DIY Taal Volcano: To the Crater and Back!
TAAL VOLCANO
Batangas Province
Jump-off point: Talisay, Batangas
LLA: 14°00.1' N, 120°59.1' E, 311 MASL
Days required / Time to summit: Half-day, 45 minutes
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1, Trail length: 1.7kms
Source: http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2008/01/taal-volcano-311.html
April 21, 2013
I organized this trip to finally finish my "money series" travel adventures where I aim to visit all the places found at the back of all Philippine Peso bill in a year. However I have one exception, that is Tubbataha Reef. Why, you ask? Because I still do not have that 100,000php budget and more than a week to spare just to visit this world renown reef! But that's a totally different story. Let's go back to the last stretch of my money series, the Taal Volcano.
The group met up at Jam Liner in EDSA-Kamuning and rode a bus via Tanauan. Make sure that the bus you are going to ride will pass at the Talisay-Lipa Main Intersection/it can drop you off near Tanauan Public Market. Upon alighting at the Main Intersection, we walked a little and looked for a place to buy our food for the day. There are many establishments around where you can buy but we opted 7-Eleven because it's the nearest. After buying our food, we asked around on where we can find a jeep that goes to Taal Lake Yacht Club (TLYC) and luckily the jeepney that we rode agreed to bring us straight to the place but with an additional 5php.Lucky us! Apparently, only jeeps with "Laurel" signage pass through there. Most stop at Talisay Municipality and you'd have to ride another tricycle to reach TLYC.
By the way, you can also opt to find other means of riding a boat to the crater but I chose TLYC because they were organized, responds immediately, and their pricing is pretty standard. TLYC is actually a safe way to not be ripped off. Aside from that, I was sure that there was a place where we can rinse off any dirt in our body after the trek. I also thought that if we have some more time to spare, we can do some activities that are offered by the place. You may visit their site here to see other activities that they offer.
Upon arriving at TLYC, I texted Peter(09178383726) who was the owner. He warmly welcomed us and showed us around. He was very hospitable and has a lot of stories. He told us why he thought of establishing a place near the volcano, the possible outcome if ever the volcano erupts and all that stuff. He also oriented us on what to expect during our climb and we really learned a lot from him. He warned us that we will encounter a lot of horse dung in the trail. haha. He was much like a teacher in a classroom actually, but not the boring type. :D
After the orientation, we registered for the boat hiring, showed our deposit slip, filled up some forms, and embarked on our journey. We chose the Regular Tourist Trail but I think TLYC also offers the Ambassador Kenney Trail where you can actually go and swim to the crater lake. There is also the Secret/Kalawit Trail but according to Peter it has a longer route and is designed for seasoned climbers.
Taal Crater is known to be a like within a lake and true enough, that is what it is. Most people commonly mistaken the mass of land at the center of the first lake as the actual Taal crater, it's not. It is the Binintiang Malaki (Big Leg) and Peter told us that it was very hard to climb that place due to its steepness.
After that approximately 30-min ride to the island. Our guides paid the necessary tourism fee at the desk then, we started the trek. I know I have been warned that the trail was dusty but I didn't expect it to be THAT dusty. Wearing a face mask is highly recommended! The particles were very, very fine almost like powdery because the trail was constantly being walked upon by horses and humans. Plus the smell of the trail was awful due to the horses' dung and piss. After a 15-minute trek, I started feeling dizzy and had difficulty in breathing. I stopped and rest for 5 mins and resumed walking. After another 5 minutes of walking, I started feeling dizzy again and felt like throwing up-that was when I gave in to riding a horse. By the way, many will offer and make "kulit" that you ride their horses the moment you step on the island. They will follow you all the way to the crater until you finally give in. But of course, you can still opt not to ride one. Since I was able to walk about 1/4th of the trail, "Kuya" owner of the horse agreed that I only pay 350php for his service back and forth.
Me and one of my friends who also rode a horse arrived at the summit earlier than others. But approximately, it took an hour for them to reach the crater. Good thing there were huts at the summit for free and that was where we had our lunch. Water, Buko juice and other refreshments are being sold also but of course it was a bit pricier than the normal.
The view of the crater was rewarding. All the hassle (the scorching heat, the awful smell, the powdery trail,
the expensive horse) just to reach the summit was worth it! The place was amazing. The thought of a lake within a lake is really fascinating for me.
After an hour or so at the summit, we went back to the jump-off point.
It was still a bit early when we arrived at TLYC so we thought of swimming in the lake amidst the "lake grass." TLYC requires that you wear a life jacket when swimming in the lake.
After swimming, we rinsed off, fixed ourselves and headed back to Manila.
I felt really great after this whole trip first because I was the one who organized this and it was a success! Secondly, I met new cool friends and lastly because I am finally done with my money series! :)
ITINERARY
0500 ETD Cubao to Talisay, Batangas via Tanauan (P120)
0800 ETA Talisay/Lipa Main Intersection
0810 Buy food for the day
0820 Jeep to Taal Lake Yacht Club/TLYC (P25)
0850 ETA TLYC, register, change clothes, etc.
0930 Start boatride (P483.33)
1000 At Volcano island, start trek to summit
1100 ETA summit, lunch, photo-op
1200 Start descent
1300 Back at jump-off point, take return boat ride
1330 Back at TLYC, swim
1530 Head back to Manila
1900 ETA Manila
Map to TLYC
http://www.sailing.org.ph/
TAAL CRATER TOUR EXPENSES BREAKDOWN OF FEES
http://www.sailing.org.ph/
Regular Tourist Trail
Boat* 1900x2 = 3800
Tourism Fee** 50x9 = 450
Landing fee** 50x2 = 100
4350/9 = 483.33
*1Boat can accommodate 5 persons. In this itinerary, there were 9 joiners, that's why 2 boats were needed.
**Tourism fee is charged as 50/head
***Landing fee costs 50/boat
Total Expenses: 769php --- Safe Budget is 1000php
Bus to Tanauan 120
Jeep to TLYC 25
Boat Ride 484
Jeep to Talisay/Lipa Main Intersection 20
Bus to Manila 120
Just bring your own food (Breakfast and Lunch)
Note: You may opt to ride a horse, it costs additional 500php
Practical tips:
1. Ideal number for this tour is in multiple of 5 because that's the only way to maximize the boat. They do not allow more than 5 people in a boat so if you are 7 in the group, you'd have to hire another boat to accommodate the 2 additional persons.
2. Reserve and deposit at Taal Lake Yacht Club Metrobank Acct. before your day of arrival there to get a 900php discount. (As seen in the picture above)
Account Name: Taal Lake Yacht Club
Account number: 166-7166-508-947
Contact number: 043-7730192
Email: ronpablo1966@yahoo.com
3. THINGS TO BRING (all of these should just be in one bag, preferably a backpack):
-Drinks (1L Water/depends on your consumption)
-Extra clothes/towel
-Sunblock
-Hat/Cap/Arm Sleeves- the whole trail is open and you are directly under the heat of the sun
-Sunglasses
-Camera
-Face mask/Handkerchief - trail is really dusty and is not advisable for people with asthma.
4. It is preferable to wear closed/rubber shoes because the sand in your feet adds up to the heat of the unshaded trail.
5. If you plan to swim at the lake near TLYC, consider wearing a rashguard because the grass could get itchy.
Batangas Province
Jump-off point: Talisay, Batangas
LLA: 14°00.1' N, 120°59.1' E, 311 MASL
Days required / Time to summit: Half-day, 45 minutes
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1, Trail length: 1.7kms
Source: http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2008/01/taal-volcano-311.html
April 21, 2013
I organized this trip to finally finish my "money series" travel adventures where I aim to visit all the places found at the back of all Philippine Peso bill in a year. However I have one exception, that is Tubbataha Reef. Why, you ask? Because I still do not have that 100,000php budget and more than a week to spare just to visit this world renown reef! But that's a totally different story. Let's go back to the last stretch of my money series, the Taal Volcano.
The group met up at Jam Liner in EDSA-Kamuning and rode a bus via Tanauan. Make sure that the bus you are going to ride will pass at the Talisay-Lipa Main Intersection/it can drop you off near Tanauan Public Market. Upon alighting at the Main Intersection, we walked a little and looked for a place to buy our food for the day. There are many establishments around where you can buy but we opted 7-Eleven because it's the nearest. After buying our food, we asked around on where we can find a jeep that goes to Taal Lake Yacht Club (TLYC) and luckily the jeepney that we rode agreed to bring us straight to the place but with an additional 5php.Lucky us! Apparently, only jeeps with "Laurel" signage pass through there. Most stop at Talisay Municipality and you'd have to ride another tricycle to reach TLYC.
 |
| TLYC is located at the left side of the road and this is the sign to look for. |
By the way, you can also opt to find other means of riding a boat to the crater but I chose TLYC because they were organized, responds immediately, and their pricing is pretty standard. TLYC is actually a safe way to not be ripped off. Aside from that, I was sure that there was a place where we can rinse off any dirt in our body after the trek. I also thought that if we have some more time to spare, we can do some activities that are offered by the place. You may visit their site here to see other activities that they offer.
Upon arriving at TLYC, I texted Peter(09178383726) who was the owner. He warmly welcomed us and showed us around. He was very hospitable and has a lot of stories. He told us why he thought of establishing a place near the volcano, the possible outcome if ever the volcano erupts and all that stuff. He also oriented us on what to expect during our climb and we really learned a lot from him. He warned us that we will encounter a lot of horse dung in the trail. haha. He was much like a teacher in a classroom actually, but not the boring type. :D
 |
| Mr. Peter orienting us about our trek to the crater and sharing his stories about Taal Volcano. |
After the orientation, we registered for the boat hiring, showed our deposit slip, filled up some forms, and embarked on our journey. We chose the Regular Tourist Trail but I think TLYC also offers the Ambassador Kenney Trail where you can actually go and swim to the crater lake. There is also the Secret/Kalawit Trail but according to Peter it has a longer route and is designed for seasoned climbers.
Taal Crater is known to be a like within a lake and true enough, that is what it is. Most people commonly mistaken the mass of land at the center of the first lake as the actual Taal crater, it's not. It is the Binintiang Malaki (Big Leg) and Peter told us that it was very hard to climb that place due to its steepness.
 |
| The money series photo-op |
 |
| The boat that we rode to reach the other side of the lake |
 |
| Me riding the horse and covering my nose from all the awful smell and powdery dust of the trail |
 |
| Open trail to the crater |
 |
| There was a sulfuric vent somewhere in this area |
 |
| Us resting underneath the huts at the summit |
 |
| The true Taal Volcano crater |
 |
| The team at the crater! Yay!!! |
 |
| Look at how dirty my foot was when I arrived at the summit. To think I rode a horse, what more if I walked all the way! |
After swimming, we rinsed off, fixed ourselves and headed back to Manila.
I felt really great after this whole trip first because I was the one who organized this and it was a success! Secondly, I met new cool friends and lastly because I am finally done with my money series! :)
ITINERARY
0500 ETD Cubao to Talisay, Batangas via Tanauan (P120)
0800 ETA Talisay/Lipa Main Intersection
0810 Buy food for the day
0820 Jeep to Taal Lake Yacht Club/TLYC (P25)
0850 ETA TLYC, register, change clothes, etc.
0930 Start boatride (P483.33)
1000 At Volcano island, start trek to summit
1100 ETA summit, lunch, photo-op
1200 Start descent
1300 Back at jump-off point, take return boat ride
1330 Back at TLYC, swim
1530 Head back to Manila
1900 ETA Manila
Map to TLYC
http://www.sailing.org.ph/
TAAL CRATER TOUR EXPENSES BREAKDOWN OF FEES
http://www.sailing.org.ph/
Regular Tourist Trail
Boat* 1900x2 = 3800
Tourism Fee** 50x9 = 450
Landing fee** 50x2 = 100
4350/9 = 483.33
*1Boat can accommodate 5 persons. In this itinerary, there were 9 joiners, that's why 2 boats were needed.
**Tourism fee is charged as 50/head
***Landing fee costs 50/boat
Total Expenses: 769php --- Safe Budget is 1000php
Bus to Tanauan 120
Jeep to TLYC 25
Boat Ride 484
Jeep to Talisay/Lipa Main Intersection 20
Bus to Manila 120
Just bring your own food (Breakfast and Lunch)
Note: You may opt to ride a horse, it costs additional 500php
Practical tips:
1. Ideal number for this tour is in multiple of 5 because that's the only way to maximize the boat. They do not allow more than 5 people in a boat so if you are 7 in the group, you'd have to hire another boat to accommodate the 2 additional persons.
2. Reserve and deposit at Taal Lake Yacht Club Metrobank Acct. before your day of arrival there to get a 900php discount. (As seen in the picture above)
Account Name: Taal Lake Yacht Club
Account number: 166-7166-508-947
Contact number: 043-7730192
Email: ronpablo1966@yahoo.com
3. THINGS TO BRING (all of these should just be in one bag, preferably a backpack):
-Drinks (1L Water/depends on your consumption)
-Extra clothes/towel
-Sunblock
-Hat/Cap/Arm Sleeves- the whole trail is open and you are directly under the heat of the sun
-Sunglasses
-Camera
-Face mask/Handkerchief - trail is really dusty and is not advisable for people with asthma.
4. It is preferable to wear closed/rubber shoes because the sand in your feet adds up to the heat of the unshaded trail.
5. If you plan to swim at the lake near TLYC, consider wearing a rashguard because the grass could get itchy.
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