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Chasing Peaks

Writer's picturechasing peaks

Mt Pinatubo: Hiking to the beautiful crater lake

Updated: Jan 13

23 April 2023



Distance - 6 km

Total time taken - 2h (day hike) with 2h jeep ride

Difficulty - 1/5 easy (easy trails to the viewpoint)

Trail type - River crossing along rocky trails and well paved dirt path

Requirements - None


Mt Pinatubo is an active volcano in Luzon, famously known for its eruption in 1991 which caused widespread devastation and is perhaps the biggest eruption in the 20th century. Today, it is a popular daytrip destination from Manila. After an hour of jeep ride and another hour of easy hiking, you will reach the beautiful crater lake at Mt Pinatubo. The trail itself is well paved and easy to hike but do note that since there is a number of river crossings it is advised to wear hiking sandals. The jeep ride itself runs through roads paved in volcanic ash, so it is advised to also wear a face cover/ buff to avoid inhaling the volcanic ash (we bought ours at the start point from one of the street paddlers). We did our Mt Pinatubo trip back-to-back right after our Mt Pulag hike and I won't recommend this as it was tiring spending another night on the road sleeping in the van.

 

Trip Planning


Our Mt Pinatubo hike was an add on to our tour package from Mt Pulag Expedition, which included transport from the jump-off at Mt Pulag to the Mt Pinatubo pick-up area, the jeep ride to the start of the trail, guides for the hike and the same transport all the way back to Manila. You can probably get a tour package for Mt Pinatubo without the Mt Pulag hike, but we thought since it was on the way back to Manila from the Mt Pulag jump-off, we might as well do it too!

 

Costs


Tour Package - PHP 10,000

*Note that this cost include the tours for both Mt Pulag and Mt Pinatubo

(For Mt Pinatubo tour it includes: guide, transport to and from town, jeep ride to and from trail head)


cost indicated is per pax

 

Getting There


It was a 4 hour-ish ride from Mt Pulag jump-off to the Mt Pinatubo pick-point, and the transport was provided as part of our tour package. We did a pit stop at Baguio for dinner before continuing our trip there. We had initially thought we could rest for a night at at the jump-off before starting our journey, but due to some unforeseen circumstances (apparently there was some military practice to be held at Mt Pinatubo and we will not be allowed to enter past 7am or leave before noon) so we had to rush there as soon as possible, else we will risk not being able to make it in time.

 

Day 0 - Dinner at Baguio and a night on the van

1500

Leave Mt Pulag jump-off

1800

Dinner at Baguio



1500 | Leave Mt Pulag jump-off

If you had read the Mt Pulag post, you would know that our journey started from Mt Pulag jump-off as it threatened to rain. We were to make a pit stop at Baguio for dinner before continuing the journey to Mt Pulag.


1800 | Dinner at Baguio

At Baguio we tried once again to eat at the restaurant we had initiated wanted to go to - Good Taste Restaurant, and the queue was again shocking, likely even longer than 2 days before. It was so long, it snaked around the block turning a few corners. I estimate that there were more than 50 people in the queue. It was almost as if it was the only restaurant in the town serving the whole population! We were much more resolved this time to queue for it and it took an hour's time before we got our seats. The restaurant itself was huge with a few levels of seating and robot waiters serving customers. We ordered what we thought were the popular dishes and was shocked at the portion we were given (we thought the portion would be like the usual chinese zichar stall but it was about 5 times that size). The dishes were a hit and miss, some was pretty good, others were about average, so I guess most people go there for the value-for-money portion sizes.


After dinner, we walked around the town and found a nice cafe with donuts and drinks. The donuts at the cafe - foam coffee, was honestly really good and I regretted not getting more.

 

Day 1 - Hike to Mt Pinatubo Crater Lake

0400

Reach Mt Pinatubo pick-up area

0530

Jeep ride to Mt Pinatubo trail

0645

Start our hike to Mt Pinatubo

0800

Reach Mt Pinatubo Crater Lake

0945

Descend and return to Manila



0400 | Reach Mt Pinatubo pick-up area

It was yet another restless night as tried to get whatever sleep we could on the van (the van was literally our accom for the night, but on the bright side we are saving some money?). We were already pretty tired out from sleeping in the tent the previous day on Mt Pulag, and the stuffiness of the van didn't help (the engine was turned off as the van was parked at the pick-up area). At first it was pitch black outside, but as the early morning progressed more tour vans and vendors started streaming in. The moment we stepped out of the van, street paddlers would rush to us (they were mostly young kids) holding up whatever they were selling. I bought a face cover/ buff from one of the paddlers as they mentioned that the jeep ride would be dusty with volcanic ash.


0800 | Jeep ride to Mt Pinatubo trail

At 5.30am they showed us to our Jeeps (4x4), as 1 jeep could only take 4 pax, we took 2 jeeps. The jeep drove through the small village and just as it turned a corner, the landscape changed dramatically, we saw a vast open space with mountains in the distance. Despite being super sleepy, I didn't want to miss the magic of the scene. In the early morning glow, the sky was a pastel shade of pink and blue with the mountains in the background a slightly darker shade of blue. The morning air was cooling and crisp and I guess another sleepless night was worth it to catch this view.


It was a long bumping ride as we drove to our destination and the mountains in the distance never seemed to get any closer, it was as if we were driving out to nowhere. About 40-ish minutes into the ride they dropped us off to stretch our legs and sore butt (from the bumpy ride) and showed us what they called the toblerone mountains, a set of uniform triangle-shaped mountains standing side-by-side that resembled the toblerone chocolate. Though the views were beautiful, it was also scary to think that this vast landscape was created as a result of the 1991 volcanic eruption, wiping out everything in its way. It was then a short 10 mins ride to the start of the trail with a few river crossings along the way. We could also spot aborigine villages sprouting here and there. I honestly wonder how their livelihood here is like, far from civilisation.



0645 | Start our hike to Mt Pinatubo

After an 1 hour of jeep ride, we had reached the start of the walking trail to the crater lake. The trail passed through the valley with rocky and gravel paths and through a number of river crossings. We were well prepared for the river crossings with our hiking sandals. The guides would hold your hand as you cross the shallow rivers, which is up till the ankles and nothing too difficult or dangerous. The mountains are now lit up in its full glory in the bright morning light and they look even more magnificent up close.


After walking for a distance, we reached an area with a number of huts and the official start of trail sign where everyone took turns for photos. This was supposedly the original start of trail. Behind the sign board there were reference timings for various age groups, according to the board it would take 20mins for a youth to reach the crater lake from that point. We were obviously optimistic to make the timing for the 'youth', but it took us slightly longer to cross the forest trails with some slight inclines all the way up to the crater lake.



1230 | Reach Mt Pinatubo Crater Lake

It took us a total of about an hour's hike from the jeep drop-off to reach the crater lake, and the trail is nothing too difficult with only some climbs towards the end. The crater lake was beautiful, a huge lake nestled within a crater, a view I wasn't quite expecting to see at the 'peak'. Since we had a lot of time to spare (we were not able to leave earlier due to the ongoing military training in the area), we climbed down towards the crater lake to admire a different view of the lake. The water in the lake was a clear blue, but we were told that it was acidic, hence we didn't go too near. I then bought some sausages from the vendors and we lazed in the shade of a big tree, soaking in the beautiful views.


0945 | Descend and return to Manila

The route down was same as the way up, through gravel paths and river crossings. On the jeep ride back, we saw many aboriginal kids sitting along the road and waving at us, and the guides would hand out chocolates and snacks to them. We also saw a few aborigines washing their water buffalo along the river, and they would excitedly blow us kisses and wave enthusiastically as we passed on the jeep. I wonder if this was a daily fanfare for them, they must be as intrigued by us as we were of them. It was then another long ride back to the city of Manila and I was just happy to finally be able to sleep on the first comfy bed of our trip.

 

My Thoughts


Mt Pinatubo is actually a popular attraction for locals and international tourists. As with most popular attractions, I didn't have much expectations for it. Also, I saw it as a side activity added on to our Mt Pulag hike. But, I was very pleasantly surprised and enjoyed both the jeep ride into the mountains with the sunrise as the backdrop and the fun leisurely hike with river crossings to the crater lake. Would definitely recommend this as a day trip!

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