Perched high above the island of Mindoro, Mount Halcon stands as one of the Philippines’ most iconic peaks. Boasting an elevation of 2,586 meters, it’s the country’s 18th highest mountain and a sought-after destination for mountaineers and adventure seekers from around the world. This guide will introduce you to the allure and challenges of Mount Halcon, ensuring you’re well-prepared for a journey to its summit.
Natural Splendor
Mount Halcon isn’t just known for its height; it’s renowned for its breathtaking biodiversity. As you ascend, you’ll traverse different ecosystems, from lush rainforests teeming with flora and fauna to mossy forests enveloped in mist. Birdwatchers can look forward to spotting endemic species, while botanists will be thrilled by the myriad of plant species, some of which are unique to the mountain.
Challenging Trails
Climbing Mount Halcon is no easy feat. Even experienced mountaineers find its trails challenging, thanks to the unpredictable weather, dense forests, and steep paths. The trek can take 3-4 days, with the Lantuyan trail in Baco being the most popular starting point. There’s also the Tawbuid trail, used by indigenous Mangyan tribes, which offers a different perspective of the mountain’s landscapes.
Cultural Immersion
A climb up Mount Halcon is also a cultural journey. The mountain is home to the Mangyan, Mindoro’s indigenous people. As you trek, you’ll likely encounter Mangyan communities. Respect their customs, and you’ll be rewarded with tales of the mountain’s history and maybe even some local trail secrets.
Mangyan tribe playing their traditional music.
How to get to Mount Halcon
Getting to Mount Halcon in Mindoro involves a combination of land and sea travel. While the exact journey can vary depending on your starting point and the conditions at the time, the following is a general route to reach the mountain. Check here how to first get to the island.
Batangas to Calapan by Ferry:
From Batangas Port, take a ferry to Calapan, Mindoro. You can also go to Puerto Galera, but then the distance on land will be longer. The journey typically takes around 1.5 to 2 hours.
Various shipping lines operate this route, and it’s advisable to check the schedules and book in advance, especially during peak seasons.
Land Travel from Calapan to Baco:
Once you arrive in Calapan, you can hire a van or take a jeepney to Baco. The town of Baco is the usual jump-off point for treks to Mount Halcon.
It’s gonna be a hot and sweaty climb. Click on the pic above for details of an excursion to Infinity Farm.
Secure Permits:
Before your climb, ensure that you have the necessary permits. You can usually get these from the municipal office in Baco or from the local tourism office. There are times when the mountain is closed for trekking, usually for preservation purposes or due to local tribal ceremonies, so it’s always good to check ahead.
Hire a Local Guide:
It’s mandatory to hire a local guide for climbing Mount Halcon. You can arrange this in Baco. Having a guide not only ensures safety but also supports the local community.
Start the Trek:
From Baco, you will start the trek to Mount Halcon. The trail is challenging and can take several days to complete, depending on your pace and chosen itinerary.
Preparation is Key
Given Halcon’s challenging terrain, preparation is crucial. Secure the necessary permits from the local government of Baco. It’s also essential to:
Check the Weather: The best time to climb is during the dry season, typically from February to May.
Hire a Local Guide: Not only does this provide employment to the local community, but their knowledge of the mountain’s intricacies is also invaluable.
Pack Smart: Waterproof your gear, bring enough food and water, and ensure you have first-aid supplies.
Practice Leave No Trace Principles: Preserve Mount Halcon’s beauty for future generations.
Click on the pic above to see a three minute synopsis video of her climb.
A Rewarding Experience
Reaching the summit of Mount Halcon offers more than just panoramic views of Mindoro and the surrounding seas. It’s a culmination of physical endurance, connection to nature, and cultural appreciation. The mountain challenges you, but it also rewards you in ways that make the climb a transformative experience.
So, are you ready to take on the challenge of Mount Halcon? Lace up those hiking boots, embrace the adventure, and set forth on a journey that promises memories for a lifetime.
And since you’re in the neighbourhood, if you’d like more adventure and lifetime memories, check out our private and group boat tour expeditions between El Nido and Coron, just south of you. You may be able to see some of the islands from the top of Mount Halcon!
Filitour planned our tour very well.Good recommandation for the overnight stay.The crew was very helpfuland they prepared very nice meals for us.Strongly recommended
The best experience of my life!!I wanted to surprise my girlfriend with a special engagement in beautiful El Nido!!Melasel arranged everything for me and had so many great suggestions and knowledge of how to make this a magical day! I was super worried because it is difficult to arrange such an important event when you live on the other side of the world! But Mel was amazing and understood exactly what I wanted! And went out of her way to accommodate all my requests!She even had a clever story to tell my girlfriend to cover the photographer being with us all day!On the day the weather was very rainy with many showers. Mel and Rene were in constant contact with me with plan B and even contacted our hotel to discuss options of hosting the proposal there. Completely above and beyond what I paid for.Luckily in the end the weather gave us a small window and Mel set everything up beautifully on a sand bar floating in the middle of crystal clear waters surrounded by limestone islands with stunning rocky formations.Island Hopping in the Philippines somehow peered into my brain and delivered a perfect replica of the proposal I had in my head.It was simply perfect down to the smallest detail! Thank you so much, I cannot recommend you guys enough!!
I give 5 stars because they actually helped me to arrange the tour to Balabac in last minute. However, because the money wired through the local bank in my country took time to be processed, so i missed the boat due to peak season as many people paid before my money was received by the tour guide.As most of people usually feel, once your money has been transferred out to someone you do not know, you probably frustrated that your money would not be able to be refunded.But not in my experience. I dont need to be worry, the owner refunded me the money he has received (minus the bank fees). He promised to refund me and he did it. It was around 18.700 Pesos.So, eventhough i didn't manage to go with the tour, but i am really satisfied with their legitimate and great business practice. Hopefully, people will try their services and not worry about their legit business!Thanks a lot!
The most wonderful experience from booking to beach! Karel and Mel were so fast and responsive to my very last minute trip over the holidays. We booked a private boat for two and could not have been happier with our four day trip! We didn’t think about anything other than snorkeling the entire time. Linda, our captain, cooked wonderful meals and took us to totally empty beautiful beaches. We loved staying the night in Pical especially! Wonderful to experience the Philippines this way! Will come back again and would recommend to anyone!
We booked the 3 day 2 night expedition, from Coron to Sibaltan.First of all the booking part was really simple. I organized this trip to the Philippines last minute for my family (my parents and my uncles) but Karel answered all my questions very quickly and really made everything easier for me. It was an incredible experience. Albert, our tour leader, is a wonderful guy, always smiling and ready to help us. They assisted us in everything and really took care of making everything go smoothly. The accommodation on the islands is as spartan as you expect but the location of each hut alone is worth the trip. The wonder of nature was then added to the goodness of cuisine. It's really difficult to argue how you can cook all that goodness on a boat.If you are looking for an authentic experience, in contact with nature, off the beaten track, this company's private expedition is certainly for you.
What an unforgettable experience! We did a two night (3 day) island hopping tour from Sibaltan to Coron. Everything was so well organized and the boat crew were amazing and really made sure we had a great time. The accommodation was rustic, but added to the authentic experience of the Philippines. Karel always responded to any queries we had promptly. Our boatman, Albert, was the most amazing chef and we enjoyed every meal. The crew taught the kids how to fish with a line which was their highlight of the trip. They took us to the most unbelievable snorkelling spots along the way. Would highly recommend this trip.
This is a must to do!!Super ultimate tour is the best with Kayangan and barracuda lake, twin lagoons (my favorite), coral garden (blue fabulous coral) were the best. It’s really worth it to pay for private tour (3500 to 4000 PHP). You will also have to pay for entrance fees (150 to 200PHP by location) and eventually shopping at the market - must do (count 300 for 2 for fish, pork, fruits and vegetables, water).
I was looking for a personalized excursion to the stunning Bacuit Gulf.Based on the comments, I contacted Mel.Very responsive, very efficient and perfect organization.The on-board staff were very friendly and very helpful.And I'm not even talking about the meal on board...a marvel.In all fairness, this excursion will remain an excellent memory and I cannot recommend Mel and his team highly enough.A big thank-you.
This tour went well above all our expectations! I couldn't recommend this enough! The boat crew, captain and tour guide were nothing but amazing, everyone was so kind, helpful and friendly. The crew knew the best spots to visit that weren't overcrowded with tourists, 3 times we were lucky enough to have whole islands to ourselves! It was my partner's birthday while away and everything went above and beyond, bonfire, cake, birthday card, singing and celebrating with us.If you love camping this is definitely a tout you should do, it has been the highlight of our trip!!
We are a family operation managing private custom boat tours in the beautiful Palawan area, and are happy to help travelers with their plans through the country, having traveled a lot of it ourselves and planning to visit it all.
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Mount Halcon
Average rating:
1 reviews
Samuel
Oct 25, 2023
by Samuel
a rewarding challenge
Together with a friend I decided to climb Mt. Halcon. First you have to go to Baco municipality to get a permit. Then you are transported to a Mangyan village named Bayanan. Their you can get a guide and porters. Please be aware that they expect the mountaineers to bring their own equipment, and food for the porters and guide as well. The latter can be bought in Bayanan. We only found out on the mountain, so we had no sleeping bags, matrasses or enough food. Despite this ordeal, it was al worth it. The climb and the views are superb. It is possible to climb down in one day, which we did (12 Hours). If you are up for a challenge, this is it!
Perched high above the island of Mindoro, Mount Halcon stands as one of the Philippines’ most iconic peaks. Boasting an elevation of 2,586 meters, it’s the country’s 18th highest mountain and a sought-after destination for mountaineers and adventure seekers from around the world. This guide will introduce you to the allure and challenges of Mount Halcon, ensuring you’re well-prepared for a journey to its summit.
