The dusty foot to the crater (Calauit trail, Taal Volcano)
I have been to Taal Volcano a lot of times, and every trek up the ridge of the crater is a different experience. There was a time that we went to the volcano ridge with my cousin wearing leather boots and he was experiencing sores midway. So we exchanged footwear, I wore the boots and I let him use my slippers. Another was when we were asked to translate with foreign tourists but since the guide was not really that well versed in English so it was up to us to make the guests understand what the guide was trying to tell about the place. It was really adventurous although it was a major nosebleed.
Today we are back in Talisay again for another trek. What made it different this time? The trek will take us to the crater itself. We were bypassing the regular trail in front of Talisay for an alternate trail and that would lead us to a closer volcano experience. The other trail is found on the East side of Taal Volcano Island. Fronting the Calauit trail is probably the town of Mataas na Kahoy or Cuenca, but the most distinguishing landmark is Mt. Maculot, which looks like the shape of a dog’s head from afar. Traveling by boat to Calauit trail will take much longer than the regular trail, and also, more expensive than the regular boat price.
The trail is very hot and dusty at most times of the year, but it is a little bit easier than the regular trail. When I said easier it doesn’t mean that there are no steep parts here, because believe me, there is. Trekking up to the crater ridge and the trek down to the crater are both easy. The ridge serves as a midway point and resting place before going down the crater. You can conserve more energy because the start of the descent to the crater is under the shade during the morning, although it is a little steep. You need to watch your step since the trail is full of dust during hot conditions. You can try holding some branches to prevent yourself slipping and falling down fast.
The lake in the crater is safe to swim. Even though is it acidic according to volcanologists’ study, it does not really harm your skin. They say that the lake has sulphur, and so is Dr. Kaufmann’s soap which I regularly use. Just don’t try to drink it, though.
The trek would be incomplete if you do not experience any volcanic activity, and volcanic activity does not mean an imminent eruption while you are enjoying your dip in the lake in the crater. There are steam vents nearby that you can observe as close as you possibly can. There is a mud pot near the shores of the crater and it is smoking hot. You can see the boiling mud from the hole which is wide and deep enough for an SUV to fit.
The trek back up from the crater up to the ridge would require some leg power since there are portions of trails that are very steep and also very dusty, and as I have said before. It is slippery if you do not pay close attention to the ground you are walking, and planting a steady feet on the loose ground on occasions can help you avoid any accidental slips. Using a pair of shoes for trekking can also help in getting a firm grip with the challenging trail, sometimes even an ordinary pair of sandals like your favorite and fashionable Havaianas can help you get through, but the hot dust can slightly burn your bare feet during the hottest times of the day.
After the midway point, the trail back to the boat is the easiest part of your crater adventure except that there is absolutely no shade to take cover from the heat of the sun. It is important that you bring enough water or anything you can drink to hydrate your body. They do sell bottled water, soda, buko juice in tropical style (with the whole coconut fruit itself just removing a portion of the nut shell so that a drinking straw can be stuck in to sip the fresh cold juice inside), and sometimes even beer at the ridge but at a price higher than what you expect even at the supermarket.
The volcano island is open to all tourists during the day all the time except when the Philippine Institute of Volcanology (Philvolcs) raises an emergency warning to all the towns around Taal Volcano. Calauit trail is partly inaccessible during windy seasons and when strong waves are prevalent in Taal Lake. You need first to ask the person in-charge of the boat about the conditions going to Calauit trail and agree with the corresponding additional fees before you decide to go there, otherwise you’ll just be allowed to traverse the regular trail where most tourists have been.
The trek to the crater would take at most two hours from your boat to the crater and back, depending on the pace of your trek. You can reach the crater faster if you can afford riding on horseback or spending less time in between rests particularly at the midway point but you’ll be catching your breath all the way to your destination. Trekking to the crater would be best in the morning and the adventure can be done in just half a day, including the boat travel, and in the afternoon, you would probably be back in your comfortable bed in the urban world resting your aching body or you could spend a short stop in Tagaytay looking at the majestic view of the volcano you have conquered by foot a short time ago.
