Arguably the highest point in the Zambales coastal mountain range, Mt. Balingkilat is not to be underestimated. Towering at more than a kilometer high above the sea, this "Mountain of Thunder" will test your limits both physically and mentally.
On this climb, we planned on traversing Mt. Balingkilat from Sitio Cauag in Subic down to Nagsasa Cove in San Antonio Zambales. After a few planning and preparation, my wife and I, along with our two friends, head on to Subic where the jump-off point is located.
On this climb, we planned on traversing Mt. Balingkilat from Sitio Cauag in Subic down to Nagsasa Cove in San Antonio Zambales. After a few planning and preparation, my wife and I, along with our two friends, head on to Subic where the jump-off point is located.
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| Mt. Balingkilat as seen from Nagsasa Cove |
Our plan is to board a bus bound to Subic at 10:00PM then start the trek at 3:30AM so we can get to Nagsasa Cove by 12:30 in the afternoon. But everything didn't go according to plan.
How did we get there? Check this out:
- From Victory Liner Caloocan (Complex) we rode a bus bound to Iba.
- We were dropped off at the Subic City Hall
- Gave a courtesy call at the Subic Police Station (located beside the city hall)
- Rode a tricycle going to Sitio Cauag
Quite easy, right? But we had some rough moments during that trip like being a chance passenger which lead to us standing in the bus from Manila to Olonggapo and heavy traffic along NLEX San Fernando exit in Pampanga.
Here's a tip! For convenience, buy your bus tickets in advance, as in days or weeks before the day of the climb. Trips to Iba are usually fully-booked at night specially during weekends and holidays.
Another option going to Subic is to ride a bus bound to Olonggapo, and from there, ride a blue jeepney going to Subic. But take note that jeepneys going to Subic are very limited from midnight till early morning. Buses going to Sta. Cruz Zambales pass by the Subic City Hall as well so it is also another option.
In Subic, we bought our packed food first then went to the police station to present our "letter of intent". The letter contains our name, contact numbers and itinerary along with the written statement of our intent to climb Mt. Balingkilat. The officer also took a picture of our group and gave us the contact number of the police station. He told us to send them a message once we got to Pundaquit where we're supposed to ride a bus back to Manila. Cellphone signals are not available in Nagsasa Cove so if you're planning to ride a boat off to Pundaquit, be sure to have it arranged prior to the day of the climb. You may check out Amazing Pundakit Boat Tours through Facebook regarding boat transfers.
We've also got in touch with Chieftain Jimmy Ablong, the leader of the Aetas on Sitio Cauag, a few days before the climb so he already arranged a tricycle ride for us from Subic Police Station to Sitio Cauag.
The tricycle ride took roughly half an hour. In Sitio Cauag, we were warmly welcomed by Chieftain Jimmy and there we paid a registration fee of 60 pesos per head. We also met our guide G-boy.
An hour before sunshine, we started the trek.
How did we get there? Check this out:
- From Victory Liner Caloocan (Complex) we rode a bus bound to Iba.
- We were dropped off at the Subic City Hall
- Gave a courtesy call at the Subic Police Station (located beside the city hall)
- Rode a tricycle going to Sitio Cauag
Quite easy, right? But we had some rough moments during that trip like being a chance passenger which lead to us standing in the bus from Manila to Olonggapo and heavy traffic along NLEX San Fernando exit in Pampanga.
Here's a tip! For convenience, buy your bus tickets in advance, as in days or weeks before the day of the climb. Trips to Iba are usually fully-booked at night specially during weekends and holidays.
Another option going to Subic is to ride a bus bound to Olonggapo, and from there, ride a blue jeepney going to Subic. But take note that jeepneys going to Subic are very limited from midnight till early morning. Buses going to Sta. Cruz Zambales pass by the Subic City Hall as well so it is also another option.
In Subic, we bought our packed food first then went to the police station to present our "letter of intent". The letter contains our name, contact numbers and itinerary along with the written statement of our intent to climb Mt. Balingkilat. The officer also took a picture of our group and gave us the contact number of the police station. He told us to send them a message once we got to Pundaquit where we're supposed to ride a bus back to Manila. Cellphone signals are not available in Nagsasa Cove so if you're planning to ride a boat off to Pundaquit, be sure to have it arranged prior to the day of the climb. You may check out Amazing Pundakit Boat Tours through Facebook regarding boat transfers.
We've also got in touch with Chieftain Jimmy Ablong, the leader of the Aetas on Sitio Cauag, a few days before the climb so he already arranged a tricycle ride for us from Subic Police Station to Sitio Cauag.
The tricycle ride took roughly half an hour. In Sitio Cauag, we were warmly welcomed by Chieftain Jimmy and there we paid a registration fee of 60 pesos per head. We also met our guide G-boy.
An hour before sunshine, we started the trek.
The small open hut near a sari-sari store marks the start of our hike. The first part is a grassy trail with gradual ascent. A few minutes more of trekking on the same terrain and we reached the kawayanan where the first water source is located. There we took a break and ate our breakfast as the sun started to light up the surroundings.
The next part of the trail is a non-stop steep ascend going up to the summit. Very few trees can be seen on the trail maybe because the ground is mostly made up of solid rock. Wearing long pants and socks prevented us from having cuts and blisters from the tall sharp grass along the way. As we felt the heat of the sun, we also felt the pressure on our knees and legs. We tried to look back and we were rewarded with a beautiful view of the Subic Bay.
The next part of the trail is a non-stop steep ascend going up to the summit. Very few trees can be seen on the trail maybe because the ground is mostly made up of solid rock. Wearing long pants and socks prevented us from having cuts and blisters from the tall sharp grass along the way. As we felt the heat of the sun, we also felt the pressure on our knees and legs. We tried to look back and we were rewarded with a beautiful view of the Subic Bay.
Four hours had passed and we all felt that our pacing has dropped. The scorching heat of the sun played a big part on slowing us down. At 10:30 AM we took an early lunch then continued the assault again. There was a time that we willfully take a break whenever we pass by a tree. The hike became strenuous. It's like we're hiking up to the gates of hell. Looked down, we noticed that we've come a long way. Looked up and we knew it's still a long way to go.
Few minutes before noon when we reached the point where the trail became steeper. We had to use our hands to climb up to the campsite. We can also feel the weight of our packs as we try to lift our feet taking one step at a time. Good thing the sun hid beneath the clouds and the wind got stronger. A little comfort of fresh air helped us to speed up our pace. We continued our assault on the steep trail until we reach the campsite. There we were welcomed by the cold breeze and the magnificent view of Mt. Pinatubo and other Zambales mountain range and landscapes.
The campsite has a wide flat surface which can accommodate a lot of tents. The ground is composed of grass, wild flowers and huge rocks. From there we can already see the summit. After a few breathers and picture taking, we head on to the summit.
The campsite has a wide flat surface which can accommodate a lot of tents. The ground is composed of grass, wild flowers and huge rocks. From there we can already see the summit. After a few breathers and picture taking, we head on to the summit.
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| Clouds covering the top of Mt. Pinatubo |
The cold wind got stronger and the clouds totally hid the sun as if God is letting us to experience the summit at its best. A fantastic 360 degree view of Zambales is showcased right before our eyes. All those hardships and struggles are totally worth it.
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| Mt. Cinco Picos (left), Mt. Dayungan (right) and a portion of Silanguin Cove |
Aside from the mountains, the famous Anawangin Cove is visible from the summit. Talisayen, Nagsasa and Silanguin Coves can also be seen from where we at. The blue West Philippine Sea glitters as the sun rays reflect on it. Everything we see is a picture worthy scenery.
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| The coves of Talisayen and Anawangin as seen from the summit |
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| Nagsasa Cove |
As we look at Nagsasa Cove from the summit, we suddenly realized that we're going to have a longer way down than going up. So we prepared ourselves and then proceed to our next destination.
The trail going down is a grassy slope with patches of wild flowers and large rocks. A few minutes more of trekking and we noticed that the wind is starting to disappear and the clouds that covered the sun is out. The intense heat made us all sweaty and thirsty.
We're still far away from the water source when we noticed that our tumblers and bladders are running empty. We had no choice but to continue the trek until we felt that we're all on the verge of being dehydrated. Then along the trail we met two hikers who are terribly in need. They are both dehydrated and one of them even passed out so we tried to help. It was a very stressful moment but thank God everything went well.
That incident consumed a lot of time but it's okay because we're not in a hurry anyway. The long break also helped us regain our strength. We continued the trek as the sun starts to set.
A few hours more and the trail became flat which imply that we're already on the foot of the mountain. We light up our headlamps as the trail gets darker. After the steep descend to a rocky trail, we head on to the trail of bamboo forest and huge boulders. We also had to cross a stream.
We need to be extra careful on walking along tall grass and sharp stones in the middle of the night. A few minutes more of trekking and we noticed that the ground is now made up of sand. It hinted us that we're closer to the sea so everyone got pumped up. But don't let the sand fool you, because the end is still farther than we thought.
The trek really made us reach our limits both physically and mentally. But the team's encouragement and help for each other gave us a boost to finish the trek. Singing songs and cracking up jokes helped us too. We all continued the trek with one thing in mind - JUST KEEP WALKING.
The sound of the waves is starting to be heard and the trail is getting wider. We continued the trek with aching shoulders and tired feet then before we knew it, we are in front of Sir Bolo's place in Nagsasa Cove! All in all, it took us roughly 15 hours to finish the trek.
We need to be extra careful on walking along tall grass and sharp stones in the middle of the night. A few minutes more of trekking and we noticed that the ground is now made up of sand. It hinted us that we're closer to the sea so everyone got pumped up. But don't let the sand fool you, because the end is still farther than we thought.
The trek really made us reach our limits both physically and mentally. But the team's encouragement and help for each other gave us a boost to finish the trek. Singing songs and cracking up jokes helped us too. We all continued the trek with one thing in mind - JUST KEEP WALKING.
The sound of the waves is starting to be heard and the trail is getting wider. We continued the trek with aching shoulders and tired feet then before we knew it, we are in front of Sir Bolo's place in Nagsasa Cove! All in all, it took us roughly 15 hours to finish the trek.
Mt. Balingkilat gave me the best and the worst climbing experience so far. We were pushed beyond our limits but rewarded with fantastic views and unforgettable experience. We thanked the Lord for letting us see this wonderful mountain and for keeping us safe the whole time. We also thanked G-boy for helping us from start to finish.
Important Contact Numbers:
Chieftain Jimmy Ablong - 0921-9543215
PNP Subic Station - 0946-2368934
Amazing Pundakit Boat Tours - 0999-8827832
Notable Expenses:
Php 221 - Bus fare from Caloocan to Subic
Php 100 - Tricycle fare per head from Subic to Sitio Cauag
Php 60 - Registration Fee at Sitio Cauag
Php 1000 - Guide fee*
* Php 1000 for Mt. Balingkilat Traverse, Php 500 for Mt. Balingkilat Day Hike.
Php 100 - Bolo's Place at Nagsasa Cove Entrance Fee
Php 100 - Open Hut rental at Nagsasa Cove
Php 2000 - Boat transfer from Nagsasa Cove to Pundaquit
(for 4 person plus trip to Capones & Camara Islands)
Php 15 - Tricycle fare from Pundaquit to San Antonio town proper
Php 40 - Bus fare from San Antonio to Olangapo
Php 207 - Bus fare from Olangapo to Cubao
Safe Budget for this DIY Hike:
(Transportation, Food and Necessary Fees)Important Contact Numbers:
Chieftain Jimmy Ablong - 0921-9543215
PNP Subic Station - 0946-2368934
Amazing Pundakit Boat Tours - 0999-8827832
Notable Expenses:
Php 221 - Bus fare from Caloocan to Subic
Php 100 - Tricycle fare per head from Subic to Sitio Cauag
Php 60 - Registration Fee at Sitio Cauag
Php 1000 - Guide fee*
* Php 1000 for Mt. Balingkilat Traverse, Php 500 for Mt. Balingkilat Day Hike.
Php 100 - Bolo's Place at Nagsasa Cove Entrance Fee
Php 100 - Open Hut rental at Nagsasa Cove
Php 2000 - Boat transfer from Nagsasa Cove to Pundaquit
(for 4 person plus trip to Capones & Camara Islands)
Php 15 - Tricycle fare from Pundaquit to San Antonio town proper
Php 40 - Bus fare from San Antonio to Olangapo
Php 207 - Bus fare from Olangapo to Cubao
Safe Budget for this DIY Hike:
Php 1800 - Php 2000
Congratulations for reaching out the highest point of Zambales. When we were at Anawangin Cove we saw people going to the top and we were amazed. You guys are really awesome.
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