Facts
- Elevation: 2,582 m (8,471 ft)
- Prominence: 2,582 m
- Ribu category:
Tinggi Sedang - Region:
Central Philippines - Island: Mindoro
- Coordinates: 13.2625, 120.9950
- Rating:
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Mount Halcon is the highest mountain in Oriental Mindoro and widely regarded as the most difficult mountain to climb in the country, featuring dense lowland jungle, leech-ridden moss forest zones, slippery ridges and stream crossings. The first documented ascent was carried out in November 1906 by botanist Elmer Drew Merrill with a Philippine forestry and military team.
Climbs are rare and demanding, requiring 3–4 days round‑trip via trailheads at Barangay Lantuyan or Bayanan (40m). Trekkers pass through high-rainfall valleys and steep ridgelines, camping near Alpaya or Dulangan River on the first night, then heading to Karuwayan camp and knife-edge ridges to reach the summit.
It’s an ecological treasure trove—home to many Mindoro endemic species, including the critically endangered Mindoro bleeding-heart pigeon and Mindoro scops owl, rediscovered only in limited expeditions.
Practicalities
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- Getting there: The approach from Manila: ferry from Batangas → Land transfer via Calapan → jeepney to Baco → trailhead village.
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- Permits: Climbing Halcon is only allowed during the official climb season (Feb 1–May 31) to protect forest and forest‑dwelling species. Permits must be issued by the Baco Municipal Tourism Office, requiring ID, medical certificate and proof of mountaineering experience or Basic Mountaineering Course. Registration and orientation are mandatory at the village.
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- Water sources: Above ~2,300 m, water becomes very scarce.
Local Average Monthly Rainfall (in Cebu) 
Location
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Origins and Meaning
“Sialdang,” meaning “high above the clouds” in the Mangyan‑Alangan dialect. The peak is sacred to the Mangyan Indigenous community, whose ancestral lands cover the forest approach. In cultural lore, a Japanese wartime holdout, Captain Fumio Nakahara, is said to have survived in a cave on Mount Halcon until the late 1970s—adding to the mountain’s aura of mystery.