Leave No Trace | Mt. Daraitan (739+), Tanay, Rizal
Mt. Daraitan in Tanay, Rizal is an exciting hike that is even good for beginners. Moreover, this is just a stone’s throw away from Manila that is ideal for a quick getaway!
Mt. Daraitan (738+)
Tanay, Rizal and General Nakar, Quezon
Major jumpoff: Brgy. Daraitan (village centre), Tanay
Minor jumpoff: Sitio Cablao Brgy. Pagsangahan, General Nakar
LLA: 14°36′48.5′′N 121°26′19.5′′ E, 739 MASL (+600)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2.5-4 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 1-3
Features: Tropical Forest, limestone formations, river trek
(www.pinoymountaineer.com)
This mountain is located at the heart of the relatively unexplored Sierra Madre Mountain range in between Tanay, Rizal, and General Nakar, Quezon.
Mt. Daraitan has a difficulty of 4/9 and a moderately steep climb that is enough to keep your heart pumping. After two hours of travel from Manila and another two hours into the rough roads of Tanay, a quaint municipality will welcome you.
Nature’s Rendezvous
Ancestors from ages ago called this Daraitan, which when translated to the local tongue means “kitaan/ tagpuan” or rendezvous point. Thus, indigenous people who inhabited this part of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range often used this as their meet-up point for different purposes which we don’t know.
The trail is relatively covered by the dense foliage of floras and will keep you from the heat of the sun and thus a cool hike up.
After an hour and a half, finally summit! Limestone viewpoints are one of the attractions of Daraitan. Moreover, you will be rewarded with a view of the meandering Tinipak River snaking around several hills.
Do not be deceived by trees around these limestone formations, one wrong move and you’ll be plummeting straight down.
From Cataclysm to Life
And after the summit, the group head straight down to Tinipak River, the traverse took two hours to reach the river. Tinipak means crumbled, fragmented, etc.
It might have been due to an earthquake that led into a rockslide, the cataclysm then brought this white limestone from the cliffs into the river.
This is the cleanest inland body of water in the region. Also, caving and camping are the activities that can be done here aside from swimming around the lunaresque river.
Itinerary & Expenses
Mt. Daraitan Traverse to Tinipak River
Dayhike
0430 – Take UV Express FX from EDSA-Shaw to Tanay, Rizal (75php/pax)
0645 – ETA Public Market Tanay, Rizal (150php/pax + 30php for bridge crossing)
0700 – Breakfast
0830 – ETA Barangay Hall, Brgy. Daraitan, Tanay. Register and secure guide (Registration Fee: 20php, Guide Fee: 600php/group)
0845 – Start trek up Mt. Daraitan
1130 – ETA summit then take pictures at viewpoints / Lunch
1300 – Descent to Tinipak River
1500 – ETA Tinipak River, swim, rest
1630 – Proceed to Brgy. Daraitan via riverside trail
1800 – ETD to Tanay, Rizal, take a jeep (100php/pax)
1900 – ETA Tanay, Rizal, take FX to Edsa (75php/pax)
2015 – ETA Manila
Estimated Budget:
Transportation: 415php/pax
Guides and Fees: 20php (Reg. Fee) + 120php/pax (guide fee)
Food: 250php
Total Damage: 805php – 1000php safe budget
How To Get There
- Mt. Daraitan is accessible via the Tanay, Rizal jump-off point, the mountain is located also in General Nakar, Quezon
- Ride a van or jeep from EDSA-Shaw Crossing to Tanay, Rizal. (Fare: 70-90 PHP, travel time: 1.5 hours)
- Take a jeep from Tanay going to Sampaloc. (Fare: 26 PHP, travel time: 45 minutes)
- Head to Barangay Daraitan via tricycle. (Fare: 100 PHP per person, travel time: 30 minutes)
- Go rafting the Daraitan river. (Fare: 10php, travel time: 1 minute)
- After crossing the river, ride a tricycle going to the barangay hall. (Fare: 10php per person, travel time: 5 minutes)
Updated May 20, 2015
