Dahan-dahan lang sa Daraitan
The last time I went hiking was way back in high school and it wasn't really much of challenge back then. How could that be challenging when you have climbed the same mountain a dozen times ever since you were busy playing girl scout when you were in grade school? Now, imagine me, someone who spends her free time in bed, either sleeping or watching movies, climbing a mountain that's 700 meter above sea level with an 80 degree angle of inclination. That's what I call an insane hiking adventure! Or should I say, rock climbing.
Mt. Daraitan is no secret gem. It has generated quite an attention with it's breath taking view, difficulty of hike and the oh-so-tempting Tinipak River that awaits you after the climb. This gem is located at Tanay, Rizal and the barangay officials have ensured that this wonder of nature is kept clean and well-preserved.
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| A wooden bridge on the way to Mt. Daraitan. |
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| Before the hike. |
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| Meet our guide, Kuya Eduardo. |
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| Our buwis buhay guide. |
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| Mt. Daraitan has 3 stations. You will find a cave in the 1st station. In the 2nd you get to see the beautiful view below while standing on a makeshift platform made of wood that can carry 10 persons. The third station is the Summit. |
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| Station 1. |
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| Station 2. I swear I had a heart attack just by standing there. I was so afraid that the platform we were standing on can't carry us. |
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| View from Station 2. |
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| Station 3: Oh the sweet taste of victory after hours of rock climbing. My feet almost gave up on me one-fourths of the way. hahaha |
See those rocks? I couldn't quite decipher whether I should be grateful or not to them. They made the the hike hard, in way. But if it weren't for them, I swear I would have skidded all the way down to the starting line.
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| Meet the Original AMI Kids plus Bea. :) |
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| The clouds were almost at my reach. |
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| I was cursing all the way to the summit but when I saw just how beautiful the view was, I was immediately in awe. |
We had a blast taking photos and admiring the scenery before eating lunch. After we had enjoyed the summit to our heart's content, we started our descent to the Tinipak River. The descent was easier compared to the climbing part, but not for the clumsy ones like me who tend to slide and lose balance.
When at last we reached our destination, we were greeted by this scenery.
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| Clean river and rock formations. |
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| The rock formations were amazing. The river was so clean and refreshing that I suddenly decided to take a bath even when I didn't bring extra clothes and a towel. |
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| Green scenery. Clean air and water. Cool wind. A sharp contrast from Metro Manila's tall buildings and traffic jams. |
Another fun part of the adventure was when we went inside a cave. I never been to one before so I was really excited. We took a bath there, with only the light from the flashlights illuminating us. The water was so cold. Sadly though, we weren't able to venture deeper into the cave.
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Sunset at Tinipak River.
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'Twas a day well spent. The place was a breath of fresh air, literally, and a good escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life in Makati. My whole body was aching even before we had reached the summit and I had body sores for a full week after the hike that I even decided to take a day off from work. I really couldn't imagine myself going up and down the underpass to work and the stairs to the LRT for fieldwork. haha. Well, it was definitely worth it and I'm hoping for more fun experiences like these with my new friends. :)
Photo Credits: Eden, Marnella, KC
For more information about Mt. Daraitan (with the time table and budget), visit
Pinoy Mountaineer or you can go browse articles online (there's plenty of them on the web already).
