Southern Luzon - The Rough Guide to the Philippines - page 194

EATING AND DRINKING
Be sure to try the famous garlicky Lucban longganisa (sausage) - particularly delicious when served with achara
(pickled papaya) - and for dessert try budin (cassava cake). Cheap food stalls by the church sell pancit habhab , a local
noodle dish served on a banana leaf and traditionally eaten with your hands.

Buddy's Restaurant Rizal Park T 042 540 3394.
Located on the town's main square, this laidback restaurant
has colourful Pahiyas festival kiping decorations dangling
from the ceiling; seating is on small wooden benches,
and the menu includes pancit Lucban (noodles with pork;
P160) and longganisa (P115). Daily 9am-10pm.
Café San Luis San Luis St at Regidor St T 042 540

2122. Located by an ancestral house, this welcoming leafy
restaurant has lantern-lit, circular tables set around a
pebbly courtyard. Bestsellers include chicken curry (P205)
and baby back ribs with rice (P248); make sure to try the
frozen margarita made with local lambanog wine (P80).
Daily 8am-midnight.

Mount Banahaw and around
Northwest of Lucena, the town of DOLORES is the starting point for treks up Mount
Banahaw and Mount Cristobal , which stand on either side of the town. Both mountains
are protected areas and some trails have been closed for the past few years to reduce
human impact on the environment. Other trails, however, are open.
Considered sacred, 2188m Mount Banahaw has spawned a huge number of
legends and superstitions: one says that every time a foreigner sets foot on the
mountain it will rain. Members of various sects still live around the base of the
mountain, claiming that it imbues them with supernatural and psychic powers.
Its slopes thick with jungle, Banahaw is a challenging but rewarding climb with
panoramic views of the surrounding country from the crater rim. Treat this
mountain seriously because although the trail looks wide and well-trodden, it
soon peters out into inhospitable rainforest - even experienced climbers allow
three days to reach the summit and get back down, while a crater descent should
only be attempted by experts.
If you haven't time to reach the summit, you might prefer simply to trek to
Kristalino Falls (Crystalline Falls) and back, which can be done in a day. One
and a half hours further on is a second waterfall, whose surroundings make an
ideal campsite .

4

Mount Cristobal
Mount Cristobal is seen as the negative counterpart to the positive spiritual energy of
Mount Banahaw. It takes up to six hours of serious trekking along an awkward trail to
reach Jones Peak, which is 50m lower than the inaccessible summit. The climb isn't
recommended for beginners or unaccompanied trekkers.

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION MOUNT BANAHAW AND AROUND

By bus, jeepney and tricycle To reach the access town
of Dolores, take one of the Jac Liner, JAM, Lucena Lines or
N. Dela Rosa buses that runs between Manila (Buendia or
Cubao) and Lucena. Get off at San Pablo (hourly; 2hr), from
where there are jeepneys to Dolores from the market
(hourly; 25min; P18). From Dolores, take a tricycle to the
barangay of Kinabuyahan (20min; P250)
Guides The municipal tourist o ce in Dolores can help

organize guides (from P250 for 6-10 people/day),
although you will need to inform the Tourism O cer, Laarni
Alilio, a few days in advance ( T 042 565 6785, E laarni
[e-mail]).
Permits To reach the summit you need a special permit
issued by the Protected Area Management Board; the
Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Department
can help ( T 042 565 6331).

EATING
Kinabuyahan Café 118 Dejarme St T 0916 221 5791.
Owned by artist Jay Herrera, this quirky café and B&B
offers accommodation in a rustic tree house and two native

huts. Hearty mains are made to order; the cuisine is mainly
interna tional w ith a Filipino twist. Rates include three daily
meals. P2250