Mt. Maynuba Circuit: Cayabu-Maynuba-8 Wonder Falls (Climb Guide + Tips)

THE MT. MAYNUBA CIRCUIT

It’s been a month since my recent climb and my blood is looking for a physical activity and wanting to be with nature. I’m planning to organize one but most of my friends were not available. So, I’ve looked for a climbing event on Facebook. I’ve found one event organized by Climbing Feet, a climb at Mt. Maynuba in Tanay, Rizal.

The trip includes Mt. Maynuba, Mt. Cayabu, and a side trip to the 8 Wonder Falls near the area. It’s one of the newest mountain destinations in Tanay, Rizal. One feature that you can see there is the sea of clouds covering the valley surrounded by the mountain ranges.

GOING THERE

The meetup for the event is at Jollibee, Farmer’s at 1 AM in Cubao. It’s my first time joining a Facebook-organized event since I’m the one who always planned ours.  The place is full of people! It’s like Mecca for mountain enthusiasts.

We rode a van hired by the organizers. The route is the same as Mt. Batolusong. We started at Aurora Boulevard, then straight to Marcos Highway. The jump-off is at Barangay Cayabu in Tanay, Rizal.

THE ASCENT

We started our climb around 4 in the morning. It is still dark and the earth is wet. We readied our headlamps and hoped not to slip and fall. Our ascent comprises of an assault. Luckily, there were a lot of people ahead of us, so there were a lot of pauses. We can rest for a moment while climbing.

After an hour, our group stopped. We wondered why all of a sudden. We didn’t see the sign erected beside us. To our surprise, we were standing at Mt. Cayabu’s summit. Well, that was fast.

We didn’t stay there for too long since there were a lot of people behind us and we were chasing the sea of clouds and the sunrise. We descended around 5 A.M. At some parts, Cayabu’s trail is steep, rappelling is required and some stones roll so we were careful in each step.

MT. CAYABU

We reached the base of Cayabu when the sun was starting to rise. We hurried and started to climb again. The ascent was a challenge for me since I had no exercise or run in a week. Near the top, I suddenly paused to catch my breath and looked behind. There it is… the sea of clouds. In my mind, birds started chirping, the light of heaven shining above us, and heard angels singing. Well, I was overreacting, my friend just told me, “Jase, ang ganda!”. Seeing this, we quickened our pace to see a better view of the clouds.

MT. MAYNUBA

At the top, we just didn’t see the sea of clouds but also a good view of Mt. Cayabu. It is shaped like a Hershey’s Kisses chocolate. By the way, this is not yet the summit of Mt. Maynuba but serves as a campsite for overnighters. Our group was divided, others went straight to the summit and our group proceeded to the campsite on the right side of that mountain. The view there is much better. In front, we have a view of the sunrise, and behind us another sea of clouds. The scene up there is breathtaking!

Some days offer a better sea of clouds as it stretches wider compared to what we have seen.

After a lot of pictures, we proceeded to the summit. It was jam-packed! It is wide, so it can accommodate a lot of people. You will have a view of the sea of clouds and the Sierra Madre mountain range, but because of the people obstructing our view, we can’t take a good picture. Luckily, we went to the campsite first before going to the summit, which offered us a better chance of taking scenic photos.

THE DESCENT

Mt. Cayabu and Mt. Maynuba are done. Our next destination is the 8 Wonder Falls. We descended by going up again since we’re in a mountain range, our trail down is through another mountain. The trail proved to be a challenge because it was muddy.

The 8 waterfalls are connected to each other. So, as we visit each waterfall we are also descending the mountain. The falls vary from each other, some are smaller and some are bigger. There are a lot of people staying at each waterfall, we can’t stay and take a swim. Luckily, the last waterfall was empty. We stayed there and swam for some time. The water is not clear but it is very cold. After a tiring hike, taking a dip is all we need.

This is my third time climbing in Rizal and I can say that the province has potential. It has mountains that showcase views worth of our energy and time– a sea of clouds, mountain ranges, and waterfalls. According to our guide, the local government will open other mountains to the public. This is good as it will boost tourism and offer jobs to the locals living there. But, we must also always keep in mind that this will bring commercialization and when this happens this will surely bring destruction to our environment. It is not bad to climb but we should not be part of its destruction. Be a responsible human being. Always put in mind LNT – Leave No Trace. If we do this, we will surely keep the treasures of the world we live in.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR MORE MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB IN RIZAL, YOU CAN ALSO CHECK MY CLIMB GUIDES ABOUT  MT. BATOLUSONG, MT. BALAGBAG, MT. BINICAYAN, MT. KULIS, MT. DARAITAN AND ATBURAN ROCKIES.

CLIMB GUIDE & TIPS

ITINERARY:

LOCATION:

• Barangay Cayabu, Tanay, Rizal, Philippines

HOW TO GET THERE:

• Take FX from Cubao (Aurora Blvd.) going to Cogeo Gate 2. (Fare = ₱35.00/person, Travel time = 1 Hour and 30 Minutes )
• Ride jeep bound to Sampaloc. Drop off at Batangasan Junction. (Fare =  ₱42.00/person, Travel time = 1 Hour and 30 Minutes)
• Get a trike at Batangasan Junction and drop at Jump-off. (Fare =  ₱150.00, Travel time = 30 Minutes)

FEES:

• Guide Fee = ₱500.00
• Registration Fee (Traverse) = ₱40.00
• Registration Fee (Regular Hike) = ₱20.00

ACCOMMODATIONS:

• ACCOMMODATIONS IN TANAY, RIZAL

POWER PACK:

• Tent
• Sleeping Mat
• Hiking Clothes
• Insect Repellent
• Gloves (Optional)
• 2-3L of Water
• Trail Food
• Trekking Pole
• Trekking Shoes/Sandals

 CHECK OUT THESE DISCOUNTED/PROMO RATES IN KLOOK:

• Treasure Mountain Tour
• Loreland Farm Resort Staycation with Breakfast
• Kaulayaw Coffee

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NOTES:

• The first trip going to Sampaloc (Batangasan Junction) is around 5:00 A.M.
• Always take caution when climbing. The trail going to Mt. Cayabu, Mt. Maynuba, and the 8 waterfalls is rocky and can be slippery during the rainy season.
• Some part of the trail requires rappelling.
• Always practice the “Leave No Trace” principle. Let’s preserve the beauty of our mountains.

©CHASEJASE