I’ve always dreamed of hiking Mt. Pulag to walk above the clouds—and I finally did. Curious how it felt to reach the skies? Read my blog!

Disclaimer: All views expressed on this blog are my own based on my own experiences and do not represent of any entity with which I have been, are now or will be affiliated

August 02, 2022
Manila, Philippines

Date of Hike – July 24-25
Pulag, Ambangeg Trail Benguet, Philippines – Easy Route

I’m at a loss as to where to start with my blog, but the mountains are my happy place. I feel most alive when I’m on a mountain because of the challenge they present; being in the mountains doesn’t help you forget your troubles, but it does give you the strength to persevere.

One of the mountains on my bucket list is Pulag. Mount Pulag is the highest peak on the island of Luzon and the third tallest mountain in the Philippines at an elevation of 2,928 meters (9,606 feet) above sea level. It’s famous for its sea of clouds, which has earned it the nickname “playground of the Gods.”

Restrictions

Benguet is accepting leisure travelers provided that they follow the standard health protocol. No medical certificates, S-pass, RT-PCR test or vaccination card to be presented to some establishments or checkpoints. But I suggest to always bring your vaccination card and for your protection, have yourself vaccinated.

Budget

My budget for this trip is Php5,000. I booked a tour at Biyahe ni Jhayrick but was moved to another tour organizer which was Explore Unseen Travel PH as I was only a joiner. Jhay’s tour cost Php4,500, but Explore Unseen charges only Php3,000, so I’d prefer Explore Unseen over Biyahe ni Jhayrick for the time being. It was well-planned. The tour included a homestay, three meals, environmental fees, local government costs, and guide expenses. Mt. Pulag needs you to submit a medical certificate, however they have a doctor on hand to assist you; the medical certificate costs Php150.

Getting Around Mt. Pulag

We rented a van going to Mt. Pulag. It took us 8 hours to reach our destination.

There was less to no Internet Connection to where we stayed at which was great for a couple days so you can connect with the nature and the people around you.

Homestay

The homestay where we stayed was quite large. There were three rooms, each with a capacity of ten people. I’m glad I only stayed for one night since I don’t believe I could do this for two nights haha! It was nice, there were two restrooms, however the water was freezing at 10 degrees Celsius.

Language

People speak Tagalog, basic English and their dialect is Kankana-ey, Ibaloi, and Kalanguya.

Day 1 July 23
Greenfield, Shaw Boulevard

The gathering took place at 9:30 p.m. on July 23, a Saturday night. As usual, I went on a solo trip, joined a tour, and slept the entire trip. I like how roomy the van was, allowing me to stretch my legs. I already know where I’ll sit on a long hour drive. haha

Day 2 July 24 – Sunday
DENR Bokod, Benguet

Mt. Pulag is a National Integrated Protected Areas Programme (NIPAP) site, hence DENR registration and instruction are necessary.Mount Pulag is home to over 500 plant species, 251 of which are indigenous to the Philippines. We arrived at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m., registered, and watched a 10-minute film. The orientation only has a capacity of 120 people, and we were lucky to have only 20 people that day; it’s best to arrange the trek on weekdays.
Day 3 July 25 – Monday
1:00am ascent

Christian, the organizer, prepped us for our ascent at 1:00 a.m. The sky looked clear, so I was relieved that there would be a decent clearing. We met Jane, our tour leader. This hike was simple because there were no hills to climb; it was all flat. Rain began to fall about 3:00 a.m. during the ascent, and I was frightened that my goal of viewing the clouds would not come true. There was a lot of fog, and the rain continued to fall until we arrived at Camp 2 at 5:00 a.m. The sole saving grace was the rain jacket I purchased from Decathlon, which kept me dry and warm in the storm. Despite the rain, we decided to proceed to the peak. When I saw the stars, I knew it was going to be a good day, and yes, we were lucky enough that the doors of the clouds opened up for us. The clouds parted, and the sun rose slowly to greet us. It was stunning! I don’t want to sound too dramatic, but this was the most magnificent sunrise I’ve ever seen. It was obvious and hopeful. I couldn’t believe how glad I was to be at the Gods’ playground; the clouds were like a waterfall falling from the mountains. The images do not do the day justice. I wish I could sleep in a cloud bed! haha

Food Eats in Baguio

Grumpy Joe
49 Gibraltar Baguio City, Philippines
Price Php200-500
Accepts cash or credit card

We arrived at our homestay at 9:00 a.m. and ate lunch after freshening up. We wanted to try Grumpy Joe, a restaurant in Baguio that was three hours distant from Pulag. We left Pulag around 1:30 p.m. and went to the DENR to receive our climbing certificates. We arrived at Grumpy Joe at 5:00 p.m. and had an early dinner. I appreciated how quickly they served, how large their portions were, and how reasonably priced they were. The only drawback was that the toilets were not separated by gender, it was difficult to line, and the servers and waitresses were grumpy, just like the restaurant’s name haha. Overall, I had a nice time hiking with my fellow hikers and making new friends. I ordered the hot ube truffle for Php140 and the lasagne for Php285 l. My new pals offered me garlic and cheese pizza. This restaurant is great for large groups like ours, but nothing tops Good Eats in my opinion.

We arrived in Manila by 11:00pm and had to fix my things for my Krabi trip. Woohoo! 🙂

Love,
Maria, sometimes, Niskie