Day Hike Guide to Nagpatong Rock in Tanay, Rizal

Nagpatong Rock is one of the most interesting landscapes that can be found in Tanay, Rizal. It’s composed of two separate limestone towers facing each other. The cliffs are made of blocks that are stacked together, hence its name “nagpatong”.

How Nagpatong Rock came to be is not clear. There is a prevailing theory that, like most places in the Philippines, it was once underwater before the ocean level went down.

Nagpatong Rock is good for beginner climbers. It usually takes 1 hour or so to trek to the large tower.

Our trek to Nagpatong Rock

We visited here sometime in 2019. On the day of our trek, the trail was muddy from the rain in the previous days. We had to walk on the undisturbed grass on the side of the trail so our shoes would not sink.

The trail is relatively easy — there isn’t much assault or long ascends involved. The challenging part is climbing up to the top of the large tower. It reminded me of my previous climb to Pico de Loro in Cavite.

We head to climb up a steep ladder and then later on use the natural footholds in the rock to heave ourselves up while holding onto a rope for support.

The tower’s summit offers a nice mountain view.

Once everyone in our group had gathered at the top, the guides went to the smaller tower so they could take pictures of us. The guides are familiar with this routine, they know what they’re doing. For solo pictures, the rest of us would hide behind boulders so we would not be seen in the camera. In regular climbs, there is ample time given for everyone to get solo and group pictures to make the climb worth it.

The descent is more difficult since we could fall with a wrong step. The guides needed to assist us carefully.

Once we were back on the trail, I was able to wash off the mud in my sandals from one of the water streams in the mountains. I even saw a carabao pulling a makeshift cart used by a father and son. It was an interesting sight.

Overall, from the jump-off point it took us about 3 hours to reach the tower’s summit due to the muddy trail and then another 1 hour to head back. I enjoyed trekking again, as it has been ages since my last trek.

How to get to Nagpatong Rock Formation

Nagpatong Rock Formation can be found in Tanay, Rizal.

Here are the commute directions:

• From Cubao, ride a jeep to Cogeo Gate 2 (P24 per person, 30 minutes). From there, ride another jeep to Cuyambay (P45, 1 hour). Then take a tricycle to barangay hall (P25 per person, 10 min). Register your name and secure a guide.
• From the barangay hall, take a tricycle or habal-habal to the jump-off point (P40 per person, 15 min).

If you wish to see the sunrise in Nagpatong Rock, depart Manila by 1:30AM.

Sample itinerary to Nagpatong Rock

Here’s a sample itinerary to Nagpatong Rock and the nearby Tungtong Falls, which are doable for beginners. This is an early climb so you can witness the sunrise in the summit. Don’t forget that this is just a guide, and you should adjust your schedule accordingly.

1:30AM Meetup in Manila
2AM Departure to Barangay Cayumbay in Tanay, Rizal
4AM Arrival / breakfast / registration and orientation
4:30AM Start trekking
6:45AM Summit / photo-op
8AM Start descent
10AM Back at barangay / early lunch
11AM Trek to Tungtong Falls
12NN Arrival in Tungtong Falls / swimming
2PM Trek back to barangay
3PM Wash up
4PM Travel back to Manila
6PM ETA Manila

Here are some things to note:

• From the jump-off point, it takes about 1 hour to reach the tower’s summit. During rainy season, expect the trek to take longer.
• For casual climbers, a popular side trip is Tungtong Falls, which is a 1-hour trek from the barangay hall. For those who’d like to climb two mountains in a day, there is option to proceed to Mount Masungki. It takes an additional 1.5 hour to reach its summit. Or you can drive to Daranak Falls so you can wash up and refresh yourselves.

Travel Tips

• Bring at least 1 liter of water and trail food.
• Wear appropriate clothing for a hike. Put on durable sandals or shoes. Gloves are suggested so you can safely hold onto rough rock surfaces, but not required.
• There are sari-sari stores at the registration area where you can buy food and other essentials.
• The best time to visit Nagpatong Rock is during the dry season, when the trail is easy to take.
• Expect it to be crowded during holidays and weekends. To avoid queues, it’s best to visit Nagpatong Rock on weekdays.

Nagpatong Rock Rates

Here are the current rates (Updated as of 2022):

• Registration fee: P100 per person
• Environmental fee: P30 per person
• Guide fee: P500 to Nagpatong / P750 to Nagpatong-Masungki / P250 to Tungtong Falls (Guide fees are good for up to 5 people)

A safe budget would be P1500 per person for a day hike.

Make sure to give a tip to your guide if you’re satisfied with their assistance!

Contact

For inquiries, you can contact the tourism office of Tanay:

Tanay Tourism: Facebook | 0998 5788199 or 0998 9881590

Has this guide on Nagpatong Rock in Tanay, Rizal, been helpful? If you have any questions or comments, let us know in the comments below.

What to read next:

• Day Trip in Tanay, Rizal
• Top Things to Do in Tanay, Rizal

Interested in climbing? Here are other climbing/trekking articles:

• Mount Pulag
• Mount Kupapey (Mountain Province)
• Nagpatong Rock (Tanay, Rizal)
• Mount Mabilog (San Pablo, Laguna)
• Lake Holon (Tboli, South Cotabato)

Others:

• Outdoor adventures in the Philippines