Tanay, Province of Rizal
April 6, 2019
Another hiking destination easily accessible from Manila is in Tanay, Province of Rizal. It's a twin hill - Mt. Sapari and Mt. Binutasan collectively knows as Maysawa Circuit. Mt. Sapari or "Sa Pari" in the Filipino language means "The Priest" and "Binutasan" means "where they made a hole". Both hills, according to the DENR, have an elevation of 500+ MASL.
The site is approximately 55 kilometers from the City of Manila and a 2-hour private vehicle drive. Jump-off point is at Sitio Cuyambay. Registration is at the Brgy. Hall. Guides are also available at the registration area. Guides are required before proceeding to the trailhead.
Sea of clouds and unobstructed view of the Sierra Madre mountain range are few features of the Maysawa Circuit.
We left Double Dragon Plaza, our usual meet-up area, before 5:30 AM, took a taxi going to Araneta Center. From the Araneta Center public transportation terminal, we took a jeep bound to Cogeo Gate and then took another Jeep in Cogeo bound to Cuyambay in Tanay. Our total travel time from Araneta in Cubao to the junction road going to Sitio Cuyambay is almost two hours.
We alighted at the junction road to Sitio Cuyambay, took a tricycle and alighted at the Brgy. Hall to register and secure a guide. From the Brgy. Hall, we took a tricycle up to the jump-off point.
At 8:06 AM, we started trekking. The trail is well established and widened to allow 4x4 and pick-up vehicles. According to our guide, before the road widening, the trail was covered with trees and bamboos.
After few more minutes at the end of the road, we had a refreshment at a Kobo and stayed for a while to enjoy the peacefulness of the area.
We started ascending to the summit past 9 AM on an exposed trail very similar to the trail leading to the view deck and summit of Mt. Balagbag.
Along the trail, we had a view of the Sierra Madre mountain range and several surrounding peaks like Mt. Batolusong, Mt. Maynoba, Mts. Irid and Tukduang Banoi.
At 9:13 AM, we were at the exposed summit of Mt. Sapari which also serves as camping site for those staying overnight.
From Mt. Sapari, we proceeded to the neighboring peak and at 9:33 AM, we were at the same exposed summit of Mt. Binutasan.
As the sun heats up, we decided to start our decent at 10 AM and had our lunch at 12:03 PM at the jump-off point before departing back to Manila.
The Maysawa Circuit is a nice hiking destination near Manila. On summer, the best time to hike is either early in the morning with the chance of seeing the sea of clouds or late in the afternoon for the sunset to avoid being exposed to the intense heat of the sun along the exposed trail.
Hiking Maysawa Circuit on wet season is also a nice idea as the surroundings will be in full lush green.
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