Mount Pulag. The Heaven’s Playground. A facade of sunsets and sunrises you wish would never end. And at temperatures near zero degrees Celsius, this would be an exhilarating ride for both thrill seekers and peace keepers alike.
Mt. Pulag is a National Park, and because of this, it has preserved its beauty for generations. The adventure boasts not only a boatload of wilderness, not just an ice chilling grassland, a wide diversity of plants and trees, but also present the cultural importance of the mountain. As tourists, it is a fulfillment! Being the third highest peak in the Philippines, and one that depicts the cool climate of the North, with a mayhem of routes and difficulty to choose from – Mt. Pulag is a monstrous challenge to conquer.
Whatever route you take to reach the peak, it will be worth it. With this great journey ahead, get ready and feel the chill as we start to rediscover Mt. Pulag.

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The Routes

A large amount of Mt. Pulag was declared a National Park and covers over 11,000 hectares of protected flora and fauna! It is basically shared by three provinces and is comprised of many indigenous villages and tribes. Considering the vast land area, there are at least 4 basic routes to take to reach Mt. Pulag’s highest point. The Ambangueg trail (easiest trail), the Akiki trail (killer trail), the Tawangan trail, and the Ambaguio trail (longest trail).

HOW TO GET HERE

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Public Transport

Getting here, you would need to reach Baguio City first. Though one may opt to get a tour package offered by various organizations with all lodging, food, fees, and tour…..this post covers a “Do It Your Own Package”. A best fit for those who love to explore the locality and probably those doing the trip alone or in pair. As of this writing, this post only covers the Ambangeg trail (Executive Trail). For the advanced climbers or those who just love climbing, you could take other routes though they would have different jump off points as well. For those of you who want to take the Killer trail, read my blog’s Akiki trail here.

From Manila, ride Victory Liner going to Baguio City.
From Victory Terminal Baguio, take a cab to the Old Slaughterhouse Terminal. ***If you rented a van/jeepney in Baguio they will fetch you at the Victory Terminal and go straight to DENR office of Bokod.
You will need to ride vans that are bound for Bokod or buses that pass thru it. Either way, ask them to drop you off at Bokod DENR office. If you’re in groups, you could just rent the vans here and they would take you straight to DENR office at Ambangeg.
Once dropped, find the DENR Pulag Station or commonly called the Visitor Center. It’s a small right turn from the main highway and is popularly known in the area so you don’t have to worry much. Here, you will arrange fees and a short briefing.
After briefing, you could also ask them to have a Habal Habal (motorcycle) going to the Ranger Station. It’s a 30 minute ride. And here at the Ranger Station you would find guides and porters. If you are in a group, then your rented vans/jeepneys could take you to the Ranger Station. Then start your rediscovering!

****Click here to see the Ambangeg Route map

WHERE TO STAY

Private/Rented Tents

Monday to Thursday

These are the off-peak days and camping on Ambangeg’s Camp 2 (near summit) is allowed.

Friday to Sunday

Due to the mayhem of visitors during this time, all hikers will only be camping at the Ranger’s Station. Hike will start earlier since you will have to travel farther.

Home Stay

You could also ask locals here to stay at their homes. Some of which already have rooms for tourists. I recommend Baban Homestay – a well furnished home stay and have really cozy beds and showers as well. See Contacts Section below for more details.

BUDGET & RESERVATION

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Contacts

DENR Office Reservation: 09291668864, 09103010423, 09071992626
DENR Office Emergency: 09182960274, 09489510460, 09197632952
Baban Homestay: +63 936 653-4008, +63 948 357-7154, +63 930 363-1218

Budget & Reminders

Limit of Hikers per day: 300pax (all trails)
Reservation time: 8am to 5pm only
Medical Certificate is mandatory
DENR fee: 175php, LGU fee: 150php, Guide Fee: 500 to 600 php (5pax)
Tent Rental: 300php, Tent Fee: 50php, Baban Homestay: 400php (incl. 3 meals)

THE HIKE

Taking the Ambangeg trail (easiest trail) would probably be the best suited for beginners and those first timers alike. This is especially true even for experienced climbers who are not accustomed to the cold climates of the North. It is advisable to bring at least 3 jackets and windbreakers. The night will be so so cold…. But we still have to climb right?