Mt. Pulag Protected Landscape — Attraction in Kayapa

Joybus Ride (online booking) to Baguio; left the terminal in Cubao around 9PM! it was a quick ride and we arrived at the bus terminal just passed 1AM. good thing we pre-booked a van going to the DENR visitor center towards Bokod. paid the Van around 4000 php for the ride going to the foot of Mt. Pulag, and the return trip the next day back to bagio. got to buy the wafers at the DENR visitor center! just php 30 but it was delicious! the Visitor center opens at 8am. After a few hours wait, we got to register and pay the environmental fees and rode the van once again to the foot/ "base camp" village of Mt. Pulag. there, you could avail the Homestay as locals would let you crash in their place for around 300 per head. not bad; and they are very accommodating. On weekends, you cant camp along the trail. Only in the camping grounds at the base. For first timers; its not advisable to tent out because its TOO DAMN cold at night!.

after we got settled at around noon, we just explored the town ate dinner and tried to sleep as early as possible. around 7pm.

Trekking time. 1am; call time; with a bag, 3 layers of clothing. decent boots and waterproof EVERYTHING in case it rains. We then began our hike armed with a walking stick and head flashlights. Pace was ok; to try to get to one of the summits to experience the sunrise. and it was glorious. Expect around 200+ people on a busy weekday.

all in all, we spent almost 12h walking up, resting, eating snacks, chatting, and taking pictures along the train.

please bring ALL your trash with you. DOWN to Baguio. so you better pack light and...

BUNDOK PULAG: THE ULTIMATE RESET BUTTON FOR THE SOUL! Honestly, Mt. Pulag is not just a hike; it’s a spiritual cleanse. People talk about the intense cold, but the refreshing lamig (coldness) is actually very therapeutic—it feels like nature’s own air conditioning! The entire journey, especially through the Ambangeg trail, was surprisingly relaxing and serene. You start in the cool pine forests, and then you enter the enchanting Mossy Forest. It’s foggy, green, and beautiful—it literally feels like you’ve stepped onto a set from Lord of the Rings!

But the absolute peak of the experience is the summit ascent. Waking up before dawn to trek to the highest point of Luzon is not tiring at all because of the excitement. When the sun finally emerges over that iconic Sea of Clouds, it is simply breathtaking! The view is so pristine, so vast, and so incredibly beautiful—a true piece of Heaven on Earth talaga (Heaven on Earth, really). You just stand there, breathing in the purest air, and all your worries melt away. The natural beauty is so raw and fresh; it’s a total reset for the soul.

And let’s not forget the people! The Filipino hospitality shines brightly here. Our local guides were incredibly helpful, smiling, and patient with our group. Their warmth made the whole experience so much better, even when it was freezing cold! If you’re looking for a perfect escape where you can find peace, relaxation, and true ganda (beauty), Mt. Pulag is definitely your next...

Dont go on weekend, more busy than Mumbai! I heard we were between 600 to 800. Bare in mind the summit can only accommodate 200 so we did the sunrise on a side peak. Also walking wasn't great, it was like a queue. We also waited 6hours at the department of conservation to get a seminar on conservation and environment. The room could only accommodate 100 people and it lasted 1hour. Most of the seminar was useless stuff and it even started with a video on Palawan lol. Even though the department of conservation is insanely disorganised, the guide tours are corrupted and some issues and wait had to do with the guides. So every guide can only bring 12 guests. Obviously all tours had more people because more money. As a result, the room of the seminar was too full and we waited 40more minutes because they needed to find the guilty guides. You need to understand that some people left Manila at 10pm and then waited 8h at the department. They could have left many hours after and have a good night of sleep instead!!! Thats impressively bad. When we left the mount, we still waited 40min at the dept of conservation, who knows why. 10min before leaving, they ask for a 1500pesos surplus because we are foreigners. Surprise!! Now the view at the top is good! It really is. I recommend do to Mt Apo instead. It is well organised, not busy and better view (even though the view is great at Pulag). sorry for my...