Mountains, Travel

Mt. Balagbag Hike DIY Travel Guide

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Rizal is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Philippines. Its location is best recourse for outdoor enthusiasts which is only 1.5 – 2 hours away from the city. Given the current boom of mountain climbing, Rizal is unquestionably a place worth discovering.

In Rodriguez, Rizal, Mt. Balagbag made rounds on the internet for its beautiful green hills and incredibly picturesque mountain ranges. In fact, some of the battle scenes in the movie “GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral”, the second installment of the 2015 blockbuster film “Heneral Luna” was taken in Mt. Balagbag. A proof that it is not only beautiful in social media platform, it can also outstand in big screens.

Mt. Balagbag is part of the Sierra Madre mountain range that offers a surreal view of cityscape Metro Manila. It has an elevation of approximately 777+ masl and covers the provinces of Rizal and Bulacan.

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Climb to Mt. Balagbag

It is recommended for beginners who love to explore nature. The trails are one of the easiest amongst the mountains of Rizal.  You can reach its summit after 1.5 – 2 hours trek from Licao-Licao. If you want the fastest way to get there, you can ride a trike from Licao-Licao to barangay registration site. Standard charge is Php30 per person. Then from barangay outpost, it will take an hour or so to reach the campsite of Mt. Balagbag.

Best to experience Mt. Balagbag for an overnight camping. This way you can witness the beautiful sunset from the scenic metropolis and sunrise behind the mountain heights. You can follow our sample itinerary starting from Cubao as point of origin.


The trail is so picturesque that every visitor will surely appreciate. Dramatic landscape, verdant hills and magnificent mountain ranges.

There is a moderate uphills with some challenging pathways toward the campsite but in general, the whole trek is manageable even for kids.


How To Get There

  • From Cubao, ride a bus bound to Tungko and drop off in Jolibee or BDO Tungko. Fare is Php55.
  • From Tungko, ride a jeep to Licao-Licao for Php27
  • From Licao-Licao, you can start your trek or ride a tricycle to bring you to Brgy. Registration site. Tricycle is Php30/person
  • If you have motorcycle, mountain bikes or car preferably pickup/4×4, you can drive directly near Balagbag campsite

Sample Expenses

Note that the expenses for food are not included here. What are listed mainly are the registration and transportation fees.

Tour guide is optional in Mt. Balagbag as per Brgy. OIC but they mentioned they will require it in the future.

These are the complete rates in Mt. Balagbag:

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22 Comments

  1. punta po sana ako dyan kasama yung mga kapatid ko mga 17 to 18 years old ok lang po ba? mag oovernight po kame?

    1. Hi Melvin,

      Mas ok sana kung may makakasama kayo na adult para may mag guide sa inyo. First time niyo po ba maghike?

  2. ahmmm’ ako po hinde pero yung mga siblings ko firstime po hehe ..
    legit poba talaga na maganda don? sa mt balagbag?

    1. Hi Melvin,

      For your safety, better na may kasama pa din kayong adult any mountain dapat may experienced na tao na mag-guide. Yes, maganda sa Mt. Balagbag pero iba iba naman ang taste ng hikers kung ano maganda para sa kanila. 😉

      1. Sir pwede mahingi contacts ng tour guide. Aakayat kc kami this March 7 na po. Thanks po sa makapagbigay

  3. HELLO MAM

    NAKA AKYAT NAPO NAMEN SI MT BALAGBAG. SULIT SUPER GANDA 🙂
    YUNG CLOUDS NAKAKA RELAX. PERO MEDYO NAKA DISAPPOINT LANG PO YUNG IBANG TAO NA NAKA TIRA DON LIKE NUNG MGA NASA PINAKA ITAAS NG BALAGBAG YUNG SA MAY TINDAHAN DON PAPUNTANG SUMMIT , PURO BATA KASAMA KO TAPOS LAHAT KAME SININGIL NYA NG 80 PER HEAD. EVEN WATER MAY BAYAD , 3 BRGY YUNG NADAAN NAMEN LAHAT HINARANG KAME AT SININGIL, HAYS. ANG GANDA NG KALIKASAN PERO YUNG MGA TAO DON PARANG DI MASYADO 🙁 PERO OVERL ALL NAMAN ANG GANDA TALAGA DON 🙂

    1. Hi Melvin,

      Yung Php80 po is for weekend rate na overnight fee and second registration po yun. Not sure dun sa tatlong brgy pero merong environmental fee na Php5, then first registration na Php10 then yung last is yung Php80 pag overnight, Php naman pag day hike lang.

  4. hello po. Thank you for sharing. We are planning to stay overnight sa Mt. Balagbag but i was told na delikado daw kasi maraming na hold up. I just want to confirm kong totoo po. Appreciate your reply po about my inquiry.

    Thank you.

    1. Hi Honey!

      Ok naman po yung overnight camp namin sa Balagbag at trek even without a guide. Yes before may nangyaring hold up po pero during our visit naman safe naman po siya. Madami din hiker kaya don’t worry. We suggest if mag-overnight kayo, start your trek ng hapon na lang at you may opt to get your tour guide. 🙂

  5. Hi, ask lang po if may idea kayo sa oras ng last trip ng jeep to Licao Licao. Thank you

    1. We’re not sure sa last trip ng jeep pero nung kami po around 7pm na din kami nun nakasakay. Mas ok po earlier para makapagstart kayo ng trek ng maliwanag pa.

  6. Hello, Question lang po if may for rent po ba na tent available dun? Then allowed po ba mag dala ng butane for overnight? or meron naman pong bilihan dun? Thank you.

    1. Hi Maureen,

      During our hike, wala kaming nakita na nagpaparent ng tent. Yes, pwede magdala ng butane gaya namin, we cooked our own food sa campsite. 🙂

      1. Hi Ken, tour guide is optional sa Mt. Balagbag. Fee is Php300 good for 5 pax. Not sure if nagbago na rate today.

    1. Hi Jen,

      Not sure sa specific name ng bus company, pero any na may signboard na Tungko. Sa Farmers po may dumadaan.

  10. Sir pwede mahingi contacts ng tour guide. Aakayat kc kami this March 7 na po. Thanks po sa makapagbigay

    1. Hi Bryan,

      Wala pong tour guide nung umakyat kami ng Mt. Balagbag. Not sure lang kung required na ngayon.