Tekip Falls In Poblacion, Bakun, Benguet

This is a quick guide for people who want to see Tekip Falls in the town of Bakun in Benguet. Tekip Falls is one of several waterfalls located in Bakun especially within the vicinity of barangay Poblacion. It's one of the most visited falls in the town because it's more picturesque and is much more accessible compared to the other waterfalls in the area.

Just a quick reminder:
If you are thinking of going all the way to Bakun to only see Tekip Falls, I suggest that you widen your itinerary so that you'll get to see more tourist spots in the area. I say this because going to Bakun takes 4 to 7 hours and there's only two buses plying the Poblacion-La Trinidad route. On any given day, one bus leaves La Trinidad en-route to Poblacion while the other one leaves Poblacion en-route to La Trinidad. Both leave between 6:00 am and 8:00 am depending on the number of passengers.

There are no bus trips in the afternoon. That said, your only choice is to stay in Poblacion for the night then catch the bus early in the morning. This is why I'm recommending that you plan your visit to Bakun so that you can spend more time seeing other tourist spots in the town. When we went there on a trip, we set aside three days and two nights. During our stay, we explored Tekip Falls and Pattan Falls and climbed Mt. Kabunyan and Mt. Lubo.

How To Get To Poblacion, Bakun, Benguet
There's a bus that leaves every morning for Poblacion. It's parked at the lot in front of Kenwayne Commercial along Km. 6. It's sandwiched between the Calajo Restaurant and Dap-ayan Restaurant. It leaves for Bakun between 6:00 am and 8:00 am. I highly suggest that you go there as early as 5:30 am to ensure that you are aboard the bus when it leaves. Always remember that it's the only bus that leaves for Poblacion. Bus fare is 185 pesos per passenger. Traveling time can take between 4 to 7 hours. You should take into account your traveling time when planning your itinerary. If you get there early at 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, you can make a quick visit to Tekip Falls since it's only a 30-minute walk away.

Where To Stay In Poblacion, Bakun, Benguet
The old municipal hall is currently being utilized as a base camp for hikers, climbers, and visitors. You can stay there and pay around 80 pesos per head per night. The barangay hall is also being used as a base camp if the old municipal hall is full. But the rate is higher at 150 pesos per head per night. The benefit of staying at the barangay hall is that you can use the kitchen to cook your food. You can use the plates, gas range, and other utensils there. The barangay hall also has a clean bathroom and toiler with a steady supply of fresh water.

Tourist Guide Fee For Tekip Falls
The guide fee is only 300 pesos. A guide can accommodate six individuals which means that you're basically paying 50 pesos each. You also have to pay an environmental fee of 100 pesos per head for the barangay. This is why I suggest that you widen your itinerary so that you can get the most out of your stay in Bakun. As I mentioned earlier, going to Tekip Falls will take you around 30 minutes. You can spend an hour there bathing under the falls and splashing in the pools.

Is Mt. Kabunian In Bakun, Benguet Recommended For Beginners?

This is the trail leading up to the summit of Mt. Kabunian in Bakun, Benguet. Someone asked if I would recommend the mountain for a beginner and by beginner I mean someone who hasn't climbed before. My answer is no.

Try a much less difficult trail before you go for the likes of Mt. Kabunian. If you've read articles online describing the Mt. Kabunian trail as an easy trail, take their descriptions with a grain of salt. Lots of salt. The problem with most of the information you find online is that they've been written by experienced climbers. Needless to say, an easy climb for them can turn out to be a very difficult climb for you if you're a beginner.

Mt. Kabunian isn't too high of a mountain but the trail can pose a challenge to beginners. In all honesty, it's the most dangerous trail I've ever been to. That's not an exaggeration. The trail especially the final assault to the summit features steep cliffs and rock drop-offs. One wrong step and you'll be hurtling down the mountain.

See the picture below? The mountain at the background is Mt. Kabunian. You'll have to zigzag through the incline's rocky face to get to the summit which is the highest point on the upper right corner. It's easy to be comfortable while on the trail but you have to be extra careful of your steps.

This is not in any way an attempt to discourage people from climbing Mt. Kabunian. It's an offering of advice that you be ready for the trail especially if you have a fear of heights.

One last piece of advice: if you are planning to climb the Bakun Trio (Kabunian, Lubo, Tenglawan), it's probably better if you climb Lubo first. It has the easiest trail and it provides you some sort of a teaser of what to expect from the trails of the other two peaks.

Welcome to the Cordilleras! Have fun climbing!

Mt. Kabunian in Poblacion, Bakun, Benguet.

Bakun Trio Guide: Registration, Fees, Transportation, Itinerary, Etc.

Bakun Trio is the collective nickname given to three popular mountains in the town of Bakun in Benguet. These are Mt. Tenglawan, Mt. Kabunian, and Mt. Lobo. These mountains are adjacent each other so mountain climbers usually climb all three within three days (one mountain a day). For those who are planning to climb the Bakun Trio, here's a quick guide for you. You will find here information about registration fees, where to register, how to get there, and other important details.

Before You Go To Bakun
It's important that you contact the Municipal Tourism Officer of Bakun at least a week before your trip The Municipal Tourism Officer will then refer you to whoever is in charge of hikers in the villages of Poblacion and Sinacbat.

There are two main persons you should contact prior to going to Bakun. They are as follows:
1. Arthur Tolito [09212113687 or 09053172616]  - Mr. Tolito is the Municipal Tourism Officer of Bakun.
2. Peter Diclas [09296210448 or 09062847896] - Mr. Diclas is the President of the Bakun Trio Tour Guides and Porters Association (BATTOGAPA).

Get in touch with these people before you head over to Bakun. They will inform you about everything you need to know about scaling the Bakun Trio. The mountains in Bakun are considered as major climbs so you need to be prepared especially if you plan on climbing the three mountains. Condition your body prior to your trip. Go to the gym, jog, run, climb smaller mountains, just do what you need to do to prepare yourself physically.

How To Get To Bakun
There are two main drop-off points in Bakun. One is Poblacion which is the drop-off point that most climbers use. Poblacion is where you should go if you plan on climbing the three mountains. The second drop-off point is Sinacbat. This is the drop-off point you use if you plan on climbing only Mt. Tenglawan. Or if you want to hit the Mt. Tenglawan - Mt. Kabunian Traverse. The trip from Baguio City or La Trinidad to the town of Bakun takes between 5 to 7 hours.

There are two irregular buses that go to Bakun every morning. These usually leave between 6:00 am and 7:00 am. One parks at the Petron Gas Station along Km. 5 in La Trinidad, just in front of the Jollibee branch. The other one parks at the Kenwayen Commercial Center along Km. 6 in La Trinidad, just beside the Calajo Restaurant. Bus fare is 185 pesos per head.

Registration Fees And Other Fees To Be Paid
1. Environmental fee - 100 pesos per head
2. Tour guide fee - 1000 (Mt. Tenglawan), 800 (Mt. Kabunian), 600 (Mt. Lobo)

It's worth noting here that the ratio for guide to hikers is one is to six (1:6). If your group has seven or eight people, you will have to pay an additional 100 pesos per head for the guide. If you exceed eight people, you will be required to get a second guide.

Where To Stay In Bakun
The local government unit of Bakun has designated the old municipal building as base camp for mountain climbers. This building is located in Poblacion. You can stay and sleep their at night. The lodging fee is 90 pesos per head per night. There are also blankets, mats, pillows, and mattresses that you can rent between 20 and 40 pesos each. If your base camp is in Sinacbat, you will be housed at the Sinacbat Barangay Hall.

How Many Days Will It Take To Climb The Bakun Trio
It usually takes three days. One day for each mountain. However, you need to take into account your travel to Bakun. So all in all, the trip can take 4 to 5 days. The first and fifth day will be travel days. You can cut the duration of the trip by one day if you get to Poblacion early in the first day which means you will still have time to climb one of the three mountains.