Mountains in Philippines - Asia

A hiking favourite, Osmena Peak (Pico Osmeña) is the highest point on Cebu Island, Philippines. It is known for its unique landscape of small pointy hills dotted around the peak. Many have likened the formations to the Chocolate Hills of Bohol.

Mount Hibok-Hibok, also called Catarman Volcano, is located within the Pacific Ring of Fire on an Island called  Camiguin, Philippines. It has 3 craters. From 1948 to 1952 the volcano erupted from all three of them! 

This active volcano is one of the most difficult to conquer on the Island. 

Mount Ulap is a 5-7 hour bus ride north of Manila and only 40 minutes by car from Baguio. The hike is moderately difficult for beginners but is definitely worth it for the unimpeded views most of the way up.

Mount Kitanglad, a volcano found on the Island of Mindanao, is the fourth highest mountain in the Philippines. The mountain range is known for its forests, rich biodiversity, and many endemic and endangered species that find succour under its canopies. 

The mountain is also sacred to the indigenous people who live there. Legend has it that the name Mount Kitanglad came from the Visayan words ‘Kita’ which means ‘remained visible’ and ‘tanglad’ which means lemon grass. The story goes that there was a massive flood that covered the mountain and the surrounding ancestral lands, with only the very tip – the size of a lemon grass plant – remaining visible. 

A trip to the slopes of Kitanglad can prove to be a rich experience involving cultural insight, historical significance and natural beauty wrapped up in one.

Mount Makiling is an inactive volcano just a short bus ride from Manila. It is known for having well-preserved forest, despite being so close to the city. The Mount Makiling Forest Reserve is an ASEAN Heritage Park, containing a plethora of animal and plant species, like the endemic Rafflesia flower.

The mountain is the object of a legend of Philippine folklore involving Maria Makiling, a benevolent fairy who appears to travellers in need, in some renditions of the tale, or gets involved in a tragic romance in other renditions of it. Makiling is also considered to be a holy Mountain by many.

Mount Halcon, is a great hiking option in the Philippines for experienced mountaineers looking for a few days of obstacle-course-level adventuring with a spectacular payoff. The view at the summit has been called the most magnificent sea of clouds ever seen by those who have been to the peak, and the journey there is filled with ecological diversity and clear flowing waters. The peak can be found Southwest of Luzon, an island hop away from Batangas, Philippines, a popular tourist destination not very far from the country’s capital Manila.

Mount Malepunyo is a part of the Mount Malepunyo Mountain Range, about 2 hours away from Batangas, in Quezon, Luzon Island, Philippines.

It is also known as Mount Malipunyo, Malipunyo Range, Mount Malipuño and Mount Malarayat. The mountain was incorrectly dubbed Mount Malarayat by the 1990s after the country club near the foot of the mountain on the western side. The name stuck and many people still use this name today.

The mountain range has several peaks, including Mount Dalaga/Susung Dalaga or Manabu Peak, Balite Peak, Biak na Bundok Peak, Bagwis Peak and the 3 peaks of Mount Malepunyo. These are often hiked all at once in a 2-day trek. In this article, however, we focus on the summit peak of Mount Malepunyo’s 3 peaks.

Mount Malindang is situated within the Mount Malindang Range Natural Park protected area, in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. This summit has 4 peaks – the North and South Peaks, as well as Mount Ampiro and Mount Malindang. The trek up to the North Peak is most popular with tour groups. This trail goes via Lake Duminagat.

The park is rich in biodiversity and home to a local tribe, whom you may come across near the lake.

Mount Agad-Agad is a Filipino mountain, located just outside of Iligan City proper, one of the Philippines’ top 10 cities by area. It is a short and relatively easy hike, with a few challenges to keep it exciting. At an elevation of 490 m (1,608 ft) above sea level, the peak can be reached in 2-3 hours and the entire trek is easily done as a half-day hike, though there is the option to spend a night at the top if you desire.

Mount Isarog is a stratovolcano on the Philippine Island of Luzon. It is situated within Mount Isarog National Park, which is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna, as well as some beautiful waterfalls.  The hike to the peak is moderately difficult and takes about 5 hours one way with an overnight stop.

At 1,332 m above sea level, Mount Aminduen (also known as Mount Amandiwing and Alto Peak) is the highest peak in Eastern Visayas in the Philippines. This fact has earned it the nickname “Tower of the East” among Filipinos. It is a moderately challenging trek to the summit for those of average fitness but should be a piece of cake for the experienced hiker. The trek usually includes a stop at the majestic Lake Janagdan and an unforgettable view at the summit on a clear day.

Mount Kanlaon, located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the most active volcanos in the Philippines as well as the highest point in Central Visayas, a central administrative region in the Philippines. The volcano is rich with lush vegetation and a variety of biodiversity, and makes for a challenging climb.

Mount Arayat is a stratovolcano in the Philippines. It is said to be the legendary home of the Fairy Sinukuan, and is known as a place for pilgrims during the Holy Week season.

Mount Labo is the highest peak in the province of Camarines Norte, Luzon Island, Philippines. The mountain is covered with jungle and is home to a vast array of biodiversity, particularly, unusual bugs of interesting shapes and colours as well as threatened birds such as the little-known Brown-banded Rail. This region of montane forest and lowland has been deemed an IBA (Important Bird Area) by BirdLife International and also protects other species of threatened animals such as the Gray’s Monitor Lizard and the Sail-Fin Lizard, which are both endemic to the area.

Tarak Ridge or Tarak Peak, is frequently referred to as Mount Mariveles despite there being several other peaks that form part of Mount Mariveles. This is because Tarak Ridge is the only peak that has been explored to date. The dormant stratovolcano can be found in the province of Bataan, about 4 hours’ drive from Manila.

The trek up Tarak Ridge can either be a test of endurance if done in one day or a more explorative experience if done over two days. Often underestimated, the hike up to the ridge is not as easy as hardcore mountaineers might lead you to believe.

Mount Apo meaning ‘grandfather’ or ‘master’ in the local dialect is the highest mountain and volcano in the Philippines. It’s a great physical challenge for the fit and is definitely a crowd-pleaser, especially thanks to its almost perfect conical shape. It takes between 2 and 5 days to complete, depending on the trail you choose.

Depending on the trail you choose, Mount Pinatubo can be an easy and short trek that’s great for beginners or it can be longer and more intensive. Basic physical fitness and a small amount of preparation are enough for the easy and short routes. The longer routes require more preparation and physical fitness since they traverse more rugged terrain and require a few days to complete.

Mount San Cristobal is considered the Devil’s mountain in Filipino folklore. It is the alter-ego of the Holy Mountain, Mount Banahaw, meaning that if Banahaw is the power mountain with lots of positive energy, Cristobal is supposed to be the opposite – a mountain with negative energy.

One of the popular myths about the mountain is that a creature that the locals call the “Tumao” roams around its premises. Tumao is actually similar to “Bigfoot” of Western legends.

Pulag has been used as a burial place for thousands of years by the Ibaloi people of Benguet. Here they mummify their dead and place them in caverns within the mountain. The burial caves, are now one of the main attractions of this site and are considered Philippine national cultural treasures.

Mount Pulag is also famous for its “sea of clouds” and the view of the Milky Way Galaxy at dawn, attracting numerous tourists every year hoping to catch a glimpse of this sunrise scenery.

Mayon is the most picture perfect tropical volcano, and the pride of the Philippines

Mayon is an active stratovolcano and is renowned as the “perfect cone” because of its symmetric conical shape. The local folklore says it is named after a legendary heroine – Daragang Magayon – who committed suicide (in a very Romeo & Juliet plot twist) at the site where Mayon rose out of the ground.