pinatubo trek - travel guide

Mt. Pinatubo Crater (May 2009)

Letter to friend who had been inquiring about our trip to Pinatubo a few months ago --

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Yes, Pinatubo is wonderful! :) This is our trip details:

The contact is Wendell, the president of the 4 Wheelers Club. Contact number is: 09196084313.

The Pinoy Tourism package cost us PhP3750. It includes the following:

4x4 rental- PhP2500
Guide Fee - PhP500
Conservation Fee - PhP250

Skyway Toll Fee - PhP500

The 4x4 can accommodate up to 5 people and therefore, these 5 people can share the package cost. In our case, we were 13 and we split the group into three, 4-4-5 in each vehicle.

The bus ride from Cubao to Capas Junction in Tarlac took around 2 1/2 hours only. You can either take the bus going to Dagupan or Baguio and it only costs around PhP150. It was suggested that we should arrive before 7 in the morning so we would have a nice camp ground at the lake. Since our group was big, we hired a jeepney (cost: PhP2500) to pick us up at the junction going to Sta. Juliana where the Tourism Center is located. If you are just one group, you could ask to be picked up by the 4x4 already. However, you have to pay an extra cost, probably around PhP1,000. The jeep will take you back to the junction once you finished the trek in the afternoon. Another tip, you can also ask Wendell if it's possible for you to have an open-back 4x4. The other vehicles they have are Land Cruisers that are closed. In my opinion, the open back vehicles are more fun! The ride from the Junction to Sta. Juliana took around 45 minutes to 1 hour. When we arrived there, we just signed up, paid the fee and off we went. The ride going to the crater is around 45 minutes through the Skyway.

You need to bring packed lunch and please don't forget to bring extra for your guides and driver. If you're planning to buy something at McDonald's at the junction, please note that it opens at 6 am. The carinderia near the junction also opens early. Your stuff can be carried by the guides, so you don't have to worry about carrying a lot of things.

The trek is very easy. They said that you can make the trek in 15 minutes but in our case, it took almost an hour because of all the stops we had to make for picture-taking. Inside the crater, there are open cottages that you can use to set up your "camp." You can also bring your tent and you can set it up in a secluded area just behind the open cottages. There is a small spot there, more like a little island, for a very small group with a very nice view. You can ask your guide about it.

Boating on the lake is also availabe, although I think it is kind of expensive at PhP350/person and must only be paid at the center because you will be given a boating card.

Going home, you can take a bus going to Manila from the junction.

Hmm... Is this detailed for you or not? :) I hope you can go there soon! It will be fun! :)

ceebee