Hiking Mt. Maculot with my 61-year-old mother


As traveler in search of #EpicAdventures, I've always been drawn to hiking.

From relatively easy treks to more challenging climbs like Mount Pulag, I am one traveler who doesn't shy away from a sweat-inducing, leg-shaking hiking adventure. One of my most memorable hiking adventures was in June 2019, when I hiked to Mount Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas with my 61-year-old mother.
This isn't my first hiking adventure though. In 2013, I hiked up to the summit of Luzon's highest mountain, Mount Pulag and have trekked through its Ambangeg trail thrice already. I've twice traversed Mount Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas in 2014. In Romblon, I've trekked atop Mount Guinsiba in my hometown of Banton. Prior to this Maculot hike, I reached the summit and traversed the mountain in 2016.

I've always wanted to hike mountains with my mother, who has lived in the United States since 2008. I wanted to arrange for a hike with her when she came home for the first time in nine years in 2017, but since she was only the country for two months and we were both busy (me with my work commitments and her meeting with friends and relatives for reunions), we weren't able to get the chance to hike together.

That chance presented itself when she came home from the US last year.

Initially, she wanted to climb Mount Pulag, but I discouraged her from pushing through with because I'm concerned that she might get altitude sickness and suffer a heart attack during the trek due to her age. Given her condition, I felt that a smaller mountain that is closer to home would be good for a first hike for her. 

The easiest trek that immediately came to mind was Mount Maculot. Compared to Mount Batulao where there are roped portions of the trek, Mount Maculot has well-established trails that even beginners could do. It was also just a two-hour drive from our home in Cavite via Lipa City. The plan was to reach just up to the Rockies portion of Mount Maculot then head back down the same trail.

The hike experience

We climbed on a Saturday, July 6, 2019 but left the house quite late as the entire family wanted to join the road trip. Aside from my mother and my sister (who is also our driver), we were joined by my brother-in-law, her niece, my two-year-old niece, and her babysitter. We left the house at around 9 a.m. and arrived in Cuenca before noon.

Not much has changed in the hiking system in Mount Maculot. You still have to register and secure a guide at the Cuenca Tourist Information Center along G. Del Pilar Street in Barangay Poblacion Siete. We paid the P20 registration fee and secured a guide, Kuya Jayson, for P400. Because my sister and her family just dropped us off and went to see a resort in Cuenca, we rode a tricycle together with our guide to the jump-off area and paid another P20.

There is a new trail leading to the Rockies this time around. Instead of taking a old route to the campsite, the new trail had to pass through dense jungle. The entire trail is has rope guidelines along the way and is less steep than the previous trail. It ends at the beginning of the trail to the Rockies instead of the campsite.

The trail has nine stations each with a rest stop and a store selling refreshments. In one stop, my mother and I enjoyed some buko (coconut) juice to quench our thirst. While we also encountered several trekkers that day, there were only a few groups as it was already midday. Most trekkers arrive around  early to mid-morning. The new trail is rich in wildlife. Along the way, we encountered giant centipedes on the trail floor.

I am surprised that my mother was able to endure the hike. In under two hours, we were able to reach the Rockies and her pacing was even faster compared to mine. She was also able to crawl through the rocks to the top of the Rockies, but she did get nervous upon getting there and seeing how high we were. The stunning views of Lake Taal and Taal Volcano Island eased her worries. After some photos and videos, we made it down the trek in under an hour.

You can watch the entire hike in my YouTube vlog below:


At 61, my mother might just be one of the oldest persons to reach the Mount Maculot Rockies. Now that she made it, I'm looking forward to taking her on another hike when she returns home in a few years' time.

See you next time for more #EpicAdventures!

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