Difficulty Level: 3/9 (Ambangeg Trail)
Hike Duration: 6-7 hrs
Location: Border of the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya
Mt. Pulag is the highest peak in Luzon and the third highest mountain in the Philippines. It is standing at 2,926 meters above sea level. It is part of the Cordillera Range and is a popular hiking destination known for its breathtaking “sea of clouds” and panoramic views of the surrounding peaks at sunrise.
I climbed this mountain on March 3-4, 2024.
I availed of a package from the Lakwatserong Gala page through Ms. Jeorgelyn Barcelon on FB Messenger. The package costs Php 4,600.00, all-inclusive. See the details of the package below.
I’m from Indang, Cavite, so I met up with the service at St. Dominic in Bacoor. I was the first passenger, and after I got on, we picked up other joiners. The target itinerary was mostly followed. I didn’t even realize we had a flat tire on the road because I fell asleep. When I woke up, we were already in Baguio. We stopped for breakfast and then headed to the DENR to register. There was also a medical check to ensure that everyone was physically fit to hike. My results were normal. After the medical check, an orientation was held. There are two famous trails for the climb: the Ambangeg Trail for beginners and the Akiki Trail for a more challenging hike. After the DENR, we went to the place where we would be staying. It was an isolated area called Ranger Station Homestay, where people stay before hiking Mt. Pulag. There was no signal, which was actually a good thing.
There were eight of us joiners. I chatted with them, and most were from Manila. Our coordinator told us that the trek would start at 1 AM, so we needed to rest starting from 6 PM. Kuya Nat was our coordinator, and the food he cooked was delicious.
We started hiking exactly at 1 AM—there was a big clock at the jump-off area. After only a little walking, I already felt like I couldn’t go on, and I was out of breath. I told the guide that I might not be able to continue, so he had me take off a few layers of my jacket. He said I was getting suffocated because I was wearing too many. After removing them, I was able to breathe properly and felt calmer. We continued the hike, stopping occasionally to rest. The path was mostly easy, though there were some continuous uphill sections. It was amusing because it was so dark, and it seemed like several groups were hiking. There were so many flashlights in the distance, and they looked like fireflies—it was beautiful to see.
We reached the summit around 4 AM. It was still dark, and there wasn’t any view yet. We waited for the sunrise, which happened around 6 AM. It was so beautiful—a real sea of clouds. Witnessing the sunrise with clouds all around was amazing. Since I was alone, I had to take pictures on my own, but thankfully, the guide was kind enough to take some for me. You really can’t miss capturing the beauty of the place and the view. During the orientation, they mentioned we should stay quiet while hiking because the sky might get angry and it could rain. I felt lucky because the weather was perfect that day.
We started descending around 9 AM, and it was already very hot. I appreciated the trail we passed even more now that it was bright. We passed through tall grasslands and the mossy forest—it was beautiful.
We got back to our accommodation around 12 PM. On the way down, there were motorcycles available for those who didn’t want to walk anymore. Some of my companions rode them because they were too tired to walk. I was also exhausted, but since I hiked up on foot, I was determined to finish it by walking. However, I was really tired, and the heat made it even more exhausting.
Overall, the Mt. Pulag hike is really one for the books. The sea of clouds at the top is worth every step getting there. I would definitely come back. Being above the clouds makes you feel that the world is beautiful and that life is good.
