Bulusan Volcano

Facts

• Elevation: 1,565 m (5,135 ft)
• Prominence: 1,548 m
• Ribu category:  Kurang Tinggi
• Region:  Luzon
• Coordinates: 12.7692, 124.0567
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• World Ribus ID: 69527

Mount Bulusan is an active stratovolcano which defines much of Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, covering 3,672 hectares and encompassing craters, lakes, hot springs and sharp ridgelines. As the 4th most active volcano in the Philippines, hikes here involve traversing rich rainforest, crater lakes and steep scree slopes—none of which entirely shield participants from volcanic risk. Some hikers still kayak across Bulusan Lake to reach the start of the trail; another accessible route circumvents the lake and meets the footpath marked by ranger huts (“kubos”).

The main trail starts at Bulusan Lake (360m) to the south-east of the peak. The hike can be done as a day hike or an overnight (2D/1N) trek. Typical itineraries:

• Day hike: 6–9‑hour round trip (lake → crater → lake).

• Overnight: Camp at Aguingay Lake (840m) before a pre‑dawn summit push (~2 hours), then descend.

Practicalities

• • Getting there: Jump-off point is Bulusan Lake, Barangay San Roque, Bulusan, Sorsogon, reached via Bulusan town or Irosin on Luzon’s southeastern coast. Access includes a short golf cart ride from the registration site to the lake trailhead, managed by park staff.

• • Permits: Registration fee of ~₱350 per person covers portable kayak, medical check-up, ID, annual re-entry privilege, trail planting program, and organizational overhead. A mandatory guide fee (~₱1,000 for day hike or 2D/1N) with a 5:1 hiker-to-guide ratio is enforced. Walk-ins are not allowed; groups must be pre-registered and size-limited.

• • Water sources: Lake Bulusan serves as the base and kayak crossing point; water is plentiful in the forested trail. Guides stock water drums at camp for trekkers, but fresh potable sources near the summit are not explicitly documented—hikers should plan accordingly.

Local Average Monthly Rainfall (in Manila)

Location