Bauko Seven Peaks | 2019 Travel Guide
In this travel guide, let us take you to the peaks of Bauko, Mountain Province.
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Bauko Seven Peaks
Bauko, Mountain Province
Major Jump-off: Brgy. Bila, Bauko
LLA: 16°59′N 120°52′E
Days requires / Hours to summit: 2 days / 8-10 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 5/9
Summits/Peaks: Mt. Polis – Mt. Tul-uwan – Mt. Kapowao – Mt. Nentingle – Mt. Mangasil – Mt. Bato – Mt. Am-o Peaks 1 and 2
Where is Bauko?
Bauko is a 4th class municipality in the province of Mountain Province. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Sagada; on the south by the municipalities of Hungduan, Ifugao and Buguias, Benguet; on the west by the municipality of Tadian and on the east by the municipality of Sabangan and Hungduan, Ifugao.
With its potential tourism destination getting quite the attention of the local mountaineering scene, Bauko is set be a prime tourism destination or one of the stop-overs before going to Sagada in the future.
The Seven Peaks of Bauko was recently opened by the local tourism office of Bauko that aims to help in the economic growth of the municipality. The mountain trails are made up of well-preserved forests that was once used by the Spanish colonizers to spread Christianity in this part of the Cordillera.
How To Get There
From Manila there are two options to reach Bauko, Mountain Province:
- Via Baguio City:
- Take any Baguio bound bus, such as Victory Liner, terminals are located in Cubao, Pasay and Caloocan, trips leave every hour but you can also book your trip via their website. (Fare is at 445php for Regular Aircon and 780php for First Class, travel time is 5-6hrs depending on road conditions)
- Upon arrival in Baguio City, flag a taxi and head for the slaughter house terminal which is located in Magsaysay Avenue, about 2-3kms from Utility St. where the Victory Liner terminal is located.
- From the slaughterhouse terminal, you can catch the first and only trip of the Rising Sun bus bound for Brgy. Bila in Bauko, bus leaves at around 07:00am to 07:45am. (Fare is at 145php, travel time is 5-6hrs)
- If you failed to catch the bus bound for Bila, there are UV Express Vans that are bound for Abatan, Mountain Province. First trip is at 05:00am and last trip is at 03:00pm. (Fare is at 180php, travel time is 3-4hrs).
- Upon arrival in Abatan, Mountain Province, look for the van terminal, and transfer to the vans bound for Bontoc, Mountain Province, tell the driver to drop you off at Pak-as. (Fare is at 30php, travel time is 20-30 mins)
- Upon arrival in Pak-as, look for the junction leading to Brgy. Bila and Otucan, and coordinate with your contacts for the mode of transportation going to the jump-off point.
- Via Bontoc, Mountain Province:
- Take any Bontoc bound buses in Manila, such as Coda Lines with their terminal in Cubao, Quezon City. Daily schedules:
- Buses bound for Bontoc is at 08:00pm, 09:00pm, 10:00pm, 10:30pm. (685php for Semi-Deluxe, 935php for Deluxe, travel time is 10-11hrs)
- Buses bound for Sagada that will pass by Bontoc is at 08:00pm, 09:00pm, 10:00pm, 10:30pm. (685php for Semi-Deluxe, 935php for Deluxe, travel time is 10-11hrs)
- Checkout their daily trip schedules HERE.
- Online Bus Booking HERE.
- Alternately, there are also Banaue bound buses served by Ohayami Trans with their terminal in Sampaloc, Manila (Buses depart at 09:00 and 10:00pm daily). Take any Banaue bound bus (Fare is at 490php, 9hrs travel time) then transfer to mini buses or vans bound for Bontoc, Mountain Province at the Market Terminal.
- Upon arrival in Bontoc, Mountain Province look for the GL Trans Terminal where commuter vans are located, this is just opposite the bus terminal, transfer to any Abatan bound vans and tell the driver to drop you off at Pak-as which is just near the junction to Brgy. Bila. First trip is at 06:00am and last trip is at 05:00pm. (Fare starts at 50php, travel time is 1-2hrs)
- Take any Bontoc bound buses in Manila, such as Coda Lines with their terminal in Cubao, Quezon City. Daily schedules:
- If via private transportation, I suggest the following routes:
- Going to Bauko:
- Take the NLEX-SCTEX-TPLEX route and exit at Pozzorubio, Pangasinan and follow the McArthur Highway Nortn Road until one reaches the Tagudin, Ilocos Sur junction. Follow the Tagudin-Cervantes-Sabangan Rd and Cervantes-Tadian Road to Tagudin-Cervantes-Sabangan Road in Bauko.
- Leaving Bauko:
- Since the road in Cervantes can be a bit tricky to navigate at night, I suggest to follow the Halsema Highway leading to Baguio City, then enter the TPLEX Pozzorubio Tollgate back to Manila.
- Going to Bauko:
Manila to Bauko via Cervantes-Tagudin
Getting Around Bauko
- Commuter Vans and Mini Buses are the main modes of transportation in getting in and out of Bauko, Mountain Province, there is a terminal in Bagnen Proper if leaving Bauko for Baguio City, Abatan, or Bontoc. Just ask the locals of the schedules as I have not asked for any info on the trips during my visit.
- One can also take the tourism road leading to Sagada (via Taccong) and the Bagnen-Abatan-Ilocos road.
Where to Stay
- There is a tourism accredited homestay in Bagnen Proper owned by the family of our guide, Paul Bill Mapangdol. Overnight rate is at 250php-350php.
Hike Tips
- Assault going to Mts. Amo first and second peak is really steep, prepare accordingly.
- Limatiks (Blood Sucking Leeches) are present along the Spanish Trail.
- There are only 3 water source from jump off to Bagnen Proper. 1st water source at jump off, 2nd WS 4km away from jump off 3rd WS 12km away from 2nd WS.
- One water source is at the Spanish Trail which is the Cotcot Aso Soil Jar, which is near Mt. Kapowao.
- There is signal reception for all networks even at the summit of Mt. Polis.
- Temperature at the summit may drop to very low levels during the night, prepare your provisions prior to the hike.
- There is no water source at the summit of Mt. Polis. Drinking water is only available at Bagnen Oriente, and you can politely ask the guides to get one if your ran out of water. Don’t forget to give additional tip for it.
- Fees and rates as of May 2018 is as follows:
- Guide Fee: 500php per day, 4 participants, 100php per additional head.
- Camping Fee: 100php/pax
- Brgy Registration Fees: Brgy Bila – 50php, Brgy. Bagnen Proper – 30php, Brgy. Bagnen Oriente (Mt. Polis Entrance) – 30php
- You can arrange for the guides and logistics by contacting Kalab Bilig Outdoors through their Facebook Page.
- Or drop our guides a message on Facebook for any inquiries for hiking trips or outreach programs: Jomar Buclay, Paul Bill Mapangdol
- Guides as of writing is very limited and should be arranged and booked weeks before target visit so your group could be accommodated.
- You can coordinate with the Bauko Municipal Tourism Office through their Facebook Page.
- Always practice LNT Principles.
Extend Your Trip
- Sagada, Mountain Province – Where do broken hearts go? Head further north to the once mystical community of Sagada, the “Mecca or the Cordillera” and experience their mountain peaks, rice terraces, waterfalls, caves and hanging coffins.
Travel Guide HERE. - Maligcong Rice Terraces – Hike through Mts. Kupapey and Fato and catch the warmth of the sunrise as it casts colors across the intricately carved rice terraces of Maligcong.
- Batad Rice Terraces – A few hours away lies the ancient engineering marvel of the Cordillera that is the Rice Terraces of Batad which is inscribed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also trek down to Tappiyah waterfall and soak on its ice cold waters.
(Travel Guide HERE) - Mt. Amuyao (2702+) – also known as Mt. Finaroy, is the mighty peak of Mountain Province that offers panoramic views and unearthly sea of clouds during early mornings.
- Mt. Kalawitan (2714+) – challenge yourself at one of the toughest climbs in the Mountain Province, the 10th highest in the country and spend the night at its chilly summit.
Itinerary and Expenses
(Our Actual Itinerary)
Bauko Seven Peaks, Reverse Circuit Overnight Hike
DAY 0
2300 Leave for Mountain Province
DAY 01
0840 Arrival at Bila, Bauko, prepare, secure guides
0900 Start Trek
1045 Mt. Tul-uwan
1130 Lunch
1200 Resume
1220 Madapdap Pass
1240 Brgy. Data
1400 Mt. Polis 1840MASL, set-up camp
2200 Lights off
DAY 02
0500 Wake up call, sea of clouds viewing
0600 Breakfast
0700 Descent
0730 Brgy. Bagnen Oriente
0750 Bagnen Homestay
0830 resume trek
0915 Mt. Kapowao 1860MASL
1000 Mt. Nentingle
1020 Mt. Kapowao Junction
1130 Mt. Mangasil
1200 Mt. Bato
1300 Pandey Rice Terraces
1400 Brgy. Bila, snacks
1530 Brgy. Otucan, Buclay Residence, Wash up, Evaluation
1700 Depart for Manila
2000 Dinner at Joruka Restaurant, Sinipsipan, Buguias, Benguet
DAY 03
0200 Arrival in Manila
(Ideal Itinerary)
Bauko Seven Peaks Circuit, Overnight Hike
c/o Taklad Mountaineering Club
DAY 01
0600 assembly at Barangay Bila
Register, briefing
0630 Start trek
“Inkadang” rice terraces
0640 Mageyad trail
Assault; water source halfway
0715 MT. AM-O base entrance
0820 MT. AM-O 1st Peak
0830 resume trek
Ridge, descent
0930 MT. AM-O 2nd peak
0945 resume trek, ETD to Spanish trail
Rolling
1000 Spanish trail
1110 MT. BATO peak
1140 MT. MANGASIL, Spanish trail’s highest point
1230 MT. KAPOWAO
Lunch
1330 resume trek, ETD to Mt. NENTINGLI
Assault
1415 MT. NENTINGLI peak
1430 ETD to BAGNEN PROPER
Back trail to Mt. Kapowao, descent
1500 Cotcot Aso soil jar
Water source
1515 Spanish trail entrance, Bagnen Proper
1530 BAGNEN PROPER
30 min free time
1600 ETD to Mt. Polis
1630 Mt. Polis base entrance
1730 MT. POLIS peak, Campsite
Set-up camp, free time
1900 dinner/socials
2200 lights out
DAY 02
0500 wake up call
Sunrise/sea of clouds viewing
0700 breakfast
0730 break camp
0800 ETD to Barangay Otucan via Tol-owan trail
Descent
0930 ETA Otucan
Wash up, tour evaluation
1030 ETD to Abatan Junction
1045 ETA Abatan
1100 END tour
TOTAL Expenses: 2300php, group event c/o Kalab Bilig Outdoors and Taklad Mountaineering Club
Big thanks to Ms. Rizza Daz and the team for organizing this event and also to Sir Mark Tramp, Jomar Buclay and Paul Bill Mapangdol. Make sure to follow Kalab Bilig Outdoors for their future events and outreach programs
Photo Gallery
Updated as of May 12, 2018
