Mt. Napulak (1,239+), Iloilo | A Journey to the Nipple Peak

June 20, 2020July 25, 2021 Rex Lim Lim BLOG, hike, igbaras, iloilo, ITINERARY, MOUNTAIN, mountains, napulak, TRANSIT PINAS, TRAVEL GUIDE

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MT. NAPULAK (1,239+)
Igbaras, Iloilo
Entry Point: Brgy. Bagay, Igbaras
Exit Point: Brgy. Tigbanaba, Igbaras
LLA: E, 1239MASL (+1030)
Days required/ Hours to summit: 1-2 days/ 4-6 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty: 4/9, Trail Class: 1-5
Features: Tropical rainforest, scenic views of Igbaras, rock formations

*This is an account of our second attempt in hiking Mt. Napulak in a day last September 2018. This entry contains details of the hike, sample budget, itinerary and travel guide.

After a failed attempt last year due to inclement weather, we have finally reached the summit of Mt. Napulak this time around!

The Search for the Elusive Rafflesia Speciosa

Table of Contents

Upon arrival in Igbaras, we first registered at the municipal hall before chartering a habal-habal going to Brgy. Bagay. From the town proper, one can already see the top of Mt. Napulak due to the chunk of rock at the very top.

Mt. Napulak as seen from Igbaras town proper.

In the quaint and small barangay called Bagay, we were then received by our guide and left some of our things to lessen our loads. Without any further ado, a little briefing and prayers, we started the hike.

First part of the trail passes by several empty houses and farmlands. The gradual consistent ascent brought us over the edge of several rice paddies and local foot paths. A little over 20 minutes, we have finally arrived at the forest. We rested up for a bit since we already did a Mt. Igmatongtong (click HERE) hike in Laua-an, Antique yesterday.

The forest trek was a welcome change for the cool air and the thick canopies over our heads. During that part of the hike, we were on look-out for the Rafflesia. It is one of the world’s largest parasitic flowers, with the Speciosa endemic only to the island of Panay.

Too bad the blooming season’s already over, and all we found were either dried remains or still budding Rafflesias.

Onwards to the Nipple Peak!

Almost two hours passed before we arrived at the last watersource where we refilled our water bottles. This also serves as a resting area because of the small river with cool water running through.

Near the mountain’s shoulder, the tree cover was abruptly cut as we came out of the woods. Ensuing into a wide grassland, there’s the majestic and sheer mountain slopes of the Napulak range.

Along the way, almost sleepy and tired from the ascent, a “This Way to Mt. Napulak” sign hanging from a tree welcomed us! But from there, the grassy trail even became more steep with not much footholds or carved stairs to step on into. The loose soil added more difficulty to the final assault.

Thickets, ferns and shrubs are found as we neared the last ascent going to the summit of Mt. Napulak. It was steep enough that we had to rest quite a few times while marveling at the sight of the surrounding mountain peaks.

Ominous clouds threatened the afternoon skies. Strong gusts of cold winds sent out clouds rolling in all directions. We managed to get at the top of the hill but the Nipple Peak was nowhere to be found.

We soldiered on although our jaws chattered loosely from the chilly afternoon. I was about to getting a little bit frustrated. But as we crested around the hill, a ragged limestone rock with a giant steel cross on top appeared.

It is called the “Nipple Rock” ‘cause it really looks like one from afar.

To get to the top, one must carefully ascend a bamboo ladder. The rocks were razor sharp with several gaping holes around. Sheer cliffs at all sides are present that falling down’s likely to be fatal.

The steel cross kept on wobbling with every blow from the wind. I was trembling as I went to climb the apex to appreciate the views from down below.

We spent the next hour in silence and admired the beautiful views before us. It was like a pat on the back for a job well done, as if the mountain finally allowed us to scale her after proving ourselves worthy the second time around.

The ascent down to Brgy. Bagay took around two hours then we had a short sidetrip to Limbaong Falls.

How to Get There

Napulak is located in the town of Igbaras, Iloilo (39 kilometers from Molo Terminal).
Jump-off point is in Brgy. Bagay in Igbaras (16 kilometers from Igbaras Town Proper via Igcabugao-Igtuble Road).
The nearest airport hub is the Iloilo International Airport (52 kilometers away from Igbaras).

Cebu Pacific flies to Iloilo City at the following schedules:
- MNL – ILO – flies 9x daily (0455/0750/1130/1615/1845/2105/2220) travel time is 1hr 25mins
  - I tried to mock book a month in advance and cheapest regular roundtrip promo fare costs around 2,068php
- CRK – ILO – flies 1x daily (1830) 1hr 30mins
  - I tried to mock book a month in advance and cheapest regular roundtrip fare costs around 1,841php
- DVO – ILO – flies 1x daily (1515) 1hr 15mins
  - I tried to mock book a month in advance and cheapest regular roundtrip fare costs around 2,531php
- CEB – ILO – flies 3x daily (0440/1200/2105) 55mins
  - I tried to mock book a month in advance and cheapest regular roundtrip fare costs around 1,989php
- CGY – ILO – flies every Mon/ Wed/ Fri (0925) 1hr
  - I tried to mock book a month in advance and cheapest regular roundtrip fare costs around 2,531php

- If you’re a group, take a taxi directly to Super Terminal or Mohon Terminal. (400-500php)
- From Iloilo Airport, ride a shuttle going to SM Iloilo. (50php)
- From SM Iloilo, transfer to jeeps going to Mandurriao. Alight at the overpass in Gen. Luna St. near UP VIsayas (9php)
- Then transfer to another jeep going to Mohon. (12php)
- At Mohon Southern Jeepney and Bus Terminal, ride the Igbaras bound jeepneys. (50php)

- Alternatively, you can catch the Igbaras bound jeeps in Iloilo Super Terminal or called by locals as “Super”
- From Igbaras Town Proper, register at the Municipal Hall. (25php)
- Transfer to a habal-habal to Brgy. Bagay (100php/way)
- Guide fee is 700php/day for a group of 5pax
- You can coordinate with Roel Esteta (0905 7413735, click HERE for his FB Acct) or JM Esquilarga at (0945 4755195, cick HERE for his FB Acct)

Itinerary and Expenses

Mt. Napulak (1,239+) Day Hike

0600 Jeep to Igbaras from Mohon Terminal (50php)
0730 Arrival at Igbaras, register at the Municipal Hall, Breakfast, buy packed lunch (25php)
0830 Charter a Habal-habal to Brgy. Bagay (100php)
0900 Arrival at Brgy. Bagay, register, secure guide (700php/5pax)
0930 Start trek
1030 First water source
1115 Last water source
1230 Mt. Napulak summit, lunch
1300 Explore Pinnacle Rock
1445 Start Descent
1615 Limbaong Falls
1645 Brgy. Bagay, tidy-up
1700 charter habal-habal going back to Igbaras (100php)
1730 Take jeep back to Iloilo City (50php)
1900 back at Iloilo City

Estimated expenses each (for a group of 4 persons coming from Iloilo City): 500php excluding food and tips

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