LOCATION: Batangas Province
ELEVATION: 835 meters above sea level
LEVEL: Minor Climb, Level I, Easy
JUMP OFF POINTS: Cuenca, Batangas

Mt. Maculot or Maculod on some literary, is a famous destination for hikers. It has been featured in a number of magazines as well as TV commercials. The climb is actually not that easy but the climb is worth the effort due to the majestic views of the famous Taal Lake. The lake itself has a soothing effect on one’s nerves due to its calmness. The serene surroundings make it a complete getaway from the stressful environs of the city. Try to make it to the summit before nightfall to get a glimpse of the spectacular sunset. This mountain is visible from Tagaytay and as far as Mindoro. The mountain’s shape resembles an igloo, with a rounded summit and a shoulder resembling the entrance of the igloo.
View from the Rockies

The main destination or feature of this mountain is its shoulder campsite overlooking Taal Lake, Makiling and the Batangas towns. Near the shoulder is a place called "rockies" since it is a rocky hill/peak separated from the shoulder by a deep gorge. It’s a popular vantage-point for viewing the lake as well as a good place to have your picture taken. There was a metal marker before on one of the boulders in "rockies" commemorating the death of a girl climber on that very spot. She fell on the cliff and it took days before her body was recovered. The end other side of this "rockies" is a 500 meter vertical wall, all the way down to the lake. It is one of the most challenging walls for rock climbers here in the country entailing two days of rock climbing and setting-up a suspended mid-wall camp. Summit is an hour away from the shoulder but only few scales the summit since it has no viewpoints.

The mountain is currently under the jurisdiction and care of the Philippine Air Force particularly the nearby Fernando Airfield. There is a marker indicating it at the viewpoint facing the "rockies."

ITINERARY:

DAY 1

13:00 - Assembly at BLTB Bus station at Pasay City
13:30 - ETD for Cuenca Batangas
15:30 - ETA Cuenca Batangas/ Courtesy call at Police Dept.
16:00 - Packs on Back! Start of Trek
19:00 - ETA Camp site, Rest, Pitch Tent
20:00 - Dinner/ Socials
22:00 - Lights Out

DAY 2

05:30 - Wake up Call/ Prepare Breakfast
06:00 - Breakfast
06:30 - Summit Assault
08:30 - Back to camp site, rest
09:00 - Assault "Rockies"
10:00 - Break Camp, Packs on Back, Start Descent!
13:00 - ETA Cuenca Town proper
13:30 - Lunch/ ETD Manila
17:00 - ETA Manila