“Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the
mountaineer.”
After months of not having a hike, we were choosing whether to climb Pico de Loro (before it eventually closes its trails for the meantime), or to climb one of the newest traipsing trails of Southern Sierra Madre. Obviously, taking into consideration the expected foot traffic, we opted to go for the latter and hike up the now famous Maysawa Circuit.
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| Welcome to Maysawa Circuit |
The appellation Mt. Sa Pari ("owned by the priest" when interpreted in English) was derived from the fact that the adjoining lands in the mountain was supposedly previously owned by a priest. On the other hand, Mt. Binutasan was christened as such since this is supposedly where a road going to the adjoining Brgy. Sto. Niño was made. In the vernacular, according to our guide (Ryan), "binutas ang bundok para gunmawa ng daan".
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| A faint Mt. Irid (left) and Mt. Tukduang Banoi (right) |
From LRT-2 Cubao Station, we traversed Aurora Boulevard, and went on our usual route up to Masinag and Cogeo in Antipolo City via the Marifanta / MariLaQue Highway. Owing to the fact that we have previously hiked up Mt. Paliparan, we are now familiar where to register in Cuyambay. Hence, upon seeing a number of vehicles parked on the left side of the road (just before the junction going to Cuyambay Proper), we immediately recognized the place as the trailhead to Maysawa Circuit.
Nonetheless, as it is mandatory for hikers to first register and secure a guide at the Barangay Hall, we continued towards Brgy. Cuyambay Proper. (Hopefully, a satellite office / registration area will be established at the Maysawa JOP so that hikers will no longer be required to go to Cuyambay).
When we arrived, the Brgy. Hall is teeming with activity. As a considerable number of hikers have just registered and were busy preparing their gears (supposedly to climb Mt. Paliparan or Nagpatong Rock), groups of hikers continue to arrive. Obvious signs that Cuyambay has etched its own mark in the world of mountaineering / hiking. The local guide assigned to assist us during the climb is Ryan.
It was already a few ticks after 0700H when we left the trailhead / Maysawa Junction and started hiking. We hopped on the trail giddily, as we were enthusiastic to be back hiking. Hence, we politely declined the offer of riding the habal-habal. As we followed the dirt path, we snaked through the residential area and eventually passed by the makeshift basketball court. Then we reached the concrete part of the road, which according to Ryan, signifies that we are now nearing the rest house of a famous actor / actress. The end of the pavement ends at the habal-habal station, which incidentally is where patrons of the habal-habal are drop. Propitiously, the road / trail continued to dip, and to our amazement (as lady luck may have smiled to us), the sea of clouds were still prominent at that time.
Going forward, the trail continued to dip in elevation as the Ryan, pointed to us the peaks of Mt. Sa Pari and Mt. Binutasan. The rocky and descending trail is akin to that of Mt. Balagbag. Nonetheless, the different in Maysawa is that, one needs to go down before going up. Hence, going back to the JOP / Bulalo House would mean hiking on an ascending trail, instead of the usual sloping one.
After the Chapel, we reached the residential area where the village water source flows opposite a store. Nonetheless, we went on our way and took the foot path on the left upon reaching the fork (We would discover in the latter part of the hike that the foot path on the right would lead to the falls that is located on the other side of Mt. Binutasan.). From here, our laidback hike on the rocky road transformed to a more serious plod on a muddy and slippery trail.
As we arrived at the junction going to Mt. Sa Pari, we encountered another group of hikers who opted to just go straight to Mt. Binutasan. This is where we decided to take our first extended pause, since Ryan mentioned that the incessant assault to the Summit of Mt. Sa Pari will follow.
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| Left goes to Mt. Sa Pari...leading to the Mango tree in the picture below. Right leads to Mt. Binutasan |
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| The trail before the ascent to Mt. Sa Pari |
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| Mt. Sa Pari view deck |
After spending some time to catch our breaths, we finally arrived at the Summit of Mt. Sa Pari at 0820H. Marked by a recently installed flag, this likewise serves as camp site. Nonetheless, it is not the true summit of Mt. Sa Pari. The true summit is marked by the big tree a few meters from the spot. It was very noble for the locals to maintain the original set-up at the true Summit since trees would surely be cut should they decide to make a trail towards it.
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| Mt. Sa Pari Summit |
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| Sea of clouds all around Mt. Sa Pari |
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| Here come the clouds |
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| Sea of Cloids |
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| Sea of Clouds |
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| Sea of Clouds as seen from the view deck in Mt Sa Pari |
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| Cloudy |
After countless stories and ceaseless banter, we continued hiking and followed the foot path until we passed by a gate which according to Ryan is where buffaloes (supposedly a project of the government) used to roam. At 1000H, we arrived at the base of the final assault leading to the summit of Mt. Binutasan. Nevertheless, we did not pass on the opportunity to have a light snack and buy boiled egg, biscuits and suman from a jovial and ebullient couple (sorry forgot the names but their are surnamed Perez) then manning the makeshift store located at the base of the final ascent towards the summit.
We really enjoyed the stories that the couple shared to us, like how happy they are whenever they see hikers since they usually only had no company in this deep part of Maysawa. The old man even invited us to come back in the summer months to try his harvest from the different fruit-bearing trees that he planted and continued to nurture for the past 40 years.
A few minutes before 1000H, we bid farewell to the friendly couple and decided to make our final push for the Summit. We initially followed the fence that led to a footpath that directed us to a grassland. We then reached the ridge which according to Ryan also serves as a camp site. There is also a trail on the left leading North but Ryan discouraged us from going there since the peak (with a red flag) was supposed to be part of Brgy. Sto. Niño already. The clearing here can accommodate about 8 tents.
A few minutes from here is another clearing, with some tree cover. This is also a very good place for photo-ops, which we of course did. From here, the Summit is just a few more minutes of hiking away. At 1020H we finally reached the summit.
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| Tree located at the viewdeck in Mt. Binutasan |
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| Hello there! |
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| Mt. Binutasan Summit |
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| Mt. Binutasan |
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| The leftmost peak is the Summit of the hike starting from Laiban |
We started to descend towards Maysawa Falls at 1035H. Along the ridge in Mt. Binutasan, we encountered a fork where a sign is erected on the foot path to the right. According to Ryan, that was the old trail that they created but have been ordered closed by the owner of the private property that the trail passes through since there was an instance when indiscriminate hikers picked squash from the said farm, and then inconsiderately left the vegetables along the trail, thereby causing wastage.
Ryan mentioned that the farm owner was ok with the hikers picking squash from his farm. What the farmer supposedly detested is the fact that they just wasted the vegetables when they subsequently decided to leave it on the road (maybe because they realized that the squash is an additional load that would make it harder for them to climb back to the JOP.). Of course, the vegetables were the fruits of the labor of the farmer, it is therefore expected for him to react that way.
Now back to hiking, taking the trail on the left, we arrived at the last peak (marked by another flag) of Mt. Binutasan. From there, we had to negotiate the very steep downslope reminiscent of that steep downhill in Mt. Parawagan. We had to carefully cling on to the cogon grass most of the time due to the slippery trail. The trail became more slippery as we began to hear the gushing waters of the Maysawa Falls. Good thing, the locals put bamboo hand rails that were effective in helping us keep our balance. At 1110H, we eventually arrived at the rest stop / camp site / store just before the Sapa / Falls and immediately bought buko juice from the locals.
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| After the very steep descent |
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| The rest stop / camp site before the falls |
Just below the rest stop is the Maysawa Falls. It was so inviting so we decided to take a dip in its cool and clear pool.
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| The trail leading to the falls...from the rest stop |
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| Maysawa Falls |
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| The water is so cold. |
From the falls, we followed the brook upstream until we reached the fenced property the locals refer to as "restawran" (maybe a restaurant but we did not go inside the property). Going straight, we finally reached the main road / foot path. A few minutes later, we arrived at the junction where the village water source is located (but now, we emerged from the trail on the right...the one that we did not took on our way to Sa Pari.).
While the usual hike back to the JOP would mean descending from higher altitude, what is peculiar to hiking the Maysawa Circuit is that while we are now done summitting the mountains, we still have our final ascent to conquer. From the village water source, there will be a constant ascent until the JOP or even up to the habal-habal station only. As for us, we decided to take the tricycle back to the JOP which, as far as we have observed, were likewise opted by the all groups that followed us that day.
Traipsing Chronicles #038
009.025.016
Maysawa Circuit - Mt. Sa Pari Traverse to Mt. Binutasan + Maysawa Falls
Sitio Maysawa, Brgy. Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal
Jump off point: Sitio Maysawa junction along the Marifanta / MariLaQue Highway
(Note: Registration is required at the Brgy. Hall in Cuyambay)
Minor Climb: 4/10
Highlights: Sea of Clouds, panoramic views of Mt. Batolusong, Maynoba Circuit, Mt. Irid, Mt. Tukduang Banoi, Mt. Nangtud, and other peaks in the Sierra Madre including Quezon Province. Maysawa Falls
Actual Itinerary:
0500H - Departure from Cubao, Quezon City
0620H - Arrival at the Brgy. Hall Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal / Secure Guide / Registration
0635H - Drive to Trailhead / Sitio Maysawa
0645H - Arrival at the JOP / Sitio Maysawa
0700H - Commenced Hiking from the Bulalo-Lomi House
0715H - Arrival at the end of the concrete road / Habal-Habal Station
0730H - Arrival at Sitio Maysawa / Village Water Source
0740H - Arrival at the fork leading to Mt. Sa Pari (Took the trail on the left )
0815H - Arrival at the View Deck - Enjoy the view just below the Summit
0825H - Summit - Mt. Sa Pari / Photo-Ops
0840H - Proceed traverse to Mt. Binutasan
0845H - Arrival at the Buhoan
0900H - Arrival at the clearing
0905H - Start of another Buhoan (this is longer and forest is denser)
0925H - Back at the Binutasan Trail / Rest Stop - Long bench along the trail / road
0950H - Arrived at the Store / Snack Time / Start of the Assault to the Summit
1020H - Summit - Mt. Binutasan / Photo-Ops
1035H - Start Descent to Maysawa Falls / Sapa
1040H - Start Descending the very Steep Ridge
1110H - Arrival at the Rest Stop / Sapa / Maysawa Falls - Buko Break / Swimming
1150H - Departure from Maysawa Falls / Sapa to JOP
1205H - Arrival at the Fork "Binutasan Trail" / Village Water Source
1225H - Arrival at the Habal-Habal Station / Start of the concrete road / Ride tricycle to JOP
1235H - Arrival at the Trailhead / Bulalo House / Wash-up / Lunch
1350H - Departure from Maysawa Trailhead to Quezon City
1530H - Back at home / Q.C.
Getting There:
Private Transportation. From Cubao LRT2 Station, take Aurora Blvd. East Bound and continue straight to Marcos Highway. You will pass by Sta. Lucia Grand Mall, Masinag, and Cogeo. After Cogeo, you will enter the Upper Marikina Basin Protected Landscape and traverse zigzag roads.
You will pass by Boso-Boso, Palo Alto and Garden Cottages. Go past the Welcome Arch in Barangay San Andres / Batangasan or Batangas (road leads to the trailheads of Mt. Batolusong and Mt. Maynoba), which incidentally is on the left side of the highway.
Watch out for the welcome arch leading to Brgy. Cayabu on the right side of the road. This is located opposite the Pico del Pino. (This is a few hundred meter after Kilometer 53).
Once in Cuyambay, look for the Brgy. Hall (ask the friendly locals, usually guides are already waiting for would-be registrants / climbers along the main road). From the main road, turn right towards the Brgy. Hall and pay the Registration Fees. This is also where you will secure your guides.
From the Brgy. Hall, you will have to go back to the Marifanta / Marilaque Highway. Once in the junction (fronting Pico del Pino), turn left on the highway towards Batangasan / Cogeo. A few hundred meters from here, watch out for the Maysawa Junction (dirt road leading to Sitio Maysawa). This is the trailhead leading to the Maysawa Circuit. Some 120 meters from the Highway is the Bulalo / Lomi House. This is where you may park your vehicle.
Early morning travel from Cubao to Brgy. Cuyambay (Brgy. Hall) is 1 hour 30 minutes more or less. Traveltime from Brgy. Cuyambay to Cubao via the same route (in the afternoon/early evening) is at least 1 hour 45 minutes.
From the Brgy. Hall in Cuyambay, travel time to the trailhead is less than 10 minutes.
Public Transportation. From Cubao, take a jeep or FX to Cogeo Gate 2 Antipolo. Once in Cogeo, take the jeepney going to Sampaloc/Tanay. Tell the driver to drop you off at the Cuyambay Welcome Arch (opposite Pico de Pino, about 1 hour travel time from Cogeo). Here, high a tricycle / habal-habal going to the Brgy. Hall in Cuyambay for the registration process (as indicated above).
Then hire the same habal-habal going to the Maysawa Circuit trailhead. (I am not sure how much the fare would be. Sorry I failed to ask our guide about this.)
Jeeps from Sampaloc/Tanay heading back to Cogeo Gate 2 usually pass by the Cuyambay Welcome Arch until 7pm (they leave Sampaloc at 6:30PM). Once in Cogeo, you can finally hail a ride (FX or jeepney) going to Cubao.
Sea of Clouds. As Maysawa Circuit is located on the eastern side of the MariLaQue Highway, there are chances of seeing a sea of clouds. For better chances of seeing the sea of clouds, hikers commonly start hiking as early as 0230H. Our guide also claimed that the sea of clouds is best observed in Mt. Binutasan.
Mountain Guides. As in the case of Mt. Paliparan and the Pinagpatong Rock Formation, it is mandatory for every group of hikers/climbers to secure the services of a mountain guide / local guide. The guide fee for a dayhike is P500.00. On the other hand, the guide fee for an overnight hike is P1250.00. (Take note that the guides may charge higher fees in the case of Multi-circuit Hikes....i.e. when you combine Mt. Paliparan or Pinagpatong Rock with the Maysawa Circuit.)
A guide is assigned for every 5 hikers / climbers.
According to Ryan, there are now more than 100 mountain guides in Cuyambay who are assigned on a rotational basis. Also, Ryan mentioned that it is a common occurrence for hikers to arrive in Cuyambay even in the wee hours of the night (like 11:00PM to 2:30AM). Hence, they made sure that guides are always stationed at the Brgy. Hall.
Registration. Each hiker/climber is required to pay the Registration Fee of P20.00 and Environmental Fee of P10.00
Climb Permit. There is a local regulation in Tanay requiring a permit for every climbing activity in their jurisdiction. However, as confirmed by Ryan (and we climbed without seeking the issuance of a permit from the Tourism Office), a permit is not required when climbing in Maysawa or in any other hiking area within Cuyambay.
Wash-up. Hikers may tidy-up at any of the houses / stores at the trailhead for P20.00.
Habal-Habal. From the JOP (Bulalo House), one can ride the habal-habal up to the end of the concrete road (and vice-versa) for P40.00. There should be at least 2 riders per habal-habal for a total of P80.00.
Tricycle. If taking the tricycle from the JOP to the end of the concrete road (habal-habal station) and vice versa, the fare would be P30.00 each. But since the tricycle is supposedly good for 4 persons, the total fare for the tricycle would be P120.00
Taking the habal-habal / tricycle will save you at least 15 minutes of hiking one-way (to and from the JOP).
Budget. For a DIY climb, the budget for a group of 2 hikers is about P500.00. For a group of five (5), the budget drops to about P350.00 (more or less).
Eateries. One store at the trailhead sells Bulalo, Lomi, Siomai, Adobo, among others. As of this writing, food is served on a per order basis (not your usual turo-turo style). As of this writing, Bulalo costs P70.00 per order while a bowl of steaming hot Lomi costs P30.00..
Water Source. There is a water source in Maysawa Proper (just opposite the store before the fork in the road). There is another water source at the foot of Mt. Binutasan (at the Sapa / Rest Stop). For the climb, prepare 2-3 liters of water depending on you hydration needs.
*Credits to Engr. for some of the pics.
#MaysawaCircuit #MtSaPari #MtBinutasan
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