Lake Holon: Guide to Hiking and Camping in South Cotabato

(SPOT.ph) Lake Holon in T'Boli, South Cotabato, with its picture-perfect backdrop and the stunning natural features Mother Nature sculpted over millions of years, is undeniably one of the most gorgeous locations in Mindanao, if not the entire Philippines.

Lake Holon is found inside the caldera of Mount Mélébingóy, an active volcano. Another name for the mountain is Mount Parker, after the American general who led an expedition to explore it after seeing it from a plane in 1934. The crater lake (Lake Holon) was formed by the last reported eruption of Mount Parker on January 4, 1641. While Mount Parker has a total elevation of 1,784 meters, you do not need to trek to the highest point when visiting Lake Holon. You will just climb to another peak at approximately 1,540 meters, where you will have an unobstructed view of Lake Holon before descending to the lake for about half an hour.

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Hiking the Lake Holon Trail in T'Boli, South Cotabato

Two ways lead to Lake Holon. These are the Salacafe and Kule Trails. The Salacafe Trail, albeit longer at over nine kilometers, is easier because it mostly follows a gently sloped terrain and only requires three to four hours before you reach the lake. The shorter but more difficult Kule route, which is around 7.5 kilometers long, features a sharp ascent and takes about five or six hours on average to arrive at Lake Holon. The Kule Trail is preferable since it offers a more picturesque experience, as it goes through a natural viewing platform of Mount Parker. From there, you can enjoy gazing at the expansive view of Lake Holon.

Don’t worry. The trail is never boring and will keep your curiosity piqued as it winds its way through a corn plantation, a dense forest, and various plants and trees, including pitcher plants, coffee plants, abaca trees, and century-old trees. After descending from the view deck and into the lake, you still need to take a five-minute boat ride to the campsite, a spacious, grassy lot surrounded by water.

What to Expect

As one would expect for a weekend, the Lake Holon campsite is packed with campers, giving the impression of a small Vikings-era town in the middle of the woods (thankfully, without Halloween's Jason Vorhees). Despite the crowd, one can easily find a quiet spot to admire the picturesque scenery. The sheer beauty of the lake would easily lull you into quiet contemplation. Sounds like what a nature retreat should be.

As the sun rises and sets, it casts a mystical glow over the lake and the verdant mountains of Mount Parker, reflecting the sky above like a mirror. If you spend all day taking in the breathtaking scenery of the lake, you won't want to leave. If you're looking for a more secluded experience, consider visiting during the weekdays with fewer crowds. However, regardless of when you visit, make sure to follow the camping guidelines. Quiet down, turn off the lights at 10 o'clock, and tidy up as you go.

What to Do in Lake Holon

Other than enjoying the best of nature, you can also enjoy other activities such as kayaking and swimming. A refreshing dip in Lake Holon, widely recognized as one of the Philippines' purest bodies of water, is sure to relax you and give you a one-of-a-kind experience as you soak in the breathtaking scenery of Mount Mélébingóy’s verdant ridges. There is also a designated spot in the camping area where you can sit on a platform and dip your legs into the water for a fish spa experience.

How Much to Pay for Camping and Hiking

Before proceeding to the jump-off, you must register and pay an entrance fee of 100 pesos and an environmental fee of 50 pesos at the Tourism Office. Hiring a tour guide is required when hiking to Lake Holon. This not only gives locals extra income but also guarantees your safety. A tour guide’s fee is P800 for a group of up to five persons. If you don’t have any camping equipment, you can rent a tent for P300 to P350, depending on the size per night. There's also a P100 ground rental at the campsite. Porters are also available to carry your stuff and are paid P30 per kilo.

Too tired to hike all the way to Lake Holon? You can ride a horse for P500 per way. The habal-habal ride from the Tourism Office to the jump-off area in Kule is 640 pesos for up to two passengers. For other services, such as cooking your food, you can coordinate beforehand with your guide so you can pass by the local market and ask someone to cook it for you. There is a bathroom and a toilet in the camping area where you can also take a shower, with fees ranging from P5 to P30 (for shower).

What to Bring to Lake Holon

You need to bring all the items required to enjoy a hassle-free hiking and camping trip.

• Hiking Shoes
• Windbreaker and waterproof jackets
• Cover for your backpack and drybag
• Lightweight shirts, shorts, and pants
• Extra clothes and socks. Ziplocked them to ensure dryness
• Tent, cooking stove, utensils, sleeping bag, toiletries, and a blanket
• Drinking water and trail food
• Camping food (preferably easy-to-cook ones)
• Other items you deem important, such as a power bank, headlamp, book,
• and camera, of course
• Garbage bag to store all your trash

Remember always to take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, and kill nothing but time—you know how it goes. Also, if you want to carry less stuff, you can hire a porter to take some of your things or rent a tent and cooking stove from your tour provider if you don’t have any camping equipment.

How to Get to T’boli Town and Lake Holon Jump-off

General Santos City has the closest airport to T'boli, South Cotabato. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air provide weekly flights from Manila to General Santos City. From General Santos, take a bus headed for Koronadal or Marbel from the GenSan Bus Terminal. When you arrive in Marbel, take the UV Express (passenger vans) to T'boli. The whole journey time is approximately 2 hours.

Upon arriving at T'boli Town, proceed to the Municipal Tourism Office to register and hire guides or porters for your Lake Holon hike. It is also here where you can charter a habal-habal (motorbike) ride going to the jump-off in Barangay Salacafe. The one-and-a-half-hour ride to the jump-off may be challenging but fun. Once the motorcycle ran out of concrete roads, it was all bumpy and dirt trails. As the habal-habal driver expertly navigates the steep path at speeds of roughly 60–80 kph, you have to learn how to reposition to maintain forward momentum. Difficult as it may be, this is also one of the most exciting parts of the trip to Lake Holon.

Upon arrival at the jump-off place of Kule, visitors are asked to proceed to the "Big House" for an orientation on the mountain's many do's and don’ts. This orientation place is an attraction in itself. Traditional T'boli houses like this, known as the T'boli Gono Bong ("Big House"), feature distinctive T'boli architectural features such as the absence of walls and the use of cogon grass for roofing. These houses serve as ceremonial centers for their respective communities. These days, other than being the orientation place, the Gono Bong also serves as a homestay for guests.

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