Date of travel: Feb 17, 2017
It was February in the year of 2017 and we were visiting Manila,Philippines. Struck by the fascinating idea of a day trip to see an active volcano, we hired a vehicle with a local guide and set off early in the morning, eager to experience the natural wonders of the region.
Various attractions and activities –
Tagaytay:
After a scenic one–and –a-half hour drive through countryside, we reached popular holiday town Tagaytay sitting on a ridge (mount Sungay) above Taal lake in the Cavite province on the island of Luzon.
Tagaytay is one of the most frequented places near Manila (55 Km only) because of its outstanding scenery and cool climate.
At a height of 2000 ft, it offers spectacular views of Taal lake and volcano from several vantage points. Today it is synonymous with luxury and prestige and is a famous location for real estate developers.
Tagaytay offers many attractions to tourists of which most popular are People’s Park in the Sky, Sky Ranch and Tagaytay Zoo.
People’s Park in the Sky:
People’s Park was our first destination. This is supposed to be cleanest and greenest park in Philippines, converted from an unfinished mansion constructed for the visit of US president Ronald Reagan.
This beautifully landscaped park has some huge sculptures, a large Durian dome and mini forest. It has a great viewing deck overlooking Taal lake and Taal Volcano. We roamed around and took some memorable pictures and got refreshed from nice cooling breeze. There was no Entrance fee to the park.
Taal Lake:
Taal lake is the third largest (234 Sq Km) and the deepest (172 meters) lake in Philippines and situated in the province of Batangas, 39 Km from Tagaytay town.
The lake is a volcanic crater lake and was formed thousands of years ago due to massive volcanic eruptions. Initially it was connected to sea, Balayan Bay, but a major eruption in 1754 blocked its outlet and slowly turned its saltwater to fresh water.
Its unique geology has created a fascinating ecosystem and it is home to sardinella fish, a special sea snake, bull sharks, many different animals and fish species.
The lake water has infusion of sulphuric acid from multiple volcanic eruptions and also has high concentration of Boron, Magnesium and Aluminium but swimming was allowed during our visit.
Our boat trip to volcanic island was breathtakingly beautiful because of spectacular views of the lake and the surroundings.
Taal Volcano:
After crossing the lake, we travelled to the top on horseback through narrow mountain ridges. As we were ascending we could feel heat was increasing and hot vapours rising from the rocks underneath. Exhausted due to sweltering heat we reached viewing deck. We could clearly see the astonishing views of an active caldera with a huge lake of boiling water, steam was reaching up to the top.
This was Taal Volcano at the centre of Taal lake. This volcano island rises up to 300 meters and itself contains another small crater known as yellow crater which we were viewing. We could also see another tiny island known as Vulcan Point at the centre of the crater.
Unique Geological Phenomenon of Third Order Island:
Vulcan Point is an island within the crater lake of Taal Volcano island which is situated within Taal lake, situated within Luzon island.
Thus “An island within a lake of an island within lake of another island” makes Vulcan Point a third order island.
After this magnificent experience we started descending on horseback again but we were scared to death as horses were jumping on narrow mountain ridges due to hot stones.
Local delights:
On our way back we stopped for lunch at a restaurant near the Talisay Baywalk and savoured local lamb preparations and enjoyed famous local pineapple and durian fruits. The lakeside setting, with its multiple spots for relaxation, bay walks and fishing made for a perfect ending for to our memorable trip.
Dangers of Taal Volcano:
Taal Volcano is a small but dangerous volcano. It has several violent eruptions in the past causing an overall death toll of 6000.There were 54 recorded eruptions between 1572 and 1977 and a devastating eruptions in 1911.
Present day scenario:
Many earthquakes happened from 2010 but seismic activities were quite low and we were lucky to go to volcano island in 2017. Volcano erupted in 2020 and every year till now. Last eruption started on April 2024 and is still considered ongoing.
Today Taal Volcano island entry is still prohibited though seismic alert level is one. The island has been declared a permanent danger zone.
Note- Today topography of the island has changed because of eruptions and photographs displayed today in this article (date of writing is April, 2025) were clicked in 2017 and may not match.
Local Delicacies:
Must try Dishes are
- Bulalo,a hearty beef shank and marrow soup
- Tawilis,crispy fried sardines
- Filipino coffee
- Mangoes pineapple, durian fruits
- Filipino rice cake
- Buko Pie – warm creamy pie filled with coconut custard
How to Reach:
Hire a cab or join a day trip from tour operator. One can take bus but it takes time.
