Day trip to Mt. Pinatubo: the once-raging volcano is such a beauty

A daytime trek to Mount Pinatubo -with a starting point in Capas, Tarlac – is highly recommended if you’re looking for an activity you can do in one day. An overnight stay is also good if you’re one who likes camping out. Overall, this was one trip I totally enjoyed this summer. It had the right combination of sightseeing, physical exercise and adventure, such as our rough ride in the those make-shift four wheeler jeeps – only in the Philippines!

Viewing Pinatubo’s magnificent crater lake for the first time was a breathtaking experience. It was like being transported to paradise after the trouble of waking up at the crack of dawn, riding the four-wheelers on rough roads for one hour and trekking just to reach the foot of the mountain. The ultimate reward is the sight of this beautiful sulphur lake…..

The lake’s color particularly stood out. It wasn’t blue, it wasn’t blue-green, it shone like emerald. I believe somebody said turquoise? Whatever…. it was an object of awe-inspiring beauty. Don’t forget the mountain itself with its unique volcanic surface.

And to think Pinatubo was the object of headlines close to two decades ago. I remember when it erupted and its fumes reached as far as Manila. Wikipedia tells us that the eruption had a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 6 and its effects were felt worldwide, infiltrating even this planet’s stratosphere.

Luckily, the weather cooperated perfectly with us on the day of the climb. It would have been different if the roads were slippery and especially because there were lots of rocks to negotiate on the trek.So one advice I’ll share is to check if the sky is clear on the day of your trip.

It is simply good that the volcano has now become a tourist attraction and is providing an invaluable source of livelihood for people in the neighboring areas.Wow Philippines!