The island of Sibuyan is a great place for mountain biking. it will take you about two days or more to explore the island. At Cantingas town about 3 hours from Magdiwang there's a resort with waterfalls and and a clean river which locals visit during weekends. it has cottages and a diving board when you feel like diving to the deep parts of the river. You can also visit Lambingan Falls about 30 minutes by tricyle from Magdiwang.
A great sidetrip is of course Boracay about 6 - 8 hours by bangka from Magdiwang. you can rent large bangkas for about 4,000 pesos and it will take you straight to the island. but the journey will be dangerous if the waters are choppy and some say the sibuyan strait is a shark infested area. There are regular trips going to sibuyan island batangas pier or lucena pier. The ferry trip from batangas pier is about 18 hours while trip from lucena is 14 hours. Once you reached Magdiwang port take a tricycle and ask for the house of Manong Lee. Manong Lee will help you arrange your climb and get you a guide usually his son or other locals. You can stay at the school grounds for the day and explore the island that day. You can go to the dam for a swim or visit Lambingan falls. Also give some donations for the school maintained by Manong Lee's wife.
Mt. Guiting-Guiting is one mount every mountaineer should climb. The national park has retained its beauty and biodiversity and see how national parks should be managed. Sheer rock faces and good forest cover await the climber. The people of sibuyan should be credited for maintaining its pristine beauty amidst rapid development. Climbing the mountain will take you 3 days.
First day of hiking is relatively easy taking only 6 to hours of trekking under thick forest cover. There are 2 water sources available one is the river and another is the spring called Bulod's spring named after a local who discovered it. The spring is about an hour or two away from mayo's peak base camp going to the peak. If you are the choosy type bring your own water but if dont mind some particles floating from the spring then its allright. At Mayo's peak named after the month of May when the peak was first reached, about ten tents can be accommodated although the every campsite is scattered so you will be far from your neighbors. If you arrive early you can watch the sunset and observe the trails that you will encounter the next day.
Assaulting the peak next day is exciting with sharp boulders and knife edge ridges to contend with. bring only pack lunches trail food and water as trekking four wheel drive using your hands and feet can be exhausting especially if its hot. If you climb on summer bring lots of water as heat can be unforgiving. Some of us suffered from dehydration and we have to drink from tiny pitcher plants filled with mosquitoes out of desperation. One should practice water discipline. The trail is tricky so put up trail signs. climbers will be tested with their balancing skills and rock climbing knowhow. The hike will take you about 5 hours and if you dont reach the summit at 1pm stop and go back cause its dangerous to hike at night. once you reach the peak you will see breath taking view of the park and the challenging trail that you could not believe you just hiked it awhile ago. Going down is another problem so be prepared to get some scratches or worse your skin scraped off by sharp rocks. Expect to be back at base camp before sunset.
| "The Complete Wilderness Traveler is always prepared with adequate clothing, heat conserving survival techniques, and food reserves that require no cooking." -- Mountaineering - The Freedom of the Hills |
