Our WANDERful JouRnEy!

Thursday, June 04, 2015

Off - roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Summer season is about to end, so our group decided to have one last trip before rainy days arrived. We chose Pinatubo adventure since we were rooting for this trip for quite a while. Upon searching how to save for this trip we ended up getting the package of Kuya Wendell Mercado (0919-608-4313), the President of 4 Wheeler's Club since among online packages i find his reasonable. We are 8 in the group so we divided the expenses resulting to a 1800 contribution per head which comprised of the following:

3000 - 4 x 4 that will accommodate maximum of 5 pax.
500 - conservation fee per head
500 - tour guide fee per 4 x 4
150 - Aeta passway fee per head
250 - breakfast meal and 2 pcs. Chicken with extra rice for our lunch.

We left Alabang 3 in the morning and arrived in Capas Tarlac 5:30 in time for our breakfast. Mcdonalds in Capas just after the public market passing by a Caltex gasoline station is the common stop over among tourists to Pinatubo where you can take your breakfast or buy some necessities at the nearest 7 - 11. It's 7:30 already when we arrived at Santa Juliana where the tourist center is located. I immediately look for Ate Khey (Kuya Wendell's secretary) who assisted us in the entire registration. Please bear in mind that you must do all you bathroom necessities here since there are only 2 available bathroom areas, one is halfway the trek and the other one is on the crater. After settling our waivers and bills the adventure started.

Tourism Center Sta. Juliana Capas Tarlac - drop off point to Pinatubo

Since we are group of 8, we're divided into 2 4 x 4 vehicles. The off - roading adventure lasted for an hour and you will enjoy a spectacular view along the way.

Off-roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

After the thrilling 4 x 4 ride, our trekking started. Our original plan was to take the short route which will last for about 30 minutes trekking, unluckily, that route was closed (just a week ago) when we got there. So we have no choice but to bear with the long route that consumed us to 2 hours trekking. It was quite an exhausting walk (maybe because we have no enough sleep) but very manageable. You can stop whenever you want and enjoy sharing stories with your guide and your trekking buddies.

Trekking adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Along the way you will enjoy the scenery of different sand formations created by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in year 1995. We also encounter the local kids of Tarukan Capas enjoying their huge playground. Seeing them was so inspiring, will make you realized that we are so blessed in many ways.

Local Kids of Tarukan Capas Tarlac (Pinatubo)

Finally, after all the tiring walk, this was our beautiful reward.

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo crater lake

After taking some photos, we rest for a while and took our lunch picnic style then descend to Pinatubo's crater afterwards. We lasted at the crater for an hour or 2 and started trekking back 1:30 in the afternoon. Going back was so light and fast that it took as only an hour trekking to our 4 x 4 ride. We arrived at the tourist center 3:30 in the afternoon. We rest for a while then took a bathe in the available shower areas just across the tourist center for 50 pesos per head.

Our Mount Pinatubo trip was an adventure we will never forget since it was our first time to an off - roading adventure using a 4 x 4 vehicle and our first long hike/trek. So much learning and so much beauty. Mount Pinatubo left me in awe wondering how nature and God worked together to create this kind of beauty. A beautiful disaster, indeed.

Trekking adventure to Mount Pinatubo

How to get there:

Via private vehicle

Take the NLEX road until you reached the end road of NLEX which is Sta. Inez exit. From there take the Mc Arthur Highway Mabalacat en route Bamban until you reach the Capas Public Market. Just after the market left turn to a small road to Barangay Sto. Rosario and take 25km of countryside road passing by barangays Aranguren, Cristo Rey, Sta. Lucia, O'Donnell and finally Sta. Juliana where the tourism center is located.

Via commute

Ride any bus en route Pangasinan, Baguio or Tarlac and drop off at Capas Junction. Ride a tricycle just across Mcdonald's Capas that will bring you to Sta. Juliana, the jump off point to Mount Pinatubo

Wednesday, February 04, 2015

An enjoyable Island hopping in Coron

We scheduled our island hopping in Coron during our 3rd day availing the package tour from Coron Galeri for 650 per pax including boat rental, needed permits, guided tour, and lunch. We also rented snorkelibg gear for 100 each. What's nice with Coron Galeri is they allow joined tour with walk-ins and other travelers to save so if you are couple or group of 4 they will join you in other groups. Luckily we are group of 6 so our tour was. most likely a private one. Coron Galeri also offers private tour and other tours.

Our call time was 8 in the morning so we took breakfast first in an eatery near Coron Galeri. After some registration and boat assignement, the exciting adventure started. What we visited were the following:

1. CYC Island (Coron Youth Club Island) - according to our boatman this island was once a paradise until other private resort took advantage and stole its white sand.

CYC Island Coron

Jump shot in CYC Island Coron

2. Twin Peak We really enjoyed swimming, snorkeling and fish feeding here. We really enjoyed the view and the activities. Photos will not lie how we super relished our island hopping activity in Coron! It was Super FUN! It is called Twin Peak reefs because of the presence of two giant limestone rock formation like a twin tower. This place is best for snorkeling to see corals and fishes. The water here is super clear.

Twin Peak Coron

Snorkeling time -Twin Peak Coron

Super Clear water Coron

Fish Feeding Coron

Coron Island hopping

twin peak Coron

3. Isla Bulunganis a small island near Twin Peak (fish feeding area) where we took our lunch. It is called as such because 'bulungan" means to heal and it's a place for Pinoy Healers a long time ago.

Isla Bulungan Coron

Look at the ravine - Coron

Coron Island hopping

4. Hidden Lagoon Hidden lagoon is a place where fresh water and salt water meet - hot and cold. The view here is astounding because it is completely walled in by mountains. we really enjoyed relaxing here and water is just 5 feet.

Hidden Lagoon Coron

5. Kayangan Lake You can reach the viewing deck and the lake for about 10 to 15 minutes hike. One of the most outstanding places in Coron is Kayangan Lake with scenic view of gigantic limestone formation, beautiful lake with turquoise blue water and the clearest fresh water lake i have seen. Swimming is very refreshing and the view of rock formation underneath is just amazing. This place is the most awesome scenery i have only seen in postcards. Most especially the stunning view at the viewing deck is so breathtaking. Truly a hidden PARADISE! Beautiful Coron!

Kayangan Lake Coron

Beautiful Kayangan Lake Coron

Coron is really an amazing province, a paradise indeed! Hoping that locals can preserve its natural wonders so next generation will be able to see its beauty. I love Coron! I love Palawan!

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Coron DIY City tour

Our second day in Coron Palawan started with a DIY City tour including Maquinit Hotspring, Coron Cashew Harvest, Lualhati Park, and Mount Tapyas. According to my research other travelers who have been to Coron opt climbing Mount Tapyas in the afternoon to catch the sunset and go to Maquinit hotspring afterwards for a soothing hot spring therapy. We chose the latter instead of going for the usual itinerary because we want to see the beautiful panoramic view of Maquinit hotspring.

We started our 2nd day by renting 2 trikes (6pax) to Maquinit worth 300 pesos per trike 2 way and they will wait for us for 2 hours. By the way, please expect some rough roads during the 20 to 30 minutes ride to Maquinit. We arrived at Maquinit Hotspring 8:30 in the morning and we paid 150 per head for the entrance fee. It was our first time to experience salt water hot spring that's so refreshing and soothing to the body. Just be careful dipping because this hot spring can reach its maximum heat to 40 degrees.

Maquinit Hot Spring rate

Huge tribal mask hanging on a tree - Maquinit hotspring

Maquiniit Hotspring

Maquinit hotspring Coron

Maquinit Hot spring Coron

Maquinit hot spring Coron

Maquinit hotspring

Maquinit Hot spring Coron

Then again, what we really really love about this place is the view. Even if the sun rays started kissing our skin, we felt the cool breeze in the area because mangroves and full-grown trees are everywhere. While on the other side of Maquinit is an improvised bridge placed in the middle of mangrove trees that will lead you to a stunning view of sea and mountains. I knew it! View in the morning is sooooo majestic. We're right in deciding to go there in the morning, not only we enjoyed dipping in the soothing hot spring, we also enjoyed the view.

Maquinit Hot Spring Coron

Stunning mountain view in Maquinit Hot Spring Coron

Reflection of Mountains in Maquinit Hot Spring Coron

Maquinit Hot Spring Coron

After our relaxing activity in Maquinit Hotspring, in the afternoon of our 2nd day we decided to visit the remaining destinations in our DIY City tour, the Coron cashew harvest, Lualhati Park and Mount Tapyas for sunset. DIY'ing City tour in Coron is so easy because trikes are everywhere and fare is just 10 pesos per person per way.

Lualhati Park Coron

Seen 7 - Lualhati Park Coron

Coron Cashew Harvest

Coron Cashew harvest

Coron Cashew Harvest Owner

When climbing Mount Tapyas, make sure you bring bottled water to quench your thirst because it's a boggling 720 steps to the cross, haha.

Stairs to Mount Tapyas

View of Coron Town

Mount Tapyas

After the supposedly 720 steps to Mounta Tapyas, these were our rewards. Seeing the newly rebuild cross which was previously damaghed by Typhoon Yolanda (Haian), a magnificent view of Coron town and of course, the spectacular Coron SUNSET! We were lucky to witness such phenomenon. Such an amazing feeling!