Sumlang Lake

Have you ever heard of a lake that is not man made but suddenly sprung? Have you ever seen a beauty that after disaster, natures gives back with a beauty? Have you ever been to a lake that is just as small as 15 minutes to explore and it’s really beautiful? Have you ever experience a ride over a floating sofa and relax? That will be the experience that I will be telling you in this blog.

During the 1992 eruption of Mayon Volcano (the most perfect cone volcano in the course of ring of fire), it creates a huge lava flow that covered most of the town covering the landscape which is mostly rice paddies with sand and gravel and created new river ways and big holes and one of that is the “Sumlang Lake”. During the course of time, heavy rains and floods created this magnificent beauty and now is the home of different lilies and water creatures. You can have a rest during the day over a floating sofa, have a date with your dearest or just wander around the beauty that was created by mother earth in response to the disaster that she spewed.

In this blog I will let you experience the story on how to go there, the budget, were to stay, what other beautiful places nearby and let you experience the beauty that I have experienced.

How to go there?

From Northern Luzon (Batanes, Baguio, Tarlac, Pampanga, La Union etc.)

You can either catch a plane from Clark Airport to Legazpi or you can try a long bus ride to Cubao or Manila and take another bus to Legazpi. You don’t have to worry, I have tried travelling from Baguio to Legazpi by bus (and it was during typhoon time, scary but fun)

By Plane:

1. Catch a plane from Clark Airport to Legazpi, mostly by Cebu Pacific Air or Philippine Airlines and that would cost you around Php 3000 for the fare during lean season and if it is on high tourism peak like May and December that can explode to Php 6000. You can either use NAIA (Manila) or Clark (Pampanga) for the flight and we have 4 flights everyday. Sometimes delayed flights are expected due to monsoon rain since this place is near the Pacific Ocean.

2. From Legazpi Airport, you can ride a jeep or a taxi going to the city proper (just tell the driver to drop you off where the jeep going to Camalig or Guinobatan), then from there ask the driver to drop you off to Sumlang lake. You will not see the lake right away. You need to walk about 300 meters passing through residential area and you are free to ask the people there. They are very helpful and they can speak English too some can speak Spanish specially those who are oldies. This will cost you around (Taxi) Php 200, (Jeepney) 25 Php. If you don’t like to walk, you can hire a tricycle and just tell the driver to drop you off to Sumlang Lake and that will cost you Php 40.

By Bus from Manila:

1. The best that I can suggest is to book your bus ride to Legazpi as early as possible to this website https://bicolisarog.com/reservation they are a group of buses travelling to Bicol and choose the type of comfort inside the bus. The best place to travel is at night time at around 9;00 PM. Travel time will be around 8-12 hours and be ready for that.

2. Ask the driver to drop you off at Camalig Town Center (Camalig Public Market) and then ride a jeep to Legazpi and request the driver to drop you off at Sumlang Lake Location.

3. Walk 300 meters inwards, (there is a brick signage that says to Sumlang Lake) or you can hire a tricycle.

4. You will need to be prepared for the fare. Bus from Manila to Camalig is worth 1100 Php for executive coach or 800 Php for 2x2 Comfort first class. Then a jeep ride for 8.00 Php and tricycle at 40.00 Php.

Note:

Feel free to talk to locals, they are very helpful.

Here are the things they can offer you.