Mount Mariveles is popular in the local mountaineering community as one of the major climbs near Manila. To date, there are six known peaks with established trails – Tarak Peak and the nearby El Saco Peak, Pantingan or Banayan Peak, Bataan Peak, Mariveles Peak and Vintana Peak. Aside from these six, there are other peaks around its caldera that are waiting to be explored.
The mountain sits at the southern part of Bataan Peninsula. It is actually a dormant volcano towering at 1,388 meters above sea level and bounded by the towns of Orion, Bagac and Mariveles, where majority of its land area falls.
The Trek to Tarak Peak
I got to summit Tarak Peak of Mount Mariveles (1,026 meters) on a day hike, approximately five-hour assault from the trailhead at Barangay Alas-Asin. It was generally a climb with moderate difficulty and best done before the sun rises to avoid the scorching heat. The view atop Tarak Peak is the famed Tarak Ridge with the 360° vista of the surrounding towns as well as the other peaks around the caldera, overlooking the West Philippine Sea and Manila Bay with the island of Corregidor and Cabbalo from the distance.
The usual itinerary for a day trike coming from Manila is to catch the midnight or 1 AM bus to Mariveles and get off at Alas-Asin, register at the barangay hall and start the trek before 430 AM. You are estimated to arrive at Tarak Ridge at around 9 AM and to Tarak Peak before 10 AM. Start your descent around 11 AM and you’ll be back at the trailhead around 2 PM with enough time for a food trip in Mariveles or Balanga before coming back to Manila. Estimated budget per person for a group of four is around P1,000. Guides are readily available the barangay hall.
Tarak Peak Day Hike Itinerary
0000H: Assembly at Genesis Doroteo Jose
0100H: Bus Departure to Mariveles
0400H: Arrival in Barangay Alas-asin / Registration
0430H: Start Trek
0900H: Arrival in Tarak Ridge
0945H: Arrival in Tarak Peak / Rest
1100H: Start Descent
1400H: Back in Barangy Alas-asin Hall / Rest / Fix-up
1500H: Proceed to Balanga
1600H: Food trip in Balanga
1800H: Depart for Manila
2100H: Back in Manila