new normal travel, Dito Kay Shellan

Pico De Loro is now Accepting Tourists; Find out the New Things you Need to know Before Climbing

Posted on April 30, 2023 by shellan

Finally! A climb after more than 3 years has happened. We have been planning to climb a long time even during pandemic, but due to various circumstances, we always end up rescheduling our hike. But not this year, the wait is way too long already. Hence, we booked a climb to Pico De Loro.

If you are planning to hike Pico De Loro too, here’s their website where you can schedule: https://mppmngnp.com/

There are many changes on the site, one of those is the entrance fee, that now costs P200 each. I remember around 2015, it was only P30 and tour guide was not required, not unlike now, it is mandatory. Well, perhaps now, all of the mountains open for hiking require tour guides.

It was my third time on Pico de Loro, but it kind of felt like the experience is something new. There are new spots and new trail at the site. Here are the photos:

Aside from that there are more restrictions than before. Overnight camping is still not permitted, as well as traversing. Monolith is now close and will never open again due to the evaluation made by the DENR; cracks were found which made it unsafe for climbing.

But although they offer less activity now, I admire the management’s determination to protect and put first the nature than the adventurers’ demand. It was also a best decision that they closed Pico de Loro for several years to regenerate and heal itself from the constant human footprints it gotten over the years. Now you will see on our video (video documentation of our adventure) that the forest has been regenerated, indeed.

Before the climb, you will be watching an 8-minute avp about Pico de Loro, here you will know that you are actually going to climb two mountains: Mt. Palay-Palay and Mataas na Gulod. Both declared as DENR’s protected areas. But since people know the site as Pico de Loro, let’s call it that way.

At the summit, you now have stairs to help you reach it. Unlike before, you will only rely on the bushes to help you with the grip ascending and descending.

I will leave behind some information regarding the modified Pico de Loro for you to get insights on your own and first hand ask the employees or the tour guide assigned to you. But just in case, you are so eager to know now, okay, then ask away below the comment section.

Meanwhile, here are the beautiful photos at the top:

I know you are looking for the budget breakdown:
Entrance/Eco Fee – 200!pax
Parking fee – 30
Tour Guide Fee – 500/maximum of 5 pax

If you are planning to commute, well, be thankful, because it is easier now. Just hop on a bus going to Nasugbo, Batangas via Kaybiang tunnel. The earliest leaves around 5AM at PITXT.

Enjoy and be a responsible hiker! God bless.

2022 Update on some of Cavite’s Nature Get-Away

Posted on August 2, 2022 by shellan

We’ve been longing for a climb for quite too long now, hence we suddenly decided to check mountains to climb on. We didn’t actually plan to check on them, it just so happen that one mountain was closed for climbing and the other too. Not only that, as if the heaven forbids us to wind up with the nature and also a park which happened to be our last resort as day-off destination was also closed that day.

If you are wondering which mountains and park I am talking about let me list them one by one together with their 2022 update.

1. The first one is Mt. Buntis, located in Maragondon, it should be an easy climb as of what I have read about it, but the only activity they offer is camping on the campsite, which is also open for an overnight stay, and RTV.

Budget wise: They offer a nipa hut cottage room for P1,500 including the entrance fee. Or you can opt to bring your own tent and just pay P150 per head and P350 each if overnight.

Activity: They offer RTV activity that ranges from P1000 to P3000 depending on the trail you will choose. According to the caretaker, since it is heavily raining, climbing Mt. Buntis is not allowed and we should wait for the weather to be sunny at least 3 days. So we told them, that we’ll be back when hiking is allowed because that is the activity we are looking for.

2. We then headed to Pico De Loro (Mt. Palay-palay) without knowing if it’s finally operating. It was close during Pandemic and still is not operating since then. But perhaps we need to see it for ourselves if it’s now open or not, we headed on. And since it is on this list, yes, Pico De Loro, which is also in Maragondon, is still close.

Update: According to the staff we have inquired, it will be operating soon this year we only need to wait for an update on their fb page. I’ve climbed it twice already but it’s no big deal to climb it for the third time. I’m sure they changed some trail.

3. Buhay Forest in Magallanes is the park I am talking about which also happened to be closed that day. Which is why I have no idea how much should be the budget because we haven’t spoken to anyone except to the other couple who mistakenly thought, like us, that it is open today.

Update: They are close every Monday and Tuesday to give way for their disinfection.

View: Anyway, since some part is open for the public even if they are closed, I got the chance to take photos with the view…

I’m sorry I forgot to get contact details to make it easier for you to inquire. But I’ve put all the important details here which could help you in your plan and itinerary, if you choose to go on one of these.

All in all, although we weren’t able to fully enjoy the nature, we were still satisfied by the road trips and we still spent quality time together so yes, the day off was still awesome.

Thank you and God bless on your trip!

Meanwhile, here are the photos we’ve taken along the way (and you may click this link https://youtu.be/NKTAMVY9hzo for our video documentation):

Tagaytay Picnic Grove is Now Open for Tourist of All Ages

Posted on November 20, 2021 by shellan

The world is slowly going back to normal after the widespread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 or CoVid 19 as we know it. Now, I don’t think it will ever be the same normal as it was before and I believe we would adapt more of the new system brought to us by the new normal but one thing is for sure, tourism is one that would definitely be back to normal — the very reason why we have this blog now.

We went to Tagaytay Picnic Grove days ago to check how tourism is going there because we heard that it is now operating. The good thing is, although many people crave to go out after being restricted, the place wasn’t that crowded. Or maybe because we went there on a weekday; we cannot tell the magnitude of people at the place on weekends.

To visualize what I’m talking about, visit this link: https://youtu.be/m9DVukjNRk8

We weren’t ask for a vaccination card but yeah, face mask is a must. Well that’s quite impressive because most of the establishments requires fully vaccination card in order to get their full service and that’s a blatant discrimination, which, should be a big NO.

I don’t know how much the entrance was before the pandemic but now it cost P50 / head. Additional fee applies depending on your type of vehicle.

And still, the cinematic view of the whole Taal Lake and the volcano within is such an eye candy. The one that would make you praise God for such aesthetic creation — and my camera failed to capture what my eyes are exactly seeing. I think, you just have to go there to experience what I’m talking about.