Climbing Up to Mayon’s Base Camp

Climbing up to the summit of the Philippines’s most active volcano is truly an experience of a lifetime.  Climbing up to the level close to the summit or an area commonly referred to as the knife’s edge is for the intermediate-expert climber or for one who is very fit.  It normally takes two days and one night to reach the summit and it is essential that one have a competent and knowledgeable local guide.

To plan a climb of Mt. Mayon, one must register and log at the Mayon Volcano National Park and Ecological Campsite and Ecopark located at foot slope of Mt. Mayon specifically at Brgy. Lidong, Sto. Domingo, Albay.

It is recommended that visitors contact a local tour agency (available under the establishments section of this site) or visit the Department of Tourism- Region V (Their office is at the Regional Center Site, Barangay Rawis Legazpi City), in order to arrange for logistical requirements and safety precautions.

For the outdoor enthusiast interested in Day treks, one highly recommended trek is the Camp 1 site.  A four hour climb going up under a normal pace (it is about as far as an 18 hole round of golf only steeper and going down is usually 30% faster) from the Dona Pepita Golf Course and Ecopark or the Mayon Volcano National Park, this trail takes you to Camp 1 which is a base camp used by mountaineers before their final ascent up the Volcano.

Located roughly 780 meters from sea level and situated beside a relatively dry waterfall bed, this site offers spectacular views of the countryside and ocean below.  The journey to the site will take you thru some intensely varying and beautiful terrain including a lahar flow gulley, light Agoho Pine forests, heavily covered giant fern forests, and Kugon grassland.

Again a guide is essential and can be arranged through a local tour agency (available under the establishments section of this site) or visit the Department of Tourism- Region V (Their office is at the Regional Center Site, Barangay Rawis Legazpi City.