Mt. Kapigpiglatan Dayhike Guide

Introduction

Mt. Kapigpiglatan is a beginner-friendly mountain located in Barangay Omaya in the municipality of San Narciso in the province of Zambales. It has a difficulty of 3/9 and a trail class of 1 to 3. Mt. Kapigpiglatan is a minor climb and it has a height of 678 meters above sea level or 2224 feet. It was opened to the public in July 2023. Mt. Kapigpiglatan got its name from the Ilocano word “piglat” which means scar. According to locals, the mountain was named as such because in the past it was once a common pasture area for farm animals such as carabaos, cows, and horses as well as a hunting ground for deer and wild boards. Furthermore, the heavy rains in the region created a mud puddle where the farm animals washed and the digging marks left by the wild boars resembled scars from a distance.

Mt. Kapigpiglatan has a distance of 6.6 kilometers from the jump-off point up to the summit. It will take only three to four hours of hiking at an average pace in order for the mountaineers to reach the summit. Mt. Kapigpiglatan offers hikers astounding greenery scenery and a 360-degree scenic view of the nearby surroundings as well as the Cawag Hexa mountain range. So if you’re new to the hiking scene and you’re up for a challenge then Mt. Kapigpiglatan is the perfect mountain to try.

Name: Mt. Kapigpiglatan
Difficulty: 3/9
Elevation: 678 MASL
Jump-Off: Barangay Omaya, San Narciso, Zambales
Hours to summit: 3 to 4 hours
Features: fantastic view of Zambales landscape, greenery scenery and Veto Falls

My trip to Mt. Kapigpiglatan

After nearly six months of no hiking activities, I yearn for the mountains again. For this reason, I looked on the social media mountaineering group, and after hours of browsing dayhike events I finally found my next mountain to hike and it is the newly opened Mt. Kapigpiglatan in Zambales. It was Saturday evening when I left my house and boarded a taxi going to the assembly point in Mandaluyong. After twenty minutes of waiting, all the group members finally arrived at the assembly point and after that, our private van started rolling towards San Narciso, Zambales. It was around 2:30 am when we had our stopover and I had our early breakfast at the typical eatery at San Marcelino, Zambales where I buy Tapsilog and a brewed coffee to have an energy at the climb later.

After our breakfast, our van started heading towards the registration point of Mt. Kapigpiglatan. It was around 4:18 am when we arrived at the basketball court and registered ourselves and after a few minutes, we had a brief orientation from the mountain guides and organizer wherein they discussed the mountain trail and the do’s and don’ts while hiking. After that, we started walking, and the initial part of the trail was on a cemented pathway and a straightforward trail in the forest. A few minutes later we reached the junction that had the direction or signage. To the right is going to the summit and to the left is going to the Veto Falls. So our group heads in the right direction and after that we cross a small stream.

Then the trail becomes a continuous ascending with greenery everywhere I look around. After hours of hiking, we reached the man-made wooden Bird nest where our group saw the plain fields and rivers of Zambales. Afterward, we continued hiking and I felt like I was in the province of Bukidnon because of the verdant hills nearby which is really soothing to the eyes. Then we passed the vast grassland area and I could feel the heat already because the sun was already high at that time.

It was around 8:29 am when we reached the summit of Mt. Kapigpiglatan and I noticed that there was only one tree that could protect us from the sun. From the summit, I could see the broad landscape of Zambales as well as the Cawag Hexa mountain range and the West Philippine Sea. Without a doubt, I’ve been mesmerized again with nature and God always amazes me whenever I climb mountains.

After enjoying the view from the summit, our mountain guides told our group that it was time to start descending towards our side trip which is the three-tier horsetail waterfall called Veto Falls. We arrived at the falls after hours of descending and some of the members took a refreshing dip at the falls while others just ate their packed lunch. Then I found out that the water here is so ice cold but nevertheless, we take our time to enjoy the peaceful place.

Afterward, it was time to go back to the jump-off point and after one hour and eighteen minutes of descending we reached the jump-off point and I ate my remaining snack inside my backpack. Truly it was a solid experience for all of us and we thank our local mountain guides for their assistance throughout the whole climb. I am so thankful that I was able to experience the beauty of the newly discovered mountain in Zambales. To God be all the glory.

Sample itinerary to Mt. Kapigpiglatan

11PM – Assembly at the designated place within Metro Manila
4:45AM – Arrived at San Narciso, Zambales, registration and orientation
5:10AM – Start of hiking
8:40AM – At the summit of Mt. Kapigpiglatan, rest and picture-taking
9:30AM – Start of descent going to Veto Falls
11:45AM – At Veto Falls, swimming and rest
1PM – Descent going back to the barangay hall
2:30PM – End of hiking, wash up and rest
4PM – Departure going back to Metro Manila
9:40PM – Arrived at Metro Manila

Things to bring on your visit to Mt. Kapigpiglatan:

Cash and pocket money
Cellphone and power bank
Trail food
1.5 liters of bottled water
Cap
Umbrella
Hiking shoes or hiking sandals
Extra underwear, shirt, and short
Toiletries

Reminders and Tips:

• For public notice, starting September 2023, the Barangay Omaya Tourism Assistance Center will implement a no downpayment, no reservation policy in order to prevent scams, hoarding of slots, and same-day cancellations. Note: all mountaineers are required to register first and undergo proper visitor orientation at the Barangay Omaya Tourism Assistance desk which is located beside the barangay hall. For the safety of all mountaineers, they must only transact with registered mountain tour guides.

• You could refill your empty bottled water at the Veto Falls.

• It’s better if you start your hike as early as 4:30 am to avoid the intense heat of the sun, especially during the summer season. On the other hand, don’t forget to waterproof your belongings during the rainy season.

• I highly recommend getting an organized dayhike tour package when you plan to visit Mt. Kapigpiglatan for ease and convenience. The inclusion in the dayhike tour package is a roundtrip private van transfer from Manila to Zambales, a mountain guide fee, and a registration fee. On the other hand, the exclusions are personal food and shower fees.

• Stay on the trail and do not damage any flora or fauna that you may encounter.

• Respect the local culture and do not disturb the environment by shouting or playing loud music.

• Littering, vandalism, and kindling of wood for cooking are strictly not allowed.

• For any inquiries or concerns, please message the official Facebook page of San Narciso, Zambales Municipal Tourism.

• Last but not least, hike at your own risk and always observe the leave-no-trace policy.
  
  
  

Predominantly, we never know what will happen each day. So each day of our life will be a surprise of what things will bring us. May it be happy or sad, exciting or boring, scary or fearless, forgettable or memorable. One thing I want to wish for God is for you to be safe, be in good health always, give you courage and love, and give you the comfort you deserve. All in all, I hope that this hiking blog has been gratifying to you. Until next time.