Guides 

 Canlaon Climbing Guide

The Environment

    For many hundreds of years, man has passed through the area we now call Mt. Kanla-on (Canlaon) National Park. He has gathered the products of Nature which abound within its forests, has told stories of its creation, and has developed a deep respect for its spirits and the wilderness.

    Today, many of us are drawn to this mountain for many of the same reasons--its legends, its spirits, and its primeval environment. Evolving for over a million years, the wilderness of Mt. Kanla-on National Park contains a delicate ecosystem containing plants and animals living in harmony.

    Left undisturbed, this natural balance will be maintained and the natural cycles of life and evolution will continue forever. When visiting this wilderness, we must be careful not to disturb this delicate ecosystem.

And its Features

    For a more enlightening park experience, an unhurried quiet walk with a small group (ten to twelve at the most) lets the visitor sense the unique environment. Travelling slowly through the dense forest, one will discover each area somewhat different from the other; various kinds of unique plantlife, from the enigmatic strangler fig (a tree-killing vine that grows into a gigantic tree while strangling its host) to delicate orchids and the ferns and epiphytes of the mossy forest.

    Wildlife sounds abound beneath the triple-canopy forest and if your group is quiet and observant, a number of these animals can be seen. Mt. Kanla-on National Park is the home of many species of birds including the endemic hornbill, colorful parakeets, and even migratory birds from northern Asia. The huge but harmless monitor lizards scramble over fallen logs and Draco the "flying" lizard might glide overhead. Although there are several harmless species of snakes which are rarely encountered, avoid handling any because the poisonous cobras make their home here too.

    At the ridge top, panoramic scenes of sheer rock walls and cliffs with the lush cover of the dwarf forest, clash with the Margaha Valley's cogon grass and shrub-covered floor. Mornings come late and the evenings early in the Valley. Pastel patches of greens, yellows, olives, ochres and tans from agricultural lands below are suddenly cut by the deep blue sea with cloud formations hugging the curve of the horizon.

    The phenomenal clouds over Makawiwili Peak are illustrative of the complex balance of Nature's forces Man has started to respect.

Typical Four-Day Schedule

DAY 1
0700 Breakfast in Bacolod.
0800 Arrange for transportation to Mambucal Resort.
1000 At Mambucal, arrange for camp site or accomodations for the night.
1200 Have lunch and spend the rest of the day exploring or relaxing.

DAY 2
0500 Breakfast.
0600 Start hike.
0630 Register at the Wasay Entrance to Kanla-on National Park.
0700 Hike up lower slopes through the dense rainforest.
1100 Stop for lunch at the first water source.
1200 Resume hike.
1500 Arrive at the Hardoy Sang Balo camp area. Set up camp here or continue through the mossy forest to the next water source at Samoc Lagoon.
1800 Set up camp near Samoc Lagoon and prepare dinner.

DAY 3
0600 Breakfast.
0700 Break camp and start hike to summit.
0900 Reach PMS Lagoon. Rest and replenish water supplies.
0930 Climb ridge overlooking Margaha Valley.
1000 Continue past Makawiwili Peak around the extinct crater.
1200 Reach the eastern saddle just below Kanla-on Volcano. Set up camp and have lunch
1300 Scramble up the lava and cinder-covered slope of the volcano. Spend the afternoon exploring the summit and enjoying the panoramic views.
1700 Return to camp for dinner and preparation for the cold night.

DAY 4
0500 Up early to watch the glorious sunrise.
0600 Breakfast.
0700 Break camp and hike past the summit toward the western park entrance Guintubdan.
1000 Reach Rancho Dos camp area. Rest and replenish water.
1200 Reach the Guintubdan Entrance Station. After lunch, meet pre-arranged transportation or take public transportation back to Bacolod City.
1400 Return to hotel for a cool shower and a hot meal.

Special Considerations

  • The best time to hike through Mt. Kanla-on National Park is during the dry season between February and May. However, with proper equipment, the rainy season can give the visitor an entirely different park experience with the proliferation of "wet season" flora and fauna. (Editors note: It rains year-round even during the "dry" season and the constant fog at the upper elevations keeps everything wet so always be prepared for poor weather)
  • The park contains more than 40-km of foot trails. Depending on your physical condition, entry point, and time restraints, hikes lasting from a few hours to several days can be planned.
  • The Ara-al and Mapot trails provide pleasant one-day access to the summit. While the Masulog trail offers the shortest route (8-km), it is a steady uphill climb through the most severely damaged portions of the park. The Wasay trail penetrates the most pristine wilderness of Mt. Kanla-on Park affording the visitor two days of rain- and mossy forest environments.
  • Be cautious near the crater's edge. Steep cliffs and loose volcanic rock make this area particularly hazardous.
  • Information and permits can be obtained at the Mt. Kanla-on National Park Office, Bureau of Forest Development, Bacolod City.
  • View Trail Map (27k)
For More Information: 
  • Department of Tourism 

    • Region VI - Western Visayas 
    Capitol Ground, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City 
    Tel. (033) 337-5411 / 509-3550
    E-mail: deptour6@iloilo.net 

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