Mount Pinatubo Crater Lake

Mount Pinatubo Crater Lake is a volcanic crater lake formed at the summit of Mount Pinatubo on the tri-border of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga in Luzon, Philippines. Created after the cataclysmic June 1991 eruption, the lake is known for its turquoise to deep blue waters surrounded by steep crater walls. Accessed via Botolan in Zambales and Capas in Tarlac, it is a major ecotourism destination requiring a 4x4 ride and trek.

Visitors can expect a full-day adventure starting with a 4x4 ride across lahar fields and riverbeds followed by a 1-2 hour trek to the crater rim. At the top, a viewpoint overlooks the deep, turquoise crater lake enclosed by rugged volcanic walls. There are no structures on the lake itself; visitors stay at designated viewing areas for sightseeing and photography before trekking back the same route.