The best of Batangas: Taal volcano, the historic city of Taal, and the Anilao marine reserve.

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  The Taal volcano and city

  Taal is a small, very active volcano with a lake in its crater. It is located in the middle of a large lake, which is actually the crater of another huge extinct volcano. We start the journey by driving 1h30 to Tagaytay, a popular destination for people living in Manila. Tagaytay is currently located on the rim of the crater of the huge extinct volcano and offers a very picturesque view of Taal volcano and Taal lake. After admiring the view, we go down to Taal lake and get on a boat to reach the small volcano. We then take an easy one-hour hike to the edge of the volcano's crater. Along the way, we pass signs of volcanic activity: scorched earth and sulfurous vapors rising from the ground. At the rim of the crater, we have a magnificent view of the inner lake, which contains boiling water, traces of sulfur, and fumaroles at its edges. At noon, we go to Taal Town, a very old town founded in 1572. We visit the largest Catholic church in Asia, a collection of old houses that showcase traditional Filipino-Spanish architecture, as well as other points of interest. In the late afternoon, we go to Anilao, where we spend the night.

• day 2

  Anilao Marine Reserve

  We spend the morning enjoying the rich marine life of Anilao. The coral reef right in front of the resort where we are staying is considered the 2nd most diverse dive site in the Philippines. You don't need to be a diver to appreciate it; much of the site is shallow enough to be enjoyed simply by snorkeling or freediving. Certified divers can choose to dive for an additional cost – there are more than 40 different dive sites in the area – and non-divers who wish to try diving can do an introductory dive (also at an additional cost). During an introductory dive, a dive master accompanies a participant underwater and controls all the SCUBA equipment for them; all the participant has to do is breathe and equalize their ears. In the afternoon, we have the option to take a moderate 3-hour hike to the highest point of Anilao, Gulugod Baboy (which means "boar's back" as it is a prominent ridge), offering us superb views of the sea and the Anilao area. In the late afternoon, we return to Manila with a 3-hour drive. On the way, we can stop at a small hut to taste two other Batangas specialties: coffee and chocolate.