8 Mountain Peaks to Explore in Calabarzon

MOUNT BANAHAW, AN OLD VOLCANO, is considered a holy mountain; a keeper of secrets, stories, and cults. Filipinos make the journey to Banahaw’s slopes in an effort to restore their vitality and spiritual health. Belief in its powers draws pilgrims from all over the country year-round, culminating in huge gatherings and en masse rituals during Holy Week (Easter).

Mount Batulao is an inactive volcano in the Calabarzon region of the Philippines. It is a dissected andesitic stratovolcano at the northwestern rim of the Taal Caldera which began to form in the late Pliocene period, about 3.4 million years ago.The mountain is a prominent landmark of jagged peaks, rolling to rugged ridges and deep gorges situated just west of the hill station of Tagaytay at the southwestern end of the Tagaytay Ridge. It is well known for its scenery.

The mountain is in the Batangas and in the Quezon Province of Luzon Island, approximately 70 km south of Manila. The mountain is a 15 km long volcanic range, stretching in a north-south direction. It is the main attraction of the southern Tagalog landscape. This mountain is densely covered with an intact tropical forest. It was one of the beautiful trekking destinations in Quezon and a lot of people visit this place every year.

Mount Marami is a 9.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Maragondon, Cavite, the Philippines that features beautiful wildflowers and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking. It is one of the beautiful places in this area and yearly a lot of visitors visit this place.

Mount Pico de Loro, also known as Mount Palay-Palay, is a dormant volcano in Cavite province on the island of Luzon, Philippines. The mountain is one of the ancient volcanic features of Bataan Arc. Near its summit is a lone vertical cliff feature called the Parrot's Beak or the Monolith that offers a 360-degree view of the protected landscape and the shores of Limbones Cove. This place is one of the main hiking destination in this area.

Mount Sungay, also known as Mount Gonzales, is a mountain in the province of Cavite in the Philippines. Located in eastern Tagaytay, the inactive stratovolcano is the highest point of the province of Cavite at 709 meters. The slopes of the mountain is the source of the San Cristobal River that flows from the mountain to Silang, Cavite down to its mouth at Laguna de Bayin Calamba, Laguna. It was now one of the main attractions in this area.

Mount Tagapo is in Talim Island in Binangonan, Rizal. It is located at the heart of the largest lake in the Philippines, Laguna de Bay. Locals call it ‘Mt. Susong Dalaga’ because from the towns of Laguna, you can spot the peak of Tagapo, which has the form of a young woman’s breast. It has an elevation of 438 meters above sea level and is the highest point of Talim Island.The island can be reached by taking a boat ride from Pritil Port in Binangonan.

One of the most popular attractions outside of Metro Manila entices with one of the most unforgettable vistas-- the Taal Lake and Volcano Island. was once the caldera of an old volcano which rose some 5000 to 6000 meters high. As a result of a powerful eruption many years ago, a new volcano Taal rose from the centre of the lake.