Lake Mapanuepe: The New Zealand Of Zambales

soma pharmacy COD saturday delivery Lake Mapanuepe is the next favorite destination of nature lovers, campers, off-roaders and tourists. Thanks to TikTok! Because of the green landscape that blends with the emerald lake, Mapanuepe Lake is branded as the New Zealand of Zambales. It is indeed a perfect spot for camping.

Soma with no prescription Overnight COD Deliveyry However, behind the beauty it holds, Lake Mapanuepe hides catastrophic history figuratively and literally. Following Mount Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991, lahars clogged the Mapanuepe River’s drainage system, gradually flooding the Mapanuepe Valley and its settlements. You wouldn’t think that Barangay Buhawen and Barangay Aglao are underneath this lake. Only the tower of Sta. Barbara Chapel peeps out of the water.

Surrounding the lake is a ranch that has two phases. Phase 1, the Rodriguez Ranch, is the one you always see in TikTok because of the picture-perfect pine trees. However, there are more campers here, hence, we chose to stay at phase 2, the Lolit’s Ranch. After all, there’s a symphony of trees and lake in this portion so I liked it in here more.

Additionally, Lake Mapanuepe attracts people who likes off-roading since the trail going to the ranch passes mostly lahar sands with unpaved roads, rocks, big puddles and river in some parts. Hence, we brought our 4×4 vehicle. Through time, the locals found a way for smaller cars but it will be difficult for them. I suggest taking a boat ride from Barangay Aglao instead to reach the place.

The place is indeed relaxing and lovely. It is called the New Zealand of Zambales for a reason. It’s something I want to gatekeep but it’s too late since it’s very hyped now. The site was already packed with campers when we visited. So people, who like to be in private, will find the place kinda messy. On the other hand, extrovert people will enjoy the scene since they got to be friends with other campers.

We found an Instagram-worthy spot by the lake and immediately pitched our tent there, only to realize that it’s better to stay farther from the lake and near the pine trees because of the scorching heat of the sun. Therefore, we transferred to the shaded part of the campsite. For those who can’t bring their camping equipment, tent and hammocks are available for rent in the vicinity.

Anyway, we went under the pine trees after realizing that staying by the lake isn’t a good idea. After all, these pine trees also make picturesque view for photos. These pine trees, apart from the happy farm animals, vast lake, and green pastures, are actually few of the things that brought the rustic country-side vibes to Lake Mapanuepe. They were planted by the locals before without knowing that it will form a paradise in the future.

Here comes the famous lake, of course! It’s tempting to have a dip in the lake because we’re already sweating hard. However, you won’t see anyone swimming. The lake water is reportedly contaminated with mercury leaking from an abandoned copper mine nearby. So for safety purposes, swimming is not allowed here. Boating and kayaking are the usual activities to enjoy the water.

If you’re not a fan of these water activities, you can rent an ATV and ride the trail. We also saw several visitors chitchating with other campers, talking to the locals and Aetas, cooking, eating feeding the animals, playing volleyball or badminton, flying kites, bringing pets, crafting coffee and doing TikTok dances. You can simply bask in the view and enjoy the moment away from work. Basically, it’s a place where you can enjoy your pastime.

The sunken church can be reached only by water vehicles so I suggest to rent a boat to witness a piece of the historical landmark. Riding the boat felt like touring an imaginary village. As we traversed the lake, the boatman was pointing out the areas that used to be residential places and ricefield. We could still spot the tip of tall trees and old utility poles, which follows the streets in the past. As we get near the chapel, the boatman said that there was once a school beneath us.

We got chills when we saw the Sta Barbara Church’s steeple in the middle of the lake. Imagine we’re having a glimpse of the relic that signifies Mount Pinatubo’s history and aftermath in San Marcelino. It’s the remaining piece from the past that potrudes above the lake today. From here, we were able to visualize how high the water level is and how much water volume this valley stores.

In case you miss something, there’s a sari-sari store and eatery in the ranch. There was no signal reception but I’m surprised that they offer 24-hour WiFi connection for 150 pesos. At Lolit’s ranch, there are cubicles for toilet and bath but only one of each are working, so it creates long queues. After minutes of waiting, my mom got to enter the toilet room and it was extremely dirty. A pile of toilet papers and sanitary pads can be seen. Hopefully, the future campers will be better, be respectful and be thankful that there are restrooms because in real camping, there are no shower areas.

Since we weren’t ready for this kind of inconvenience, we decided to spend the night at a nearby unit we booked at Airbnb. Paradise Point Subic offers studio-type rooms, designed in white and wood furnishings, giving a tropical vibe. It has a mezzanine so it can accommodate up to four people. There were just some issues like slow internet connection, weak signal reception, Netflix that doesn’t work, narrow parking slot and cold shower.