Ever heard of the saying “half the journey is getting there”?
Well, for a trip to see the famous crater lake of Mt Pinatubo, that’s certainly true. The trip to see the volcano is quite a challenge—a three hour course which includes a 4×4 ride in an extremely rough road for about an hour, plus an additional two hours of trek.
Fortunately, what visitors see when they actually arrive makes the trip worth it, to say the least.
Coming from Manila, travelers must leave before the sun rises (around 4am) so they could get to Capas before 7am.
Riding a 4×4 while it maneuvers a bumpy and course path and mini-rivers is already an experience in and of itself. On the way there, passengers get to enjoy the scenery and even talk to some very friendly locals (during stopovers).
But the real challenge starts with the walking-hiking-trekking part, which is, let’s just say, something your legs would remember the next day. Suffice it to say, it’s advised that trekkers only bring what they need. Wearing proper footwear, as well as headgear, is a must. Pro tip: Make sure you had enough sleep the night before.
It’s around noon when visitors arrive at the crater—a magical moment. Looking at the crater from the viewpoint is exhilarating. This is the time that visitors take photos, have a snack, run around if you will, and swim.
After an hour of two, visitors must start the trek back before it gets dark. While it’s a tiring day, most, if not all, visitors would say that they would do it all over again, which speaks to the beauty and wonder of Mt Pinatubo up close.
For adventure-seekers and nature lovers, this is one trip to add in their must-visit and must-go-back-to lists.