Mount Cayabu and Maynoba: Your adventure twin hike
Mounts Cayabu and Maynoba: Your adventure twin hike
Mountain climbing is now becoming a fad in the Philippine travel scene. As more Pinoys and foreigners alike develop this love for the mountains, it is but deserving that we document them one by one. For this entry, Mounts Cayabu and Maynoba (alternate spelling: “Maynuba”), also known as the “Maynoba Circuit” is one of the popular peaks in Tanay, Rizal. These mountains have been reached by thousands since March 22, 2016, when it first opened to the public.
See also: Mount Pigingan Travel Guide
Being a subsidiary mountain of Maynoba, Cayabu is the first peak in this twin day hike. Standing 580 meters above sea level, Cayabu’s peak is quite rocky and the vegetation is somewhat thick. After an hour or so, you will now reach Maynoba’s peak at 662 meters above sea level (728 masl in some websites). Others contend that this mountain has one of the highest “success rates” in terms of the sea of clouds sightings.
The grassy, rocky, (and sometimes muddy) trails of the whole twin day hike are definitely worth it. At the latter part of the hike, you can have a side trip to the so-called “8 wonder falls.” Though on our trip, we only managed to go to 2 of them (Natatagong Paraiso and Lantay na Bato Falls). The rest of the falls are Katmon Falls, Gugulong na Bato Falls, Guintoan Falls, Manganiso Falls, and Pantay Falls.
Getting there
Mounts Cayabu and Maynoba can be reached in an hour or two from Manila. What we did was to hire a van for our group so it would be less hassle and the comfort of traveling will be ensured. I also suggest you guys to rent a car or van (or bring your own car if you have one) so you can come to the registration area earlier to see the sunrise and sea of clouds. But if you really are adventurous, go and take the public transport going to Barangay Cayabu (details of the trip found on the itinerary below!)
Mounts Cayabu and Maynoba are best climbed, personally, during the months of March and April as the weather is not too hot and not too cold just in time for the summer season. Though when we went there on the month of January, a strong rain poured the day before our climb making the trails slippery and muddy.
Mount Maynoba Summit
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As the mountains are part of Tanay Tourism, before climbing, seek a permit to climb the mountains first in order for you (and your group) to gain access to the site. You can contact Sir Romar L. Anito at +63 929 765 8457 or Sir Ronald Africano at +63 908 433 0444. You can also ask them some tips when summiting these mountains.
Suggested itineraries and possible expenses:
DAYHIKE (PUBLIC TRANSPORT)
| 0300 H | ETD Starmall Shaw or Cubao for Antipolo (Cogeo Gate 2) | P35-70 (FX / UV Express)
P24 (Jeepney) |
| 0400 H | Take a jeep from Antipolo to Batangasan Junction (first trip at 5 a.m.) | P50 (Jeepney bound for Sampaloc) |
| 0500 H | ETA Junction. Take tricycle to Barangay Cayabu | P150 (for 3 pax; P50 per pax) |
| 0530 H | ETA Maynoba trailhead, Barangay Cayabu. Register and secure guides | P20 (Registration fee, regular)
P40 (Registration fee, traverse) P500 (Guide fee, for 5 pax) P1250 (Overnight fee, guide fee included; optional) P40 (Environmental fee) P300 (Porter fee, min. of 15 kg; optional) |
| 0600 H | Start trekking | |
| 0700 / 0730 H | ETA Mount Cayabu | |
| 0830 / 0900 H | ETA Mount Maynoba viewpoint | |
| 0930 H | Continue with the hike | |
| 1030 H | Pass through the eight waterfalls (optional) | |
| 1130 H | Continue trek to the trailhead | |
| 1230 H | ETA Barangay Cayabu trailhead. Lunch / Freshen up | |
| 1430 H | ETD for Manila | P150 (Tricycle for 3 pax; P 50 per pax)
P50 (Jeepney bound from Sampaloc) P24 (Jeepney to Starmall Shaw or Cubao) |
| 1700 H | ETA Manila |
DAYHIKE (PRIVATE TRANSPORT)
| 0130 H | ETD Manila for Barangay Cayabu via Marcos Highway – Barangay Cuyambay | (transportation fee depends) |
| 0330 H | ETA Barangay Cayabu trailhead. Register and secure guides | P20 (Registration fee, regular)
P40 (Registration fee, traverse) P500 (Guide fee, for 5 pax) P1250 (Overnight fee, guide fee included; optional) P40 (Environmental fee) P300 (Porter fee, min. of 15 kg; optional) |
| 0400 H | Start trekking | |
| 0500 / 0530 H | ETA Mount Cayabu | |
| 0600 / 0630 H | ETA Mount Maynoba viewpoint (for sunrise) | |
| 0700 H | Continue with the hike | |
| 0800 H | Pass through the eight waterfalls (optional) | |
| 0900 H | Continue trek to the trailhead | |
| 1030 H | ETA Barangay Cayabu trailhead. Freshen up | |
| 1130 H | ETD for Manila | (transportation fee depends) |
| 1300 H | ETA Manila / Lunch |
OVERNIGHT (PUBLIC TRANSPORT)
| Day 1 | ||
| 1100 H | ETD Starmall Shaw or Cubao for Antipolo (Cogeo Gate 2) | P35-70 (FX / UV Express)
P24 (Jeepney) |
| 1230 H | Take a jeep from Antipolo to Batangasan junction (first trip at 5 a.m.) | P50 (Jeepney bound for Sampaloc) |
| 1200 H | ETA junction. Take tricycle to Barangay Cayabu | P150 (for 3 pax; P50 per pax) |
| 1430 H | ETA Maynoba trailhead, Barangay Cayabu. Register and secure guides | P20 (Registration fee, regular)
P40 (Registration fee, traverse) P500 (Guide fee, for 5 pax) P1250 (Overnight fee, guide fee included; optional) P40 (Environmental fee) P300 (Porter fee, min. of 15 kg; optional) |
| 1500 H | Start trekking | |
| 1600 / 1630 H | ETA Mount Cayabu | |
| 1730 / 1800 H | ETA Mount Maynoba viewpoint. Set up camp | |
| 1900 H | Dinner / Socials | |
| Day 2 | ||
| 0530 H | Wakeup call / Sunrise Shoot | |
| 0630 H | Breakfast / Break camp | |
| 0730 H | Resume trek | |
| 0830 H | Pass through the eight waterfalls (optional) | |
| 1030 H | Continue trek to the trailhead | |
| 1200 H | Back at Barangay Cayabu trailhead. Lunch / Freshen up. | |
| 1400 H | ETD for Manila | P150 (Tricycle for 3 pax; P50 per pax)
P50 (Jeepney bound from Sampaloc) P24 (Jeepney to Starmall Shaw or Cubao) |
| 1630 H | ETA Manila | |
OVERNIGHT (PRIVATE TRANSPORT)
| Day 1 | ||
| 1100 H | ETD Manila for Barangay Cayabu via Marcos Highway – Barangay Cuyambay | (transportation fee depends) |
| 1230 H | ETA Barangay Cayabu trailhead. Register and secure guides | P20 (Registration fee, regular)
P40 (Registration fee, traverse) P500 (Guide fee, for 5 pax) P1250 (Overnight fee, guide fee included; optional) P40 (Environmental fee) P300 (Porter fee, min. of 15 kg; optional) |
| 1300 H | Start trekking | |
| 1400 / 1430 H | ETA Mount Cayabu | |
| 1530 / 1600 H | ETA Mount Maynoba viewpoint. Set up camp | |
| 1800 H | Dinner / Socials | |
| Day 2 | ||
| 0530 H | Wakeup call / Sunrise Shoot | |
| 0630 H | Breakfast / Break camp | |
| 0730 H | Resume trek | |
| 0830 H | Pass through the eight waterfalls (optional) | |
| 1030 H | Continue trek to the trailhead | |
| 1200 H | Back at Barangay Cayabu trailhead. Lunch / Freshen up. | |
| 1400 H | ETD for Manila | (transportation fee depends) |
| 1630 H | ETA Manila | |
*all prices and times indicated can change over time.
Notes:
1) As per Pinoy Mountaineer, Mounts Cayabu and Maynoba has a difficulty of 3/9 and is considered a minor hike. The trails to the summits can be steep but straightforward. To catch the sea of clouds in Mount Maynoba, leave Manila at around 0200 or 0300 H.
2) The trails of both mountains are very varied. Rocky and thick vegetation at lower reaches and grassy on higher reaches. Rivers and falls can be seen in the latter part of the hike.
3) Located at the “foot” of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, you can see Mounts Tukduan Banoi and Irid in the north side and the borders of Infanta and Gen. Nakar, Quezon on the east side.
4) (Other) Contact numbers: +63 912 757 0867 (Kuya Rene, jeep rental), +63 917 847 2722 (Kuya Rommel, van rental).
5) Campsites are available between the Cayabu and Maynoba peaks. Water sources can be seen in the wonder falls area. Cellphone signal is present at higher points but absent on most of the hike. There are also fixed ropes and rails (especially on the rocky parts of the hike) on the trail.
6) The ranger station at Barangay Cayabu has a number of sari-sari stores, souvenir shops, and restrooms where you can freshen up after the hike. There is also a generous space for parking your vehicles.
Other pictures:
View from Mount Maynoba summit
Summiting Mount Maynoba
A campsite in Mount Maynoba’s summit
Mount Maynoba’s Summit!
Partners in Climb!
Natatagong Paraiso Falls (photo by Michael Soriano)
Lantay na Bato Falls (photo by Mela Billones)
Sari-sari stores, souvenir shops, and comfort rooms at Mount Cayabu – Maynoba Jump Off Point
About Aldrick 'chiki' Agpaoa
