Mt. Pinatubo: a View Worth Seeing, Just Choose a Tour Provider Wisely

Last May 2011, a friend from high school sent me an sms regarding a Mt. Pinatubo tour package deal from Ensogo. The deal was worth P1,998 which includes round trip private transportation from Manila to Pampanga, registration fee, services of a local guide and facilitator, the 4x4 ride to and from the crater, and lunch. The price was acceptable. However, what I didn't like about it is that Access 8 (the tour provider) made a false claim just to make unknowing customers feel that they are fortunate to enjoy a discount. Access 8 claimed that it was a deal worth 50% discount when in fact, the rate of P2,000 is the actual prevailing rate for Mt. Pinatubo tours. The tactic worked for them and the vouchers got sold out even before the supposed deal ending date. Since my friends were already decided in purchasing vouchers for this, I purchased one as well despite feeling being tricked.

Initially, there were nine of us booked for the Mt. Pinatubo climb, and we got reserved for an October 22, 2011 climb. However, Access 8 cancelled the scheduled trips starting July, saying that they are awaiting for the renovation of the skyway and made new schedules for the voucher holders (Dec.17, 2011, Jan. 21, Feb. 18, March 17 or April 14, 2012). While we're in this topic, I just want to make a note that the friend who booked our group had not been informed about this cancellation of schedule by any means. It just so happened that a month before the supposed trip, I dropped by their facebook fanpage and found this. Imagine, the trips were cancelled since July, and it was already September when we found out about it.

the Facebook note from Access 8's fanpage (click for a larger view)

We got re-booked for January 21, 2012. There were still nine of us re-booked but there had been changes in the line-up; two weren't available for the re-booked date so they had to sell the vouchers to our other two companions. Finally, after 8 months of buying the vouchers, we had been able to use it. Come the day itself, one friend got sick so there were only eight of us in the group who joined.

The meeting place was at McDonald's Emerald Avenue in Ortigas at 2:00 am. We arrived at 2:30 am but still we were waiting for other people. While there, we had been given our group assignments and name tags with our group number. However, what we found weird was the way they organized these groups. It was given that there should be 4 people in a group, and if necessary, at most 5 people for the 4x4 ride, but what we could never decode was how they came up with the groupings. They asked for listings of participants beforehand but when we arrived there, four of us had been in one solid group, and the remaining four were further separated into two groups of two, combined with other participants that we had no business with.

We thought that was the worst but this too, we could not decipher. My friend who got sick was supposed to be in our solid group of four, and another friend was supposed to be in another group. Since our sick friend was not able to go with us, my other friend requested to fill in for her in our group (because there would just be three of us then). It took quite awhile for Access 8's coordinator to figure out her request, telling her to wait awhile, then talking to other coordinators when it should have been a no-brainer decision. This type of tour service reminded us of another tour provider we also had troubles dealing with.

my worried friend who wanted to be with our group

When everything got settled, at around 3:00 am, we boarded the bus. They were able to fill two buses worth of participants for that day (imagine how much they gained). They distributed our lunch (in styro packs) and banana while we were in the bus. The bus ride had been smooth and I spent the ride chatting with friends and sleeping and at around 7:00 am, we were at the registration area. We had been given time to use the comfort room (enormous queue) before boarding the 4x4.

a photo of our bus; they used two identical buses for the trip 

friends immediately ate the banana after distribution

We had been asked to group ourselves according to our group number and as soon as the coordinator told that we could board a 4x4 of our choice, we did. Of course our group was alert and fast enough to secure a non-open air 4x4 (or else we'd be soaked in dust in a matter of minutes).

photo of our group with our closed 4x4

At around 8:00 am, we reached the point that could not already be covered by the 4x4 so we had to start walking. We found ourselves in an area with lahar walls. Now I understand the very reason why Mt. Pinatubo climbs were prohibited when it's raining or when it rained the previous day (no matter how disappointing it may be), these lahar walls are loose and have the tendency to slide down. While we were there, there were instances when some lahar slid down though it was scorching hot. We had been strongly reminded not to touch the walls by all means. What's more, you will spend around 90% of your time in the trail trekking in this lahar-walled area. It was quite scary so even a "take-5" girl like me didn't dare rest and kept on moving instead.

at the jump-off

The lahar wall on the right side of the trail used to house the now run-down skyway. The skyway was the path originally traversed by the 4x4. Upon reaching the end of the skyway via 4x4, tourists only had to walk around 15-20 minutes to the crater. This convenience was the reason why Mt. Pinatubo became more popular as a tourist destination than a mountaineering spot. Unfortunately, the skyway got destroyed due to typhoons. Which reminded me of another shortcoming on Access 8's part. In their statement regarding their tour dates cancellation and re-booking, they claimed that this was to enable participants to go with ease because they are awaiting for the renovation of the skyway. When we arrived on site, I realized that the skyway had not been renovated, and in fact, there was no renovation ongoing at all.

So the supposed 15-20 minutes trek became a three-hour trek. I've experienced longer treks (the longest lasting 14 straight hours) - I'm a mountaineer, not a tourist, so this was fine by me. But I still think Access 8 should have been honest about this because there might be some participants who did not expect this.

The trail was easy and I don't want to call it a "hike" because there were no steep parts except for the short moment before reaching the crater where you had to make an ascent, then descend to the crater (around 5 minutes worth) and this was still not that difficult to do since there were steps made, because Mt. Pinatubo had been developed as a tourist spot.

the ascent before the crater was made easier through these steps 

The trail was mainly around 2 hours walk on lahar-paved area and all that you will encounter for this part are the numerous, almost identical stream crossings (your feet will surely get wet) and the lahar walls. There are no vegetation found until you reach the original jump-off (from the skyway) so expect the heat. I opened my umbrella then, though the winds kept sweeping it away.

stream crossings are abundant; some rapids are strong and could be knee-deep 

the lahar-filled trail, trekking with my umbrella

The change in trail type happens after reaching the original jump-off. Trek in this part is for approximately half an hour. This is a narrow, soil and rocks-paved trail, with trees and stream crossings (like a rainforest). The estimated time of trek in this area is approximately 15-20 minutes (15 minutes for young age, 18 minutes for middle age and 20 minutes for senior citizens, according to their signage) but due to its narrowness, traffic occurs - unless you find your chance to overtake other people (we did).

our group photo at the original jump-off point, the crater is just a short walk away 

And finally, we got to the final part as I described earlier - the brief ascent and descent to the crater. I was elated by my first view of the crater  from the topmost part of the ascent. The crater lake was simply awe-inspiring.

My first view of Mt. Pinatubo crater lake. Nothing but fantastic.

Then we had lunch in the covered area near the crater. The styro packs that they distributed earlier contained laing and rice. I don't eat laing and I know a lot of people who don't eat it too, that's why it added up to my list of Access 8's shortcomings. They should have at least selected "safe" food. I would not be able to give a review about the food because I didn't eat it at all. Good thing that a friend brought McNuggets and I traded lunch with her.

There were people who swam in the crater lake but we did not (because we do not know how to swim). Beforehand, a friend told me that we would still be able to swim once we rent a boat because these are equipped with life vests. When we reached the crater, we had been talking about renting a boat but we found out that rentals should be done at the registration area (even before the 4x4 ride), so we were not able to rent. Again, thank you to Access 8 for keeping this very important information from us.

me and Boots with our four companions who got distributed in two different groups 

We then rested, just marveling at the view, and took photos. The coordinator earlier said that we would only have until 1:00 pm in the crater area and then start our way back. The ultimate Access 8 mishap occurred here. The groupmates of my 2 friends were not in sight come 1:00 pm, and the coordinator did not want us to start our way back without them (though our obedient group was already complete). It was so hot then and we never wanted anything more but start our way back. We wasted our time waiting for people that we did not even know and who did not know how to follow instructions. We were so irritated and asked the coordinator (who rode the 4x4 with us) if we could leave him and allow us to start our way back with our 2 friends. It took him so long again to decide, and finally after half an hour of waiting, he agreed.

It took us another 3 hours to walk back to the area where the 4x4 had parked. We thought we already had the worst of Access 8, but no. There were the four of us, a complete group in our 4x4, and our driver refused to get us back to the registration area because there were initially 5 of us (the coordinator is the fifth person). We told the driver not to worry about the coordinator since he would probably hitch at the 4x4 of the participants he waited for. But the driver was insistent in waiting for that coordinator so we just whiled our time in the 4x4. We wasted more than 30 minutes waiting, until the driver realized that we were the only ones left - that all the other 4x4 were already gone, and probably, the coordinator that we had been waiting for already left, too. Another coordinator arrived and told the driver that we could go.

Of course, though our group had been strict in following the 1:00 pm instruction (was formed even before 1:00 pm), we were the last to arrive at the wash-up area and all of the participants had already taken their baths - even the coordinator we waited for (hate him so much). We arrived at almost 6:00 pm. I was super not-in-the-mood and did not take a bath nor changed my clothes because they'd probably just hurry us up since it was already late.

According to Access 8's itinerary, arrival time at Manila may vary but the latest would be 8:00 pm. Of course this did not happen. At 8:00 pm, we were still at NLEX and had our stop-over for dinner. We arrived at Manila at around 10:00 pm.

In summary, the trip to Mt. Pinatubo was worth it, though it would take a total of 6 hours roundtrip trek - the majestic, sparkling and calming view of the crater lake amidst the volcanic backdrop is definitely a sight you have to see for yourself at least once in your life. But if you have the chance, just contact other tour services. I'm sure there are tour services that offer the same package for the same price. Or if you are used to DIY trips, just do so. Never again with Access 8.

Update: They sent this certificate via e-mail more than a month after our climb date.

My certificate!