Taal Volcano

"Taal: An Island within a Lake on an Island within a Lake on an Island Located in Tagaytay in Luzon, just an hour and a half by car from Manila, Taal Volcano has a complex and unique landscape and offers one of the most picturesque views in the Philippines . Taal Lake is a freshwater lake that partly fills the Taal Caldera, a large collapsed area formed during prehistoric eruptions. Within the lake is the nine-square-mile Volcano Island, which is the active part of the volcano and consists of at least 47 cones and craters, including the Binintiang Malaki cinder cone, which looks how you imagine a volcano should. In the center of Volcano Island is the crater lake, which hosts a small rocky island called Vulcan Point. So there is an island within a lake on an island (which is a volcano) within a lake on an island! (Vulcan Point is in the crater lake on Volcano Island, which is in Taal Lake, which is on the island of Luzon.) The volcano has not erupted since the seventies, though there are occasional signs of unrest. Visiting Taal's crater lake is a great day-trip option: You hop on a boat across Taal Lake to Volcano Island, where you can hike or ride on horseback to the crater lake. Or you can simply take in the great vistas from Tagaytay, enjoying the cool weather and exploring the many places to eat."

nishant vardhan

Google

Taal valcano is a beautiful landscape of valcano in the midst of a huge lake, The location is picture perfect. You can click pictures with volcano 🌋 from tagatay turist spots, or you can take a boat ride to touch or do hiking at volcano 🌋. Note: Due to recent minor volcano eruption in January 25, the hiking is not allowed on volcano.

PJ D. Andaya (JP)

Google

One of the most iconic landmarks of the Philippines. The best view of Taal volcano can be seen in Tagaytay. Here are the photos I takeyn in Mendez, Tagaytay. Taal Volcano will always be iconic!

Melissa Eisner

Google

So even though you can’t hike on the island anymore due to the active nature of the volcano, it’s still super worth taking a boat ride around the lake. Lots to see, plus tons of cool birds flying everywhere. And if you’re lucky, you might even see a little activity from the volcano itself. Highly recommend.

Ross Daniels

Google

Very scary and awesome. Like most we climbed to the edge of the crater and it is a bit of a frightening site as it is one of the most active volcanoes in the country and has erupted numerous times in the past. Actually it is composed of a main crater and several smaller craters. The Main Crater Lake is approximately 2 kilometers in diameter and contains a small island called Vulcan Point. This point is the site of a number of volcanic vents and is considered to be the most active part of the volcano.

Peter Holdway

Google

Not sure where other reviewers have been, as you are not currently able to land on the Island. It has been "off limits" since 2021, but MAY re-open in April. That said, the drive down the hillside to get to the village was very interesting, as was the drive around the lake to Taal. We were quoted 5,000 pesos for an hour boat ride or 6,000 for 2 hours which would go right around the Island - we declined. It was worth the trip for the drive and the view but disappointed we couldn't actually visit the Island. On the plus side, there were virtually no other tourists

Migs Hipolito

Google

Super nice view of Taal Volcano from tagaytay

Venkatarangan Thirumalai

Google

Since the eruption in 2020 you can’t go to the lake or the volcano hill. So you can see from the near by mountains. Beautiful view though

Google

Taal Volcano, located in the Philippines, is a mesmerizing geological wonder with its unique crater lake and the world's smallest volcano within a lake. The panoramic view from the crater rim offers a breathtaking landscape, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts. However, it's essential to be mindful of the volcano's occasional activity, as it remains an active volcano with the potential for eruptions. Visitors can enjoy boat rides to the volcano island and explore the captivating blend of natural beauty and geothermal activity.

Michael L.

Yelp

THE BIG: Located in the Batangas region of The Philippines. Supervolcano that has a concept out of this world. An island in a lake on an island in a lake on the Philippine island. Mind Blown. THE BLACK AND WHITE: We came here during the christmas vacation and it was packed! Beautiful caldera with Taal volcano slowly erupting in the background. Heard that the 2020 eruption evacuated many people and caused alot of damage. Otherwise it was a nice humid day and the people that make Taal volcano their livelihood shows with the fishing boats and tourists activities nearby. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall highly recommend coming here to see the concept in action. A great viewpoint of Taal Volcano and the lake is from Tagaytay.

Gerry T.

Yelp

This review is pre-COVID and pre-Volcanic eruption. Taal Volcano is located in Tagatay, it's a great getaway for folks from Manila and Laguna. Tagatay itself, is an awesome place for having a second home, like Wisconsin is for Chicagoland peeps. Upon arriving, you can grab breakfast at any of the fine restaurants looking down at lake Taal. Enjoy the food, coffee, breeze and wonderful views. The volcano sits in the middle of the lake. So we had to negotiate a boat ride to and from the volcano. Once there, for a fee, we were able to ride these really skinny horses up to the top of the crater. Wow, that was scary but we were there for adventure, right!! It was a hot day so bring a water bottle or two. I also noticed some tourists (either from Japan or Korea) hiking up to the top. We would have done the same thing but we had a spry but elderly person with us, so we decided to go with the horses. I hope to come back to see how things have turned out since the eruption. I just love Geology as a whole and the ruggedness of this outing. They just need to build some infrastructure like what we have in Yellowstone or Mount Zion, so even more people can enjoy this.

Kelly L.

Yelp

While visiting the Philippines, we stayed in Tagaytay with some friends and checked out Taal lake and volcanoe. You can see the lake and the crater from Starbucks. We took the tricycle from Tagaytay market to the lake and pay the driver to wait for us about 1000 peso or $20 USD per tricycle. The ride down the mountain is very bumpy and windy but the scenery is quite nice. It took about 1 hour to get to the lake. We paid 2500 peso or $50 USD for our group of 4 including the boat trip to the volcano, the donkey ride and the guide to the top of the mountain. The donkey ride is very cool. The donkey is well trained. The guide walked with you and the donkey up the hill and then tandem riding with you. It takes about 30 min ride up to the top. The view is breath taking. There are many children trying to sell drinks and fruit along the road. My guide is Alex, a 23 year old woman, very sweet and speaks perfect English. She lives on the island and takes care of grandmother. I tipped her 500 peso.... But generally they do not expect tips from you. The park is opened from 6Am to 6 pm. You can hike up the volcano but it can be dusty and rocky. On our way up, we saw people hiking up and down the trail.... And they did not look happy.... I would definitely recommend the donkey ride...!

Terri C.

Yelp

Take a boat ride across Taal Lake, get a guide, climb to the caldera, and enjoy the views. Taal Volcano is the smallest active volcano in the world and it's located in the middle of Taal Lake. It's probably not necessary to hire a guide, but it only cost 500 pesos plus tip and I wanted to hear the history and description of the volcano along the way. At the time I visited last week, 500 Philippine pesos equaled to less than $10; not that expensive for the guidance and to help out with the local economy. My guide, Rizza, led the way on a hike that was about 1.5 miles one way up to the crater lake. There are 14 Stations of the Cross along the way, with a wooden crucifix to mark each one; not that surprising given how Catholic a country the Philippines is. You can ascend the hill on foot or by horseback thus the reason face masks are sold at the bottom of the hill when you start. The horses kick up a good amount of dust plus, since this is an active volcano, there are spots towards the top where sulfur is still steaming out of the ground so paying the 20 pesos for a face mask is a good idea or bring your own. The hike itself is fairly easy to navigate. There were some spots with a bit more rock than others so just watch your footing in these places since it would be simple to turn an ankle. Most of the terrain is just dirt and loose rock. The earlier in the day to begin the hike, the better with the heat and humidity of the area. When we got to the top, the views of the lake within the volcano were lovely. You can climb up an overlook/tower that will give you a 360 degree view of the crater lake and Taal Lake. There is also a place to buy souvenirs and drinks before you head back down. Overall, the hike took about 2 hours including hydration and photo-taking breaks. It was a fun experience not to mention unique since it's not every day one gets to hike up the world's smallest active volcano.

Brian N.

Yelp

Pretty awesome hike. The view isn't as spectacular as some other hikes that I have done, but it's pretty cool to say you've hiked to the top of a volcano. It would be nice if the tour guides gave more information/details about things. It's not a very long hike, but it is definitely challenging on the way up, due to the steep inclines, heat, humidity, and strong sun. Lots of cheap souvenirs. I got a t-shirt for really what equates to 5 USD. Shirt sizes are inconsistent, so check the fit first. Also, for 50 pesos, you can gain access to a red rocks area. Watch your step over there, but it is very well worth the money.

Donne E.

Yelp

We decided to visit pretty last minute (this past March), and had no real idea how to cross the lake to get there. Thankfully the driver we hired knew somebody who knew somebody. We were a pretty large group of about 9-10 and we took two boats to get there. We skimmed across the lake fairly quickly- about 10 to 20 minutes. Our boat ride was pretty awesome; the driver sailed it like a speedboat while blasting Backstreet Boys. You may or may not end up soaked. Once you land on the island, you'll see that there's an actual small town living at the foot of this volcano. The boat rental should hook you up with a guide that will meet you in the town. The hike up to the summit and mouth of Taal is reasonable. I would say it took more or less an hour, depending on how often you stop to take pictures. You can also ride horses if you don't feel like walking. Near the top there's a little guest shop where you can buy food and printed photos. And at the top there are some nice designated photo-taking spots. I think there may also be an option to climb down to the crater- I hear its not really hot? Overall, the summit is beautiful and I'm glad I was able to visit. Some tips: - It would help to do some research on how to take a boat there. Depending on where you embark from, you may start your hike from different parts of the volcano that will give you different views. - Wear light, breathable clothing that will dry easily. You may get wet on the boat. - The hike up can get really dusty. Pack light. - Tip your guide(s).

John Ivan S.

Yelp

It is a great for having here I enjoy every moment on my family and my friends it is a one of the super beautiful place ive ever seen

Patricia M.

Yelp

My barkada and I had a spontaneous roadtrip to Tagaytay and decided to brave the Taal volcano. Make sure to get a guide from the Filipino Travel Center so you don't get scammed. There are 2 things you can do there - hike or horseback ride. I suggest horseback riding (with a guide) if you're not the fittest of people. My friends and I almost chose to hike and we're SO glad we didn't because it was so hot and the hike was steep. We were also wearing very non-hiking outfits. XD Also buy a mask when offered because the sand goes to your face during the trip up and go there early when the sun isn't as hot. The red sand was cool and the view was spectacular. Be wary of the the ledge because if you fall, you're done for, haha. There were a lot of foreigners and backpackers. And at one point we thought we saw Psy! :)) There was this Korean dude riding a horse and singing 'Gangnam Style' and I swear on all that is holy that he really looked like Psy! At the top of the volcano, there's a place to eat at and chill if you get tired and hungry. Our favorite part would be the cliff that resembled the one in Lion King where Rafiki presents baby Simba. My friends and I kept on joking around and taking funny pictures. It's definitely a cool place to visit and a fun experience. You can cross out from your bucket list and tell people that you've climbed a volcano! Not a lot of people can say that. :)