“I like the mountains because they make me feel small. ‘They help me sort out what’s important in life.”

Pico de Loro and Its Monolith
Maragondon, Cavite and Nasugbu, Batangas
Major jump-off: DENR Station, Magnetic Hill, Ternate, Cavite
Minor jump-off: Ternate-Nasugbu Highway, Nasugbu, Batangas
LLA: 14° 12.855 N; 120° 38.785 E; 664 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 2-5 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3
Features: Distinctive spire at the summit, forests, scenic views of Cavite

*Details above is from from pinoymountaineer.com

Mount Pico de Loro, also known as Mount Palay-Palay, is a dormant volcano in Cavite. The mountain is 664 m (2,178 ft) above sea level, and is considered the highest point in the province. It is considered to be the most notable mountain and is considered as one of the two prominent mountains of the protected landscape together with Mount Marami.

This mountain rose to fame because of a monolith or a natural 60-meter rock column beside its summit which serves as the major attraction of the mountain looks like a beak of a bird hence the moniker Parrot’s Peak.

The major jump-off of the mountain is in the town of Ternate in Cavite although majority of its area is under the town of Maragondon. Moreover, the summit is shared between the provinces of Batangas and Cavite.

The approximately 2 hour trek to the summit features a 5-kilometer terrain passing through forested areas and some minor streams. There is a saddle camp beside the summit with noteworthy and lovely bamboo features. There is also a waterfalls near the area, that can be a sight to behold during the rainy season.

Sample Itinerary (also from PinoyMountaineer.com

DAYHIKE
0400 Board bus at Coastal Mall Terminal to Ternate (P82)
0700 ETA Ternate. Rent jeepney or tricycle to jumpoff
0745 ETA DENR / jump-off point. (P25 registration)
0800 Start trek.
0945 Reach highest point of the New Trail
1000 Arrival at junction with Old Trail
1030 ETA campsite

1100 ETA summit. Lunch

From this point, take either Option A (Backtrail) or B (Traverse)

Option A: Backtrail to Ternate
1230 start descent to Magnetic Hill
1430 Back at DENR; take jeep/trike to Ternate then take bus back to Manila

1900 ETA Manila.

Option B: Traverse to Nasugbu
1230 start descent to Nasugbu-Ternate Highway
1530 ETA Nasugbu-Ternate Highway.

1700 Arrival in Nasugbu. Dinner. Bus terminal is near Jolibee.

2100 ETA Manila.