Mt. Napulak 1230+m
Igbaras, Iloilo
Trail: Brgy. Bagay
December 26, 2015
It was a random and unplanned hike. I travelled by land and sea just to reach a place I’ve never been and just went to wherever my foot took me. Panay Island seized my soul. Panay is one of the 6 major islands in Visayas. It is divided into 4 provinces: Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo and Antique.
While spending some time in Boracay Island on Christmas day, I was browsing in the internet where to hike in Panay. Not a major mountain but a nice hike without expecting too much. I brought my tent, stove, cookset and other equipment just in case, since I had no plans nor itinerary and I didn’t know where to go. I was thinking of a nice dayhike in Iloilo since I was just around the island. Then, I remembered that a year or 2 years ago, an invitational climb in Mt. Napulak was sent by some facebook friend from Visayas. The rock formation at the summit of Mount Napulak came into my mind but I don’t remember the name of it. So I decided to go for it.
At the same day, I headed to Iloilo City. It took 4-5 hours ride from Caticlan, Aklan to Iloilo City. There were wide variety of options of cheap hostels and Inns in Iloilo City, I had my pick and stayed overnight.
Early next day, I went to Ceres bus station (bound for Antique), according to the locals there are bus and van that will pass by Guimbal - Igabras junction then, a prearrange habal-habal will take you to the jump off. However, an alternative, more convenient and cheap is taking direct trip to Igbaras town proper. Jeep bound for Igbaras regularly pass by at the Ceres bus station but I highly recommend proceeding to Mohon terminal instead of waiting in Ceres terminal. Jeep fare is 50php if coming from Ceres terminal and 40php from Mohon. Travel will take only 45 minutes to 1 hour. At Igbaras town proper, there are regular Habal-habal (motorcycle) trip to Barangay Bagay. Max passenger is 2 with or without backpack. Fare is 80-100 per head. A courtesy call and registration at the barangay is a must, and it’s free as of December 2015. Getting a guide there is not a problem.
First part of the hike is trekking through the rice paddies which will lead you to the forest part. The trail is gradually ascending and some part is almost flat. There are 2 potable water sources along the trail. After the forest trail is the grassland which is 30-45 minutes ascend to the summit campsite. The summit offers a 360 view, makes everything worth it. The summit rock “Napulak” means nipple in the local language. It is the highest mountain in Igbaras.
The mountain is indeed beautiful, not only because of the view, but because of what lives on it. Different flowering plant grows and blooms abundantly throughout the trail. Howling winds and chirping birds sound like a harmonize orchestra. I didn’t expect too much in Mt. Napulak but it surprised me a lot. It was not just a nice hike but a great hike indeed. I wish I had a lot of time and hope to come back again.
Mt. Napulak Dayhike Itinerary
From Iloilo Airport, take a taxi cab to MOHON TERMINAL.
0700 Take a jeep bound for Igbaras (40.00php)
0745 ETA Igbaras town proper
Take a habal-habal (motor bike) to Barangay Bagay (80.00php)
0815 ETA Brgy. Bagay Hall
Register (free) and secure guide (500.00php)
0830 Start trek
0930 ETA Water source I
1000 ETA Last water source
1100 ETA Saddle (grassland)
1145 ETA Mt. Napulak summit
1300 Descent
1500 ETA Brgy. Bagay; Wash up
1600 Take Habal-habal back to town (80.00php)
1630 ETA Igbaras town
1700 Take jeep bound for Iloilo City
Last trip to Iloilo City is 1700H
1750 ETA Mohon Terminal – Iloilo City
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| Mt. Napulak summit |
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| Rafflesia flower |
Manila to Boracay Island by land and sea:
(Manila-Batangas City-Calapan City-Bulalacao-Caticlan)
From Gil. Puyat - Taft Avenue or Cubao, take bus bound for Batangas City Pier.
From Batangas City, take fast craft bound for Calapan City (2 hours; 190-300php).
From Calapan City, take van bound for San Jose then drop at Bulalacao Port (3 hours; 250php).
From Bulalacao, take fast craft to Caticlan (3 hours; 375-500php)
From Caticlan, take boat to Boracay (5 minutes; 25php)
Note:
Fast craft from/to Bulalacao to/from Caticlan port leaves at 1000H, 1500H, and 2200H respectively.
Alternative: RoRo ferries bound for Caticlan are located in Roxas port.
