Chronicles: At the mouth of the Volcano

Before the politicians of Batangas ruin the beauty of Taal Volcano by putting up that "BATANGAS" sign, me and fellow friends decided to witness the beauty of Taal with our own eyes. And we did not just plan to view Taal Volcano from Tagaytay but to set foot in the island itself.

Getting There for Commuters:

- Ride a Batangas bound bus that can drop off passengers at Tanauan. You can choose to ride the bus either at Cubao bus station or at Taft. Fare if from Cubao is Php 104.00; if from Taft Php 89.00

- At the drop off at Tanaun, go to the nearby market to ride a jeepney that has a signboard of Sampaloc or Laurel/Talisay. You can ask the locals on where you can ride jeepneys bound for Sampaloc or Laurel/Talisay. Ask the driver if he can drop you at a boat rental for Taal Lake, or if you are in a big group you can hire the jeepney to take you to there. If you cannot find any jeepney and you are in a small group, you can also rent a tricycle like what we did.

Fare from Tanauan to boat rental Php 350.00 negotiable. Travel time: 30 mins.

- Rent a boat to Taal Volcano. Boat Rental Php 1,500.00 - good for 6 persons

Upon reaching Taal, you can opt to trek by foot or ride a horse to reach the crater. The horse ride is Php 450.00 which already includeas a jockey/tour guide. The crater has a view deck which consists of cottages where tourists can relax and have refreshments after their 30 minutes journey.

the boat ride

the trail to the crater

Things to Bring at Taal:

1.Water, lots of water. Though there are vendors selling water, it is more practical to bring your own. The mineral water is expensive, it costs Php 50 for a 500ml.

2. Sunblock. On a clear sky you will surely feel the scorching heat of the sun.

3. Face mask. The road is dusty especially when going down. There are also vendors selling face mask at Php 10.00 each.

4. Hat or cap. To block the sun's heat.

5. Extra shirt. You can get wet during the boat ride.

6. Food. If you plan to stay long at the crater, bring some food. There are no stores in the area that sells food. Or you can eat a heavy meal before going there.

7. Camera. The most important thing in your luggage. A beautiful experience and scenery should always be caught.