Marilaque is the common name for the Marikina-Infanta Highway. It leaves Quezon City and Marikina, climbs into the Sierra Madre through Rizal and ends at Infanta, in Quezon province. For riders in the capital, it is mountain climbing close to home.
The ride
The highway is 117.5 km from end to end, according to Wikipedia. It is a paved national road. We do not have a reliable figure for the total climbing, so we give none. Expect long climbs and long descents.
Riding the full length is a hard day, and it leaves you in Infanta, a long way from home. Most riders choose a shorter out-and-back. That is what we suggest for a first visit: ride up for a set time, then turn around. Decide on your turnaround time before you start, and keep to it.
Good to know
- The drier months, December to May, are the usual choice. The Infanta end is on the eastern seaboard, where the weather does not follow the national pattern closely, so check the forecast for both ends.
- This is an open national road. Keep right, ride in single file and use front and rear lights, even by day.
- Start at first light, when the air is cool and the road is quieter.
- Mountain weather can change quickly. Carry a light jacket for the descent.
- Descend with care. Brake before the bends, not in them, and check your brake pads the night before.
- Carry two bottles of water, a spare tube, a pump and some cash.
Where to go next
If a mountain highway sounds like too much for now, the climb to Antipolo via Sumulong Highway is much shorter and starts in the same part of the city. For a longer, higher road, see the Halsema Highway.