Mt. Isarog, Camarines Sur | Travel Guide
In this Mt. Isarog travel guide, et us take you to one of the exciting peaks in the province of Camarines Sur!
MT. ISAROG (VIA PANICUASON TRAIL)
Naga City, Camarines Sur
Major jump-off: Brgy. Panicuason, Naga City
LLA: 13°40′ N, 123°21′ E, 1966 MASL
Days requires / Hours to summit: 2 days / 8-10 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 3
(www.pinoymountaineer.com)
Where is Mt. Isarog
At the geographic center of the Camarines Sur, occupying the broad isthmus between Lagonoy Gulf and the Bay of San Miguel lies the last tropical rain forest of the Bicol Region – Mt. Isarog.
It borders five municipalities namely Goa, Tigaon, Ocampo, Pili, Naga City and Calabanga. Its jump-off point is the City of Naga, which is considered as the center of Bicolandia and is referred to as the Pilgrim City of the Philippines being home to the largest Marian pilgrimage in Asia, the Our Lady of Penafrancia.
How To Get There
- By Land:
- From Manila numerous bus companies in Cubao, Quezon City travel to and from Naga City daily. Night bus trips leave at 06:00-08:00pm daily and takes approximately 8-10hrs travel time. Toilets are usually available inside Bicol bound buses. (700-800php/pax)
- One can also choose to take the Legazpi, Albay bound buses then drop off at Naga since it will be one of the stop-overs of the trip.
- Upon arrival at Naga City, transfer to a tricycle and ask to be dropped off at the Jeepney Terminal located near Padian and P. Caceres Sts., landmark is the Oragon Statue and Public Market of downtown Naga, and ride the Panicuason bound jeepneys, 30php/pax. (Please make sure you have secured your permit to climb prior to taking the jeepney)
- From here there are two trips top choose from: Panicuason which takes longer to get full but takes you straight to the Girl Scouts of the Philippines HQ and the Carolina bound jeepney, that is still a few kilometers away from the GSP HQ but there are habal-habals that can take you directly to the Mt. Isarog National Park Gate.
- If you took the Panicuason bound jeeps, alight at the Girl Scouts of the Philippines Headquarters and transfer to a habal-habal that will take you to the Mt. Isarog National Park Main Gate. (50-100php/trip)
- By Air:
- Cebu Pacific and Philippine airlines fly to Naga Airport in Pili, Camarines Sur, travel time takes approximately 45minutes to an hour depending on weather conditions.
- Upon arrival in Pili, transfer to a bus or jeep bound for Naga, then to another tricycle that will take you to Padian and P. Caceres Sts. where the Panicuason bound jeep terminal is located.
- Please refer to the By Land section in this travel guide, for the directions to Mt. Isarog National Park.
Getting Around Naga City
- Tricycles and Jeepneys are available all around, while buses ply the major highways of the province.
Hike Tips
- Permit to climb is mandatory to all mountaineers who wishes to climb Mt. Isarog. One can secure a permit at the Tourism Office of Naga City. Alternately, permits can also be pre-arranged by the Kaddlagan Outdoor Shop and Naga X who organizes climbs and canyoning activities at Mt. Isarog
- Permit to climb can also be secured at the DENR station at the jump-off point but is not an encouraged practice, since delay in itinerary will be prevalent and inconsiderate to the tourism officers who will be arranging the permits and guides
- You can also contact Naga Excursions or simply Naga X or the Kaddlagan Outdoor Adventure Tours (FB Page, HERE) managed by Jojo Villareal, for a hassle free adventure.
- Outdoor gears can also be bought at Kaddlagan Outdoor Shop, link to their Facebook page, HERE.
- Contacts:
Guide: Kuya Jose (+639096844528)
Habal-Habal: Kuya Victor (+639151387475)
Kaddlagan Outdoor Shop (Naga): Jojo Villareal (+639198006299) - Arrange your return trip with the habal-habal driver so they can fetch you on your expected time of descent so you won’t walk further down the GSP HQ.
- Last trip of jeepneys bound back for Naga City is at 05:00pm so make sure to get down by 03:0-04:00pm to avoid any unnecessary delays.
- Limatik/Leeches are present in the trail most specially during the monsoon months
- We only encountered one (1) water source along the trail, that is Camp 4.
- Prepare necessary provisions prior to the climb, be responsible and practice LNT principles
- Please, always do your research, it’s better to be properly prepared than be surprised by some turn of the events. If you are reading this, high five!
Things to See in Naga City
- Naga Metropolitan Cathedral & Porta Mariae
- Plaza Quince Martires
- Peñafrancia Basilica Minore
- Our Lady of Peñafrancia Basilica Minore
- San Francisco Church
- Haciendas de Naga
Where to Stay
- Villa Caceres Hotel – Magsaysay St. Magsaysay, Naga City
- The Carmen Hotel – Peñafrancia Street, City Proper, Naga City
- Naga Land Hotel – Elias Angeles Street, City Proper, Naga City
Check out other Hotels in Naga via AGODA, Here.
Extend Your Trip
- Camarines Sur Watersports Complex
- Cagsawa Ruins – located in Legazpi, Albay
- Mercedes Group of Islands
- Calaguas Group of Islands
- Caramoan
- Mt. Asog – located in Iriga City, this lofty mountain will reward you with views of its knife-edge like horseshoe crater and Lake Buhi from afar.
- Mt. Labo – located in Camarines Norte
Itinerary and Expenses
Mt. Isarog Overnight Climb
Day 01
Mercedes Group of Islands, Camarines Norte
Day 02
0500 – Wake up, last stretch of island hopping
1300 – Arrival at Naga City, lunch, supply run
1400 – Take jeep to Brgy. Carolina (20php/pax), alternate route take jeep to Panicuason, alight at GSP, 15mins walk toMt. Isarog Natural Park
1415 – Brgy. Carolina, take habal-habal to Mt. Isarog Registration Gate (70php/pax)
1430 – Arrival at Mt. Isarog National Park, register (210php/pax), secure guide (550php/day/5pax)
1440 – Visit Malabsay Falls, return back to gate
1500 – Start trek
1630 – Camp 1
1730 – Camp 2
1830 – Camp 3, set up camp, dinner
2100 – Lights off
Day 3
0300 – Wake up, breakfast
0330 – Final assault to summit viewdeck
0400 – Camp 4
0530 – Camp 5, summit viewdeck
0750 – Descend back
0900 – Camp 3, camp out, snacks
1100 – Descend back to jumpoff point
1115 – Camp 2
1145 – Camp 1
1230 – Jumpoff point
1300 – Ride habal-habal to Peñafrancia Resort, tidy up (70php/pax – Habal, 100php/pax – Entrance Fee)
1400 – Take jeep back to Naga (20php)
1420 – Arrival at Naga City, lunch, explore downtown Naga, buy souvenirs
1700 – Take tricycle to LCC Naga Terminal (10php/pax)
1715 – Ride van bound for Daet, Camarines Norte (180php/pax) (we reserved tickets at Superlines Daet to secure bus trip, Cubao buses also available at Naga)
1900 – Daet, explore town proper, dinner
2145 – Ride bus back to Cubao (515php)
*Alternatively, you can extend this itinerary depending on your work schedule and availability
Ideal Itinerary (from Pinoymountaineer.com)
Day 0
0800 Take bus to Naga City
Day 1
0500 ETA CBD Bus Terminal, Naga City
0600 Breakfast at Naga City
0700 Take jeep to Brgy. Panicuason jump-off
0800 ETA jump-off, proceed to DENR forestry
0830 Registration / secure guides
0900 Start trek
1000 Visit Malabsay, Nabuntalan, and other waterfalls
1130 ETA Camp 1 / Lunch
1300 Resume trek
1700 ETA Campsite. Set up camp.
1800 Dinner / socials
Day 2
0400 Wake-up call / Breakfast
0600 Commence summit assault
0730 At summit, take pictures
0800 Back to Campsite
0900 Campsite, breakcamp, prepare lunch.etc.
1000 Start Descent
1200 Lunch at trail
0400 Back at jump-off / Tidy up
0500 Head back to Naga City
0600 At Naga City, take return bus to Manila or proceed to sidetrip.
Total Expenses: 2000-2500php safe budget for a group of 4 people
Updated as of February 10, 2018
