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Mount Apo overlooks Davao and lords it over the Philippines as the highest mountain in the country. No wonder it was called Apo, which means "Grandfather of all Mountains." Apo is actually a volcano, but is certified "inactive" and has no recorded eruptions. What it does have is enough flora and fauna to make your head spin: thundering waterfalls, rapids, lakes, geysers, sulfur pillars, primeval trees, endangered plant and animal species and a steaming blue lake. It is the home of the Philippine Eagle, the tiny falconet and the Mount Apo mynah. Then there are exotic ferns, carnivorous pitcher plants and the Queen of the Philippine orchids, the waling-waling. Revered as a sacred mountain, the people call it Sandawa or "Mountain of Sulfur". The local tribes, the Bagobos, believe the gods Apo and Mandaragan inhabit its upper slopes. Recently, however, Mount Apo has become something of an environmental hot potato and the government is trying to dissuade people from climbing it because of the damage they have done to trails and the litter they have left behind. Small groups of climbers with special interests, such as botany or photography, will still be allowed, but large groups could find they get turned back. The situation is uncertain. The best advice is that visitors go to the tourist information centre in Magsaysay Park to plead their case. Senior Davao tourism officials are based at this office and if anyone can help, they can. If you have a well-prepared case and some documentation to back it up (a letter from your university or employer explaining why you would like to climb Apo, for instance), there's a good chance they'll let you go. The usual starting point for the climb is Kidapawan , a two-hour journey by bus from the Ecoland Bus Terminal in Davao City. There are cheap lodgings in Kidapawan, so you can rest up for a night before starting the climb. Don't attempt Mount Apo alone: hire a guide from one of the tourist offices in Davao, where staff will also help you plan the route and get the necessary permits. Also, make sure you go well prepared. Experienced Apo climbers advise allowing four or five days for the climb, averaging four hours of trekking a day with an average load of 40 pounds to supply you with food and shelter for four days in extreme weather. The higher you get the colder it gets. Towards the peak temperatures are as low as 5°C, so don't go without a good sleeping bag, warm clothes and a tent. It's a tough trek, but well worth it. The trail is lined with flowers and on the first day you should reach  © 2003 by Rough Guides Ltd. as trustee for its Authors. Published by Rough Guides. All rights reserved. Rough Guides name is a trademark of Rough Guides Ltd. Buy the book here!
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Mainit Hot Spring , where you can take a refreshing dip. Day two brings you to the dramatic Lake Venado , which looks like a scene from the Jurassic age, with giant trees, vines and a fine fog floating above the lake itself. At the end of the third day you can make camp below the summit and rise at 5am to get to the top in time for sunrise. The views are nothing short of spectacular. This is the highest point in the Philippines, and the whole of Mindanao is spread before you.
Your Tips For Mount Apo
First timerFrancis Hong says "bring an insulator as this will keep your back from freezing to death and you can also wrap the inside of your bag with an insulator to keep it from getting moist"
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