It took me twenty-one years after to stop wondering when I actually went to one of the premiere ecotourism spots in the Philippines last summer 2012.
I just finished my Mindanao tour which lasted for ten days. Ten days of memorable adventures. Once you experience to travel, you just cannot get enough of it. You ask for more.
I planned on going to Mt. Pinatubo. No ifs, no buts. My mind was all made up.
It was 4:00 am when I left Batangas and I arrived in Manila just before 6:00 am. I boarded the LRT bound to Doroteo Jose. Thereafter, I boarded the Genesis bus bound to Baguio. The route to Baguio passes Capas where the trail to Mt. Pinatubo leads.
Prior to this travel, I thought that the trail either starts from Zambales or Pangasinan. I was wrong.
Anyway, on with the journey to Capas which took me several hours that gave me enough respite to rejuvenate my energy. I reached Capas around 9:00 am. Not mindful of the time, I hired a tricycle ride to Barangay Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac. Along the way, we passed the Capas Shrine. This was not part of the itinerary. But I decided to tour Capas Shrine. The tour which would I regret later on.
After the tour, we proceeded to the site. I paid PhP300.00 for the tricycle ride and it took me almost an hour to reach the site. It was past ten in the morning. I inquired at the administration office and to my surprise, they told me that the tour for Mt. Pinatubo has a cut-off of 10:00 am and as a result, I did not make it on time!! I tried my best to convince them to allow me to go on with the tour. But it was a futile exercise. What made things worse is when they told me that I had to pay Php4,500.00 for the tour to Mt. Pinatubo since I had nobody to share it with.
Realizing that I am just making matters worse, I decided to go back to the town. Good thing the tricycle driver waited for me (The driver knew that I won’t make it on time!! He was in cahoots with them). So I paid Php150.00 for the ride back to the town. Imagine, spending Php450.00 for nothing! I realized that the Capas Shrine tour was a bit expensive!
So I spent the day in Capas, wandering around the town and I even went to the other towns of Tarlac.
I also went to the Aquino Museum.
I stayed at Tres Marias Apartelle and paid PhP800.00.
Contact Nos. - (045)-491-3467 / (045)-615-0317
Deluxe - P1,650.00
Triple Sharing - P1,250.00
Twin Sharing P950.00 (All with free breakfast)
Deluxe - P1,650.00
Triple Sharing - P1,250.00
Twin Sharing P950.00 (All with free breakfast)
The following day, the same tricycle driver fetched me and we went to site and arrived 7:00 am.
The tour package is P1,500/person or P4,500 which included 4x4 rent, lunch, conservation fees, service of a local guide, use of showers and locker facilities.
volcanic ash |
There are other services offered like boating, massage, volcanic ash and mud pool which require separate payment.
The contact numbers for the tour packages are the following: Lydia – 09097591300; Ivy -09994539264; and Remy -09093695178.
It is better to make the necessary inquiry and/or reservation before going to the site. There are reasons why they suspend or postponed the tour.
Anyway, I waited for half an hour and there were plenty of trekkers that day going to Mt. Pinatubo. Feeling uneasy, I decided to pay the entire PhP4,500.00 and decided to go on with the tour.
The 4x4 ride going to the jump-off point took one hour.
Along the way, we passed the joint military exercise of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Marines. We passed miles and miles of barren lands covered with white sand. But the view was spectacular! The terrain was rugged, sandy and mountainous.
The driver of the 4x4 told me that the road we were traversing was also the path of the lava flow when Mt. Pinatubo erupted.
The 4x4 ride was exciting even though it was my second time to experience it (the first time was in Paoay, Ilocos Norte).
The terrain was totally different from Paoay, a lot better from Paoay since you have to pass boulders of rocks and several rivers just to reach the jump-off point.
After one hour of 4x4 ride, we reached the site and my guide told me that the trek to Mt. Pinatubo was good for almost two hours for amateurs.
We started the trek.
The sun was scorching hot that day. Good thing I was prepared for the trek.
We reached the resting area and rested for fifteen minutes. Then, the ascent started. It took us 18 minutes before reaching the top. It was very slippery since you have to pass a long and winding river.
Finally, we reached the crater!
There were several tourists swimming on the lake and enjoying their time. I took pictures of the area and wandered around.
After one hour, we decided to descent. It was past 11:00 am.
Going back was faster than I thought. We boarded the 4x4 and went back to the registration area.
It was past one pm when we reached the registration area. There was plenty of food (since it was good for 4 persons).
I decided to avail of the massage and thereafter, I went to the tourism office.
I decided to avail of the massage and thereafter, I went to the tourism office.
Then, I went home to Batangas.
Adventure
Skywalk/Edge Coaster - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/adventures-in-cebu-city.html
Top Ten adventures - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/12-of-my-best-adventures-in-philippines.html
Beach
Others –
Top Ten Places - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/top-ten-places-in-philippines-i-visited.html
32 Ecotourism spots - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/32-ecotourism-spots-in-philippines.html
Top 10 summer pics 2011 - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/top-10-of-my-pictures-for-summer-2011.html
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