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Pico de loro
Major jump-off: Magnetic Hill, Ternate, Cavite
LLA: 14° 12.855 N; 120° 38.785 E; 664 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 4-5 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3

Pico de Loro offers a magnificent 360 view from the summit.  Located approximately 85 kilometers southwest of Manila by road, located within Cavite and Batangas rolling mountains, it is situated where the Caraballo Mountains are in the north, Nasugbu, Batangas in the south, Maragondon on the east and the South China Sea on the west.  Considered the highest mountain in the Cavite province, Pico de Loro is the highest point within the boundary of Cavite and Batangas.  The view from the summit is awesome, facing the sea on the north-eastern side of the Manila Bay area.  You can actually see ships passing by the Batangas and Bataan shore lines while the entire Batangas and Cavite on the south-eastern side will offer you a magnificent view of the south-eastern mountains like Batulao and Talamitam.

Centuries ago, the Spaniards aboard their galleons to Manila Bay noticed the form of a giant parrot, perched in the forested mountains in Cavite. They named it "Pico de Loro" - "Parrot's Peak" Today, mountaineers who visit Pico de Loro discover that it is as enchanting as its name. High on Cavite's highest point, they could behold the rocky tower that the Spanish sailors once saw as the parrot's beak, and they could gaze towards South China Sea where the galleons once sailed, all the way to the historic island fort of Corregidor. Gusts of sea breeze reach the peak, refreshing hikers after a four-hour climb. The peak's rocky outcropping is dramatic, and sharply contrasts with the plains of Cavite and the waters of South China Sea.

How to get there:

Take the bus bound (Saulog) for Maragondon or Ternate Cavite at the Lawton or Liwasang Bonifacio area.  When you've reached Maragondon Cavite, take or hire a jeep to the jump-off area.  There are two jump-off points for Pico de Loro.  The first jump-off point is a point along Ternate Hi-way going to Caylabne Bay Resort.  Passing by Puerto Azul entrance, the trail is marked by a DENR sign within the "magnet" area (hill was claimed to be magnetic, try putting your engine's vehicle in the neutral or it is turned off, the vehicle will climb up, similar to the magnetic hill of Laguna.  For the second jump-off site, you have to take a bus ride to Nasugbu from Manila (BLTB) and from there arrange transportation for Barangay Papaya

From the first jump-off or trailhead, there is a 30 minute walk and you will pass by a NIPA hut, you can replenish or refresh yourself, just ask the resident.  A 2-hour hike will take you to a base camp passing by open fields, farms and grazing lands.  The base camps are either open fields or the area at foot of Pico itself and, typically covered by trees.  A 45-minute hike to the summit is usually done without the packs.  Another alternative is to camp on the summit though it can accommodate only few tents and winds at the summit are usually strong which will continually pound your tents.  From base camp to the summit, the climb is very steep.  Usually, the trail going to Nasugbu is the one used in going down.  Follow the same trail straight to Barangay Papaya, Nasugbu Batangas.  It is accessible from Nasugbu town proper by pump boat or a long jeepney ride along the rough road to Nasugbu (this is basically the route of the second Jump-off point).

ITINERARIES

TERNATE-TERNATE
0400 Board Saulog bus at Lawton to Ternate (~P110)
0700 ETA Ternate town proper; buy supplies, rent jeepney to Magnetic Hill
0745 ETA DENR / jump-off point. Pay P10.00 registration
0800 Start trek. Note that jump-off point is 10 minutes' walk away from DENR.
0845 ETA rest station, Basecamp 1 (they would also ask for P10.00 registration)
1130 ETA summit. lunch.
1230 start descent to Magnetic Hill
1530 ETA jump-off point.
1600 Back at DENR; take jeepney to Ternate then take bus back to Manila.
1900 ETA Manila.

TERNATE-NASUGBU
0400 Board Saulog bus at Lawton to Ternate or Maragondon (~P110)
0700 ETA Ternate town proper; buy supplies, rent jeepney to Magnetic Hill
0745 ETA DENR / jump-off point. Pay P10.00 registration
0800 Start trek. Note that jump-off point is 10 minutes' walk away from DENR.
0845 ETA rest station, Basecamp 1 (they would also ask for P10.00 registration)
1130 ETA summit. lunch.
1230 start descent to Brgy. Papaya, Nasugbu
1530 ETA Sitio. Hamilio Brgy. Papaya, Nasugbu. Arrange for return transportation or unwind at nearby resort. Pumpboats were originally employed but jeepneys may be arranged (P800-1000/jeep).
1730 dinner (you can ask the resort to prepare meals); return trip to Manila
2100 ETA Manila.