2016 Guide to Trekking Mt. Pinatubo from Angeles City
Amasya Guesthouse, Angeles City to Mt. Pinatubo in 4 easy steps!!! The trek to Mt. Pinatubo is one of the best trails in the Philippines. The scenery changes at every bend. The 4x4 jeepney ride is an adventure in itself as well. We want our guests to be able to maximize their trip here in Angeles City so we created this little guide. We appreciate any input for corrections or improvements.
Wikitravel has some very good information but it does not have a time frame which is crucial. If you are traveling solo, you will save a lot of money by teaming up with other travelers that you meet.
1) 4am- Amasya Guesthouse (or Angeles City town proper) to Dau Bus Terminal. Tricycle will cost P150/ tricycle (max 3 persons). Jeepney (2 rides) will cost P14/ person. There are lots of fast food restaurants at the bus terminal where you can pick up some breakfast/ lunch.
2) 4:30am- Dau bus terminal to Capas, Tarlac. Must depart Dau bus terminal by 05:00 am. Find any bus north bound (Tarlac, Baguio,Urdaneta, Dagupan, Vigan etc.) that will pass by CAPAS, TARLAC. Get your ticket until Capas, Tarlac only & ask the driver/ conductor to drop you off in front of McDonald's. Bus cost P45/person one way.
3) 5:30am- Arrive at Capas, Tarlac. Capas to Santa Juliana, Tarlac. Right by McDonalds, there are tricycles that will take you to Santa Juliana (tourist office). Tricycle ride is around 30-40 mins (24km). Last we heard the rate is P300 (max 3 persons, one way).
*Make sure they drop you off at Tourist Office because they will try to sell you the tour for more.
4) 06:00- Arrive at Santa Juliana, Tarlac. Tour start point. Must be at Santa Juliana by 6am for registration & briefing. Upon arrival at Sta. Juliana town, DO try to team up with other travelers you meet along the way so you can save money on the jeep tour. Tourist Office opens at 5am & closes at 8am. We have had hostel guests not make the trip because they left the hostel at 7:30am. Approximate tour cost with all the fees & lunch is about P1,650. Please note there is a P700 charge along the hiking trail.
Tour Costs:
P28 Round trip jeepney from Amasya Guesthouse to Dau bus terminal. You can also take a tricycle (P150 good for 3pax)
P90/person Round trip bus ride from Dau bus terminal to Capas, Tarlac junction
P600 Round trip Tricycle from Capas junction to Sta. Juliana tourist office. Good for 1-3 persons.
P1,650 Approximate amount for Hiking Fees, permits, lunch, guide, 4x4 jeep (with a group)
P700 Fee charged along the hiking trail
P3,068 Approximate total per person
As of January 2015, after scouring all options- the cheapest all-inclusive rate we have found for Mt. Pinatubo is P2,050.00 for shared tours on Saturday. This tour starts from Dau bus terminal OR Manila & finishes at Dau Bus terminal OR Manila. Tour includes breakfast & lunch as well. This does not include the additional P700 charged along the hiking trail.
Amasya Guesthouse offers this shared tour every Saturday. Our tour starts from the hostel and finishes at Dau bus terminal OR Manila. Our price is P2,600 to cover administrative & transaction charges. There is a recent additional P700 that each guest must pay on site along the hiking trail. The total will come out to around P3,300 per person. Simply contact us for reservations or inquiries.
What is the trail like?
- 7 km (4.35 miles) one way.
- 300 m ascent from trail jump-off point.
- Easy to moderate difficulty. Trail is fairly even but it is through rivers, rocks, boulders.
- Unfortunately, swimming at the crater lake is not allowed
What to bring?
- Extra water. Your trail guide carries the meals
- Comfortable trekking sandals
- Sunblock + hat + sunglasses
- Camera + batteries + ziplock for water protection
- Personal medicine, band aid
- Ballpen
- Dust mask/ towel
- Garbage bag
- Bug repellant
- Extra snacks
- Rain gear during rainy season
How long will the tour take?
- Most travelers leave the hostel around 4am & return around 5-7pm.
Notes:
- Bring your breakfast, lunch & plenty of water (3 liters per person. It can get very hot.)
- Our guests have not had problems finding travel mates for the tour (at Santa Juliana) even on slow weekdays.
- Don't forget to use & re-apply sunblock
We hope this helps! :)
Wikitravel has some very good information but it does not have a time frame which is crucial. If you are traveling solo, you will save a lot of money by teaming up with other travelers that you meet.
1) 4am- Amasya Guesthouse (or Angeles City town proper) to Dau Bus Terminal. Tricycle will cost P150/ tricycle (max 3 persons). Jeepney (2 rides) will cost P14/ person. There are lots of fast food restaurants at the bus terminal where you can pick up some breakfast/ lunch.
2) 4:30am- Dau bus terminal to Capas, Tarlac. Must depart Dau bus terminal by 05:00 am. Find any bus north bound (Tarlac, Baguio,Urdaneta, Dagupan, Vigan etc.) that will pass by CAPAS, TARLAC. Get your ticket until Capas, Tarlac only & ask the driver/ conductor to drop you off in front of McDonald's. Bus cost P45/person one way.
3) 5:30am- Arrive at Capas, Tarlac. Capas to Santa Juliana, Tarlac. Right by McDonalds, there are tricycles that will take you to Santa Juliana (tourist office). Tricycle ride is around 30-40 mins (24km). Last we heard the rate is P300 (max 3 persons, one way).
*Make sure they drop you off at Tourist Office because they will try to sell you the tour for more.
4) 06:00- Arrive at Santa Juliana, Tarlac. Tour start point. Must be at Santa Juliana by 6am for registration & briefing. Upon arrival at Sta. Juliana town, DO try to team up with other travelers you meet along the way so you can save money on the jeep tour. Tourist Office opens at 5am & closes at 8am. We have had hostel guests not make the trip because they left the hostel at 7:30am. Approximate tour cost with all the fees & lunch is about P1,650. Please note there is a P700 charge along the hiking trail.
Tour Costs:
P28 Round trip jeepney from Amasya Guesthouse to Dau bus terminal. You can also take a tricycle (P150 good for 3pax)
P90/person Round trip bus ride from Dau bus terminal to Capas, Tarlac junction
P600 Round trip Tricycle from Capas junction to Sta. Juliana tourist office. Good for 1-3 persons.
P1,650 Approximate amount for Hiking Fees, permits, lunch, guide, 4x4 jeep (with a group)
P700 Fee charged along the hiking trail
P3,068 Approximate total per person
As of January 2015, after scouring all options- the cheapest all-inclusive rate we have found for Mt. Pinatubo is P2,050.00 for shared tours on Saturday. This tour starts from Dau bus terminal OR Manila & finishes at Dau Bus terminal OR Manila. Tour includes breakfast & lunch as well. This does not include the additional P700 charged along the hiking trail.
Amasya Guesthouse offers this shared tour every Saturday. Our tour starts from the hostel and finishes at Dau bus terminal OR Manila. Our price is P2,600 to cover administrative & transaction charges. There is a recent additional P700 that each guest must pay on site along the hiking trail. The total will come out to around P3,300 per person. Simply contact us for reservations or inquiries.
What is the trail like?
- 7 km (4.35 miles) one way.
- 300 m ascent from trail jump-off point.
- Easy to moderate difficulty. Trail is fairly even but it is through rivers, rocks, boulders.
- Unfortunately, swimming at the crater lake is not allowed
What to bring?
- Extra water. Your trail guide carries the meals
- Comfortable trekking sandals
- Sunblock + hat + sunglasses
- Camera + batteries + ziplock for water protection
- Personal medicine, band aid
- Ballpen
- Dust mask/ towel
- Garbage bag
- Bug repellant
- Extra snacks
- Rain gear during rainy season
How long will the tour take?
- Most travelers leave the hostel around 4am & return around 5-7pm.
Notes:
- Bring your breakfast, lunch & plenty of water (3 liters per person. It can get very hot.)
- Our guests have not had problems finding travel mates for the tour (at Santa Juliana) even on slow weekdays.
- Don't forget to use & re-apply sunblock
We hope this helps! :)