Bulusan Lake also known as “Switzerland of the Orient” lies at the heart of Bulusan Volcano National Park. It is a protected rainforest and wildlife sanctuary located in Barangay San Roque. Its center attraction is Mt. Bulusan which is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines. The lake has two mountain peaks, the Sharp Peak and Mt. Hormahan and in between is Lake Aguingay.
There are two options for getting there. One is through Maharlika Highway, passing towns of Casiguran, Juban, and Irosin. The other option is from Gubat to Barcelona.
It was a wonderful afternoon to spend time with nature
Travel time coming from our hometown in Malinao took us four hours in getting to Gubat. We took a room reservation for an overnight stay in Rizal Beach around noontime, ate our lunch then headed to Bulusan Lake. The muggy weather tempted us to swim in the resort but we have to escape momentarily to complete our Sorsogon escapade.
From Gubat, we passed the town of Barcelona. As we get closer to Bulusan, the view gets greener and the air smells so fresher. Vast rice fields were in our right and at left was the scenic view of the Pacific Ocean. We enjoyed watching the rustic countryside. It was so wonderful looking at those golden grains which any moment from now is ready for harvest.
When we reached the town proper of Bulusan we asked the locals of the right direction. It’s good that we were heading the right way. We saw a signboard “8 km to Bulusan Lake”, so we assumed we were so near.
At first, the wide road was well-paved, later there were portions under construction. As we went up, my buddies started to panic as the road became rougher and stiffer. My hubby had difficulty in traversing the “scary rough road”, but he had maneuvered the steering wheel very well.
I really had no idea this would be the road situation. It seemed we were heading on an endless journey. Soon we were enclosed by a canopy of trees. The small and narrow road was well-paved again. The sound of kuliglig (cricket) got louder and louder. Surprisingly, it was getting cooler as we entered a forested trail. Going to the lake was a combination of exciting anticipation and fear sprinkled by suspense as we were nearing the climax of our trip.
At last, we saw the signboard! I breathed a deep sigh of relief. Everyone now was shouting for joy when we reached the parking area. We paid P10/head for the entrance fee (what a cheap rate).
What was so amazing here in Bulusan Lake is that a large amount of body of water nestled at the foot of two mountains and at Bulusan Volcano. The view offered a unique serenity. Indeed, this is ideal for a family outing. It was so awesome communing with nature in this magnificent wonder.
Yours truly and our exciting visit to Bulusan Lake
The greenish color of the water is not suitable for swimming because of the mud in the bottom. But there are water activities that surely everyone will enjoy like kayaking (P100), water bike (P600) and boat rental which accommodates two to five persons (P500).
The densely forested Mt. Bulusan could be climbed by enthusiast mountaineers. A Group of avid adventurers can camp at the crater summit. What you need is a local guide. Just ask for assistance at the information booth if you are planning to do these activities.
We have no time to enjoy the water rides because we have to go back to Rizal Beach before it gets dark. It might be chaotic going down for there was no electricity along the road. Anyway, we were so thankful that we saw another Sorsogon’s wonderful scenic spot.
Wacky moments with the gang
Next time we will take the route to Irosin so we can swim in the natural hot and cold springs. Perhaps next year if our schedule permits us to do so.
From beaches, waterfalls, rivers, caves, and lakes, I’m proud to say that the Bicol region offers so many natural wonders that are worth visiting.
Bye now Bulusan Lake, have to go back to Rizal Beach for a swim.