Nice to see you again, Pinatubo!

At the boundary of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga lies the infamous Mt Pinatubo, an active stratovolcano of the Zambales Mountain Range. It was 1991 when its catastrophic eruption shocked Central Luzon and neighboring towns. Its eruption left stories of death and destruction but it also left behind the crater lake which is now a famous tourist destination in the North.

How to get there?
The journey to Mt Pinatubo starts with a 4x4 ride from Sta Juliana, Capas, Tarlac. Due to lack of time for planning, I opted to join a tour than to DIY. The tour includes a roundtrip van transpo from Manila. We availed the tour from Mgclstino Travel and Tours.

Itinerary
Here's the proposed itinerary from our tour:

Mt Pinatubo Crater Lake
The adventure begins with a bumpy 4x4 ride going to the start of the trail. At some point of the ride, there will be some stops where you can take pictures of the expansive view.
The trail starts at the end of the Crow Valley. From here, it is an easy trek going up the crater. The trail is mostly rocky with a very slight ascend. Good for beginners.
We reached the welcome sign in just around 40 minutes of trekking. Once you get at this point, you will be welcomed by the fresh air and the majestic view of the crater lake.
Overall, it was a short but sweet hike. It was nice to be back at Pinatubo!

Travel tips:
- Don't forget your sunblock and water. The trek is mostly bare, it could be very hot.
- Bring your face mask. You may need it especially if you will be riding a 4x4 without cover/roof.
- If you are doing a DIY, be there early. There are limited 4X4 vehicles. If you are late, you may not get accommodated.
- LNT, as always!