Tanay, Rizal and General Nakar, Quezon
Major jumpoff: Brgy. Daraitan (village centre), Tanay
Minor jumpoff: Sitio Cablao Brgy. Pagsangahan, General Nakar
LLA: 14°36′48.5′′N 121°26′19.5′′ E, 739 MASL (+600)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2.5-4 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 1-3
Features: Tropical forest, limestone formations, river trek
Article history: Created 10/20/14 Last updated 10/20/14
BACKGROUND
A gem at the heart of the great Sierra Madre mountain range, close enough to Manila to do as a dayhike, is Mt. Daraitan, which sits near the border of Tanay, Rizal and General Nakar, Quezon. A former logging area, the village that bears the mountain's name is now an ecotourism site that offers outdoor attractions such as caves, springs, natural pools, and limestone formations. A model for ecotourism, the barangay has an organised system for handling visitors, including trained local guides.
The hike up is a (mostly) straightforward 600-meter ascent that might feel steep to those not used to hiking. There are, however, plenty of holds and the trail is well-maintained. The forest environment is similar in characteristics with Mt. Pinagbanderahan, which also lies in the Sierra Madre - but Daraitan has more rewarding limestone viewpoints and a much more challenging hike.
At the summit, one can see the Sierra Madre mountains (E, NE), the meandering Daraitan River, and a glimpse of Laguna de Bay with its outlying mountains (i.e. Makiling and Sembrano) and the mountain within it: Mt. Tagapo. There is space for several tents if you wish to stay overnight. From the summit, instead of returning all the way to the barangay, a recommended route to take is the trail to Tinipak River. Though the trail itself is very similar to the ascending trail, Tinipak River, with its beautiful limestone boulders, is a great highlight and must not be missed! This is also a popular camping ground which gives the option of exploring the springs, natural pools, and caves in the area.
Mt. Daraitan is a great sampler for hiking up the relatively unexplored Sierra Madre mountains, and along with the other attractions in Daraitan, particularly the scenic, lunaresque Tinipak River, is a highly recommended dayhike or overnight destination from Manila.
The hike up is a (mostly) straightforward 600-meter ascent that might feel steep to those not used to hiking. There are, however, plenty of holds and the trail is well-maintained. The forest environment is similar in characteristics with Mt. Pinagbanderahan, which also lies in the Sierra Madre - but Daraitan has more rewarding limestone viewpoints and a much more challenging hike.
At the summit, one can see the Sierra Madre mountains (E, NE), the meandering Daraitan River, and a glimpse of Laguna de Bay with its outlying mountains (i.e. Makiling and Sembrano) and the mountain within it: Mt. Tagapo. There is space for several tents if you wish to stay overnight. From the summit, instead of returning all the way to the barangay, a recommended route to take is the trail to Tinipak River. Though the trail itself is very similar to the ascending trail, Tinipak River, with its beautiful limestone boulders, is a great highlight and must not be missed! This is also a popular camping ground which gives the option of exploring the springs, natural pools, and caves in the area.
Mt. Daraitan is a great sampler for hiking up the relatively unexplored Sierra Madre mountains, and along with the other attractions in Daraitan, particularly the scenic, lunaresque Tinipak River, is a highly recommended dayhike or overnight destination from Manila.
ITINERARY
Mt. Daraitan + Tinipak River Dayhike
0400 Take jeepney from EDSA-Shaw to Tanay, Rizal
0530 ETA Tanay, Rizal. Take jeep to Sampaloc, Tanay (P26
0615 ETA Sampaloc, Tanay. Take tricycle to Brgy. Daraitan (P100/person)
0700 Arrival at Daraitan River. Cross with raft and take trike to barangay hall
0730 ETA Barangay Hall; Register and secure guides
0800 Start trek up Mt. Daraitan
1130 ETA summit. Explore the viewpoints / Lunch
1300 Start descent to Tinipak River
1500 Arrival at Tinipak River. Explore the area
1630 Proceed to Brgy. Daritan via riverside trail
1800 Head back to Tanay, Rizal via tricycle
Mt. Daraitan camping + Tinipak River (2 days)
Day 1
0600 Take jeepney from EDSA-Shaw to Tanay, Rizal
0730 ETA Tanay, Rizal. Take jeep to Sampaloc, Tanay (P26
0815 ETA Sampaloc, Tanay. Take tricycle to Brgy. Daraitan (P100/person)
0900 Arrival at Daraitan River. Cross with raft and take trike to barangay hall
0930 ETA Barangay Hall; Register and secure guides.
1000 Start trek up Mt. Daraitan
1200 Lunch along the way
1300 Resume trek
1200 Lunch along the way
1300 Resume trek
1600 ETA summit. Set up camp.
1800 Dinner / socials
Day 2
0545 Sunrise viewing at the limestone formations
0700 Breakfast / Break camp
0800 Start descent to Tinipak River
1100 Arrival at Tinipak River. Lunch / Sidetrips
1530 Proceed to Brgy. Daritan via riverside trail
1615 Back at Barangay Hall; tidy up
1730 Head back to Tanay, Rizal via tricycle
1830 Back in Tanay Rizal. Take jeepney back to Shaw / Cogeo
2000 Back in Manila
Note: It is also possible to camp in Tinipak River and do Mt. Daraitan as a dayhike on Day 1 or 2 of an overnight trip.
1800 Dinner / socials
Day 2
0545 Sunrise viewing at the limestone formations
0700 Breakfast / Break camp
0800 Start descent to Tinipak River
1100 Arrival at Tinipak River. Lunch / Sidetrips
1530 Proceed to Brgy. Daritan via riverside trail
1615 Back at Barangay Hall; tidy up
1730 Head back to Tanay, Rizal via tricycle
1830 Back in Tanay Rizal. Take jeepney back to Shaw / Cogeo
2000 Back in Manila
Note: It is also possible to camp in Tinipak River and do Mt. Daraitan as a dayhike on Day 1 or 2 of an overnight trip.
PRACTICALITIES: MT. DARAITAN
Transportation | Public (1) Jeep or van, EDSA-Shaw Crossing to Tanay [170 pesos; 1.5 hours] (2) Jeep, Tanay to Sampaloc [26 pesos, 45 minutes) (3)Tricycle, Tanay to Brgy. Daraitan [100 pesos/person; 30 minutes] (4) Raft, Daraitan river [10 pesos; 1 minute] (5) Tricycle, Daraitan river to Brgy. hall [10 pesos/person; 5 minutes] *Alternatively for 1-2, take jeep from Cogeo to Sampaloc *Alternatively for 2-3, if going overnight, take jeep from Tanay to Daraitan that leaves at 1300H and 1500H (and returns from Daraitan to at 0900H and ~1200H) Approximately 3-4 hours travel time because of various stops and delays. Private. Head out to Marcos Highway and follow through the Tanay-Infanta Road. Make a left turn to the rough road that leads to Brgy. Daraitan, and park just before the river which used to be connected by a wooden bridge. Cross the river following 3-4 on the 'Public' section above. Parking is available before the river crossing. Approximately 2-2.5 hours travel time. |
Registration | (1) Logbook at the barangay hall of Daraitan. P20 registration fee. |
Available; assigned at the barangay hall (500 pesos for the dayhike; 750 for overnight) | |
+639069533470 - Willy (Head Guide) +639989881590- Tanay Tourism Office | |
Campsites and waypoints | Summit (14°36′48.5′′N 121°26′19.5′′ E 739m) Tinipak River (14°36′10.6′′N 121°26′40.4′′ 299m) |
Water sources | None in the upper reaches of the mountain; present in Tinipak River |
Cellphone signal | Sporadic at the lower reaches Present from 600m up to the peak |
River crossings | None in the hike proper, but Tinipak River itself can be crossed as part of side trips (i.e. swimming in lagoons, visiting caves etc.) |
Roped segments | None |
None | |
Minimal | |
Rattan | Minimal |
Hiking notes | The rocks up and down the mountain can be slippery. If it is raining heavily the trail to Tinipak River may not be advised by the guides. |
Sidetrips | In Tanay, Daranak and Batlag Falls can be visited before visiting Daraitan, especially if you plan to take the regular afternoon jeepney. In Daraitan, Caves and Tinipak River exploration can count as side trips. |
Alternate trails | There are hunters' trails that go deep into the Sierra Madre mountains. One of the nearby peaks, Mt. Lugang, is being considered as another ecotourism site. |
Yes (2.5-4 hours to summit; 1.5-3 hours down on either of the above-mentioned trails) | |
Facilities at jumpoff | (+) Sari-sari stores (+) Carinderias / paluto (+) Wash-up / shower places |
500-700 (dayhike) 700-900 (overnight) |
MT. DARAITAN PICTURES
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| The trail up Mt. Daraitan is moderately steep and beautifully forested |
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| Meandering Daraitan River as viewed from the summit |
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| At the summit of Mt. Daraitan with its limestone formations |
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| Taking a break in one of the springs along Tinipak River |
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| The 2.6 km trek from Tinipak River to the barangay hall is one of the highlights of Daraitan |
TRIVIA
An account of the blogger's hike up Mt. Daraitan on October 18, 2014 is narrated in Hiking matters #431.