This is the 96th day (72 days left) of my temporary language study abroad program in Baguio, Philippines.
This is the third time I have been to the mountains again in Baguio. The previous mountains were easy hikes, but this time it took me 3 hours to reach the top. I will tell you about the mountain, the cost, how to get there and how to get back! (Information is current as of December 2023)
Mt. Ulap details, fees, what to bring, etc.
Mt. Ulap is a mountain located about 45 minutes from Baguio by jeepney or other means, and is 9 kilometers long in plane distance. There are three peaks that are higher than the surrounding area, so it is not a constant climb, and there are ups and downs. The highest point is 1846m, about 6km away.
The route is shown on the map above. There is no fork in the road, so most people follow this route. There is also a campsite, so some people may choose to climb in the opposite direction, but this is not common practice.
The entry fee is 100 pesos per person, 100 pesos per group for registration, and 800 pesos per group for one guide to take care of up to seven climbers. After that, there is a van fee from the exit to the pick-up point after descending the mountain, 400 pesos per van, which can take up to 7 people.
Therefore, the cheapest price is 286 pesos per person for a group of 7 people. Also, this entrance fee is the price after applying the student discount. International students should not forget to bring their language school ID.
As far as what to wear and what to bring, as long as we were there in December, I think you only need a lightweight long-sleeved pants, a towel, water, and rain gear. I didn’t need any warm clothes, and as I mentioned later, there is a restaurant just past the summit.
People in Baguio tend to be cold, so they are dressed up, but for us Japanese, the temperature was hot. Also, there are wild (?) cow dung all over the mountain path. There are also wild (?) cow dung on the mountain paths. Therefore, you need to wear comfortable shoes, but it might be better not to bring your favorite shoes.
How to get to Mt.Ulap
Mt. Ulap can be reached by jeepney from Baguio. The fare was 50 pesos (about 130 yen) for both the way there and the way back. There are several jeepney stations in Baguio, but the alley near the City Market is the stop for jeepneys heading to Mt.
Choose the jeepney marked “AMPUCAO. The people who ride these jeepneys are almost certainly going to climb a mountain, so don’t worry too much. So you don’t have to worry too much, but it is a good idea to let the driver know in advance that you are going to Mt.
The first departure of the jeepney seems to be around 6:00~7:00. We were able to get on the first jeepney at about 6:30 on Sunday. At this time, there were already about 20 people waiting, so the jeepney was full and soon departed. You need to watch where you are going and make sure you don’t miss it!
We had originally planned to go at 5:00 and could not find a jeepney, so we were looking for a cab instead. However, we were told that it would cost 800 or 1,000 pesos and that they didn’t know the way, so we decided to take the jeepney at the time mentioned above, which is more reliable and more economical.
From getting off the jeepney to entering the mountain
It is quite cold on the way to the mountain by jeepney because it is early in the morning. However, this is the coldest part of the trip, so if you can stand it, you may not need warm clothes for mountain climbing. Also, after leaving Baguio, we continued to climb higher and higher, which is an obvious difference from going to other areas.
Eventually, all passengers at this time got off at the entry reception point. The sign says “Mt. Ulap Registration” so head in that direction; after about 5 minutes of walking, you will see an elementary school, which is the reception point. The children are playing basketball in the gymnasium, and it looks like a well-functioning elementary school.
Here you will pay the fee and register your name, phone number, and address. After that, your wrist will be stamped with a permit to enter the mountain, and you will meet your guide. We were accompanied by a 22-year-old woman as our guide.
You can rent a walking stick, similar to those carried by pilgrims, to aid in the climb, but we did not use one. There are no restroom facilities until the 2nd peak, so if you are worried about your safety, you can use the restrooms here.
Next time, we will continue with a detailed description of the trail and the second half.