Mount Tagapo, Talim Island Day Hike (less than 300 PHP)

When you ask the right person the right question, you'll find yourself tagging along a day hike, regretting all your life choices during the ascent, and then suddenly feeling good 'cause you're convinced that you made the right choice even if it's hard and it hurts.

Ang sakit, sakit, sakit. Pero as usual sa isang akyat, lagi naman may pagsisisi sa upisa lalo na pag mahirap na 'yung trail pero alam mo 'yun, mga ganitong bagay na kahit napagod ka o napuno ka ng sugat e ang sarap ulit-ulitin. HAHAHA. Sensiya na. Na-miss kong magsulat ng mga ganitong klaseng post. Taglish at lagyan ng hugot for more hugot sa bundok. 

Ilalagay ko rito 'yung experience saka 'yung gastos namin sa Mount Tagapo. (a.k.a. Bundok ng Susong Dalaga) Kung naghahanap kayo ng sulit na day hike, ito na talaga 'yon lalo na kung gusto niyo rin ng senti moment sa bangka. Para lang kayong nanood ng sine sa budget.

FYI: Mt. Tagapo (438 MASL) is the highest point at Talim Island, an island in Laguna Bay. 


We rode a jeepney from Sta. Lucia to Binangonan, Rizal's Pritil Port. There are more than one destination for the boats that are docked so make sure to ask the people there which one of the boats is heading to Mt. Tagapo/ Barangay Janosa.


This is what the boat looks like.

I chose to sit on the side of the boat just so I'll have a better view of the Laguna Bay. I wasn't able to track the travel time though but it may be from 30 minutes to an hour.


Here you'll pay the registration fee and you'll be assigned a guide. 


The hike started easy. I assumed that it's going to be really easy. 

Flat lang nung umpisa so hindi pa ko part ng sweeper team. haha. Andun ako bandang gitna until it got steeper and steeper and hotter and hotter... ah bahala na kayo, masyadong mabigat katawan ko. Chos.


Ascents and Heat are two words that would make you regret your life decisions. 

As in. Bakit ba hindi na lang ako natulog sa bahay?! Bakit ko ba naisipan gawin 'to? Ano bang buhay 'to?! Bakit nga ba ko gumagastos para pahirapan sarili ko?! 


But yea, I'm still thankful that it wasn't raining during our hike 'cause that would make this a lot harder. Also, it's kinda fine to take your time since the view is really nice with all the bamboos along the trail. 


Shades and Take Fives.

As for the trail, I think this one is beginner friendly. Just that go there as early as you can and try not to hike when it's almost noon. The trail may not be overly difficult but the heat of the sun was just too much that it was very draining for all of us. 


That sigh of relief when we reached this... sulit na. <3 

Grabe, parang nasa anime/ fairy tale. Ang ganda nung pag-sway ng damo tas may mga lumilipad pang kala mo dandelion. 


Maling medyas.
Paltos ang inabot.


There are no stores in the summit so make sure to bring your lunch with you. 

Eating this there kind of reminded me of the day we hiked Zion National Park 'cause we also had Jollibee Chicken meal. Savior talaga 'tong si Jollibee eh. 


After eating, we rested for a while before ascending Mt. Tagapo's summit. 


Ang mga babae (at lalake) sa talahiban.

Sobrang unique experience nung hinahawi ko 'yung damo habang umaakyat pero dami kong sugat sa mukha saka sa braso! hahaha. Hindi siya halata o hindi siya ramdam nung una pero nung nag hilamos na ko, ayun na. Kasalanan ng mga damo so make sure to keep them away from your face and wear clothing na covered buong arms and legs.


This was the view from the summit.

Would've been a lot better if it wasn't too smoggy/foggy that day pero keri, one of those places na applicable ang, "It's the journey, not the destination."


Las Vegas Represent/ Ang bilis magpataba sa Pilipinas.

Maputla kong lips at ang nawawala kong miraculous medal na kwintas kaya ganyan na itsura nung suot ko. :( 



We thought that it was going to rain so we hurriedly went back the camp area.


Always whenever I climb a mountain, I'll have thoughts of regrets of why did I even decide to climb one but I always find myself returning.

Iba pa rin 'yung sense of accomplishment after every summit eh. At iba pa rin 'yung makikita mo personally 'yung iba't ibang itsura/ mga klase ng puno o damo sa bundok. First time ko to na ganyan kataas 'yung mga damo.


At for you, if you want to try mountain climbing, you can leave me your contact details 'cause we have another one set before this month ends. :) I'm planning to always join the group I climbed Mt. Tagapo with buti na lang everyone's welcome. hehe. Eng seye. Bundok ne nemen.

Phyisical Activity + Ganda na + Affordable pa. 


For me, what makes Mt. Tagapo special are the bamboo plants and these tall grasses na hindi ko alam kung ano pangalan. I am just not sure if these grasses are like this whole year round. 


We descended fast. As in parang dalawang beses lang kami nagpahinga though the steep descent was killing my knees already. Dapat na talaga kong magbalik-loob sa page-exercise, noh? Grabe! Kawawang tuhod!!!! 

Safely got back to the jump-off point where we cleaned up and waited for the boat. 



Boat selfie and my favorite part of the day. <3

Grabe! Daig pa 'yung mamahaling sunset cruise eh. Sobrang ganda. Always thankful for experiences like this. 


That, on the left, is Mt. Tagapo. 


The boat ride is something that I'd love to do again. 


It was cloudy and wala 'yung bilog na orange na araw na gustong gusto kong tinititigan but it was very beautiful.


Back to Pritil Port. <3

Sobrang sulit.

I mean, with less than P 300.00 nakaayat ka na sa bundok tapos meron ka pang sunset cruise, oh! Kahit na lagi akong nagtatanong sa sarili ko, "Ano bang ginagawa mo sa sarili mo?" Lagi pa rin akong sumasagot na, "Sige, sabihan niyo ko pag may next na akyat ah! Sasama ko kapag pwede ako." Yan. Yan. Yan. Para sa'ming mga masokista, the beauty is worth all the pain... kahit isang linggo halos akong may stiff neck dahil sa maling position ng ulo nung nakatulog ako sa FX. Haha!

Mount Tagapo Expenses:



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