Top 10 Highest Mountains in the Philippines
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional mountaineer, there’s a mountain perfect for you. Here are the top 10 highest mountains in the Philippines you must add to your bucket list.
Mt. Apo – The highest mountain in the Philippines.
Mt. Dulang-Dulang – Second highest mountain in the Philippines.
Mt. Pulag – Highest mountain in Luzon.
Mt. Kitanglad – Trails here are challenging but offer beautiful views and rich biodiversity that make your journey all worth it.
Mt. Kalatungan – It is classified as a potentially active volcano and is considered as one of the most challenging Philippines mountains to hike.
Mt. Tabayoc – Second highest mountain in Luzon.
Mt. Piapayungan – To this day, it remains to be one of Mindanao’s most elusive peaks.
Mt. Ragang – Mt. Ragang is the highest point in Lanao Del Sur.
Mt. Maagnaw – Third highest peak in the Kitanglad range
Mt. Timbak – At the summit, there are three crosses in what is dubbed as “mini-Calvary”.
10 Highest Mountains in the Philippines
Here’s a list of mountains in the Philippines that are perfect for the adventure-seekers.
1. Mt. Apo
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The stunning beauty of Mt. Apo and the fulfillment that awaits adventurous souls who climb it should be experienced by every mountaineer. Standing at 2,956 Meters Above Sea Level, Mt. Apo is the highest mountain in the Philippines and is considered to be the Grandfather of Philippine Mountains.
The journey isn’t easy as it is one of the hardest mountains to hike. You will hike through mystical lakes, lush jungles, rocky mountain sides, and a vertical section of volcanic boulders. It might be a tough adventure but it’s worth it!
Location: Cotabato; Davao del Sur
Elevation: 2,956 meters
How to reach: From Manila, book a flight to Davao City. Upon arrival, ride a vanbound for Kidapawan and proceed to Brgy. Ilomavis, the jump-off point of Mt. Apo.
Difficulty level: 7/9
Interesting fact about Mt. Apo: It’s considered as the center for endemism because it serves as the home of hundreds of animal and plant species that can only be found in the Philippines.
2. Mt. Dulang-Dulang
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Standing at 2,938 meters above sea level, Mt. Dulang-Dulang is the second highest mountain in the Philippines.
Your journey will be filled with amazing views of the lined pine trees, deer, flying lemurs, monkeys, bats, and more. Once you reach the peak, you will see the view of Mt. Apo and the entire Kitanglad range.
Location: Bukidnon
Elevation: 2,938 meters
How to reach: Book a flight to Cagayan de Oro, then take the bus to Malaybalay, Bukidnon. From there, ride jeepney going to Lantapan and head to the jump-off point at Sitio Intavas.
Difficulty level: 8/9
Interesting fact about Dulang-Dulang: It is home to the Talaandig tribe. They consider Mt. Dulang-Dulang a sacred place.
3. Mt. Pulag
Mt. Pulag is like a dream hiking destination to most mountaineers (and soul searchers) because of its picturesque trails and a stunning view of the sea of clouds. It is the highest mountain in Luzon at 2,926 meters.
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While Pulag is not highly recommended for first-timers, the mountain offers several trails for options. Ambangeg Trail is the easiest while Akiki and Tawangan trails are more challenging. If we’re just talking about the tallest mountain in the Philippines with a divine view, Pulag tops the list.
Location: Benguet
Elevation: 2,926 meters
How to reach: From Manila, ride a bus bound for Baguio. Once there, take a jeep going to the jump-off point of your choses trail.
Difficulty level: 3/9
Interesting fact about Mt. Pulag: The indigenous people living in the area consider Mt. Pulag as a sacred place. Because of its height, they believe it is near heaven where they can talk to God.
4. Mt. Kitanglad
Mt. Kitanglad is one of the best mountains in Mindanao you should consider hiking. Because it’s one of the highest mountains in the Philippines, the trails here are challenging but offer beautiful views and rich biodiversity that make your journey all worth it.
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Location: Bukidnon
Elevation: 2,899 meters
Difficulty level: 6/9
Interesting fact about Mt. Kitanglad: Legend has it that this mountain in Mindanao was named after a great flood submerged the land and only the mountain’s peak, which was the size of a blade of lemon grass (tanglad in Filipino) was visible.
5. Mt. Kalatungan
Another tall mountain in the Philippines is Mt. Kalatungan. In the native tongue, it means “praying mantis eggs”. It is classified as a potentially active volcano and is considered as one of the most challenging Philippines mountains to hike.
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Location: Bukidnon
Elevation: 2,880 meters
How to reach: From Cagayan de Oro’s Agora Terminal, you can take a bus bound for Malaybalay, then from Malaybalay, take a bus/jeep to Kibanggay, then a habal-habal to the jump-off.
Difficulty level: 8/9
Interesting fact about Mt. Kalatungan: In keeping with traditions, mountaineers perform a ritual sacrifice prior to the climb to Mt. Kalatungan. Hikers have to bring the following for the ritual sacrifice: a live chicken, some local wine, white and red cloth, and rice.
6. Mt. Tabayoc
Aside from Mt. Pulag, Mt. Tabayoc is another mountain in Luzon you must see. Inside this mountain, you’ll find a Monkey Trail where trekkers have to climb over boulders, swing from one branch to another, and hang on to vines to move forward. Pretty much experiencing Tarzan’s life.
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Tabayoc trail can get pretty confusing so it’s important that you have a guide who knows the way.
Location: Ifugao, Mountain Province
Elevation: 2,842 meters
How to reach: Ride a bus bound for Baguio then an A-Liner bus going to Ballay, Kabayan, the jump-off point.
Difficulty level: 6/9
Interesting fact about Mt. Tabayoc: Tabayoc means “basin”, which may refer to the four lakes surrounding it: Lake Tabeo, Ambulalakao, Iculus, and Detapnaco.
7. Mt. Piapayungan
Mt Piapayungan lies to the southeast of Lake Lanao and east of the Butig Mountains, on the borders between Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato and Maguindanao Provinces. To this day, it remains to be one of Mindanao’s most elusive peaks.
Location: Cotabato, Lanao Del Sur
Elevation: 2,817 meters
Difficulty level: 9/9
8. Mt. Ragang
Also known as the Blue Mountain, Mt. Ragang is the highest point in Lanao Del Sur. The trek here is not an easy one but will be worth it because of the beautiful view of Lake Lanao as well as towns of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Cotabato.
Location: Cotabato, Lanao Del Sur
Elevation: 2,803 meters
Difficulty level: 9/9
Interesting fact about Mt. Pulag: It is an active stratovolcano and one of Mindanao’s most active volcanoes. The last confirmed eruption of Ragang volcano was in 1873.
9. Mt. Maagnaw
Mt. Maagnaw is the third highest peak in the Kitanglad range and one of the highest Philippines mountains. If you’ve hiked Mt. Dulang-Dulang and Mt. Kitanglad, you can also conquer Mt. Maagnaw. It will be a challenge but the views at the summit are truly breathtaking.
Location: Bukidnon
Elevation: 2,742 meters
How to reach: Book a flight to Cagayan de Oro, then take the bus to Malaybalay, Bukidnon. From there, ride jeepney going to Lantapan and head to the jump-off point at Sitio Bul-ogan.
Difficulty level: 9/9
Interesting fact about Mt. Pulag: Mt. Maagnaw shares the ethno cultural heritage of Kitanglad and Dulang-Dulang, being part of the ancestral domain of the Talaandig tribe. A ceremony has to be performed in which a sacrifice of chickens must be done the night before the climb.
10. Mt. Timbak
The scenery at Mt. Timbak features mostly villages and vegetable fields. At the summit, there are three crosses in what is dubbed as “mini-Calvary”. There’s also a sea of clouds, and you can view TaPanPu (Tabayoc, Panotoan, and Pulag) and the range leading all the way to Mt. Ugo.
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Location: Benguet
Elevation: 2,717 meters
How to reach: Take a bus bound for Sagada or Bontoc Mountain Province. Ask the bus conductor to drop you off at KM. 55 and you will see the trailhead going upwards on your right. Once you’re there, you can just ask locals for directions.
Difficulty level: 9/9
