Challenging the Stairways of Finaroy | Mt. Amuyao (2,702+)
Mt. Amuyao (2,702+) Barlig-Barlig
Mountain Province
Jump-off Points: Sitio Macalana, Barlig, Mountain Province; Batad, Ifugao
LLA: 17ﹾ10N, 120ﹾ57E, 2,702MASL
Days required/ Hours to summit: 2 days/ 5-7 hours
Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail Class: 3
(www.pinoymountaineer.com)
**This is an account of our experience in hiking Mt. Amuyao last October 2017. This entry contains details of the hike, sample budget and travel guide.
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Mt. Amuyao is located in the northeastern edge of Mountain Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region. Its capital is Bontoc, a town cradled inside the sheer mountains of the province.
Also called Mt. Finaroy, is the third highest mountain in Luzon after Mts. Pulag and Tabayoc. It ranks as the 10th highest in the Philippines. Straddled along the boundary of Ifugao and Mountain Province, there are two trails to choose from: The shorter but steeper Barlig Trail, and the one that passes through the coliseum like rice terraces in Batad, Ifugao (closed as of 2017 for rehabilitation).
Barlig
Arriving in Barlig at around 09:00 in the morning, we had our breakfasts and prepared our packed lunches. Registration, briefing and last minute preparations took about half an hour before we started the hike.
The starting elevation of Barlig itself is already around 1345 meters, so there’s still 1,350 meters to go!
Initial part was through the community going to Sitio Macalana, mostly inclined cemented pathways. Then at the end of the sitio, the rice fields will start wherein there are paths in between the stone walled rice terraces.
Then the Pine tree forest will start in less than 30 minutes. This forest will give way to even larger swathes of pine trees along a very established trail. The forest covers eventually changed to a mossy forest as the temperature starts to get cooler by the minute.
Signaling the start of the killer ascent is the waiting shed beside the dreaded wooden stairs. I felt exhausted just by looking at the lead pack slowly ascending the steep incline. We then followed suit ‘cause what choice do we have?
Unlimited Stairs
These stairways lead to two smaller yet connected mountain peaks, Mts. Alemmona (1800+) and Polis (2,000+). The trail is established and one can’t get lost if they just follow the electric posts leading all the way to the summit. We then had a quick lunch around 01:00pm.
We took a leisurely pace since we’re in pretty bad shape for hiking after a long hiatus. This unlimited flight of stairs stretches on for several kilometers until we reached the Barlig viewpoint around 04:00 in the afternoon.
From the Barlig viewpoint, one can already see the community of Barlig and the communication tower of GMA and ABS CBN at the very summit of Mt. Amuyao. There’s also a watersource nearby at Camp 1. From here, the trail is still manageable as it opens, yet again, to an even thicker mossy forest that leads to the so-called Amuyao knife-edge ridge.
Around an hour more of struggling with steep ascents, we finally reached the cloud covered summit of Mt. Amuyao at 2,702 meters!
We then set up our camps and prepared our meals outside the bunker. It was even colder than we expected, our socials were short but sweet and we called it a day by 10:00 in the evening.
Sunrise at Mt. Amuyao
Very early in the morning, everything came to a standstill, the winds abruptly stopped and the clouds vanished. The grand Milkyway galaxy is now in full swing across the pitch black sky. Our hands can no longer click our cameras as we battled the freezing cold.
The red beacon lights of the communication towers blinked consecutively under the blanket of stars. We went back inside our tents to wait for the sun to rise.
It was chilly that morning, yet clouds seem to shy away from forming the night before. It wasn’t long enough for the twilight to end as the sun slowly peeked through the horizon. The distant peaks slowly came to life as they were slowly touched by the faint golden light.
It was a dream to finally climb this stunning Cordillera mountain.
No sea of clouds for us that day, but a breathtaking panorama of the mountains around this prominent peak. Benguet is seen from west, while there’s Kalinga to the north, Ifugao to the south and Isabela to the east.
How to Get There
- Our Mt. Amuyao was an organized tour by the Montinero Outdoors.
- I’ve been to Bontoc, Mountain Province for several times via public transportation, so here’s my take on how to get to Barlig, Mountain Province from Manila:
- Manila via Bontoc:
- CODA Lines Cubao has the most comfortable buses with daily trips going to Sagada and Bontoc.
- Travel time is 11hrs. 871php (Express), 1,123php (VIP)
- Bus Schedules at CODA LINES Cubao Terminal:
- 08:00pm/ 09:00pm/ 10:00pm – Cubao to Bontoc, Cubao to Sagada
- 10:30pm – Cubao to Bontoc
- Bus Schedules at CODA LINES Bontoc/ Sagada Terminal
- 10:30am – Sagada to Cubao
- 11:30am – Bontoc to Cubao
- 02:00pm – Sagada to Cubao
- 03:00pm/ 04:00pm – Bontoc to Cubao / Sagada to Cubao
- 05:00pm – Bontoc to Cubao
- CODA LINES Address and Contact Details:
- Cubao, Q.C. – Monte de Piedad cor. Maryland St., Cubao, Quezon City (0927 5592197/ 0929 5213229
- Baguio City– Otek St., Burnham Park, Rizal Monument, Baguio City (0935 5359114/ 0998 4448831)
- Banaue, Ifugao – Poblacion Banaue near the Tourism Office (0936 9719240/ 0920 651 9672)
- Alight at Bontoc Town Proper, then hail a tricycle going to Bontoc Cathedral or the All Saints Cathedral. Monster Jeepneys travel to Barlig 2x a day at 1pm and 2pm. Be there early to get a nice seat or get a spot on top of the jeep. (Travel time 2hrs, fare: 85php)
- CODA Lines Cubao has the most comfortable buses with daily trips going to Sagada and Bontoc.
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- At Barlig Poblacion, make sure to register at the Municipal Tourism Office (Environmental Fee: 50php) and the Police Station (Barangay Fee:50php).
- Guide Fee is 1,500php/day for a Barlig day hike or 2,000php for overnight. Guide to Tourist Ratio is 1:5. Any person in excess of 5, will pay an additional of 100php.
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- You can contact Barlig’s Tourism Officer Ms. Jansen Focad (0926 4004717)
- Best time to climb Mt. Amuyao is during the months of December to February when sea of clouds is visible and shrubs of wildflowers among dwarf bamboos bloom.
Itinerary and Expenses
Mt. Amuyao via Barlig-Barlig
Day 0
2000 Meet-up Cubao, Quezon City
2200 Depart for Barlig, Mountain Province
Day 01
0700 Stop-over at Banaue Ifugao, Breakfast
0900 Arrival at Barlig, Mountain Province
0930 Register and secure guides
1000 Start trek
1300 Lunch along the trail
1340 Resume
1600 Barlig Viewpoint (2,400+)
1700 Arrival at Mt. Amuyao summit (2,702+), set-up camp
1730 Sunset viewing, prepare dinner
1830 Dinner, socials
2100 Lights Off
Day 02
0500 Sunrise viewing
0600 Prepare breakfast
0700 Breakfast, break camp
0800 Start descent
1030 Rest, snacks
1200 Arrival at jump-off
1300 Lunch, tidy-up
1430 Depart for Manila
Day 03
0230 Back in Manila
Total Expenses: 2,600php package tour c/o Rainer Santiago of Montinero Outdoors (click HERE for his FB Page and schedules of their hiking events)
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Updated June 11, 2020
Mt. Amuyao is just sooo dreamy! But it will suck all your energy first before you can witness its beauty.
Yes! But what awaits at the top, especially during sunrise is really worth it!