Climbing RevPal: An alternative bike route to Tagaytay

• Route name: Reverse Palace (RevPal), From Nuvali to Tagaytay
• Distance: Approx. 15 Kms (Varies depending on starting point)
• Hours to complete: 2.5-3hours

Route ( parking lot): 

• Nuvali: Nuvali Boulevard to roundabout
• Canlubang: Long stretch of open road before heading to the first part of the climb
• Cabuyao: Barangay Casile – From Marcos Twin Mansion to the mountain pass going to Tagaytay
• Tagaytay: People’s Park

RevPal Route

Cycling all the way to Tagaytay is an exciting idea. Except for the heavy Manila traffic and pollution that you should go through. The uphill climb to the south’s popular travel destination is a go-to route for those who are looking for some cool weather and outstanding scenery.

There are several routes going to Tagaytay but one stood out as an ideal spot when it comes to safety due to lesser vehicles. It is also one of the most challenging climbs which will test your endurance and your cross-country prowess. Cyclists and motorcycle riders call this route “RevPal”

Why call it RevPal?

RevPal is a made up portmanteau of the words “Reverse” and “Palace” Because the route starts from Canlubang in Laguna to People’s Park in Tagaytay.

Formerly called Palace in the Sky, it was initially built as a mansion to host former president Ronald Reagan. The mountain which was then called Mt. Gonzales (also known as Mt. Sungay) with its prominent sharp peak, is gone now because of the project.

Construction of the mansion was put to a halt and was abandoned when Reagan cancelled his visit.

From Nuvali

We started the ride in the open parking lot during late afternoon so we had to hurry up. My friend was clipped in while I mashed on flat pedals as we made our way to the whole stretch of Nuvali Boulevard all the way to the roundabout past the guard house.

 

At the roundabout, take the next exit and continue straight (Now I sound like Waze.)

 It will be an empty quiet road surrounded by grass and occasional cow poop from here. I haven’t gotten the street name yet and it’s not even labeled in Google maps. 

You will eventually have to turn right to be surprised by the sudden uphill climb. It will be a short one but still steep enough for you to empty out your lungs. Continue farther until you reach the Twin Mansion.

Marcos Twin Mansion

This was my first uphill climb since my accident and I must admit that I was a bit rusty with the ascents. I was panting heavily and sweating profusely in spite the cooler weather. Good thing there’s a store in front of the Mansion where they sell fresh buko juice and bananas. Great help!

At this point you have already reached Barangay Casile in Cabuyao, Laguna. One of RevPal’s notable sites is the Marcos Twin Mansion. Imagine owning a property here and then taking the road going to Tagaytay to be welcomed by another Mansion that you own. Wow…

Long climb to Tagaytay

Head straight to the short rugged path and it will eventually be replaced by concrete pavement which will stretch all throughout barangay Casile. There are occasional roadwork ahead but there are locals guiding the traffic to avoid congestion.

You’ll pass by residents, resorts, and open fields. Eventually, you’ll see the peak of People’s Park on the horizon as you approach the mountain pass.

There’s also a sign indicating that Tagaytay is 5 kilometers ahead but when I cycled past it, it didn’t feel like 5 kilometers at all. The road got steeper. The cool southern winds may have helped but it wore me out more than halfway through. I took a breather and waited for my friend as we checked out the vast, Metro Manila horizon and the whole of Laguna Lake. 

Sun was almost out so we decided to hurry.

Last stop

We hung our bikes on a long wooden rack in front of a store where we refilled our water bottles. The air was colder, the views were more spectacular, and the moon was already visible in the semi-bright sky. We should have hurried since it was only a few hundred meters away from Tagaytay but we decided to take it slow.

It was almost dark when we reached the facade of people’s park. We took a quick photo and had one last rest before going back down along the pitch black roads of Casile.

With lights on, I opted to go slower since my accident involved me in a downhill section. I’m still trying to regain most of my left arm’s movement and another injury might complicate things.

At around 7pm, we got back to the parking lot and secured our bikes on the rack to finally head back home. It’s so nice to be back…

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Some tips

RevPal may not be as difficult as San Mateo’s Shotgun or Tagaytay’s lung busting Sungay route, but it is still a challenging road for both beginners and advanced cyclists. Here are some pointers when takin on RevPal:

• Hydrate: The cool winds might help but it is still best to bring extra water.
• But save your supplies: Want to keep hydrated up to the top? Save your water on the road to the Marcos Twin Mansion and get some fresh buko juice.
• Tools: Get some patch kit, tire levers, and a portable pump in case of pinch flats.
• Flashlights/headlamps: In case you started late and you have to cycle in the dark (like what happened to us.)
• Take your time: Unless you have a personal record to beat, just take it easy and enjoy the views.

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Oh by the way…

I also vlog in Instagram Stories almost every day (With B-Rolls and edits). Please follow me to watch the vlogs or check my highlights. I might also make a tutorial on Youtube soon.

Instagram: @ger_victor

See you guys there! : )