BEAUTIFUL DISASTER? That's me and the Pinatubo!
Since it's summer and we've felt that going to the beach is kind of overrated, we gave it a try to other summer adventures like trekking. It's all our first time to went trekking this year so we thought of Mt. Pinatubo as the perfect place to do it, I mean because why not? We all know that it errupted in the year 1991 and I wasn't born yet so I and my husband find it interesting to visit with our good friends (and since my husband is a Chinese, I want him to learn why IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES!)
Because we do not know how to get there, we strive to search for it and came up on reading a blog which contains contact numbers of trekking organizers. We tried to call 2 persons to inquire. The first one is a bit pricey than the second one so we took the offer of the latter person and we fell under the assistance of "Mount Pinatubo Jolly Tour" (FB page available). Their rates are:
📷 2,300/head minimum of 3, 6, 9, 11 pax
📷 1,780/head minimum of 5, 10, 15, 20 pax
📷 No hidden charges.
📷 Package inclusions are:
- 4x4 wheel
- Local guide
- Aeta Botolan Fee
- Lunch
- Water
- Snacks
- Certificates
Before the actual adventure day, the Jolly tour asks us to deposit at least 1,000php/head in their BDO account. What we did was a combination of DIY and package tour because it's a tropa trip and some of our friends came from the province.
HOW TO GET TO MT. PINATUBO?
1️⃣ Take a bus going to Capas Tarlac. Because we live in Pasay City, we needed to take a bus going up north. We took an ordinary 5 star bus at 2 o'clock in the morning because it was the only available bus at that time. We arrived at 5:30AM in McDonald's Capas and we also took the chance to have breakfast there while waiting for the tricycles that the travel tour has assigned to fetch us.
2️⃣ The tricycle arrived at 6AM and it took us 45 minutes to get to Sta. Juliana. The tricycle drivers charged us 300php only per tricycle. Other tricycle drivers who are not affiliated to any travel tours are charging the tourists 500-800php sometimes. We met our contact person, Jo Mallari of Mt. Pinatubo Jolly Tour, upon arriving at Sta. Juliana. You can reach her through 09156354895/09283410402. We did registration and orientation quickly and she also let us sign the waivers. What a waiver?!?? Yes. At first I was like "Seriously?!". And then we've found out after our adventure that it's really risky to trek there because landslides can happen anytime since majority of the place were lava formation. It's also very risky if it rain while you're trekking because the water from the streams can get high easily. Also, according to our local tour guides, there were 5 Germans who died before while trekking because it rained that's why since then they are not allowing people to go on their own if they don't have a tour guide with them.
The cut off for registration is 8AM already because there will be a strict clearing operation within the area so don't be late!
3️⃣ After the registration we took the 4x4 ride until we get to the starting point of trekking. One 4x4 is good for 5pax. The ride was fun! It took us 1 & 1/2 hours of 4x4 ride to trailhead. It's super dusty and hot so better bring with you your mask, jacket with hoodie, sun block, scarf and tissues/wet wipes. We pass through a dusty-rocky field and beheld beautiful lava formations. We stopped for a while at the Toblerone Hills to have a picture taking and interaction with the natives. They were approachable, kind to tourists, disciplined for not asking anything like money or food, and they love groufies!
4️⃣ When we get to the starting point of the trek, our tour guide told us that it would be a 5km walk back and forth (a total of 10km walk!) It took us 5 hours of trekking back and forth. There were times when I feel like giving up because it's so far! My goodness! But of course not because nobody will gonna carry me. Haha. We pass through the streams, rocks, plains, and stairs to get to the top so make sure to wear your most comfortable trekking shoes. There were like 4 stop overs and in each there were vendors selling souvenirs and drinks which prices vary from 50php-100php. There's also selling buko juice for 60php only. I tried it and it's so refreshing! We also tried the buko ice candy for only 20php each. If you don't wanna spend that much in drinks, carry with you at least 2-3L of water.
5️⃣ Finally we made it to the top! The view was breathtakingly beautiful!!! Can't believe I'm staring at a real one when I thought I was just looking at a post card. It's too good to be true! Any part of the place was instagrammable! We took a rest first underneath the tree and ate our lunch. So the travel tour prepared our food. We had one cup of rice, chicken adobo for our ulam, banana, cupcake and 1 regular bottle of water. After eating we fix ourselves for being so dugyot and get ready for picture taking at the crater!
6️⃣ We endure almost 200 steps in the stairs to get to the volcano crater. It's so easy to get down but you must be careful especially for those who have fear of heights for it's an open cliff. One wrong step and you're dead! The crater was so amazing! It's so beautiful and indescribable! We had groufies and selfies here and there! The tour guide said that the volcano has the possibility to errupt again after 300 years. (I know we're all gone by that time!) We're also informed that we cannot touch the water in the lake coz there were harmful susbtances which can irritate the skin so I never dare! Water sports were being held in the lake before but they prohibit it already since it becomes risky coz of the immeasurable depth of it. I've heard that you can also camp there but only good for a night. Drones are allowed in the crater. Felt happy for winning good Vietnamese friends during our adventure!
7️⃣ Afrer enjoying at the crater, it's time to take the stairs again! It hurts crazily to the biceps! We need to pause a lot and be patient to get to the top! After the trek, we went to Capas Shrine to get our certificates. It was fun and more than an adventure!
8️⃣ I and my husband's exact total expenses (could be an idea for couples out there who are planning to have a Mt. Pinatubo adventure).
4,600 - travel tour packages
610 - fare from Pasay-Capas and vice versa
90 - McDonald's burger breakfast
300 - tricycle from Capas to Sta. Juliana
60 - buko juice
100 - Gatorade
40 - ice candies
100 - 7eleven snacks after the trek
100 - others
6,000 - TOTAL
PS. You can still lessen this expenses especially if you're near Tarlac or even mas matipid than us.
TIPS & REMINDERS
📷 Bring 1-2L of water. Prices of drinks in Mt. Pinatubo starts from 50php to 100php.
📷 Wear your most comfy shoes. Not slippers. Not sandals. But comfortable rubber shoes.
📷 SUNBLOCK! This is a must if you don't want your skin to get tortured.
📷 Jacket with hoodie, scarf, tissues, WET WIPES! (it saves us from being so dugyot), extra clothes, umbrella, cap/hat - for extra sun protection!
📷 MASK!!! Please, please bring one! (You'll thank me later for this.)
📷 NO SIGNAL so no My Day updates!
📷 Comfort Rooms are available! They have 2 CRs and it's FREE!
📷 Bring your MEDICINE! I suggest always carry a loperamide in your pocket. You'll never go wrong with it!
📷 Food. You can carry just right amount of food especially for those who have ulcer and unless you're not gutumin.
📷 Always bring enough cash when in travel.
📷 Of course!!! Never ever forget your camera (phones), GoPro, instax, selfie stick is so useful, drone (it's allowed 📷). You shouldn't miss taking unli pictures of the view, with your friends, and of yourself!
📷 EXERCISE!!! Make sure you are physically fit and healthy before going on adventures like this. Mt. Pinatubo trekking is perfect for beginners and can be done in a day! This was my second hike/trek after 10 years and my biceps were in shock!
📷 9 years old can join this adventure already as long as physically ready! We just get to know a girl who went trekking with her Daddy.
📷 Other activities like volcanic ash massage and mud pack are waiting at Pinatubo Spa Town but we never tried it, but you can!
📷 Endure for being so dugyot! Better get ready to deal with super duper dust, melting and sticky sunblock as time goes by, and unli sweat coz of the abnormal heat caused by lava. That day was the day I have felt I'm at my dirtiest!
📷 PRAY. Do not forget to ask for guidance and safety from up above.
✍️ MY PERSONAL INSIGHTS ✍️ * It always feels satisfying when you reached your goal together with the people you endure with. * Mt. Pinatubo taught me that no matter what life throws at you, you still have to find life beautiful. Because it is. Because it's the one that never gets dull. * Going down is easy, going up is hard. * Beautiful view comes after the hardest trek. * If you want something, sweat at it. * Line upon line, precept upon precept. * You cannot run faster than your strength. * There is no view so shattered that time cannot cure. Just like, there is no life so shattered that heaven cannot cure. * By facing challenges, we come out more beautiful. * If you want to shine bright like a diamond, you got to be willing to get cut like a diamond.