Panimahawa Ridge: DIY Travel Guide, Sample Itinerary, Expenses

The first place I saw on social media that really made me book a ticket to Bukidnon is Panimahawa Ridge. It was an aerial shot, featuring the bright and striking green of the mountain ranges from afar.  When I watched that, I knew I had to see and experience it. 

Panimahawa Ridge is almost 900 meters MASL, located at the municipality of Impalutao, Bukidnon. The stunning view is its very drawcard especially to hiking enthusiasts like me.

A 2-hr hike will bring you to the top with a flat area where camping is ideal. I’d like to say it’s okay for beginners, because the trails are pretty manageable. It has a mix of downward slopes, inclined and open trails, a flat road where even cars can pass. The weather can very hot especially during summertime and althought not the whole trail is open, the heat can definitely slow down your pace.

The descent was pretty challenging because the morning sun wasn’t helping at all and there were inclined slopes on the way back to the base camp. You’ll also cross a river through an improvised bamboo bridge back and forth.

My boyfriend and I, coming from RotyPeaks Ridge Camp, decided to do this DIY. Days before the actual hike, I looked for a contact by messaging the official tourism page of Impasug-ong. They gave me the number of Sir Bobby, who happens to be the Head of Panimahawa Ridge Tour Services. He’s very responsive and accommodating. 

Side story: I also found a tour guide contact number in one of the blogs I found online, but that guide discouraged us to camp overnight. He said it was very inconvenient because the water source is far, that he is concerned about our safety, and many other excuses. Luckily, we found Sir Bobby.

Sir Bobby’s contact number: 09351986781

Here’s how to go to Panimahawa Ridge DIY:

  1. If coming from Laguindingan Airport (Cagayan de Oro), take a shuttle van to Agora Terminal 
  2. From Agora Terminal, take a bus going to Malaybalay. Alight Impalutao Elementary School or tell the driver you are going to Ant Farm. 
  3. Sir Bobby told us to meet him at Impalutao Elementary School and we were coming from Roty Peaks Ridge Camp. We took a special ride of motorela (a bigger version of a tricycle) from Sumilao terminal where we had lunch. 
  4. From Impalutao Elem School, we were picked up by habal-habal (P30 fare) to Panimahawa Base Camp. The ride was about or less than 10 minutes only.
  5. From Panimahawa Base Camp, we met Sir Bobby and our guide for the orientation and to pay our fees. 

Panimahawa Itinerary:

Day 1

3:00pm Meetup
3:00-3:10pm Travel via habal habal to Panimahawa Base Camp
3:10-3:30pm Prep to hike
3:30-5:30pm Hike to Panimahawa Ridge
5:30 onwards Setup camp, chill, and dinner 
10:00pm Lights off

Day 2

5:30am Sunrise viewing, cook breakfast
6:00-6:30am Break camp
6:30-7:00am Shoot photos and videos
7:00-8:30am Descent and return to base camp

Estimated fees and expenses/person:

*Subject to change always check with the tourism/LGU pages

P200 Shuttle van from airport to Agora terminal
P140 Bus fare from Agora terminal to Impalutao Elem School
P30 Habal-habal from Impalutao Elem School
P350 Panimahawa Ridge Registration Fee
P400 Porter fee (can be for sharing)

= P920 if you divide the porter fee by 2 pax

+ Miscellaneous like food for dinner and breakfast, water, and trail food

Tips and notes:

  • The base camp/jump-off has a house where you can leave some of your things and also a sari-sari store. 
  • You can rent burners and pots from Sir Bobby and ask the guide to cook for you (for additional fee of course)
  • Porters are also available for hire. Interestingly, they will not hike all throughout the trails. They will ride a habal-habal and then at some point before the peak they will bring your things. That hike will only take a few minutes. You can also opt to take a habal-habal until that point for P250 one way if you’re not a fan of hiking but would like to see the view.
  • On the way to your next destination after the hike, you can arrange a special ride with the habal-habal riders for a fixed price. We asked them to drop us off at Hyper Vista Farm Resort where we will be staying.
  • Be respectful to the locals at all times and prepare some coins to offer in a small ritual before the hike.
  • If you have more questions not mentioned here, feel free to chat me at Destinations&Tea Facebook page. 

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