Mount Isarog Natural Park

Isarog stands just east of Naga City at nearly two thousand metres, an inactive volcano whose slopes hold the largest block of forest left in the Bicol peninsula - lowland rainforest giving way to montane and mossy forest, with a species list that includes endemic rodents described from this mountain alone, hornbills, and the region's remaining large trees. For most visitors the park means the accessible edges: Malabsay Falls, a broad drop reached by a short walk from the Panicuason side, the hot springs and resorts on the same slope, and Nabontolan and Consocep falls elsewhere around the base. For climbers it means a demanding two-day route through leech-heavy mossy forest to the crater rim, arranged with permits and guides. The mountain also supplies Naga's water, which is why the park's boundaries and the pressure of farming up its slopes are a live local issue rather than an abstraction.

What you actually see

• Malabsay Falls - the broad drop near the Panicuason gate.
• The rainforest - lowland to mossy forest up the slopes.
• The crater rim - the two-day climbers' objective.
• The hot springs - thermal resorts on the mountain's flank.

When to go

November to April for the driest trails; Bicol is one of the wettest and most typhoon-exposed regions, so plans should stay flexible. Summit climbs need permits arranged ahead.

Honest expectations

Trails are muddy and leeches are common in wet spells. The summit route is long, steep and cold at the top. Falls near the gate are family-easy; the mountain proper is not.

Nearby

Naga City's Peñafrancia sites, the Camarines Sur watersports complex and the road toward Caramoan lie around the mountain.