Updated October 2026. I hiked Mt. Pico de Loro on a Saturday in October 2026, going DIY with three friends. The jump-off is the DENR Park Station in Sitio Malauyas, Brgy. Sapang I, Ternate, Cavite, and I checked the fees and rules on the booking portal that month.
Key Takeaways
- The portal lists the mountain as open Wednesday to Saturday, with gates opening at 5:00 AM, so email admin@mppmngnp.com about the days before you book.
- Booking happens only at mppmngnp.com and is capped at 90 hikers a day, and I booked my Saturday slot two to three weeks ahead.
- A DIY day trip from Manila cost about ₱1,660 solo or ₱985 per person in a group of four.
- I took the 4:30 AM bus from PITX, reached the station at 6:30 AM and started walking at 7:30 AM.
- The trail is a Difficulty 3/9 minor climb of 3.5 km one way, and the stairs felt harder than that rating.
- Weather closures come without notice, and the latest ran August 21 to September 12, 2026.
Table of Contents
How Do I Book Mt. Pico de Loro Online?
You book only through mppmngnp.com, which accepts no walk-ins.
What are the booking steps?
Five steps get you from the portal to the gate:
- Open mppmngnp.com and choose your date.
- Enter the details of every hiker in your group.
- Pay the entrance fee on the portal by GCash, Maya, bank transfer (Instapay or Dragonpay) or card.
- Download the QR code and offline maps before leaving Metro Manila, since signal was weak or gone at the base.
- At the station, show the QR code and a valid ID, and sign the waiver.
Bookings open up to three months ahead. Saturdays fill first, so book two to three weeks ahead as I did.
Operations can shrink to Friday and Saturday only, so email admin@mppmngnp.com before you pay.
What happens on arrival day?
You scan your QR code, show your ID, watch a 15-minute orientation video and meet your guide. Staff check everyone against the daily list and turn away anyone missing from it. Hikers must be 17 or older.
We reached the station at 6:30 AM. It was busy for a Saturday but not overwhelming. We waited for our group to be complete, watched the video together and started walking at 7:30 AM.
The video stuck with me for how fragile the forest is, plus the rules on not feeding macaques and packing out trash.
How Much Does the Hike Cost?
A solo day trip from Manila costs about ₱1,660, and each person in a group of four pays about ₱985.
| Item | Solo | Per person (group of 4) |
|---|---|---|
| Bus PITX to Ternate, round trip | ₱240 | ₱240 |
| Tricycle, round trip | ₱400 | ₱100 |
| Entrance fee (local) | ₱200 | ₱200 |
| Guide fee | ₱500 | ₱125 |
| Wash-up and restroom | ₱20 | ₱20 |
| Food and water | ₱300 | ₱300 |
| Total | ₱1,660 | ₱985 |
The budget uses the ₱120 bus fare I paid each way and leaves out parking. The food line covers trail snacks, water and a silog meal at the sari-sari stores for ₱100 to ₱120. A solo hiker pays the whole guide fee and tricycle fare.
The entrance fee is paid on the portal, and everything else on site is cash. I paid the ₱200 local rate. I only saw the ₱300 foreigner rate listed.
The ₱500 guide fee covers one accredited guide for up to five hikers. I paid it in cash at the registration desk, not to the guide. Carry small bills, because there are no ATMs near the jump-off.
Gated parking at the station costs ₱50 for a motorcycle, ₱100 for a sedan or SUV and ₱200 to ₱300 for a van.
How Do I Get to the Jump-Off From Manila?
Public transport means a bus from PITX to Ternate, then a tricycle to the DENR station. The tricycle leg takes 30 to 45 minutes.
How do I commute from PITX?
Saulog Transit and Saint Anthony of Padua buses leave PITX from 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM at ₱100 to ₱120. I boarded around 4:30 AM on a comfortable, uncrowded bus and dozed for part of the ride. We reached the Ternate terminal by 6:00 AM.
Four of us took two tricycles, since each carries up to three passengers, and shared the ₱400 fare. The paved, winding Ternate-Nasugbu Highway was in good shape with a few blind curves. We reached the station at 6:30 AM.
We settled the price and a pick-up time with the driver before he left us, because tricycles at the station are scarce in the afternoon. He stuck to the agreed fare with no waiting fee.
After washing up and eating, we took a tricycle to the terminal and a mid-afternoon bus to PITX. I got home around 6:00 PM.
How do I drive to the DENR station?
CAVITEX costs ₱127 one way for Class 1, then you continue through Kawit and Tanza. From Naic, follow A. Soriano Highway to the Ternate-Nasugbu Highway. The station is on the left just before the Kaybiang Tunnel, which was my cue that we were close.
Weekend motorcycle traffic can be heavy on the blind curves. Search “DENR Pico de Loro Registration” in your map app, since “Pico de Loro Cove” is a separate luxury resort.
What Is the Trail Like?
The trail is a Difficulty 3/9 minor climb of 3.5 km one way. The short distance was easy, but the concrete steps hit my quads and heart rate harder than the rating suggests. For similar walks, see our list of beginner-friendly minor climbs.
| Quick fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | DENR Park Station, Sitio Malauyas, Brgy. Sapang I, Ternate, Cavite |
| Elevation | 664 MASL |
| Distance | 3.5 km one way |
| Difficulty | 3/9, Trail Class 1 to 3 |
Typical hiking time is 2 to 2.5 hours up and 1 to 1.5 hours down. My day ran like this:
- 4:30 AM: bus from PITX.
- 6:00 AM: Ternate terminal.
- 6:30 AM: DENR station.
- 7:30 AM: started walking.
- 10:45 AM: started down from the deck.
- 1:00 PM: back at the station, well before the cutoff.
Next time I would leave Manila earlier and start walking near 5:00 AM, when the gates open, to beat the Saturday crowds and the heat that hit me at about 9:30 AM.
What is the forest approach like?
The forest approach is an easy, shaded walk on packed earth and exposed roots, a little damp but not muddy on our clear morning. Birds were loud, and the air smelled of damp earth and leaf litter.
Macaques rattled the branches above us. I kept my distance and did not feed them. Our guide set a steady pace and picked rest stops, mostly around the stairs.
What is the 145-step staircase like?
The 145-step concrete staircase covers the middle section and took us 25 to 30 minutes. We climbed in short bursts with a couple of breaks, which was our guide’s best tip. The concrete was a little damp, so I watched my footing, and my trail running shoes gripped well.
The DENR built the stairs to control erosion, and they made the climb safer. They were still a relentless grind on my quads and knees, and I preferred the natural trail. On a busy Saturday we never queued, passing slower groups and letting faster ones overtake us.
What is the summit view deck like?
The summit deck is fully exposed, with no shade. Leaving the forest at about 9:30 AM, we went from cool, humid shade to bright, hot, breezy conditions. I was glad of my hat, sunglasses and SPF 50 sunscreen.
The view was clear: Corregidor to the north and the Nasugbu coastline to the south. The Monolith is a dark basalt spire just beyond the deck, and climbing it is closed. Everyone took photos, and our guide kept us all on the deck.
Loose soil and exposed rock near the top made me cautious, so I followed our guide’s line. The descent was faster but harder on my knees, and I wished I had trekking poles.
What about water, signal and porters?
There is no water on the trail, so carry 1.5 to 2 liters per person from the base. I carried about 2 liters and drank most of it, especially on the stairs and near the deck.
I used Globe and had almost nothing at the station and through the forest and stairs. A spotty bar or two returned near the summit, so I downloaded the QR code and offline maps in Manila. Porters are not offered, and a short day hike does not need one.
What Should I Bring?
Seven items matter most, since the mountain has no water and there is no ATM near the jump-off.
- Trail shoes or boots with aggressive lugs. Mine gripped on damp steps and loose soil.
- Light, moisture-wicking clothing for the humid forest.
- A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and SPF 50 sunscreen, reapplied after the stairs.
- Ready-to-eat snacks and your full water supply.
- Trekking poles. I skipped them, and my knees paid.
- Small bills for the guide fee, tricycle fares and shower, all cash.
- A valid ID and your booking QR code saved offline.
What Are the Rules, Schedule and Quota?
Nine rules shape the day, starting with no walk-ins. The portal lists Wednesday to Saturday, and gates open at 5:00 AM. Email admin@mppmngnp.com before booking a midweek date.
I hiked on a Saturday. The quota is 90 hikers a day, and everyone must be back by the 3:00 PM cutoff. The PAMO office keeps weekday hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
What are the safety rules at a glance?
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Booking | No walk-ins. Staff turn away anyone not on the daily manifest. |
| Age | Hikers must be 17 or older and show a valid ID at the gate. |
| Paperwork | Sign a waiver and watch the 15-minute orientation video. |
| Camping | Banned. Old campsites serve only as rest stops. |
| Prohibited | Alcohol, smoking, vaping, bonfires, pets and cooking. |
| Plastics | Cavite Provincial Ordinance No. 007-2012 restricts single-use plastics. |
| Drones | CAAP requires a ₱1,000 registration above 250g. Recreational drones under 250g are exempt. Keep flights under 122 m (400 ft). |
| Guide fee | ₱500 per group of up to five, paid in cash at the registration desk. |
| Route | The Nasugbu traverse is closed. Hikes start and end in Ternate. |
Our guide carried a two-way radio to call the base station if a hiker gets hurt. The nearest facility for minor trauma is Naic Doctors Hospital, about 45 minutes away.
Typhoons and heavy habagat rains void bookings and close the trail, as happened from August 21 to September 12, 2026. The portal has no automated refunds, so PAMO decides on rescheduling.
What Does a Day Hike Itinerary Look Like?
I left PITX on a 4:30 AM bus and was home by about 6:00 PM.
| Time | What happened |
|---|---|
| 4:30 AM | Bus from PITX |
| 6:00 AM | Ternate terminal; DENR station by 6:30, scanned QR codes |
| 7:30 AM | Video, met our guide, started walking |
| 9:30 AM | Left the forest shade as the heat built |
| 10:45 AM | Started down after photographing the Monolith |
| 1:00 PM | Back at the DENR station, before the cutoff |
Afterward we washed up for about ₱20, ate a silog meal for ₱100 to ₱120, and took a tricycle and bus to PITX. I settled the return tricycle price and pickup time that morning, since afternoon tricycles are scarce. No waiting fee.
When Is the Best Time to Hike Mt. Pico de Loro?
The best time is the dry season, late November to early May, when trails are firm and views are clear. Avoid August and September, when habagat rain brings deep mud and sudden closures.
Saturdays fill the 90-hiker cap, Wednesdays and Thursdays are quieter, and I booked two to three weeks ahead.
On my Saturday we passed slower groups and never queued on the stairs.
My October morning was clear and cool, then hot outside the shade. Next time I would start at 5:00 AM.
What Other Hikes Can I Pair With Mt. Pico de Loro?
- The Mt. Batulao hiking guide covers a Difficulty 4/9 contrast with exposed grassland, 1.5 hours away.
- The Mt. Talamitam guide covers itinerary, budget and difficulty.
- The Mt. Marami Cavite guide details a Maragondon climb.
- The Fortune Island boat guide: 1-hour drive to Nasugbu Wawa port, 1-hour boat ride, ₱350 entrance fee, charters from ₱4,000 to ₱5,500 per group.
My Nasugbu itinerary and expenses post helps with a Batangas trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just show up at the DENR Station without a booking?
No. Walk-ins are banned, and staff turn away anyone not on the manifest.
Is the Mt. Pico de Loro Monolith climbable in 2026?
No. Climbing is closed. We photographed it from the view deck.
What is the minimum age to hike Mt. Pico de Loro?
The minimum age is 17. Bring a valid ID.
Can I pay the entrance fee at the gate?
No. I paid the ₱200 local fee on mppmngnp.com. The ₱500 guide fee is cash at the registration desk.
Can I camp on Mt. Pico de Loro?
No. Camping is banned. I did a same-day trip.
Can I fly a drone at the summit?
Yes, with limits. Drones over 250g need a ₱1,000 CAAP registration, and flights stay under 122 m (400 ft).
What is the mobile signal like on the trail and at the summit?
Weak or gone for most of the hike. On Globe I got a spotty bar or two near the summit.
What happens if I miss the 3:00 PM cutoff?
Be back at base by 3:00 PM. We finished at about 1:00 PM.
Where can I get water on the trail?
Nowhere. I carried about 2 liters and drank most of it.
Is Mt. Pico de Loro Worth It?
Yes, if you want a short, structured day hike. In October 2026 I saw the Monolith, Corregidor and the Nasugbu coastline, and the 145-step staircase hit my quads harder than the 3/9 rating suggests.
See my beginner-friendly minor climbs list or the 36 Batangas tourist spots guide for more nearby.
Book early, leave Manila early and carry small bills.
