Picture of the eruption in 1991 taken from Clark Airbase

Clark Airbase Pinatubo eruption. Picture courtesy of Wikipedia.

Hiking to the crater lake of Mount Pinatubo

Exploring the landscape of Mount Pinatubo

The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in Central Luzon on June 15, 1991, was the largest of our lifetime. It was an event of epic proportions and influenced the temperature worldwide for two years. The former summit of the volcano was obliterated and replaced by a caldera 2.5 km wide, which is now a crater lake. The eruption had a devastating effect on the area surrounding the volcano. Local communities have now transformed a natural disaster into a tourist attraction that benefits communities and tour organizers. The one-day journey to the crater lake now attracts hundreds of local and international visitors.

Jeep on the way to Mount Pinatubo. Picture by Frans Betgem.

An adventurous drive

The tour involves an exciting drive by jeeps through the O’Donnell River which was one of five rivers flowing down the mountain before it erupted. It is now a trickle of what it was before. Volcanic ash and sand have changed the riverbed so prepare yourself to become dirty during the drive. We stopped several times for taking pictures until we reached the starting point of the 5-km trek up to the crater lake. The drive took about 1,5 hours. We crossed the stream a lot of times. The trail is mostly flat but rocks make the going hard sometimes. You definitely need sturdy shoes. A local guide accompanied us.

Jeep to the crater lake. Picture by Frans Betgem.

Jeep to Mount Pinatubo. Picture by Frans Betgem.

It is not an easy expedition

Before we were allowed on the trip local staff checked our blood pressure. Participants who are older than 60 need a medical certificate. There is not a lot of shade during the short hike to the crater after the drive. The landscape is similar to what you would expect on the moon. There is very little vegetation and the high temperatures can make it very difficult for people out of shape.

In less than two hours we arrived at the crater lake which is a spectacular sight. Just to think that this volcano was some 260 meters higher before it exploded. Quite amazing. We had lunch at the crater lake before we hiked back the same way to where our jeep was parked.

Picture by Frans Betgem. Hiking to Mount Pinatubo crater lake.

Hiking to Mount Pinatubo crater lake. Picture by Frans Betgem

A fantastic trip to Mount Pinatubo

In the rainy season, this tour might be canceled. The rains transform this landscape of volcanic ash deposits dramatically each year. The trail has to be surveyed each year after the end of the rainy season. The trek can be done by everyone in reasonable condition. Before you board the jeeps your blood pressure is checked. Try to avoid the weekends and holidays. It gets very busy on those days. Enough drinking water, a hat, and good shoes are essential things to bring. Overall it was a fantastic adventure that we recommend to everyone.