Mt. Manabu (Manabu Peak)
Location: Sto. Tomas Batangas
Diffulty: 2/9, 2-3 hours to summit
Elevation: 760+ MASL
Jump-Off: Sulok, Brgy. Sta Cruz, Sto. Tomas
Notable sites: Dense trails, Looped trail which resembles a rosary, a grotto, a giant white cross on the summit, spectacular views of the Malipunyo mountain range, Mt. Maculot, Mt. Banahw, and Mt. Makiling
Easy Access
Things to consider when hiking for a single day are budget, accessibility, and difficulty, and Mt. Manabu’s beginner friendly trails fit the bill.
Situated in Sto. Tomas Batangas, Mt. Manabu only takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Manila. Just take a bus bound to Lipa and ask a tricycle driver to get you to the jump-off and you will find yourself hiking along its gentle trails.
Quick Hike
My friends and I decided to do a reverse loop and start from the grotto, and then continue to the summit the day after until we reach Tatay Tino’s popular hut which serves civet coffee.
We started at around 6pm. It was quite late since we stayed in Lipa for a while to meet some friends. We decided to camp out for a longer period of time and go slower to enjoy what Mt Manabu had to offer for the whole weekend.
It was also my first time to use the 40L backpack nine months after my life-threatening accident, and I also trekked without a sling! When I found my arm flailing, I just clutched my strap for support.
I’m slowly getting back on track…
It was pitch black that night except for the moonlight and our headlamps. The only sound that we could here were hundreds of crickets, some unfamiliar insects, and the barking of several local dogs when we passed by a small hut.
A Pilgrimage Site
After a fork, we finally reached the grotto after taking the left trail (The right path will take you to Tatay Tino’s hut all the way to the summit and back down to the grotto. Yes, Mt. Manabu’s trail is just one loop. It is shaped as a rosary as per the map and it also serves as a station of the cross for devotees.
The hike to the grotto only took us less than 30 minutes from the jumpoff. We had a hunch that the camp sites on the summit were already full so we decided to set up camp. Good thing the grotto has a small resting spot with a roof. My friend and I decided to sleep outside since it wasn’t that cold.
It was an ideal spot. The place looked creepy at night because of the images that seemed to look at you from above and the place was too dark, which didn’t matter because It had the only water source in Mt. Manabu. There was continuous water flowing along the stream due to the irrigation system from the barangay which made our camp very convenient.
My friends cooked dinner, shared stories, and prepared to sleep for tomorrow’s trek.
Hike to Manabu Peak
It was around 8am when we broke camp (Yes, we really took our time.) and started the hike at around 9am. We left the grotto and kept the trash until the place appeared to have not been settled by visitors from the night before.
The hike all the way to the summit was not bad. There are several dense areas that covered the sun and a few open ones but is completely bearable. What may creep you out or maybe make you curious are the white crosses that are sticking out as you move along. There are also several stopovers where you will be guided by a map of Mt. Manabu and which part of the station of the cross you are in.
The Summit
What will surprise you is the lush, green surroundings of the summit after a quick steep but easy assault. You will be welcomed by a big white cross which marks the peak of Mt. Manabu. What’s so great about the summit are the views from any direction. Make a full 360 degree turn and you will see Mt. Maculot, Mt. Makiling from behind Manabu’s ridge, Mt. Banahaw can be seen faintly opposite of Maculot, and the Malipunyo mountain range which is the closest among the mountains that decorated the horizons.
It is possible to traverse Mt. Manabu all the way to Mt. Malipunyo and Mt. Susong dalaga because there is a trail that leads to the other mountains. It stirred my curiosity that time and I decided to hike the trail network when I recover more of my arm’s movement.
The sun was right in the middle of the clear open sky when we decided to go down the opposite direction. People from the camp site welcomed us as we passed. We headed further down to the last part of the site where we set up a tent, a hammock, and brought out our cook set for lunch. Yes! We set up camp in Mt. Manabu twice. That’s how laid-back we were that weekend.
We stayed there for about two hours until we decided to hike back down to Tatay Tino’s hut to try the popular coffee made out of civet poop.
Coffee made out of civet droppings
It wasn’t really 100% made out of animal poop. The coffee beans that are abundant in the area are eaten by civets, a nocturnal mammal that resembles a cat. The digestive process ferments the beans from their insides and once pooped out, the beans were then turned in to coffee. Its gross and interesting at the same time.
Tatay Tino, a local of Batangas was nice enough to farm these beans for the visitors to try for free. He also sells small jars for 200php or a bag for 500php. Such a steal compared to the city or other countries which sells this rare delicacy at a heftier price.
We arrived at his hut to be welcomed by hikers and Tatay Tino himself with his family. There you can stop over for some drinks and snacks that are being sold. You can also try unlimited cups of civet coffee.
I tried a cup in spite the hot weather because opportunities like these are hard to miss. It tastes as bitter as regular coffee with a leafy flavor to it. The aftertaste will then leave you with a dry feeling around your mouth. It was soothing and relaxing once you finish a cup. You will not think that what you drank came from inside an animal’s innards and came out of its tiny bottom.
Back to the jumpoff
We got back to the jumpoff in the afternoon and took a quick rest. What’s interesting there are the piles of shoes that was displayed at the bathing area. There are several soles of these “alays” scattered around Mt. Batualao but I never thought that these shoes are being collected in Mt. Manabu.
In spite the easy difficulty, Mt. Manabu still has a reputation to being a challenging hike during the rainy season because of the muddy ground.
Mt. Manabu is one of the mountains near Manila that you will not get tired of going back to. The easy trails, friendly locals, and the interesting sights and features will make this mountain one of the best options to do a quick climb during those impromptu weekend adventures. And Tatay Tino’s civet poop coffee will add more kick to this spectacular outdoor trip.
Getting there
By bus:
- Take a bus bound to SM Lipa from Cubao or Buendio stations. (124php)
- Ride a jeep to Fiesta Mall (8php)
- Hire a tricycle to Barangay Sta Cruz (100Php + 200php back to Fiesta Mall after the climb) and tell the driver that you will climb Mt. Manabu
By Car:
- Take the whole stretch of SLEX from Magallanes until you reach Star Tollway (214php regular / 260php via Skyway)
- Head straight to Lipa (Tambo) Exit (151php)
- The trip to Sm Lipa to Mt. Manabu takes about 30-45minutes depending on traffic.
- Go to Robinsons Mall until you see the Fiesta all intersection. Head straight farther and then turn lef to the road going to Sto. Tomas.
- Head right to Barangay Sto. Tomas.
- You can also use Waze or Google Maps for easier directions when using a private vehicle.
Tips and Fees
- Registration: 20php
- Guide (not required): 500php for dayhike and 1,250php for overnight
- If you will bring a car, overnight parking fee is 100php when inside the gated area.
- The path to the jumpoff is two narrow for two cars to fit. Better brace ourself and pray that no tricycle or car will come at you when heading to the jumpoff.
- There are bathing areas in the jumpoff (20php)
- Civet Coffee: (Free per cup / 200php per jar / 500php per bag
- Most importantly, leave no trace. Clean up and bring garbage bags
- The camp site can accommodate around 20 tents
Any plans of going to Mt. Manabu? If you have any other questions or if I miss out on some useful information, please let me know in the comments section.
Check out my Mt. Manabu vlog in my Youtube channel. Please Subscribe! : )
Oh by the way…
I also vlog in Instagram Stories almost every day (With B-Rolls and edits) to document a slice of my life. 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! : )
Hi! I’m a silent follower of your blog. Glad to see you back hiking again! Looking forward to more of your adventures.
Lorenz
The Novice Trekker
Hey! Thank you so much! Yes, the sling is finally off and I’m also back to riding my bike in longer distances as well. Take care out there. 🙂