SUMLANG LAKE IS BECOMING FAMOUS FOR BEING THE BEST ALTERNATIVE IN CAPTURING THE TOTALITY OF MOUNT MAYON VOLCANO

Location: Brgy. Sumlang Napa Gayon, Camalig, Albay, Philippines

Boarding a balsa while at Sumlang Lake

It was such a sunny day of December 2, 2018 when we drove to Sumlang Lake with my host, Noemi Amador Capunitan, with her parents. I was so amazed and I never expected that place was so refreshing. There were so many tourists around and on a nearby expensive restaurant where we had our early lunch, a photoshot for debutante was going on.

A wider view of Sumlang Lake

There is no public transport going to Sumlang Lake and habal-habal can be arranged from the point entry from the highway. The road leading to the place is too narrow considering that a lot of tourists visit the place regardless of season. There is an entrance fee for both guests and vehicles.

Balsas for rent at Sumlang Lake

Balsas are docked in the lake but there is no charge if guests will take pictures using them. However, guests can rent them in they opt to go upstream of the lake of closer to Mayon Volcano's backdrop.

Relaxing at the docked balsa

The food of the only expensive restaurant inside the Sumlang Lake Resort called Socorro's Lakeside Restaurant was such a great experience. There are a lot of souvenir shops around to buy an array of Bicol's specialties. Staying in the resort for a sunset is such a perfect experience.

My tour guide and Bicol host, Noemi Amador Capunitan

After Sumlang Lake, our group drove to Quintuinan Ranch to best capture Mayon Volcano.

THE BEST LOCATION TO CAPTURE MAYON VOLCANO

Location: Camalig, Albay, Philippines

Background of Mayon Volcano

Mayon Volcano, active volcano, southeastern Luzon, Philippines, dominating the city of Legaspi. Called the world’s most perfect volcanic cone because of the symmetry of its shape, it has a base 80 miles (130 km) in circumference and rises to 8,077 feet (2,462 metres) from the shores of Albay Gulf. (Source: Encyclopedia Britannica)

Mayon Volcano in its great splendor

Popular with climbers and campers, the volcano is the centre of Mayon Volcano National Park (21 square miles [55 square km]). There are large abaca plantations on its lower slopes. There have been more than 30 eruptions recorded since 1616. An eruption in 1993 caused 79 deaths. Subsequent eruptions in 2000, 2006, 2009, 2014, and 2018 forced tens of thousands of people in nearby villages to evacuate. In December 2006, rains from powerful Typhoon Durian caused mudslides and floods at the foot of the volcano that killed more than 1,000 people. Its most destructive eruption was in 1814, when the town of Cagsawa was buried and approximately 1,200 people were killed.(Source: Encyclopedia Britannica)

Personal Narrative

For so many years that I wanted to capture the best shot of Mount Mayon Volcano, I usually go to the Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga, Albay. But I was wrong. The place is always crowded that one will not be able to capture the best shot since a crowd of people are always in this site. It was on December 2, 2018, that when a balikbayan friend of mine in the name of Noemi Amador Capunitan brought me there after viewing Mayon Volcano from the point of view of Sumlang Lake.

The "kawa" at the Quintuinan Ranch where Mayon Volcano can viewed so wide and closer

So, the best location to capture Mount Mayon Volcano is in Quintuinan Ranch, Camalig, Albay where this is on a very high elevation of vast rolling hill, peaceful at that and it seemed closer to the volcano where the details of the trees on the foot of it are so vivid and clear. By that time, the clouds gave a clearing so that the volcano was on its nudest form, seemed unclothed but so magnificent with all its contours bared to my mesmerized eyes. The good thing was, only Noemi and I were in the ranch while her father and mother were on the car waiting for us. The place was all ours to enjoy. It was such a very fulfilling moment having seen Mayon on its most splendid form with its perfect cone well defined free from clouds.

By the way, there is an entrance fee in this ranch for a minimal amount for both the guests and their service vehicle but I can't remember how much it was. There is also an ATV ride and horseback riding offered for a fee here.

HOW TO GO THERE:

Take bus from either Pasay City or Cubao of Metro Manila and drop in Camalig town where from Pasay, it will take 9 hours and 35 minutes for a distance of 482.5 kilometers via Pan-Philippine Hwy/AH26 or from Cubao is 9 hours 44 minutes for 490.4 kilometers via Pan-Philippine Hwy/AH26.

Alternatively, you can book for a Cebu Pacific flight which flies daily to Legazpi City for more than an hour and then travel to Camalig town.