Illustrative image, not a photograph

Mount Apo Natural Park

The Philippines' highest peak, a multi-day guided climb through cloud forest sacred to Mindanao's Lumad peoples

Difficulty: Expert
Duration: 3-4 days for the classic Kidapawan or Sta. Cruz summit trek
Summit elevation: 2954 m

At 2,954 metres, Apo is the highest peak in the Philippines, a dormant volcano straddling North Cotabato and Davao del Sur. The classic multi-day routes from Kidapawan or Sta. Cruz climb through dipterocarp and mossy cloud forest, cross the Marbel boulder fields, and camp near the summit crater's sulfur vents before the final push to the top.

Highlights

The summit crater and its active sulfur vents
Lake Venado, a scenic high-altitude campsite
The Marbel boulder fields near the summit approach
Old-growth mossy cloud forest on the lower slopes

Getting there

Fly into Davao City, then transfer by road to Kidapawan City (about 2 hours) or Digos City (about 1.5 hours) to meet the PAMB-arranged guide at the trailhead.

Safety tips

This is a serious multi-day climb with real weather, altitude and terrain risk, including exposed boulder fields and sulfur vents near the summit; a mandatory guide and porter team, sturdy multi-day gear and a realistic fitness level are all essential, and the closure period is a hard rule, not a suggestion.

What to bring

Full multi-day camping and cold-weather gear
Sturdy trekking boots broken in well before the climb
A gas mask or bandana for the sulfur vents near the summit
Enough food and water purification for 3-4 days

Permit

Permit required

Official source: Mount Apo Natural Park Protected Area Management Board (DENR)
Fee: Combined PAMB conservation fee, mandatory guide and porter fees typically range from PHP 3,000-6,000 per person for a multi-day climb, depending on the trail and group size
Apply at least: Arrange permits through the PAMB offices in Kidapawan or Digos at least a week ahead; the park closes entirely to trekking and camping every year from June to August
How to apply: Contact the PAMB office on your chosen side of the mountain (Kidapawan City for the Cotabato approach, Digos City for the Davao del Sur side) to book the conservation permit, mandatory guide and porters; independent unguided climbing is not permitted.

Best months

September to May, outside the annual closure and wettest months

Avoid

June to August, when the entire park is closed to trekking and camping under the PAMB annual closure

Mount Apo is the highest peak in the Philippines and a dormant volcano sacred to the Lumad peoples of Mindanao, including the Bagobo and Manobo; the PAMB enforces the June-to-August closure to let vegetation and wildlife recover during the wettest months.

Official source

DENR · Mount Apo Natural Park