Mount Labo

1,544 m (5,066 ft)

To complete the trek up and down Mount Labo it takes about 10 – 12 hours. Most trekkers do it in two days, camping at an old geothermal drilling site, now reclaimed by the jungle.

The terrain up Mount Labo consists of thick jungle forest, lots of ground cover, waterfalls, river crossings, flowers, and mossy trees.

The trail starts off on what was once a road built for a geothermal drilling site. However, nature has long since reclaimed it and now it is just a wide green foliage-covered path. You’ll go past some agricultural lands and then trees begin to line either side of the trail. It is relatively flat here, with a gradual incline.

Not long after, the trail narrows into what is hardly recognisable as a trail because the jungle encroaches on the trail so much. The slope starts to get steeper from this section onwards. 

You’ll cross three rivers before reaching the campsite. The first is actually a spillway, which you will come across soon after entering the jungle from the wider beginning section. After the spillway, the trail gets even narrower and the jungle more dense, if that is possible. Then you’ll come to the second river. Here the trail widens again and becomes easier to follow. You’ll walk over some shale-like rock in the riverbed. This river does not have a strong current.

Beyond the second river, you may encounter blood leeches and obstructions like tree trunks or rocks blocking the path. 

Eventually, you’ll reach the campsite, which is actually just a damp, semi-cramped flattish area. You can take a half-an-hour detour to Angelina Falls from here. This is where you’ll spend the night if you’re doing the trek in two days.

Beyond the campsite, the trail gets very steep. This is the summit stretch. As you approach the summit you’ll see more moss-covered trees. 

At the summit, you can see the surrounding mountains like Mount Mayon, Mount Banahaw, and Mount Isarog.

The weather in this region is mostly wet and oppressively muggy all year.

From January to mid-March is a good period to visit Mount Labo for clear skies, comfortable temperatures and lower humidity. However, if you’d like to see the rafflesias in bloom, you should go in June or July. In this period it will be hot, muggy and overcast.

The temperature is consistently hot all year with daily average highs ranging from 27°C – 29°C (81°F – 89°F) and daily average lows ranging from 24°C – 25°C (75°F – 78°F). The coolest month is January.

While it rains consistently throughout the year, there are a few months when there is slightly less rain; From February to May there is an average of 7.1 to 11 days of rain each month. The rest of the year has an average of 13.8 – 22.4 rainy days per month. The rainiest month is December with an average of 22.4 rainy days.

If you do the trek in two days you’ll need camping gear. 

Leech socks would be helpful as there are some blood leeches on certain sections of the trail, as well as insect repellent, and quality hiking boots.

There are no manmade facilities, however there is a place where you can camp about 9 km (5.6 mi) from the trailhead. You will find spots that have drinking water along the trail. The last one is about 500 m (1,640 ft) before the camping spot.

A guide is definitely needed for this trek as there are places where the trail is indistinguishable from the surrounding jungle. A porter is optional, though not necessary if you are able to carry your own gear. 

You will need to sign in to the logbook at Barangay, San Isidro.

Mount Labo is located in three provinces of the Philippines: Camarines Norte,  Camarines Sur, and Quezon, on Luzon Island. 

The starting point is in Sitio Butan, Brgy. San Isidro, San Lorenzo Ruiz. To get there you can buy a private bus ticket from Cubao or Pasay, (which are both near Metro Manila) to Daet. From Daet you can rent or catch a jeepney/minibus to the starting point.

You could also fly to an airport closer to Labo, from Manila and then rent a car or jeepney for the remainder of the way.

The jungle does pose a natural threat, as it is filled with animals and plants that can harm humans. Be prepared for insects that bite as well as blood leeches, and be sure to take the precautions necessary and go with a guide.