Mt. Apo Itinerary: 3+1 days

Mt. Apo viewed from Camp Sabros

Hiking, Mountain Climbing | Mt. Apo Itinerary via Kapatagan-Kidapawan Trail
Jumpoff: brgy. Mainit, Kapatagan, Digos, Davao del Sur
Trail end: Lake Agco, Kidapawan, North Cotabato
2946.5 MASL (Digos Peak); 2908.6 MASL (Summit campsite); 2300 MASL (Lake Venado)
Specs: Strenous trekking, about 6 hours per day with 87-degree assault. Boulder trekking around sulfur vents and river trekking.
Trekking time: 2 days to summit; 1 day descend. Another day to go back to Davao City and back to Manila


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Things to consider:
. Make sure you arrange all necessary permits prior to the climb
. Some requirements to get a permit: Letter of intent, ID picture, medical certificate, application form and waiver form
. Although guides and porters are available at the registration, it is better to arrange for them ahead of time
. Bring an emergency blanket
. Bring a face mask (for the sulfur smoke)
. Butane canisters are not allowed in a plane
. Watersource at Goodygoody and summit camps look and taste like it has traces of sulfur (but we all drank it!)
. There are no trail signs at the boulders, so keep your distance close together during the boulder trek because one could easily get lost when the fog comes in
. There are edible wild berries on the boulder trail
. In some months, you might come across boulder monkeys
. The trail features an 87-degree assault to the crater (but now seems like 75-degrees due to foot traffic), which then leads to the summit campsite
. There’s a hut and a restroom somewhere around Lake Venado
. Lake Venado is slowly filled with water during rainy season towards December; You may need to go around the lake if you want to traverse the mountain (add trek time)
. The water at Marble river rises quickly. It is not recommended to cross the river if it’s raining
. Lots of people climb Mt. Apo during summer months, especially during holy week, so expect packed campsites and trail traffic
. Climbing is not allowed from Kidapawan during off-season months: June-Sept.
. If you have time to spare, you can take a city tour in Davao City.

Options:
. Adjust the itinerary accordingly if your group is delayed (delayed flight, need more time shopping). You might spend the night at a different campsite, but it will not throw you all the way off the itinerary
. Add one day before the climb so you can start the climb with fresh energy. Try the zipline and spend your first night at Camp Sabros (09208750015) which is just around 20 minutes trek from the registration office.
. I recommend you to stay at least 2 nights at the summit, or one night at the summit, then another at Lake Venado- to explore all 8 peaks of Mt. Apo, and spend more time in Lake Venado.
. There are plenty of other trails to climb and descend the mountain, but Kapatagan-Kidapawan is the most popular. Other trails: Magpet in Sta Cruz (5 days passing by waterfalls); Tamayong trail (5 days); Talomo (9 days); PNOC (overnight); Sibulan trail in Sta Cruz (3 days); New Israel (3 days)
. You may choose to go back to Digos City or Davao City on the 3rd night but you’ll arrive there late at night, and might have a hard time finding accomodation. Pre-arranged hotel accomodation might be necessary.
. Always check your options between a van and habal habal. Sometimes, the rate is just the same, and it is always safer to take a van especially if it’s rainy

Budget: around P6450 per pax.
Budget estimate for 8 people:

Per person budget (~P5630):
Plane Ticket – 3000 (two way promo fare)
Airport Terminal fee - 200
Food share – 500
Cab fare airport to SM/Ecoland - 115
Bus to digos terminal – 80
Trike digos terminal to digos palengke -15
Van digos palengke to kapatagan – 80
Camp Sabros accomodation – 100 per head (tent)
Registration – 500 (Student 400)
Habal habal from Kapatagan registration to Bgy. Mainit – P50-100
Exit fee – 200
Agco Resort entrance –25 (overnight)
Jeep/van/skylab agco-kidapawan (Iglesia ni Cristo) – 85
Kidapawan to Digos - 60
Bus Digos-davao – 70
Misc - 500

Group budget (~P812.50 each):
Guide fees – 500-1000 per day
Porter – 1000
Guide and porter’s fares and registration – 1500
Lake Agco Resort: entrance P25 + Room (Room: P500 for 2 or P1000 for 8)



Registration at Sitio Baras, Kapatagan, Digos, Davao del Sur (Photo from Nono)



Boulders and sulfur vents

Summit view, from Digos side

Lake Arenas (crater lake)

View of Lake Jordan from the watersource area

Descend to Lake Venado (Photo from Nono)

Mt Apo summit viewed from Lake Venado (Photo from LArry)

Marble River - river trekking (Photo from Larry)

Itinerary and expenses recorded on August 9, 2008