper in you and just close your eyes. It’s really amazing on that place. After five hours trekking, you will be back to DENR and make some tidy up. Anyway, the people in that place are very kind and approachable if you had a question on them. They will answer you with their sweetest smile.

Escaping in a stress is not easy, but if you opened your mind with alternative ways it will blow your mind to try some more. Enjoy and explore the world!

Here is our itinerary and breakdown of our trekking during our climb at the Mount Binacayan.

Expenses:

PHP55.00*2 – Fare UV express going Eastwood

PHP10.00*2 –Fare going to DENR

PHP2.00 – DENR fee

PHP50.00 – Guide fee (We give PHP 500 to our guide divide 10)

PHP20.00 – Brgy. donation (It depends on you)

Itinerary: 

0300 – Meet up at Jollibee Cubao farmers

0315 – Take van from Cubao to Eastwood, Rodriguez Rizal

0430 – ETA, Rodriguez Rizal, take a tricycle or jeep to Brgy. Wawa/tourism

0500 – Start trek to Mt. Binacayan

0800 – Arrival at summit

1100 – Early lunch

1300 – Start descent

1500 – Back at Brgy. Wawa, tidy up, take outbound trike

1700 – Back in Manila

About the Writer:

Florence Visitacion, Flor for short and I’m from Bicol Province and currently working in a construction company in Makati.  I just started travelling during my high school, but only in nearby place. During college days,  I had a chance to travel by joining a contest and they are the one who spend my travel fees and hotel accommodation. When I started my fist job last April 2015, I started searching new places and I had my first travel near Manila and exploring the nature and mountains. I’m planning to work abroad to so I can travel around the world. I have been dreaming to going to Venice & Florence since when I was a child. Exploring the nature is my only way just to escape missing my family and stress from my work.

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