Mt. Daraitan, Tinipak River and Cave

Mt. Daraitan, Tinipak River and Tinipak Cave

Tanay, Rizal / Gen. Nakar, Quezon
Major jump-off: Brgy. Daraitan Tanay, Rizal
Summit: Unverified
Estimated days and hours to explore: 1-2 days / Summit: 3-4 hrs, Tinipak river-cave: 2-3 hrs
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 3-4
Features: community, river, rock formations, cave, tropical forest, fauna and flora, scenic views, exploratory

Background
A very promising outdoor destination which offers different and exciting adventures is the hidden paradise located in Tanay, Rizal known as Barangay Daraitan. It is usually visited for swimming, camping, caving, spelunking, rappelling, rock-climbing and hiking since early 2005. It is said that the cleanest body of water in Region IV is found here, and it is also one of the reasons as to why Daraitan has gained fame as a perfect weekend getaway. Due to the number of activities that one can do here, a lot of tourists and outdoor enthusiasts has been going back particularly during the summer season, and many now considers it as one of the must-visit destinations in the Province of Rizal. Daraitan is also marveled for its natural wonders called
Tinipak River and Tinipak Cave. The Tinipak River offers crystal clear water with several natural hot springs,
colorful stones beneath the surface, amazing rock formations and giant sized marbles. On the other hand,
Tinipak Cave, posses’ unique features of subterranean river combined with exciting challenges of rock bouldering, river crossing and spelunking. Moreover, the potential exploratory spots in the river and caves, and the fantastic views waiting at the brush summit of Mt. Daraitan makes it more attractive. Another good thing about Daraitan is that the vicinity has an organized tour guiding system. This means that tourists/visitors will be guided accordingly while exploring the area.


Tinipak River

Similar to Mt. Sembrano and Daranak Falls, Daraitan is also accessible from Tanay Market which is within 1 ½ hour of travel. The entrance to its community has a wooden bridge where people and vehicles can cross, however, this was recently damaged by floods. As of July, 2013, local residence temporarily uses small boats to cross the river. Upon entering in the community, take note that there are two roads that separate the barangay hall from the jump-off point. The left road leads to the barangay hall while the right one leads to the community, which is the main jump-off point. Visitors usually start trekking at the entrance especially climbers, however, in the interest of time, taking a tricycle ride from the entrance may be desirable.

There are four different trails that must be remembered in exploring Daraitan: The Rock Boulder and Bagbagan for tinipak adventures and the Lilindigan and Cablao (Gen. Nakar Quezon) for the summit of Mt. Daraitan. Those trails are accessible through straightforward main trail of Daraitan. The initial highlight of the trail is the Tinipak River and the natural sound of its current. Next is the “Tinipak Creek” that serves as water source, formerly known as “Tinipak Falls”, before it was ruined by Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. However, its waters are still fresh and abundant still flowing down into the main river. Continuing this trail leads to a private cottage, which is already around 40 minutes away from the main jump-off. The trails up to the summit offers diversity of environment which includes clean and pleasant streams, community, pastoral land, orchard, farmland, grassy land and tropical forest. Interestingly, for cavers, there is an additional caving challenge in one rarely explored “deep cave” which can be found along the trail towards the summit.This can be explored with a rappelling equipment and of course a guide.

Summit
The summit assault possess challenge of 70 to 80 degree trail that literally requires the use of both arms and legs to ascend, as well as to pass through and over logs and crags. The last trail fork before the summit leads to two different viewing decks, in which rightward leads to Tungtungang Bato/Peak 1 and the leftward one goes to Tungtungang Bato/Peak 2 or the summit itself. There are a lot of interesting sights which are very noticeable at the viewing decks especially on a clear day. In fact, the “River System” below that look like a zigzag road is seen from Peak 1 and some nearby highlands completing the beautiful spectacle from this standpoint. While on Peak 2, the Sea of Quezon Province can be seen from a distance. Depending on the weather, there is also a possibility of witnessing a breathtaking view of the “Sea of Clouds”. Perhaps this is the most surprising moment in Mt. Daraitan that provides priceless experience for mountaineers.

Suggested Itineraries

• Day Hike: Summit via Lilindigan Trail + Tinipak river-cave

0300 ETD to Tanay Market from Shaw Blvd via Private Transportation
0430 ETA Tanay Market / Buy Supplies
0500 Take Tricycle or Jeep rent to Daraitan
0630 ETA Daraitan / Boat Ride / Take Tricycle to Brgy. Hall
0650 ETA Brgy. Hall / Register and Get Guide / Proceed to jump-off point
0700 Start Trek (mail trail)
0740 ETA Tinipak Creek-Cottage-River / continue trekking via main trail
0750 ETA Boundary to Bagbagan Trail / continue trekking via main trail
0800 ETA Trail head of Lilindigan / Take Lilindigan (Left Trail)
0840 ETA Last Nipa Hut / Last Water Source (near mango trees)
0850 ETA Dalanghitaan
0900 ETA Talahiban / Take left trail for summit assault
1000 ETA Batong Lagusan
1030 ETA Trail Fork to Summit (Right Trail for Bato Peak 1) and (Left for Bato Peak 2)
1130 Start descent / lunch along the trail
1330 ETA Main Trail
1340 ETA Boundary to Bagbagan trail / Take Bagbagan and river cross to tinipak cave
1440 ETA Tinipak cave / swimming and cave exploration
1540 Backtrack / river cross and take rock boulders going to main trail
1720 ETA Jump-off / Rest and wash / Take Tricycle to Brgy. Hall / Log out / Proceed for boat ride
1800 ETD to Tanay Market
1930 ETD to Shaw Blvrd
2130 ETA Shaw Blvrd

• Day Hike: Summit via Cablao Trail + Tinipak river-cave 

0300 ETD to Tanay Market from Shaw Blvd via Private Transportation
0430 ETA Tanay Market / Buy Supplies
0500 Take Tricycle or Jeep rent to Daraitan
0630 ETA Daraitan / Boat Ride / Take Tricycle to Brgy. Hall
0650 ETA Brgy. Daraitan / Register and Get Guide / Proceed to jump-off point
0700 Start Trek (Mail Trail)
0740 Tinipak Creek-Cottage-River / continue trekking via main trail
0750 ETA Boundary to Bagbagan Trail / continue trekking via main trail
0800 ETA Trail head of Lilindigan / continue trekking via main trail
0845 ETA Cemented stair
0900 ETA Cablao Elementary School
1100 ETA Trail Fork to Summit (Right Trail for Bato Peak 1) and (Left for Bato Peak 2) / Lunch
1230 Start descent
1400 ETA Cablao Elementary School / Resume descent
1430 ETA Trail head of Lilindigan Trail / continue trekking via main trail
1440 Boundary to Bagbagan trail / Take Bagbagan and river cross to tinipak cave
1540 Tinipak cave / swimming and cave exploration
1640 Backtrack / river cross and take rock boulders going to main trail
1820 ETA Jump-off / Rest and wash / Take tricycle to Brgy. Hall / Log out / Proceed for boat ride
1900 ETD to Tanay Market
2030 ETD to Shaw Blvd
2230 ETA Shaw Blvd

• Overnight: Tinipak river-cave + Light pack Summit assault via  Lilindigan Trail

Day 1
0500 ETD to Tanay Market from Shaw Blvd Jeep Terminal
0630 ETA Tanay Market / Buy Supplies
0700 Take Tricycle or Jeep rent to Daraitan
0830 ETA Daraitan / Boat Ride / Take Tricycle to Brgy. Hall
0850 ETA Brgy. Hall / Register and Get Guide / Proceed to jump-off point
0900 Start Trek (mail trail)
0940 ETA Tinipak Creek-Cottage-River / set camp / early lunch
1130 Take rock boulders and river cross to tinipak cave
1230 ETA Tinipak cave / swimming and cave exploration
1500 Backtrack to Tinipak cottage
1600 Back to Tinipak cottage / rest and continue swimming / prepare for dinner
1900 Dinner / Socials
2200 Lights out

Day 2
0500 Wake-up call / breakfast / prepare for summit assault
0640 Start trek (main trail)
0650 ETA Boundary to Bagbagan Trail / continue trekking via main trail
0700 ETA Trail head of Lilindigan / Take Lilindigan (Left Trail)
0740 ETA Last Nipa Hut / Last Water Source (near mango trees)
0750 ETA Dalanghitaan
0800 ETA Talahiban / Take left trail for summit assault
0900 ETA Batong Lagusan
0930 ETA Trail Fork to Summit (Right Trail for Bato Peak 1) and (Left for Bato Peak 2)
1030 Start descent
1210 Back to Main Trail
1230 ETA Tinipak Cottage-River / rest / lunch / swimming
1500 Break camp
1530 Headback to jump-off
1610 Jump-off / Rest and wash / Take Tricycle to Brgy. Hall / Log out / Proceed for boat ride
1700 ETD to Tanay Market
1830 ETD to Shaw Blvd
2030 ETA Shaw Blvd

• Overnight: Tinipak river-cave + Light pack Summit assault via  Cablao Trail

Day 1
0500 ETD to Tanay Market from Shaw Blvd Jeep Terminal
0630 ETA Tanay Market / Buy Supplies
0700 Take Tricycle or Jeep rent to Daraitan
0830 ETA Daraitan / Boat Ride / Take Tricycle to Brgy. Hall
0850 ETA Brgy. Hall / Register and Get Guide / Proceed to jump-off point
0900 Start Trek (mail trail)
0940 ETA Tinipak Creek-Cottage-River / set camp / early lunch
1130 Take rock boulders and river cross to tinipak cave
1230 ETA Tinipak cave / swimming and cave exploration
1500 Backtrack to Tinipak cottage
1600 Back to Tinipak cottage / rest and continue swimming / prepare for dinner
1900 Dinner / Socials
2100 Lights out 

Day 2
0400 Wake-up call / breakfast / prepare packed lunch / prepare for summit assault
0640 Start trekking (main trail)
0650 ETA Boundary to Bagbagan Trail / continuous trek via main trail
0700 ETA Trail head of Lilindigan / continuous trek via via main trail
0745 ETA Cemented stair
0800 ETA Cablao Elementary School / Resume Trekking
1000 ETA Trail Fork to Summit (Right Trail for Bato Peak 1) and (Left for Bato Peak 2)
1100 Start descent / Lunch along the trail
1300 ETA Cablao Elementary School / Resume descent
1330 ETA Trail head of Lilindigan / continue trekking via main trail
1340 Boundary Trail to Bagbagan / continue trekking via main trail
1350 Tinipak Cottage-River / rest / snack / swimming
1500 Break camp
1530 Headback to jump-off
1610 Jump-off / Rest and wash / Take Tricycle to Brgy. Hall / Log out / Proceed for boat ride
1700 ETD to Tanay Market
1830 ETD to Shaw Blvd
2030 ETA Shaw Blvd

Special Concerns

• There is a Military detachment prior to the entrance of Brgy. Daraitan
• Rizal and the Sierra Madre range are known to have NPA activities, therefore registration and taking a guide with you is required.
• As much as possible, do not talk of insurgencies and like in all hiking areas, do not wear fatigues, or any items that could mistaken you as a military or NPA personnel.
• Overnight camping is usually done in a place called Tinipak campsite/Bagbagan campsite. However, beware of possible flash floods during rainy season. Hence, camping near the cottage near the Tinipak Creek, or overnight staying at the cottage itself is much safer.
• Network coverage is intermittent
• Peak 1 and Peak 2 are the final destinations of the trek. There is no reported cases of an accidents as of July, 2013, but climbers are still advised to give careful attention when visiting these places to ensure safety. The peak 1 can accommodate 6 to 8 persons and 8 to 10 persons for peak 2. Limit the numbers of participants accordingly.

Expenses

Jeepney from Shaw Blvd. to Tanay Market (First trip between 5 to 6AM): P53
From Tanay Market, you may rent a Jeepney or take a trike to Daraitan. Trike: P40
Guide: P500 - day hike, P750 - overnight
*Optional rent of Cottage: P300




Post script: The article was created by my co-mountaineer, Sir Ramon Gayas Jr. The hike was a side trip from an outreach program by Paragon, a non-profit organization, hosted by another co-mountaineer, Xian Pitargue for the school children of Cablao Elementary School.

As of July 2013

~ City Boy Tripper