NANGKAAN RIDGE: Travel Guide + Budget & Useful Tips

Other than being one of the entry and exit points (Kidapawan side) when hiking Mt. Apo, North Cotabato is rarely known for being a destination for hiking enthusiasts. At first, I found it weird considering that mountains abound in this province but then I realized that most of our mountains are known for harboring rebels. It’s the very reason why most of our tourist spots didn’t get attention until only recently. Nangkaan Ridge happens to be one of these places our parents once warned us to stay away from. I’m just glad that along some of our other mountains, it’s now cleared of rebel encampments, giving it the opportunity to be discovered.  In this blog, let me share with you the wonderful things Nangkaan Ridge has to offer.

OUR NANGKAAN RIDGE STORY

Our trip to Nangkaan Ridge was one of those unplanned, out-of-nowhere, just last minute out-of-impulse things that turned out really awesome. It was on a Sunday when everything was quiet and boring. I didn’t plan any trips as I was tired but staying at home was making me restless.  I was looking to go somewhere for a change of scene but I prefer something easy. I’ve had enough of resorts but I wasn’t in the mood to embark on difficult trails. That’s when I stumbled upon Nangkaan Ridge while mindlessly browsing Facebook.

The less than 2-hour hike to the campsite plus the gorgeous photos of rolling hills and ridges enticed me. It was just located in the town next to ours so I thought, “Why the hell not?” I immediately took a shower, grabbed some of my stuff, ate lunch, and at 30 minutes past 12 NN, I was already on a jeep en route to Libungan together with my cousin/travel buddy, Panining.

We alighted in Libungan Terminal and immediately asked where to get a ride to Brgy. Matambabay. A driver volunteered to take us there for P200. Since I knew exactly how much it would cost, I haggled it down to P150.  The regular fare was P50/head so I guess that was already fair considering he won’t have any passengers when he gets back downtown. After agreeing on the price, off we started the ride.

The ride began on a concrete road, tracing the route to the highlands. Although it was a concreted road, I still found it very scary with all the sharp curves and treacherous cliffs on both sides, which ironically had no barriers. Soon after, the concrete road ended and the road shifted to a rugged path emblazoned with huge rocks. The downhills were manageable for our motorcycle but the uphills were not. Our driver was also not that confident in navigating our ride through those rugged uphills so he asked us to get off and walk.

This happened maybe thrice and almost half of the supposed ride was covered by us on foot. I started to regret paying P150 for the ride, thinking that it wasn’t worth it. I was already sweating profusely and gasping for air when the actual hike hadn’t begun yet. After getting off the motorcycle several times, the driver finally said that the following roads are easier and we would now be riding all the way to our destination. That made me happy but the distance following that didn’t even take 5 minutes to cover. My jaw just dropped in utter surprise.

We reached Brgy. Matambabay at 2 PM. Locals approached us to know what we intend to do. They warned us that the hike to the campsite may take 3-4 Hrs depending on our speed. That timescale would have been ideal if we were to stay for the night but we didn’t have our camping gear with us. They then suggested riding another motorcycle to the campsite/peak to get there fast. I wasn’t into the idea at first but eventually gave in when I thought about being still on the trail at dark.

The ride to the campsite set us back P200/person. It was initially priced at P300/head but we haggled, saying we wouldn’t take long. The drivers agreed. This price already included our ride back to Libungan Terminal/Highway. A good enough bargain, I guess.

We started the ride as soon as we agreed on the price. Now, this was the part I haven’t prepared for. The ride was not only bumpy but it was also dangerous even with the amazing skill of my experienced driver. The rugged terrain that the motorcycles had to cover was no joke and I had to concentrate hard enough not to fall off. It consists of long and steep uphills. I had to put my camera away to focus more on the ride. I thought I’d rather not have videos to document this part of the trip than have bruises or worse die from being stupidly careless.

The ride went on for about 20-30 minutes but felt longer and I wished for it to be over soon. I could only take solace in the spectacular views I was seeing during that gut-wrenching ride.  The views were simply captivating that I battled the urge to get my camera out to snap some photos. Thought I’d just describe it as best I can on the blog but words are just not enough to let you see what my eyes were seeing that day.

When we reached the campsite, I couldn’t help but regret not going for an overnight trip. The camping ground was spacious and the views are breathtaking. We wasted no time and started exploring the rolling hills filled with overgrown cogon grass. It was a green haven and the mighty wind blowing relentlessly gave me that movie-like vibe or that impeccable anime opening scene. It was cinematic and my very imaginative mind can’t help but create various scenarios inside my head.

Exploring Nangkaan Ridge and witnessing its beauty after that back-breaking ride got me thinking about all the simple things in life. It wasn’t free but it was definitely one of the best things. One could argue that there are other more beautiful places which is true. Nangkaan Ridge happens to be like one of those secret places we knew as a kid that we could only hope to keep to ourselves. It’s not the most beautiful but it is home and there’s no better feeling than that.

How to Go to Nangkaan Ridge

From Manila –  Fly to Cotabato airport and ride a bus to Libungan (2Hrs | P100). Alight in Libungan Terminal and ride a motorcycle to either Brgy. Matambabay or all the way to the campsite (20 Min | P50/head/way).

From Davao – Ride a bus to Libungan and alight in Libungan Terminal (5Hrs | P445). Ride a motorcycle to either Brgy. Matambabay or all the way to the campsite (20 Min | P50/head/way).

Useful Travel Tips

• Exploring Nangkaan Ridge is free. There are no barangay fees to be paid. Registration is also not necessary.
• The motorcycle fare to Nangkaan Ridge varies. If you’re to hike from Brgy. Matambabay to the campsite then you would only need to pay for the ride from Libungan to Matambabay which is P50/head/way.
• If you don’t feel like hiking but would still love to witness the beauty of Nangkaan Ridge then you can ride all the way to the campsite from Libungan. This would cost P300/head for a 2-way ride.
• Hiking is still the best way to explore Nangkaan Ridge. The trail consists of long uphills and downhills which are not very steep but are slippery. It also is an open trail, devoid of shade so it’s advisable to start the hike early in the morning.
• Nangkaan Ridge is a good place for people to relax while simply taking in the stunning views but if you would like to see more, you can explore Kimarayag or go to Alamada to see Asik-Asik Falls.
• There is no water source in Nangkaan Ridge. The nearest would be in Brgy. Matambabay so better stock on water and food supplies.
• As always, LEAVE NO TRACE. The place doesn’t have a caretaker or a person that regularly does the rounds to clean. Be responsible and keep the place free of the trash.

Budget & Other Essentials

There you have it, lovelies! If you wish to see what our adventure was like, you can watch our video on Facebook. Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Until next time. Ciao!