Climbing Mt. Tagapo
Who knew that Laguna de Bay is that huge it actually has an island in the midst of it? Probably those who paid much attention to their HeKaSi (stands for geography, history and civics) classes but not me. I heard of Mt. Tagapo before but I just thought it's somewhere in the main island of Luzon until my climb buddies from Kanlaon decided to trek this little mountain in an island within a lake.
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| Bird in flight, on our way to Brgy. Janosa, that is Talim Island |
There are several ports going to Talim Island and we took the one found in Binangonan to ride the Ferry bound to Janosa. It was a 2-hour boat ride with multiple stops at other Baranggays, Janosa was the last port. Upon arrival we went straight to the Brgy. Hall to register. One from the group has climb the mountain and someone else made his own research and learned that the mountain can actually be done on a traverse route.
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| The boat going to Talim Island. |
We had to convince those in charge there to give us a a guide that will be able to lead us on that supposedly traverse hike but they insisted that they can not as the guides are scheduled and we need to take the one who is scheduled for that day. We found this logic to be unreasonable, they should take our needs first and if they want to stick to their schedule then they should have trained all of them to be able to do the whatever trails the climbers want.
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| Along the start of the trail where we still had a few shades. |
So we thought they gave us the guide that could lead us to go down at Brgy. Lambac only to find out that he isn't. Well, we insisted but he said that he really couldn't find that trail (even with the help of another man we encountered on our way up), so we went down on the same Baranngay. I just brushed it off to cimbing it again on a traverse route since the view at summit was quite rewarding if only not for the draining heat of the sun.
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| The summit as viewed from the Camp Site. |
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| Camp Site where we had lunch. |
Travel Tips
- Most parts of the trail is open to direct sunlight so bring that cap/umbrella and sunblock.
- Boats come and go at at Brgy. Janosa almost every 1.5 hours but stil this depends on the number of passengers on board the last trip from Janosa back to Binangonan according to locals is 19:00, but to be safe, ask.
- There is a camp site and the climb usually just takes 1.5-3 hours depending on your pace so to avoid the super-heat experience and enjoy the sunrise you can begin your hike very late in the afternoon at around 17:00 - 18:00 and then go down early the next morning at around 9:00.
- The port is located near a market so you can do your last-minute shopping and have your meals in small eateriess around.
- If you want to do the traverse hike start from Brgy. Lambac and go down at Brgy. Janosa - this is the best way to go.
How to get there.
- Make your way to Edsa Shaw/Crossing.
- Ride a jeep to Binangonan, they literally pass by the street below the shaw boulevard in front of Starmall. There is also a van located on the other side of starmall facing Shangrila. Ask the driver to drop you off where you can ride a tricycle to ta take you to the port. (50PHP)
- Ride the tricycle to the Pier. (10PHP)
- Ride the boat to Brgy. Lambac or Janosa. (50 PHP.
** Prices are subject to change.
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| There's me at the summit. :) |
and here's a video by made by Bong on YouTube, I hope you enjoy the views.
