Mt.Pinatubo Trekking - the cheapest way

update as of March 5, 2010:
○ my shots from my point and shoot camera got featured in http://loqal.ph under Travel and Outdoors category.
see link here.


Some months ago, a casualty occurred in Pinatubo. A Canadian group of 9 people insisted to do a tour even with the advice of locals to postpone it. Weather is not good that time. Since the foreigners insisted, the locals agreed but they asked them to sign a waiver first. The tour went okay. As they head back to Spa Town, the accident happened. 4 people died. After that, Pinatubo Crater Lake was closed for tourists. (source: our tourist guide who apparently was part of the said group)


After 3 months of closure, Pinatubo reopens! No time to waste, dapat na ma-experience to this time. And of course, mas fulfilling ang trip kung Do-It-Yourself! Research time again, favorite stress reliever ko yan.

if you're a group of 5, expenses per head is P1,500

I invited 4 of my friends and we're all set. At 3am, we took the Baguio bus dahil dadaan yan sa Capas Junction. Fare is P150. After 1.5 hours, nasa McDonald's Capas Junction na kami. We ate breakfast and bought our meal for lunch at the crater. Dito kami nagpapick-up sa 4x4 landcruiser. Contact is Wendell, president of the 4x4 drivers association. Wendell - 0919.608.4313

powerful landcruiser

Ang ginaw! Good thing Im ready. May jacket ako at muffler! After 30 minutes nasa Pinatubo Spa Town na kami. Dito magbabayad at magpaparegister. Since we arrived early, na-explore pa namin yung place.

photo op while waiting inside the spa town

the bar area

mud pool area

volcanic ash spa area

my group - pinatubo edition

Finally, the staffs from Department of Tourism arrived. Nagfill-up lang at nagbayad kami then we're good to go. Another man joined our landcruiser, kala ko nakiki-hitch lang, siya pala yung tourist guide. ^_^

The road is tough, rocky, bumpy, watery, ano pa ba? Parang CDO water rafting na din. Basta, whatta experience! Inferness, ang powerful ng 4x4 landcruiser. Na-overwhelmed ako on what this ride can do. On our way, ang ganda ng view. At mas maginaw na.

malawak na desyerto ng lahar?

bumpy skyway

There are really spots na super malalaki na yung bato. Sympre I wasnt able to take photos. Blurred na lahat. After 1.5 hours, finally we're at the trekking point. Okay, where do we belong?

Im 25y/o but I dont believe I can finish this in 20 minutes.

Eto na, this part of the adventure requires mental skills. Para siyang puzzle na iisipin ko mabuti kung sang bato ako tatapak. Pag nadapa kasi ako, surely duguan ang mukha ko after. Pero no worries, may first aid kit ang tourist guide. Yay! This is actually fun! Ü

parang rain forest

mentally challenging! Ü

It's not a race naman so we took our time taking photos along the way. First time kasi naming lahat. From time to time, your feet will get wet so extra ingat baka madulas. Dont touch the plants too, yung kasama ko kasi nasugatan siya.

It took us 25 minutes to get on top. First glimpse namin ng Crater Lake, wala kaming ibang nasabi kung hindi WOW! Tanggal lahat ng pagod namin.

Welcome to Mt. Pinatubo Crater Lake

ayl♥vet! (thanks Remay for my solo)

This was like the first time I saw Mayon Volcano and Chocolate Hills. Ibang level talaga pag nakita mo sila ng personal.

Ang ganda talaga sa Pilipinas! ♥

Majestic indeed!

Btw, kaya pala P300 na ang conservation fee (from P50) ay dahil naglagay na sila ng mga signs, resting area, stairs, photo deck, viewing den, etc. Wala pala to dati. Tara, let's go down.

renovated place

let's go down

the color's surreal!

We ate lunch first then enjoyed the view. Kahit 10 na, ang ginaw pa din. The tourist guide keeps on remindung us na 7,000 feet deep ang water sa lake and it's still immeasurable sa deepest part nya. Oh ok. Ayoko na maligo. Naglusong lang kami sa mababaw na part. Delikado kasi biglang lalim ang tubig. Ayoko pa mamamatay, madami pa ko travels next year! Joke!

Water is tempting but Im scared to swim

Among the many signs scattered around the place, this one is my favorite:

No shouting please.
Noise can cause soil erosion.

Thank You Lord God for the good weather and for always keeping me safe in all my travels. Ü

Howkey, tama na ang lakwatsa! Next year naman ulit! (--,)

*all shots from my point and shoot camera only


Update as of Feb 2011:
After seeing the most raved about Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the glorious Grand Temple and Palaces in Thailand, the very sparkling Petronas Towers in Malaysia, and the brilliantly-designed Cu Chi Tunnel in Vietnam - my heart remains faithful in this one unique spot in the Philippines. The most stunning spot I've seen is still Mount Pinatubo.

What's the factor why Pinatubo is the best spot?
It's just very hard to imagine that something this majestic can be destructive at the same time. That makes this spot very unique and remarkable. It's really something every Pinoy can be proud of.

75 responses:

Chyng said...

SUNSCREEN

~ Ang wish ko ngayong pasko. Care to donate some? *winks*

Pukaykay said...

Chyng! Nakakainggit!
Ang ganda ganda!

Hindi pa nga ako over sa pagkainggit ko sa anawangin..eto ka na naman.
hehehe

So, san ang next philippine adventure mo?

Pukaykay said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
borjman said...

Good stuff! Parang Swiss alps.

Apol :) said...

Chyng, ang ganda! isa din yan sa gusto ko puntahan.

Chyng & Jme, i suggest sa pagkikita natin kelangan may travel na kasama. hahaha! ung place na d pa natin napupuntahang 3. ung tipong day trip lang ha. syempre 'mrs' na ko by that time kelangan uuwi kay fafa sa gabi after ng lakwatsa. (quiet lang. d ko sya sama para girl bonding lang)haha! :D

Dabo said...

wow! kakainggit!

pero miss na kita

Roninkotwo said...

Wala pa ko adventure na travel...Ganda, yet malapit lang.

rEm said...

wow!!! ganda naman d2! (parang di ako kasama pumunta db? hahaha!) na-stress lang ako sa alikabok na nagpa-puti sa hair ko at kay Celine (cam)! ampf!

basta ang sarap maligo after this trip! un lang :D

Unknown said...

Marvelous, marvelous!

I hope I can get to Davao next year naman. :D

x'tian said...

where do you belong chyng?
how many minutes?

gillboard said...

nice... parang gusto ko tuloy pumunta ng pinatubo... pwede ba isahan lang dyan?

Arvin U. de la Peña said...

ayos ang pinuntahan mo ah..nag travel ka talaga..

pusangkalye said...

ang galing---breathtaking talaga ang view---parang Switzerland o sa another world. cant wait to go there. naku naku. parang napapa-iyak nako sa excitement. ganito pamandin ako pag gusto ko na pumunta pero di pa kaya o dipa pwede. parang bata no? pag di nabigyan ng candy di makatulog. nways--- tyagain ko nalang muna ang mga photos. salamat sa info.

imememorize ko to pag malapit na kami umakyat. verbatim.lol

Iyay B. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Iyay B. said...

isa lang masasabiko "BREATHTAKING".

I never thought ganon na ka-ganda jan ngayon.

pero parang hindi ata ako pwde mag-punta jan xe baka ako ang maging cause ng soil erosion! hahaha! :D

oo nga, tama na muna kakalakwacha, sumosobra ka na eh! pahinga ka nman for a change! haha!

and may i add, you picked a great place to visit to end 2009! ☺

♥ ---> hehehe! lavet!

Chyng said...

@jamie,
nextime ayain kita. gusto ko mahawakan nyo camera mo! ;D

@glenn,
oh yeah!

@apol,
i strongly agree. isip ako ng lugar. ;D

Chyng said...

@dave,
weh ikaw nga nagtree planting di ka nag-aya..

@sir lloyd,
super ganda! Ü

@remay,
ako nahirapan magshampoo! di kinaya yung lahar dust sa hair ko.

Chyng said...

@jakey,
invite me too!

@xtian,
25 mins so over the senior age! haha

@gillborad,
ag gastos nyan pagsolo.. ganda mo kung solo mo irent yung 4x4.. Ü

Chyng said...

@arvin,
punta ka din! explore pinas.

@antonio,
inaya kita dito, too bad di ka pa ready. haha

@iyay,
korek, bawal ka dun kasi maingay ka. you may cause soil erosion. ang risky! Ü

darkhorse said...

Chyng ganda naman! sana mkapasyal din ako dyan someday thanks 4 sharing tc!

wanderingcommuter said...

mcdonalds-capas yan?! hahaha! wala lang! ang saya!

Z said...

ganda nung lake sa crater. wow!

Nhil said...

Wow. Ayos yung Pinatubo Spa Town.

Natawa ako dun sa estimated tracking time. Senior Citizen - 20 mins. :))

gege said...

waw!!!

nakOOo...
inggit nanaman ako dito.

dapat di matapos ang 2010 ng di ako nakakaakyat ng bundok!

PROMISE. :P

(patapos na kasi 2009... ilang araw na lang.)

escape said...

oh you got the cheapest rate. thanks for sharing the contact numbers. ill be using the same package then. salamat! salamat!

oh great shots there!

kg said...

chyng! because of this post, I want to go to Mt. pinatubo! promise! next year dapat mapuntahan na yan! thanks for the info!

Chyng said...

@DH,
explore pinas pagbalik mo! Ü

@ewik,
aha! at ano nangyare sa McDonals Capas? hhmm, I'll ask Dabo!

@z,
it is!

Chyng said...

@Nhil,
funnier is 25 mins ko siya natapos. ganun ako kabagal? haha

@gege,
you ahve to. invite your friends para masaya!

@doms,
thanks! aabangan ko din version mo nito. cheaper nga kung naghire ng van kung 10 persons. kaso 5 lang kami. mura na din. Ü

@KG,
I know you will. *winks*

carlotta1924 said...

hahaha may pics din kami sa no shouting, may cause erosion na "sumisigaw" :D

super ganda ng pinatubo talaga!

salamat sa pagdalaw sa blog ko :D

Hoobert the Awesome said...

wow ang nice naman. i never been to mt. pinatubo though i'm from pampanga. kung may makakasama lang sana. hmmp.

//: the photo showing the crater lake left me amazed. haha. at yung girl dun, parang artista ah. no joke!

Glampinoy said...

Wow, para din akong namasyal Pinatubo dahil sa ganda ng mgas photos mo!

Deejimon TV said...

I am from Zambales but I never had a chance to visit pinatubo..

Ganyan pala kaganda jan?? Ma try nga minsan..=]

Nice post..=]

Maybe u are interested with my new post.
Gossip Girl Goes On Manga! Sneak Peak!

Jag said...

Aumigaud! Ang ganda! I think lagi ko lng nadadaanan ang place n yan tuwing bumbyahe ako dati sa Baguio...

I am fascinated sa mga pics! Nice!

Blog hopped here!

Allen said...

unti unti kong susundan ang mga yapal mo. haha!

Pwede ba maligo sa crater ate chyng?

cool!

Deejimon TV said...

Hello! Check out my blogroll...See if you are listed..

Chyng said...

@carlotta,
I enjoyed pinatubo too! cheers!

@poot,
congrats for winning! Ü

@glam,
you should!

Chyng said...

@mister llama,
parang si carl ng jimmy neutron, inlove sa llama? joke!

@jag,
wala nyan sa Japan! Ü

@allen,
my pleasure.. ;D

Unknown said...

Wow Great photos! Bakit hindi ganyan kaganda ang mga kuha ko? Ang daya... Hahahaha! Parang nasalubong nga namin kayo sa trek. Kararating lang namin, pauwi na kayo. Hmmm... ikaw nga ba yun? Sayang, di tau nagmeet.

San ang next desti mo?

the geek said...

ang ganda ng mga kuha na pics...

invite me the next time na pumunta kayo.hahaha

Random Student said...

Tama ka. Ibang level 'pag nakita mo in person. You are so lucky that nararating mo ang magagandang pook sa Pilipinas.

Unknown said...

waaaaaaa... kainggit! Itinerary namin ito next year!!!

papaescort sa mga brotherhood ko!!!

gaganda ng mga picsture!!!

Abiel Online : I Love Online
Love Thoughts Love Lines...
Anime Online: I Love Anime

dyosa said...

Wow! Maganda na yung signage nila ng "Pinatubo trek starts here". LOL! When I went there tarpaulin lang yun eh.

My friends and I took the trek too but we chose the longer route. Took us about 2 hours to reach that signage and another 30mins to reach the crater. Sarap ng feeling noh? And the water is really something else! :D

edelweiza said...

majestic nga! i hope next year makapunta rin ako jan. :)

Hoobert the Awesome said...

:/ haha. yun ba? salamat. pers taym ko. lolz.

Rico said...

Wow! We have got to do THAT too!

The Nomadic Pinoy said...

swerte nyo nga at maganda ang weather. ganda ng kulay nung lake! next time, pupunta na talaga ako dito.

Hoobert the Awesome said...

merry christmas ate chyng!

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Denialtwistpod said...

Shala! I'm loving this blog now.

Julianne said...

Ang Ganda.

Bagong look na pala ito. Nice.

Merry Christmas. :)

princess_dyanie said...

bloghopped from kg hehe ;)

yay, kagagaling lang namin jan. kasama ko sina dom hehe ;P nagkita kaya tayo dun? hehe ;P

ANENG said...

acidic ba ung tubig jan? bawal swimingan? ang sarap ng kulay ng tubig sa crater. kaso mukhang nakakatakot. hahaha..

lostman said...

huwaw.. ang astig ng mga pics.. sana makapag tour din ako dyan.. wala kasi akong kasama e.. katamad nmn magpunta magisa..

lostman said...

huwaw.. ang ganda pala ng pintubo... sana makapunta din ako dyan... tsk.. tsk... wala kasi akong kasma...

Chyng said...

^next time invite kita. link mo?

Unknown said...

I'll be there someday lapit lang pala sa amin 8 hours and 6000 miles lang

em.em said...

sis chyng! ang ganda ganda naman pala dyan! gusto ko din makapunta dyan.. =D

Chyng said...

^ madali lang yung trek! go and visit this place soon, and be amaze! Ü

Happy Trails said...

your pictures are very inviting =)

RON said...

i've been contacting all sorts of trip organizers for this one, i've been scouting all over the net but they are not responding. don't know what seems to be the problem.

i might as well contact wendell, thanks for the info

aubu said...

astig, ang ganda naman sa Mt. Pinatubo. Dibale magkanu lahat nagastos nyo? Thanks! Napadaan lang po, sakto na balak din namin magtrek sa Mt. Pinatubo this last week of April. :P

aubu said...

ay, meron palang chart ng expenses na nakalagay, hehe, sori naman, tnx ulit!

Unknown said...

snah matuloy nah akoh dyan diz year kung makapuntah meh again sah Manila...

Weekend Haven said...

Hi Chyng,

we're interested to do a day trek in pinatubo next month. thanks to the expenses you posted here. really helpful. mind if i ask if you made prior reservation sa pinatubospatown or you just contacted wendel para sya na magarrange ng lahat? thanks!

Chyng said...

Hi!
No we didnt make a reservation in Spa Town. I contacted Wendell for the 4x4 rental, pero baka pwede din sya mag-arrange ng spa services. Pero I dont think you need a reservation prior. Ü

Weekend Haven said...

Thanks sis. Nakontak ko na si Wendell, sana matuloy kami. :)

7a'faR said...

I love colour talaga..!!

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz~

Pinoy Adventurista said...

i've climb Mt. Pinatubo ni 2008. ang dami na palang developements dun... thanks for sharing... =D

JeffZ said...

kaboom.. o ayan ha I read it na.. :)

nasampolan ako nyang Golden Rule na yan.. hehe

thanks!

Darwin said...

wow this is so cool..

I think I need to join the group on the 23rd..ganda nga talaga sa Pinatubo....thanks for the info chyng..

im darwin of
http://trackingtreasure.net
http://damicaye.blogspot.com

Pinoy Boy Journals said...

wow! kept looking at this post, Chyng! Super nice!!! i haven't been to Pinatubo!!! Gandaaaa!

lyrahc said...

Wow! ang ganda naman. Di pa ako nakapunta dyan. Anyway, same price pa rin ba ung fee until now? update naman po please. Gusto ko rin pumunta dito kasama mga friends ko. :)

joy said...

Ang ganda pala ng papuntA mt pinatubo. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful country indeed:)

M said...

Hi po,

Matagal ba talaga mag-reply si Sir Wendell? Magi-isang week na wala parin siyang reply... Mag-inquire sana ako sa package/info sa tour nila....

Chyng said...

hi!

usually mabilis naman. try mo tawagan para mas mabilis =)

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