Mt. Tapulao (2,037+)

The Practicalities matrix was added and updated information on guides, transportation were provided in January 2015. The difficulty level has also been changed to 5/9.

BACKGROUND
Hiking amidst pine trees in a semi-temperate climate is an experience usually attributed to the Cordilleras, Mt. Pulag in particular. However, Mt. Tapulao in Zambales possesses the same charms. In fact, its name, tapulao, means pine tree in the local dialect, and it is truly an apt description. However, it has a character of its own. Many hikers never forget the rocky road that constitutes 85% of the trail! On the other hand, what is seemingly an endless sojourn along the path becomes a beautiful trek across pine forests, and into a mossy forest, at the end of the trek.

Mt. Tapulao was traditionally done as a two- or three-day trek. Since 2009, however, the bus schedules have made it very feasible to do it as an overnight trek, or even an extended dayhike.

Mt. Tapulao can get very cold, especially at night: this is one of the charms of the mountain. However, it can also be very hot during the day. After all, the trek starts from a very low altitude: 100+ MASL, giving it one of the highest altitude gains in the whole country, at par with the Akiki trail of Mt. Pulag!

Because it can be quite hot, starting very early is recommended, and is feasible according to the bus schedules to Iba, Zambales.

If you start early, you can starting trekking through the open fields even before dawn, such that when the sun is already high, you would’ve already passed the two water sources and reached the ‘cool part’ – with temperatures ranging from 19 C to a nighttime, yearend temperature of 6 C. After the open fields a rain forest, with trees hundreds of feet high, ensue, before the pine forest. From the start of the pines, it will take three more hours to finally reach the bunkhouse. Here, there is a steep path that leads to the ‘secret campsite’ which guards the entrance to the forest line. If your group has 4 tents or less, it is best to camp here. There are also campsites you will encounter before you reach the ‘Bunkhouse’ (which has a water source), which is the main base of hikers who amp. Alternatively, you can continue to the main road to reach the ‘Generator campsite’ although as of May 2012, this seems to be a defunct campground, with most people camping within the Bunkhouse area.

Right in front of the Bunkhouse, a steep ascent via the pine forests takes you to a mini-campsite and right beside it, a forest line which leads to the summit, at 1875 MASL. Usually assaulted with light packs or just water and cameras, it takes 30-45 minutes to negotiate this final leg before reaching the summit.

Here, the flora and fauna are marvelous! You will see numerous insect species, birds, as well as varicolored flowers and exotic plants. Foreign scientists, the miners used to say, go all the way to Tapulao to survey the rich biodiversity.

The peak does not afford splendid views, contrary to what one might expect from a mountain with that stature and with its position relative to the West Philippine Sea. This lack of views is because it is not a bald peak; trees continue to thrive in it – which is a good thing. A beautiful ‘world tree’ serves as summit marker. At any rate, a limited view of the West Philippine Sea can still be seen.

This summit can also be accessed from Mayantoc, Tarlac, in what is perhaps the most challenging hike in Central Luzon: The Mt. Tapulao Traverse. This Tarlac trail to Mt. Tapulao has a separate itinerary and discussion in PinoyMountaineer (see link).

Mt. Tapulao, being closer to Manila, is being touted as an alternative to Mt. Pulag. Old timers used to dub this mountain as the ‘poor man’s Pulag’. The Tapulao experience, however, makes it much more than an alternative, but a destination in its own right, unique from the Cordilleras and special in its place as the High Peak of Zambales mountains.

ITINERARIES

Day 0
2300 ETD Iba-bound Victory Liner bus from Caloocan terminal.Day 1
0400 ETA Dampay-Salaza, Palauig, Zambales. Arrange for tricycles to jump-off.
0500 ETA jump-off point; register at welcome center, start trek.
0900 ETA first water source
1200 ETA second water source, lunch
1730 ETA ‘Bunker’, set up camp at campsite of choice
1800 Dinner, socials
1900 Lights out
(you may extend climbing time indefinitely; night trek is possible)Day 2
0510 Start trek to summit
0600 ETA summit
0630 Back to campsite
0730 Breakfast, break camp
0830 Start descent
1200 ETA second water source, lunch
1400 ETA first water source
1700 Back at jump-off point; take tricycle back to highway
1800 Take bus to Manila
2300 ETA Manila

Dayhike
Note: The dayhike option requires a moderate to fast pace. Either the 2130H or the 2300H bus is recommended, but the former a better option if you are not sure about your pace.

2130/2300 Take Iba-bound bus from Victory Caloocan

0245/0330 ETA Iba bus terminal . Take tricycle to trailhead

0345/0430 ETA Visitors’ Center at Sitio Dampay

0430/0500 Breakfast / Start trekking

0700 Arrival at first water source

0800 Arrival at second water source

1100 ETA Bunker

1200 ETA summit of Mt. Tapulao (2037m)

1300 Start descent

1730 Back at trailhead. Tidy up

1800 Head back to Iba, Zambales

1900 Dinner

2000 Back to Manila

2500 ETA Manila

TRIVIA
Americans used to call Mt. Tapulao ‘High Peak;’ only during the 1960s did the native name Tapulao come to general use.Mt. Tapulao is at almost the same latitude as the disputed Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal). When the blogger last climbed Tapulao in May 2012, some ships were seen on standby in the West Philippine Sea.