Road Less Travelled: Exploring the splendour of Mayon Volcano in Legazpi, Albay

Bicolano Food at Sumlang Lake

In between, we made sure to try out local Bicol delicacies. Not to miss is, of course, the region’s eponymous spicy dish, Bicol Express. Much like adobo, it has many versions—from homemade to elevated—but it’s nice to try its many varieties. A must-visit restaurant is, no doubt, Socorro’s Lakeside Grill, which sits within the Sumlang Lake property. We enjoyed scrumptious local cuisine, including their take on the pinangat, inulukan, and pancit bato guisado. Their tinapa rice was also an excellent umami boost, best paired with their fried or grilled dishes.

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Sumlang Lake is a memorable destination for those eager to learn about abacca weaving. Artisans on site can take you through the raw materials they use and the process of making abaca products like rugs, bags, and even furniture. For pasalubong hunting, there’s also a wonderful shop here that offers bottled food, dried fish and nuts, wooden kitchenware, bags, hats, and more.

Visiting a cave disco

For those eager for more of an adventure trip, Hoyop-hoyopan Cave is worth the journey. Since it is summer season, the tour was quite easy since the ground was relatively dry. Our tour guide, Eddie Boy, gave us the lowdown on its history: it was once a disco during the 60s. In the middle of an enormous cavern was a man-made cement dancefloor. “People used to party here,” Eddie Boy said. And all I could do was imagine the revelry of heady nights inside a massive cave disco.

Underwater river at Jovellar

After exploring Hoyop-hoyopan, we trailed to the Jovellar underground river—a lesser-known destination. A quick trek and you’ll see a river entrance marked by a dock where thrill-seekers can jump off for a 25-foot dive. Beyond that, a balsa ride awaited us. Our guides took us along the underground river, which was almost pitch black, save for our flashlights. The sound of dripping water and bats fluttered and echoed around us. At the end of the river, a small gushing waterfall beckoned. After quickly climbing rocks, we found ourselves in a small river patch with the most pristine and clear flowing water. Standing still, you’d see up to your toes and the ground peppered with smooth stones. The water was refreshingly cool, especially during a humid summer. We had a dip, and it was a nice break from strolling around under the scorching sun.

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World War II Tunnels

History buffs may fancy a visit to Ligñon Hill. Here, the local government recently opened a tour of World War II tunnels made by Japanese troops. The trail is relatively easy and paved well for visitors of all ages. Our guide mentioned that only a few caverns have been opened, but they’ve discovered a total of 18 (as of writing), with more tunnels to be opened to the public in the coming years.

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Must-try: ATV Lava Trail

One of Legazpi’s most exciting and well-advertised activities is the ATV lava trail, where you can get unique views of Mt Mayon. We booked ours with Your Brother Mayon ATV, which is among the most reputable companies offering this tour. This trip may not be for the faint of heart or relatively slow riders such as myself—still, if you’re open for adventure, the experience is one for the books.

We took the black lava trail (recommended for first-timers), which took three hours. The path was off-road primarily and would surely ignite the thrill-seeker in anyone. As you trail between giant rocks, forest paths, and flowing waters, the majestic view of Mt Mayon getting closer is unlike any other. Midpoint in the ride, we took a trek to a helipad that sat at the very foot of the volcano—and my oh my, the view there was breathtaking. Black volcanic rocks spewn as far as the eye can see were framed only by staggering rows of tall coconut trees. . .a panoramic view fit for movie sets and daydreams.

Looking from your foot to the sky, you’ll get a vantage point of Mt Mayon, unlike any postcard you’d ever seen. It is a poignant reminder of nature’s grandiosity, unmatched by any man-made marvel. The volcano is advertised to be the ‘perfect cone’, but this close, you’ll get to see its ridges and imperfections, even the parts of it that have been marred by eruptions and molten lava. Mt Mayon is actually the Philippines’ most active volcano, with its last eruption lasting months from June to October 2023.

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So, if you’re looking to travel to Bicol, exploring Mt Mayon’s vicinities is a definite treat for the senses and a welcome shot to the heart. It is a genuinely refreshing pause from the busy schedules we keep and a simple reminder of Mother Nature’s inimitable beauty.

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