The Pinagpatong Rocks form part of the Masungi Rock Formations which lie along the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Located in Barangay Cuyambay in Tanay, Rizal, the rock formations occupy a vast portion of the barangay’s greenery. Easily seen from the main highway, there are two points to reach the rock formations. The more popular of the two is through the Garden Cottages Subdivision wherein at the jumpoff, 600 concrete steps take visitors to the peak of the rock formations.
Saving that route for another weekend, we ventured through the other entry point. After paying the barangay officials a courtesy visit and securing their clearance, we headed via rented motorbikes towards the jumpoff at Sitio Tablon.
Albeit seldom visited and full of overgrowth, the trip to the Pinagpatong rocks was an easy one-hour trek. It starts with a downhill walk to the grasslands which then transform to the usual shaded forest trail. Farther on, bamboo trees abound with more of them felled and covering the ground. Our guides at this point hacked a new trail. We dutifully crawled under trees and vines; and gingerly crossed jagged rocks and tree branches. We had to squeeze through small openings (on the ground and through rocks!) and haul ourselves over more walls of rock and big roots.
At the first Pinagpatong rock formation, we had our perfunctory photos taken and busied ourselves in scaling the top of the rock. Then we moved to the second and bigger rock formation.
Elated by the sight of one of our guides at the top of the monolith, we were excited to try our hand in replicating his feat. Fortunately, we brought a rope and our guides made use of it. A good half an hour later, not to mention, a lot of slips and plotting, our group made it to the top. The other rocks in the Masungi area and the other mountains of Tanay were in full view at the top.
If going on a day trip, here is a suggested itinerary:
07:00 meet up at Araneta Center in Cubao
07:30 ride jeep to Cogeo (Php25.00)
08:00 ride jeep to Sampaloc (Php43.00)
10:00 alight at Brgy. Cuyambay; arrange for a habal-habal ride (Php30.00 each)
10:15 take habal-habal to the barangay hall and seek the clearance of Brgy. Capt. Rading Juco; register and arrange for a guide (Sir Peter Soriao and Sir Totoy Porcuincula)
11:00 take a habal-habal to Sitio Tablon (Php50.00); lunch
13:00 start trek (leave things at Sir Totoy’s house)
14:00 first “Pinagpatong” rocks
15:00 second “Pinagpatong” rocks
16:00 start descent
16:45 back at jumpoff; wash up
17:30 walk to the highway and then ride a jeep back to Cogeo or Cubao
hello, meron po kayo contact nung guide? :)
di kami sigurado if meron eh. i guess most of them don’t keep one kasi walang electricity sa sitio nila. :S
Aww..sayang… I wanna see those rock formations :(
you can join us this coming August 4. :)
I am from Rizal and I have always wanted to actually climb Masungi rocks. Nice post =)
thanks so much! we’ll be back on August 4, your group can join us if you want.
How much does it usually cost-guides? I’ll back my bags now if they’re for free!lolz
Hi there! How much does it usually cost-guide? I’ll be there in 5 if its free!lolz
I recall we gave them 500 bucks. Haha, I don’t know if you can make them accompany you for free! :D
Hi, question… Pede po ba mag camp sa masungi?
Hi there. You can’t camp near the rock formations. The sitio’s school playground can serve as your camping site if you want to stay overnight. :)
This place is one of a kind. Thanks for the feature.
Saan po ang pinaka jump-off anu pong name ng lugar na sasabihin sa jeep ng pa-Sampaloc? Iyon din po ba yung binababaan pag papunta ng Mount Batolusong? Yun din po ba yun?
Hi Judith! Iba siya sa Batolusong. It may be one of the rock formations going there (or back if you will do the traverse from San Andres). Just ask the driver to drop you off at the store (along the highway) that goes to the Cuyambay barangay hall. There are motorbikes usually waiting at the junction of the highway and the road to Cuyambay.
thanks :)
Is the guide fee for the entire group already?
Yes, that’s for the group. :)
Update lang po. Nung nagpunta kami last month mejo mahal yung siningil sa amin ng Barangay nila Php300 para sa permit at Php1200 para sa guide including trek to Tungtung falls. Pito lang kami nun at ovenight po kami dun sa kubo pagbaba galing Nagpatong Rock Formation.
Wow, steep increase. Thank you for the update!
hi.. panu po akyating ung rock formation.. kelangan po ba ng ropes or posible syang i-climb kahit walang ropes.. pero hnd po ung dadaan sa mga concrete steps.. thanks.. tanong din po sa accurate rate for masungi rock formation only day hike.. thanks =D
Hi Vien. At the time we went up, ropes were really needed to scale the rock formation. Maybe Judith (who kindly provided the update above) can provide you a more updated picture.
Kailangan talaga magdala kayo para sa kasiguruhan ng inyong pag akyat nyo sa Nagpatong two towers, pero kung yung Masungi rock formation sa loob ng subdivision ang tinutukoy nyo (yung may konkretong daan at hagdan-hagdan) wala ng kailangan na ropes dun ang kailangan permit para papasukin kayo nung mga bantay ng subdivision.
wow. very scenic.
Quite affordable for such an adventure.
Are there other nearby tourist spots?
Hi! Not within the immediate vicinity.