Top 10 Recommended Mountains for Newbie Hikers

Since I started running 5 years ago, I’ve grown more and more curious with regards to the different types of sports our country has to offer. Though I wouldn’t exactly describe myself as adventurous, I have slowly grown more curious in the field of hiking. Friends who’ve tried hiking often tell me that the hike is sometimes tiring, but the view on top is priceless. Seeing pictures of clouds beneath them and the stars above… I knew I had to give it at least a try. So where do I start?

Well if you’re like me and are clueless about hiking, here are some mountains recommended by Justine Tongcua of Happyfeet Adventours. And hey, you can always go hiking with Happy Feet Adventours to make sure you don’t get lost!

1. Mt. Pinatubo

Location: Capas, Tarlac

Location: San Miguel, Bulacan

Difficulty: 2 out of 9

According to Justine, Mt. Manalmon is recommended for newbies as it only takes about forty minutes to an hour to hike. Besides that, hikers can also try various activities in Mt. Manalmon such as caving or spelunking, crossing the famous monkey bridge and cooling down by swimming in the Madlum river.

 

​3. Gulugod Baboy

Location: Anilao, Batangas

Difficulty: 2 out of 9

 

“What makes Gulugod Baboy extra fun is that hikers would usually do a sidetrip to Sombrero Island, a nearby, small uninhabited island with white sand and crystal clear waters. Upon reaching the summit after a 1.5 hour hike, you will be rewarded with scenic views and turquoise waters of Batangas Bay & Balayan Bay”, shares Justin.

 

 

​4. Pico de Loro

Location: Maragondon, Cavite

Difficulty: 3 out of 9

 

According to Happy Feet Adventours, “Standing at 664 meters above sea level,  Pico de Loro is Cavite’s highest point. It is a 3-4 hour hike, characterized by slightly steep forest trails and scenic views of Cavite. One also has the option to also climb the monolith or the parrot’s peak – can be considered as a great achievement for beginners!”

 

 

​5. Mt. Talamitam

 

Location: Nasugbu, Batangas

Difficulty: 3 out of 9

 

A hike to Mt. Talamitam takes around 1.5-2.5 hours. According to Happyfeet Adventours, Mt. Talamitam is relatively easy compared to other mountains on this list as 80% of the hike is on flat terrain, the hike only gets challenging when you reach the  60-70 degree trail toward the summit.  Mt. Talamitam is also considered as Mt. Batulao’s younger sister and can be taken as a twin day hike together with Mt. Batulao… just in case it wasn’t enough for you.

 

 

​6. Mt. Batulao

 

Location: Nasugbu, Batangas

Difficulty: 4 out of 9

 

“This is one of the popular day hike destinations due to its proximity to Manila.  For newbies, the trail to the summit could be quite challenging because of its slippery and loose soil but we assure you that Mt. Batulao will awe and refresh you with the best panoramic views of grasslands and mountain ridges, plus the cool breeze of Nasugbu!” says Justine of Happy Feet Adventours.

 

 

​7. Mt. Maculot

 

Location: Cuenca, Batangas

Difficulty: 4 out of 9

 

“Also a popular hiking destination for newbies, Maculot is 2-3 hour hike which rewards climbers with a scenic 360 degree view of Taal lake from the rockies. Also requires a bit of rock scrambling skill when climbing the ‘rockies’ part.”

 

 

8. Mt. Pamitinan

 

Location: Rodriguez, Rizal

Difficulty: 4 out of 9

 

Justine tells us that Mt. Pamitinan is relatively new and requires some rock scrambling/climbing skills as the trail is mostly made up of large, sharp-edged rocks. There are however bamboo trunks that would be helpful in securing your grip… if that makes you feel better. The climb would take around 2-3 hours and might be a little more challenging for beginners who have not yet tried rock climbing/scrambling.

 

 

​9. Mt. Pulag via Ambangeg Trail

 

Location: Kabayan, Benguet

Difficulty: 4 out of 9

 

Ever since pictures of the heavenly view from above Mt. Pulag started circulating the internet, I knew that someday, I just HAD to experience it. Climbing this mountain is requires you to camp out… some may think this is scary while others look forward to this part of the trip. There are 4 known trails to get up this mountain, the easiest being the Ambangeg trail. “Pulag is famous for its grassland and mossy forest trails, and if the weather is good, you also get to witness its famous sea of clouds at sunrise!” shares Justine.

 

 

​10. Mt. Daraitan

 

Location: Tanay, Rizal

Difficulty: 4 out of 9

Justin says, “The hike may prove exhausting for beginners is it is mostly a straight forward ascent up to the summit, but the beautiful limestone formations is what makes Daraitan unique. The summit will reward you with views of Sierra Madre mountain ranges and a quick dip in Tinipak river is highly recommended after the hike!”

 

So what do you guys think? Go try hiking in one of these mountains before the storms start rolling in. If not, then make sure you save this list an plan a hike early next year! To make your hike even easier, I’d suggest you go book it with tour groups such as Happy Feet Adventours who will take care of you from beginning to end, guiding you through the different mountains!

 

Thank you to Justine of Happy Feet Adventours for recommending 10 mountains for us to climb soon! Tara!