Mount Apo is a large stratovolcano on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It the highest mountain in the country and overlooks Davao City, a few kilometres to the northeast. Its name means "master" or "grandfather". Apo is flat topped, with three peaks, and is capped by a 500 m wide volcanic crater containing a small crater lake. It is a source of geothermal energy, but the date of its most recent eruption is unknown, and none are verified in historic times.
Mount Apo is one of the most popular climbing destinations in the Philippines, and the summit is easy to reach. It was first climbed on October 10, 1880 by a party led by Don Joaquin Rajal.
Mt. Apo is a popular hiking destination in the Philippines. Several trails lead to the summit, coming from North Cotabato and Davao provinces. An average hike requires 3-4 four days. Various sights include Lake Venado, one of the highest lakes in the Philippines, and the old crater of Mt. Apo near its summit. In the classification system used by local website PinoyMountaineer.com, the difficulty of the hike is 7 out of 9. The mountain may be climbed year-round.