MT. PINATUBO: "Power of 3" Trek (5.23.11)

I love traveling and have read a lot of travel blogs. In fact, reading it is like a pill to my bored earthly being. It refuels my solitary existence and yields me to abide my itchy feet. I’ve been to quite a few places but don’t have the time to write and share my own travel experience. It’s just recently that I have finally found the means and the time to craft my own travel blog. Being my latest quest, my Mt. Pinatubo Trekking would be my foremost sight-see entry.

Just last week, my cuz and I were yearning for something. Being bored due to work for months already (in her case) and a bit obsession to do something uncommon in my case made us wrap-up for a day of adventure in Mt. Pinatubo. Just few days before our planned trek, the weather have been gusty that made us mull whether to pursue or not. But still, with an impetus to run after a day of quest… WE PURSUE! Whether we HIT or MISS!

So thrilled for the trip, we arrived at Pasay Bus Terminal (Victory Liner) at around 3:00 in the morning of May 23, 2011. Been late for about just 5 minutes for the first trip bound to Dagupan/Lingayen and settled for the second one. It cost us Php 175. After an hour, we left Pasay at exactly 4:00 in the morning and jumped-off at Capas, Tarlac junction around 7:30 am. 

From here, we rode a tricycle bound to Sta. Juliana (where the SPA Town is located and the jump-off point for Pinatubo Crater Trekking). The ride cost Php 300, we’re 3 so we had a hundred bucks each.

Arriving at the SPA Town, one has to register for the trek and cost us Php 1500 EACH inclusive of 4x4 ride, tour guide, use of SPA Town amenities, lunch (a choice between Korean and Filipino food) and trekking certificate (optional). Since we are all female, they assigned an Air Force Officer as our security to accompany us on the trek and we paid an additional P400 pesos.

trail route

There are two trekking routes to the crater: first is via SKYWAY with 1 1/2 hrs of 4x4 ride plus half hour of trekking and second is the OLD WAY with 1 hour of ride and 2-3 hours of trekking via O’Donnell River.

We opted to have the old way, though long trail and thigh aching, we're able to see lahar formations and canyons along the way as a reward, so worth it! 

As if young age, am insisting a 15-min more of trekking

And so there we are, after butt and thigh-aching two hours of trekking the rough river, we finally reached the pit-stop. It would just take few minutes from here to the crater depending on your age and vigor. We went beyond lush vegetations thereafter and finally reach the crater.

 Upon seeing the so-famous Pinatubo crater, 

I was in AWE AND BEEN BEWILDERED by something 

so magnificently beautiful yet so destructive.

Who would have thought that a catastrophic volcano who ruined millions of life two decades ago would be one of the breathtaking tourist spot in the Philippines! It's so majestic, can't believe i've seen it up close and personal…with my two naked eyes! A couple of grueling hours to reach it were so WORTH IT.

After hours of stay, we opted to go downhill. The possibility of rainshowers emerge as the cloud onset to get dark. Our tour guide (an Ita) elucidate that its quite dangerous if the rain falls down so we better get moving our ass out of the crater… and commence another two hours trek way back. And the Ita was right, we’re half-way the trek when the rain starts to fall so we hurriedly find our way to our waiting 4x4 wheels.

Upon arrival at the SPA, quite an ample serving of a sumptuous late lunch was already set. The use of their locker and shower room is also for everyone’s convenience. Php 1500 was worth it so don’t try to haggle around.

So that’s it, after a good bath and a lavish late lunch… we’re bound to go home…. but still, we eagerly asked the tricycle driver to drop us at CAPAS NATIONAL SHRINE (the starting point of the Death March way back in history) and have some photo ops at the Death March Monument.

Here's the breakdown of expenses:
P175 x 2 = P350 (2-way bus fare)
P100 x 2 = P200 (2-way trike fare)
P 133 (for the Air Force Security)
P 1500  (Reg. Fee at the SPA Town inclusive of everything)



All in all… the trip just cost us a total of Php 2,183 EACH! So worth it for a day of an exceptional adventure!