Mount Batulao: Providing a cool climbing experience

Saturday, 08 May 2010 19:02

In his post at the web site of Philippine Expats and Travel Blog, a blogger said climbing Mount Batulao is a cool thing to do because the “mountain is relatively small and has trails that are easy to climb, so it’s good for those who want to have their first climbing experience.” Elucidating, he said completing the climb to Mount Batulao gives a “feeling of achievement and satisfaction.” For the blogger, the more important reason people trek to Mount Batulao is to have a taste of the breathtaking views of Tagaytay and the surrounding low-lying areas. He added that the cool breeze on top of the mountain gives a refreshing experience to the climbers after a laborious trek. Through the years, Mount Batulao has grown popular not only as a mountaineering challenge but also as a camping site for student military trainees. During summertime, Manila-based mountaineers converged at the foot of this 1,050-meter mountain to climb it and savor the exhilarating views of the land, mountains and sea from atop. “Looking down from the top of the mountain, one gets a sweeping view of the famous Taal Lake with the mouth of the volcano in it, the entire breadth and length of Batangas province, the two mountains of Pico de Loro and Mount Talamitam, and the South China Sea. It’s simply breathtaking!” a mountaineer said of his experience. “Jump-off for Batulao starts at Evercrest, the golf course in the area, just a few kilometers away from Tagaytay. The climb usually lasts two hours or less, but if you wish to feel the cold breeze and warm your skin under the sun longer, then you can occasionally stop on benches installed along the trail, although the newer trail we took a few months ago offers none,” said http://blog.totalphilippines.com. Along the way, you’ll pass by several inhabited areas before the trail leads you to rolling hills with a sparse incidence of nipa huts and the occasional drink stand ready to sell you ice-cold soft drinks or a refreshing dose of coconut juice, according to Ivan about Town. Along the path, the mountaineer will encounter some camps located at strategic points of the shoulder of the mountain. Here, climbers are welcome to take a rest and take pictures with the campers. At the end of the day, climbing Mount Batulao is a worthy undertaking because this allows you to appreciate the gifts given by Mother Nature. With the development of Sandari Batulao, an 800-hectare mountainside township community, more and more people will learn to appreciate the beauty of Mount Batulao and its environment as this community gives an opportunity to commune with nature. The strategic location of Sandari Batulao provides an opportunity for nonclimbers to enjoy the serenity of the environment. Having religious institutions around the area, visitors will also learn to develop a closer bonding with the Almighty. Located at Km. 77, just a 10-minute drive from Metro Tagaytay along the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Tourism National Highway, Sandari Batulao is an hour-and-a-half drive from Makati via the South Luzon Expressway through Santa Rosa. Explore and experience true mountainside living. Call 817-5876 locals 162/128 and 894-3019, or fax through 893-0046 or visit www.sandaribatulao.com.