Many Filipinos still remember that fateful day in 1991 when a relatively unknown volcano erupted north of the capital. The eruption caused a lot of damage and killed hundreds of people. Its effects were felt far and wide, even affecting the global climate. Today, this volcano has become a destination for many a tourist.
The fact that it erupted fairly recently and that you can hike right up to the crater is too tempting to resist. Even more so, the sight that greets you at the end of the trek is enough to entice anyone – even those who wouldn’t normally go hiking. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.
That’s my first view of the crater. The eruption created this gorgeous lake, the depth of which is currently undetermined. I had seen pictures of this view so many times before but nothing prepared me for the real thing.
Yes, you can go swimming in the lake. The water is perfect! At first it may seem too cold but the sun is hot enough to keep you warm.
There are different routes you can take to the crater – we chose the easiest one. We drove all the way to Capas, Tarlac, where the famed Pinatubo Spa is located. We met our guide there, who took us near the crater on a 4×4. That ride lasted about an hour (rough road all the way!), while the trek lasted about 30 minutes. According to the sign below, we’re way older than senior citizens!
I say who cares? The experience was worth everything!