Mount Talinis

Talinis - the Cuernos de Negros, the horns of Negros, from the two peaks that show from the coast - stands at about nineteen hundred metres behind Dumaguete, an inactive volcano wrapped in some of the best remaining forest in the province. The classic route is a two-day traverse from Valencia to Dauin or the reverse, passing Lake Nailig and Lake Yagumyum, small crater lakes sitting in the forest, with campsites beside them, geothermal steam vents and hot springs on the flanks, and mossy forest with a high count of endemic birds and plants. The Ocoy and Bediao sides both have working geothermal installations, so parts of the approach run on service roads. Trails are muddy, leeches are common and the weather at the camps is cold and wet often enough that a proper tent matters. Guides from the trailhead barangays are required, and registration is handled locally.

What you actually see

• The crater lakes - Nailig and Yagumyum in the forest.
• The mossy forest - the high belt near the ridges.
• The steam vents - geothermal activity on the flanks.
• The twin peaks - the horns that name the mountain.

When to go

February to May for the driest trails. The camps are cold and wet at any time of year; rain gear and a warm layer are not optional.

Honest expectations

Trails are muddy with leeches in wet spells, and the traverse is a full two days with camping. Guides and registration are mandatory. There is no water at some camps - carry enough.

Nearby

Casaroro Falls, the Valencia hot springs and the Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao are on the same slope; Dauin's dive coast is below.