Taal Volcano - tips by travel authority Howard Hillman

Taal Volcano

travel wonder in the Philippines

Why the
Taal Volcano
complex is special

It is unique in this world because of the positions of its 5 components: Taal Volcano, Taal Lake, Volcano Island, Crater Lake, and Vulcan Point.

To illustrate their bizarre relationships, I created this animated diagram:

on Taal Volcano
tips & insights

Near Manila

Taal is a popular day trip from Manila. It’s only 50 kilometers (30 miles) away. Taal is also popular as a summer vacation retreat. The climate is cooler than in Manila.

Climbing

A must for adventure travelers is climbing Volcano Island. You take a half-hour ride in a small boat to the island, then hike (30 to 45 minutes) or horseback (20 to 25 minutes) up to the ridge for a breathtaking view of Crater Lake.

When to come, what to wear

During summer, the sun beats down relentlessly – and there are no shade trees on the trail to the summit. So plan an early morning start – and wear sun screen and a broad-rimmed hat.

If you are not bent on
climbing Volcano Island

Visit the town of Tagaytay located on the ridge of Taal Volcano. It has outstanding panoramic views of Taal Lake and Volcano Island.

Eruptions

The Taal volcanic system erupted 33 times since 1572. That’s an average over the past several centuries of one per decade.

The last major discharge occurred in 1965, claiming about 200 lives. Over a thousand people lost their lives during a 1911 event.

Taal has been quiet since 1977, though volcanologists and their instruments are now witnessing some early signs of resurgence.

Small and active

Volcano Island (#3 on the animated map above) is one of the smallest active volcanoes on the earth.

Geology

Taal Volcano once towered 11,000 kilometers (18,000 feet). Over time, its sides gradually collapsed, creating a caldera 30 kilometers (18 miles) in diameter. Although the caldera's rim today is 600 meters (2,000 feet) high, it is only a small fraction as tall as the original volcanic peak.