Summitting Mt. Apo - Tips, Itinerary and Budget

The climb was initiated by Migo Loyd, I was browsing on the Cebu Pacific  Peso fare promo last Oct. 2012 and Loyd informed that they will climb Mt. Apo by Aug 2013. So I eagerly booked on a Cebu Pacific Peso fare that night. Luckily i got only a one -way ticket Davao -Manila, so it saves a lot on my airfare. The other way i booked it on Airasia airline which is also a promo fare.

I was thinking this is it, a dream come true by next year. We will climb Mt. Apo the Highest mountain in the Philippines. I made some research and reading on different travel blogs about Mt. Apo. With an altitude of 2,954 metres (9,692 ft), Mt. Apo is the highest mountain in the country and is located between Davao City, Davao del Sur province and Cotabato province. The peak overlooks Davao City 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the northeast, Digos City 25 kilometres (16 mi) to the southeast, and Kidapawan City 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the west. (http://wikitravel.org/en/Mount_Apo)

Climbing Mt. Apo has different jump-off point and exit point. For more information you can check this website: www.pinoymountaineer.com. It depends on the numbers of days, and the usual days is 3days/2nights.

We jump -off at Sitio Mainit ( Paradise- Upper Sabwag camp- Boulders- Summit- Lake Venado - Old Century Almaciga tree - Sitio Garok-Sitio Colon - Sitio Baruring). Mt. Apo map trail from http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/

For the 3 days climb be sure to prepare physically and check your gear properly.  For physical preparation i have done day hikes during weekends. It's a great help to condition your body. Be sure to bring light clothes/gear that can give you warm and comfort during night time. As Mt. Apo is a tropical rainforest the weather is unpredictable. It's an advisable to  bring waterproof gears, jackets or raincoats. Bring some energy trail foods.

Itinerary:
Day 1 ( Aug 11) The Jump -off:
0600   ETA Davao International Airport ( wait from Manila flight Loyd, Chao and Dhang)
with our guide and hire service van
0630   Breakfast and buy additional needed supply
0700   ETD Davao City to Sitio Mainit Kapatagan, Digos City
0900   ETA Sitio Mainit, Kapatagan Digos City
01000 ETD for jump -off
01030 Paradise
01130 Lunch along the farm community
1200 ETD for mossy forest going to Upper Sabwag E- camp
1600 ETA Upper Sabwag E- camp (set -up campsite and fetch tent)
1800- 1900 Prepare and cook dinner; and social
01930 - Light -off

Day 2 ( Aug 12) To Summit:
0600 Wake -up call  ( drink coffee/ milo)
0630 - 0800 Prepare and cook breakfast, pack lunch (there is nearby river along this campsite for watersource); and break -camp
0800 ETD Star trek for Baroring River
0900 Baroring River (we're 1 hour ahead on our Itinerary)
01000 Camp Godi-godi
01030 ETD Godi -godi to Boulders
01130 ETA Boulders
01130 Lunch at Boulders foot, take rest and picture taking
1300 ETD Start trek going up to the Boulders
1500 Boracay (rest, picture taking waiting for the rain to stop)
1550 ETD to Crater Lake
1600 Crater Lake ( Picture taking while waiting for clearing)
1630 Go up on the summit (picture taking)
1700 ETA Summit Camp (set -up camp)
1800 Prepare and cook dinner (eat dinner no time for social 'coz of the heavy rain and cold temperature)
1900 Lights -off

Day 3 ( Aug 13) The Descend:
0600 Wake -up call (drink hot coffee/milo)
0630 Prepare breakfast
0700 Break -camp and pack -up things
0800 ETD for Lake Venado
01100 ETA Lake Venado ( Picture taking, cook lunch, bilad ng mga basang gamit sa init)
01300 ETD for final descend Sitio Garok (first community)
01600 ETA Century Old Almaciga tree
01800 First community Stitio Garok
02000 Finally Sitio Baroring (where our hired pedicab is waiting to take us to the center of Kapatagan, Digos City)
02100 Heading back to Davao

Day 4 ( Aug 14) Davao City:
01300 Arrive at Dorm (Camillus Dormitel) - change clothes and eat at Jollibee after 12 hours of trekking
0300 Take rest and sleep
1000 Wake -up (take a bath and decide where to eat)
1030 Roam around at the downtown
1100 Eat our brunch at Colassa's BBQ (famous BBQ in Davao)- it's my treat and it's my honor to treat them on our success clib
1300 Go to Aldivinco Souvenir Shopping Center to buy Pasalubong
1600 head back to Dorm to prepare for our flight going back to Manila
1900Flight back to Manila

Budget/ Expenses Breakdown:
Manila - Davao  ( Air Asia)                                                    =  1752.20
Davao -Manila(Cebu Pacific Peso fare)                                  =  745.95 
Aiport Terminal fee (Davao -Manila)                                      =  200.00
Climb fee (guide fee, porter fee,permits, transportation fee)     =  4,000.00 / person
Food supply ( 3 persons, 1 guide & 1 porter)                         =  300/ head (3 person)
T-shirt souvenir                                                                      =  250.00
Dormitory (Camillus Dormitel) - 1 night                                  =  300/head/day
Food (lunch treat at Colassa's BBQ, 
take -out dinner Chowfan at Chowking )                                =  1,200.00
Pasalubong ( Aldi Vinco Shopping Center)                            =  2,000.00
                                                                                
Total Expenses:                                                                    =  10,2005.15  Mt

Mt. Apo Climb Guide:                                                        
For climb proper, you can contact Sir Rodel (Sherpa) on this mobile#:+639292684712, he is an experienced mountain guide base on Mt. Apo. He will arrange for permits, porter and transportation. It is good if you can negotiate to him to lower the climb fee.

Where to stay in Davao:
For the accommodation we stay at Camillus Dormitel at Davao Medical Center, their contact number 082-301-99976 / +639179049032. The dorm cost 200/head/day if you will join on a shared room. If yo want the room to be exclusive for 2 persons up = 300/head/day. This is only 10 minutes away by taxi  from Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Dava International Airport). If your flight going back to Manila during peak hours be sure to left early, as what we have experienced Davao City is also very traffic during peak hours.








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