DIY: Mt. Kalbaryo 608 masl + Daranak Falls Side Trip - Tanay, Rizal

At the summit of Mt. Kalbaryo 608 masl,Tanay, Rizal.

Jump off point: Bgy Madilay-dilay, Tanay, Rizal
Trail length: 10.07 km (Loop)
Difficulty: Minor 3/9
Trail Class: 1-3
Elevation: 608 MASL
Conditions: Assault but trail is very lush and mostly run along covered forest. Birds, insects, horses, can be heard and seen along the trail.
Watersource: None
Features: View of Tanay and General Nakar Mountain Ranges.
Limatiks: None
Campsites: None

Sample itinerary (close to how we did it)
Mt. Kalbaryo traverse to Dambuhalang Bato with Daranak Falls

5:30 AM Cogeo Gate 2
6:00 AM ETD Cogeo to Sampaloc
7:20 AM ETA Sampaloc. Ride tricycle to Brgy. Madilay-Dilay
7:50 AM ETA Madilay-dilay Brgy. Hall / Prepare for hike / Register / Acquire Guide
8:15 AM Start trek
8:45 AM River Crossing at Mamara River (the river is small and shallow)
10:15 AM Arrival at Mt. Kalbaryo Summit / Lunch / Photo Op
12:00 NN Start descent Traverse to Dambuhalang Bato
2:00 PM Back to Brgy. Madilay-dilay / Rest / Hire tricycle to Daranak Falls
2:15 PM ETD Daranak Falls
3:00 PM ETA Daranak Falls / Swim / Photo Op / Wash Up
5:15 PM Hire tricycle back to highway
5:45 PM ETA Highway / Ride Jeep to Antipolo Shopwise
6:45 PM ETA Antipolo Shopwise / Ride jeep to Cubao
8:15 PM ETA Cubao

How to get there
1. Ride a jeep from Cubao to Cogeo and ask to be dropped off at Gate 2
2. Ask around where the jeepney terminal to Sampaloc is
3. Ride the Sampaloc-bound jeep and get off at the terminal in Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal
4. Hire a tricycle to Madilay-dilay Brgy. Hall, register, and acquire a guide
5. After the climb, hire another tricycle to Daranak Falls

How to get out
1. From Daranak Falls, hire a tricycle back to highway
2. Ride a jeep to Antipolo/Crossing Ilalim. You can catch a jeep to Cubao in either places.

Tips and reminders:
1. Best to hike early to catch the sea of fog and to escape the heat.
2. Wear long sleeved tops, leggings or jogging pants, closed shoes, hats or caps, sunglasses, and sunblock.
3. Carry with you at least 1L of water and/or hydration supply.
4. Bring trail food. It will make you happy once the hike gets tough. ;)
5. Live by the LNT (Leave No Trace) principle.
6. Always carry a garbage bag and make sure to collect your garbage and bring them back with you for proper disposal.

Budget: Php530.00

Breakdown of expenses:
Jeep from Cogeo Gate 2 to Sampaloc: 65.00
Tricycle to Madilay-dilay: 250.00 - 50.00/person if 5 pax
Registration fee: 50.00
Guide fee: 500.00 - 100.00/person if 5 pax
Tricycle to Daranak Falls: 500.00 - 100.00/person if 5 pax
Entrance fee to Daranak Falls: 50.00
Tricycle to Tanay: 250.00 - 50.00/person if 5 pax
Jeep to Junction, Cainta: 45.00
Jeep to Cubao: 20.00

Since we started late for this climb, we missed the chance to see the sea of fog which is considered the highlight of this mountain. But despite that, this hike is still as unforgettable as the others I've experienced. Here are the reasons why:

First, as we board the jeep bound to Sampaloc, we asked the kundoktora to drop us off at Brgy. Madilay-dilay. She gave a puzzled look and asked: "saan 'yun?" We were exchanging smiles at this point.

She then called someone on her phone and asked where Madilay-dilay is. Minutes later, she was convinced that we should alight at the terminal in Brgy. Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal.

According to Google, travel time from Cogeo to Madilay-dilay is an hour and 10 minutes. With this knowledge, I set my mind at ease that we won't get lost. Arriving at Sampaloc, we were immediately greeted by tricycle drivers enumerating the famous tourist spots in the area. Daraitan and Daranak Falls are the two most famous. We told one tricycle driver of our destination and though he appeared to know the place, he still asked directions from his fellow driver. Drum roll.. could we really be lost?

Thirty minutes after the ride, we saw a road sign that says Madilay-dilay Elementary School and Madilay-dilay Brgy. Hall. Whew! We are in the right place.

Second. Upon reaching the Brgy. Hall, we saw that no one is about. Dun dun dun. Where do we register and where do we hire a guide?

Good thing though, our driver, Mang Danilo, chanced upon a resident and asked what should we do. The resident then responded that we should just go to the Brgy Captain's house. Mang Danilo then said that he'd take us there for free. Bless your soul.

Now at Kap's house, we finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. It was my first time having this kind of experience and it's fun! Haha!

A guide was assigned to us but were told to register after the climb as the record book is with the personnel who's currently not available. We shrugged it off and started the trek.

Third. Our guide, Kuya Joseph, told us that we were maybe the 6th or the 7th group to climb Mt. Kalbaryo since its opening last December 2016. Fun fact! :)

Not 10 minutes of walk and we are already greeted by this beauty.

Assault begins now!

This is just pretty.

Couldn't help imagining how deep the mud is when it rains.

Single pile. Forward, march!

The mini Mamara river crossing, 30 minutes after jump off.

Smile!

Florie and her ever ready smile for the camera. Angel, you alright there? XD

Grace and kuya Joseph in the lead.

Beautiful.

Fallen for the beauty of Tibig tree.

Nice pattern you got there!

Enchanting.

How steep is your love, is your love, how steep is your love~~

Make a wish!

Pahinga matapos malaman kung bakit tinawag na Kalbaryo ang bundok na 'to. Assault pa!

Rest stop. Koprahan.

This horse couple who's watching us with curiousity.

Don't mind that it's open. The last steps to the summit is just so pretty.

These insects just wouldn't leave Grace's bag.

View from the Mt. Kalbaryo summit

1, 2, 3 Jump!

Focal point: Krysia in the middle.

Volt in!

fyooooooooooo~~~~~~shon!

#SquadGoals

Traverse to Dambuhalang Bato.

Our guide said that the traverse would take another 2 hours. The trail is longer than the one we hiked but it's also more even. I actually think that it would be great had we taken this trail up then down the way we climbed. That could've saved us from a lot of assaults!

An hour into the hike down, rain came pouring steadily. Along with it is the mud. Our shoes weighed heavier and heavier with every step. Krysia and Grace, on the other hand, decided to walk bare feet as their sandals are now too slippery. Good thing though, they didn't acquire any injuries.

Our mud-decorated shoes.

Washing our shoes and sandals off of the thick and heavy mud with smiles so wide :)

And since it rained, our guide asked us if we still want to go to Dambuhalang Bato. The stones would be too slippery to walk on, he says. Because of that, we decided to skip the Dambuhalang Bato and aim for Daranak Falls instead. Safety First.

We passed through 10 hectares wide of rooster territory. It's always 4am in there.

This wise goat who knows where to take shelter from the rain. :)

Kasama ang guide na hindi nang-iwan. Kudos to you, kuya Joseph!

Fooling around in the tricycle to Daranak Falls.

Daranak Falls before 5pm.

Daranak Falls after 5pm.

Daranak Falls all to ourselves. 

Tricycle doesn't have a wind shield, so it's air continuous all the way.

Acknowledgements:

Huge thank you to Mang Danilo for asking around on our behalf, finding Kapitan's house for us, and not leaving unti he's sure that we are in safe hands.

Thank you to kuya Joseph the guide for:
1. Being so accommodating and joking around with us during the climb.
2. Making sure that no one gets left behind.
3. Being so considerate as to distancing himself from us during rest stops to smoke his cigarrette. I hope all cigarrette smokers are like you.

Thank you as well to kuya Aldrin, a caretaker/lifeguard in Daranak Falls for being an unexpected enthusiastic photographer and on and on directing us which pose to do next.

Thank you to Maget aka Grace, Krysia, Florie, and Angel for sharing a lot of firsts with me during this trip.

Until our next adventure. :)