WHAT TO EXPECT DURING A PICO DE LORO HIKE
As time slots at the park are strictly followed, it’s best to have a proper breakfast before arriving — that way, you’ll feel fueled and ready for your hiking adventure!
When you arrive at the Mts. Palay-Palay–Mataas-na-Gulod Protected Landscape, you’ll show your permit to the park officer, complete your registration, and watch a short 15-minute AV presentation to get familiar with the park and its guidelines. After that, you’ll meet your guide — just follow them throughout the hike and you’re good to go!
Pack light — just enough snacks, trail water, sunscreen, and bug spray to keep you comfy along the way.
You’ll cross small streams and take on rolling slopes as you make your way up the mountain. Some parts of the trail are a bit steep, but don’t worry — there are ropes to help you climb safely and comfortably. A steel view deck now stands along the trail, giving you a beautiful sweeping view of the mountain range. From there, you’ll enter a bamboo forest that leads to the old campsite.
Camping is no longer allowed, but the campsite still gives you a great vantage point. On clear days, you’ll spot Pico de Loro’s iconic monolith — that tall, single block of rock that looks like a parrot’s beak from the sea (hence the name!). It used to be open for a short rope-assisted ascent, but that section is now closed to help the park recover. When you’re ready, you’ll stroll back down the same nature-filled trail — still surrounded by amazing views.