22/09/2026
Mount Apo is the roof of the entire Philippines. Standing over 9,600 feet in Mindanao, it's the country's highest peak, and climbing it is considered a rite of passage for serious Filipino mountaineers who train for months before attempting the summit trail.
The mountain is actually a potentially active volcano, though it hasn't erupted in recorded history, and its slopes host incredible biodiversity including the critically endangered Philippine eagle, the country's national bird, which nests in the surrounding forest reserves.
Indigenous Lumad communities, including the Bagobo and Manobo peoples, consider Mount Apo sacred ancestral ground, which is why permits, guides, and respectful conduct are required for anyone attempting the climb rather than treating it as an open trail. Would climbing the Philippines' highest peak be on your bucket list?