A combination of stress-free hike at Mt. Mabilog and unique swimming experience at two crater Lakes--Pandin and Yambo at San Pablo City, Laguna.
San Pablo, Laguna is a province located at the southern portion of the Philippines. It is known as "City of Seven Lakes", referring to its Seven Lakes--Bunot, Pandin and Yambo, Sampalok, Palakpakin, Muhikap, and Kalibato. From Metro manila, it roughly takes two hours to get to San Pablo Laguna, depending on your chosen mode of transportation. To get there by public transportation, go to Buendia JAC Liner bus terminal and ride a Lucena bus going to San Pablo Laguna. The bus will drop you at Maharlika Highway and from there take tricycle going to San Pablo City proper. From here you will see a 7/11 facing cathedral and from there ride a jeepney going to Lake Pandin roadside (Sto. Anghel, Nagcarlan.)
If you are bringing your own car, take the route going to the province of Quezon from SLEX exit (at Sto Tomas) to San Pablo. When you get to San Pablo Cathedral, turn left until you see a sign post that directs to Liliw Laguna then turn right. After that, you will see a sign in the area that says "Welcome to Pandin Lake."
If you choose to try activities that combine hiking and swimming, you may want to consider the combination of trekking Mt. Mabilog and swimming at either of the twin crater Lakes of Pandin and Yambo. Barangay Sto. Anghel is the jump-off area of Mt. Mabilog and Lake Pandin, (if you choose to bring your own car you can safely park it at this area). From here, you will have to walk 15 minutes going to the Mt. Mabilog starting point and/or Lake Pandin.
Mt. Mabilog is highly recommended for beginners (or non-hikers), because of its stress-free and there are no steep trails and not much of assault. Also, along the trail, there are numerous banana trees, making the hike more scenic than you could imagine.
At the summit of Mt. Mabilog, you will see how Lake Pandin and Yambo separated from each other. Aside from these, you will also see from this highest peak the three different mountains, namely Mt. Cristobal, Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Banahaw de Lucban.
The best activity that you can do after climbing Mt. Mabilog is to have lake tour and lunch at Lake Pandin or Yambo. These twin lakes are only 15 minutes away from each other.
If you want to have a two-hour lake tour on a small of large size of balsa which fits the number of your group, you may like to try it at Lake Pandin. You are allowed to bring your food to your chosen balsa, and eat it on the lake; however, you can also opt to buy a set of meal for lunch. Filipino women are the ones who operate the tour at Lake Pandin. These women are also in charge of paddling and pulling the rope, to bring the balsa to the end part of the lake.
Since Lake Pandin is 63 meters deep, safety management of Lake Pandin requires every guest to wear life vest, regardless of whether you are a good swimmer or not.
This beautiful Crater Lake has green and clear water. What is more amazing is that parts of the water of this lake have different temperatures--cold, hot, warm.
Photo taken from insights.looloo.com