We just completed a Mt. Pinatubo crater lake trek from the Botolan jump-off point in Zambales (different route from the Inararo Trail or Golden Trail to the Mount Pinatubo summit and the Tutulari Avatar Gorge in Porac, Pampanga)! This was a special tour arranged for us and joiner tours are available online. I didn’t find much info on the trail before the trip so I didn’t know what to expect. I hope this might help guide someone or myself in the near future like things I would bring or expect from a known tourist destination day trip from Manila.
We drove for around 5 minutes to a Philippine Air Force checkpoint in Capas. We had to go down and show our valid government IDs. We were told that foreigners (non-Filipino ID holders) need a special pass and passports so you need to arrange this with your tour agency. There is an active AFP-PAF base here - they actually do military exercises and drop bombs and such 😅 So the officer said they close the area sometimes.
By 6am, we arrive at the 4x4 and driver assignment area (toilets at P10 cash) and the 4 of us started the ride by 6:40am.
The tour agency also took care of all the registrations and arrangements.
They seemed disorganized here and all the tourists don't seem to know what's happening next so we just followed the instructions one at a time. One thing for sure is the toilet is cheaper here at P10 haha (next one is at the crater which is free).
This is the "before the Mt. Pinatubo beginner hike" picture 😅
The 4x4s were assigned and we can’t choose if we will get one that had an open back or all closed all-terrain vehicles.
If I were younger and want nicer photo opportunities,
I would next ask myself if I can hang on like that for one whole hour TWICE 🤣
Expect mud (your back will be dotted with volcanic ash and you can wipe it once it dries) with water splashes,
fine-particle dust that will go in the eyes (even with eyeglasses/sunglasses, do not wear contact lenses),
lots of bumps and a chance that your 4x4 might break down (you need to wait for rescue).
It was fun and my phone battery actually already had gone down (almost zero) before we reached the lake since I took a lot of photos and videos during the 4x4 ride.
It was also sunrise during the ride!
Our first stop was the Toblerone hills by 7:20am for only 15 minutes.
I believe we met the kids from the Aeta community and gave them some of the treats we brought from Manila.
We were off to the 4x4 parking lot at the start of the trekking next
and began ascending at 8:20am.
Our local guide Kuya Edwin Gutierrez went with us all the way while our 4x4 waited for us ☺️
A UV jacket with hood, sunblock, our trekking poles and waterproof shoes proved useful for me,
although other people were just wearing hats and sandals or slippers.
20 minutes after of walking up and down, we finally arrived at the “entrance gate” 🤣
The guide had our passes.
There were a few toilet pay per use P20 we passed by and stalls selling food, where you can rest as well.
From here, I didn’t take much photos because I was conserving battery and I was too busy crossing streams, avoiding loose rocks and not getting my shoes wet.
The scenery became greener as the kilometers went by 😆 This was our favorite spot with the ferns and curved jungle-like trail. Don't be fooled by the signs that indicate the kilometers though haha. Add maybe 0.5 to 1 km more LOL.
It was soon replaced by bigger rocks (as if walking up a shallow stream)
and it got harder as we went up plus stairs near the end.
I was super grateful to Kuya Edwin for keeping me safe, guiding my way and maintaining the pace at the same time. I counted like 20+ river/stream/water crossings x 2?! Hahaha. I was seriously considering getting my shoes all wet to get the hard parts over with. There were times though when I felt like I would go face first and twist my ankle due to the surprising loose/slippery rocks.
Good thing I was wearing leggings too and a jacket because as soon as we arrived at the crater lake by 9:50am, mini bugs kept biting my exposed skin. The view and the climb was worth it in my opinion, just maybe not for little kids (who will ask to be carried) and non-active elders.. People with poor balance like me have to go really slow with the uneven terrain😅
This trail is the most popular one given the number of people there. You can go down to the lake further but you have to climb down and up again for maybe 20 minutes…
My energy can only do people watching at this point and press zoom haha. I think the journey going here made this all the more memorable.
We went back down to the 4x4 around 11:30am which is considered late already and the sun was already hot. The trail down is the same as the way up. The only free toilet is the one on the crater lake.
We finished all the trail food and water we brought with us. Before the lake, there are a few sitdown stalls selling chicken inasal, liempo, hotdog and drinks so some stop there to eat lunch. Given that there is no signal, be sure to bring cash in small bills (some didn’t have change).
Good thing our jeep had a tarpaulin cover for the sun protection for the way back!
I seriously can't imagine hanging on top like this after everything 😐
One fun info that our local driver Russell gave us that the 4x4 jeeps came from Japan (or Japanese era?) and you'll notice that the gauges in front don't really work. He said they replaced the engines to jeepney type ones and they maintain the vehicles by themselves. Just wish they have enough fuel (probably diesel) for the over 2-hour 4x4 ride 😏
We had a late lunch at 2:30pm since our set lunch is all the way back at the breakfast place. Lunch was a delicious chicken adobo or sinampalukang chicken with unlimited rice and drink. Some showered for P50 and did a change of clothes since your hair will harden after the trip 😌 I was knocked out after to even take pictures haha.
So, to summarize for notes and what you might want to bring according to your needs:
1. No signal.
2. No Gcash - bring cash 10-20 for CR/toilet, bring small change, tip and food money
3. Powerbank
4. Face cover - sold here at P80
5. UV jacket with hood - protect from insects on top, arm sleeves
6. Waterproof shoes or sandals if ok to be wet
7. Trekking pole - sold here thick wood at P50 per piece
8. Trail food - banana, powerbar, skyflakes
9. Water
10. Eye cover like sunglasses and glasses, don’t wear contacts
11. Tissue, mask
12. Pillow, slippers - can leave in car
13. Medicine, band aid
14. Phone
15. Change of clothes, towel, soap - hair will harden
16. Sunblock
17. Candies or biscuits for children Aeta
18. Valid id - foreigners need pass and passports
19. Pants or leggings
20. Don’t attempt when raining. 4 4x4s got swept away and went missing in the flood according to someone..
21. The peak season for this Mount Pinatubo climb they said is around November to March. The crater lake changes color from blue to green depending on the season.
22. Our package is around P3349 per person. Expect a lot of waiting, esp. at the start.
They call the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991 as a beautiful disaster. It was known then as the 2nd largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century! We felt the effects all the way in Manila and after the devastation, it emerged as one of the popular daytrips from the city. I was in awe and I felt that I was at the mercy of nature as we were doing this trek. I can’t help and be grateful that the place has slowly recovered with time and I left with hope that all things will heal. Definitely a must visit.
