mt. tagapo: itinerary

Talim Island, Laguna de Bay
Jump-off: Brgy. Janosa (Talim Island) Binangonan, Rizal
438+ MASL

How to get to Mt. Tagapo from Binangonan

There are regular public boat transportation that ply from Binangonan port to Talim Island. First trip starts at 6:30 am so be sure to be there by that time if you plan to be early at the summit.

To find the boat that ply to Talim Island just reach Binangonan and look for the Church, there’s a street across the church. Walk straight up to the port and right before you enter the port there’s a boat park to your right ask if it is bound for Brgy. Janosa, if so board it. Wait until it depart. Estimated time of travel is 1 hour. If you didn’t make it for the first trip, don’t worry there’s an approximately 1.5 hrs interval before the next trip.

The existing boat fare from Binangonan port to Brgy. Janosa is P35.00 pesos as of August 2014. You will know when you are at Brgy. Janosa because of the big name at their port, but if you’re in doubt just ask other passenger.  Once you are at Janosa look for the Registration area, here you will pay P20.00 and they will ask you if you need a guide. Getting a guide is a good thing especially if you wanted to help the people in Janosa. You may contact Archie at this number 0921-653-0089 if you wanted to have a guide, his father also guide other mountaineer if Archie is not around. I meet Archie while we are descending from our first climb so I took his number for this purpose.

Mt. Tagapo can be done without a guide as we have done it on our first climb. It’s easy all you need to do is follow this guide;

Upon registering make your way up to Sto. Domingo Parish Church, once you’re facing the church take the left side up to the cemented pathway going to the school. You will see a pathway beside the big Gmelina tree just beside the wall of the school, take that path and make your way up to the trail with lots of “Kawayang Tinik” beside the river. Take note that during summer months the river gets dried up.

After around 20 minutes to 30 minutes you fill face a fork with a big mango tree to your left, (left picture) take that path straight to the big Sampaloc tree. That Sampaloc tree is very noticeable once you cross the small stream (during rainy season as seen in the picture above). You need to take note of the Sampaloc tree because from there you will need to note the next fork where most mountaineer gets lost. Around 50 meters from the Sampaloc tree you need to take left under the thorny branches of “Kawayang Tinik” going up to the next Mango tree.  Once you find this way you will not get lost going up to the basecamp and summit.

Day hike Itinerary for Mt. Tagapo

0430 Departure from Manila
0530 Arrival Binangonan
0600 Breakfast
0630 ETD Binangonan Port to Brgy. Janosa Talim Island
0730 Arrival Brgy. Janosa
0740 Register/ Fetch guide if needed
0800 Start trek
1030 Summit
1130 Start Descent
1330 Back at Brgy. Janosa
1340 Lunch/ Freshen up
1430 ETD Janosa to Binangonan port
1530 ETA Binangonan port
1640 Manila

Special Note:

If you want to have a good lunch in Brgy. Janosa you may opt to ask Archie if you wanted to have “Adobong Pato” just be sure to work on the budget. Ask him first. His mother cooks a good adobo but be sure to tell him to cook it immediately so the meat will be soft. :D If you don’t want adobo you can find Carenderia’s in Janosa just ask for it.

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Kudos to all who joined this trip. Much appreciated! Until the next Lakwatsa.