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All photos by Level 10 Local Guide KokoySeverino…
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“An island within a lake within an island within a lake within an island in the ocean.” That is how my father describes Taal in my childhood decades ago, my first inkling of the place…
Getting to the Famous Lake
One of the most iconic images of the Philippines, Lake Taal and its famous volcano are perhaps the most visited tourist attraction outside of the capital. Easily accessible by bus or car, the town of Tagaytay in Cavite, a province adjacent to Metro Manila’s southern border, is a popular day trip and has become synonymous with some of the most breathtaking vistas one can imagine.
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Views of Taal from Josephine Restaurant, above, and from Balay Dako Terraza, below, in Tagaytay, Cavite. Both restaurants offer not only majestic vistas, but world-class traditional Filipino menus featuring seafood dishes of fish endemic to Taal Lake…
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Most tourists, however, seldom venture beyond the numerous mountainside resort villas on the periphery of the lake. It is along the lake’s banks that the real Taal unfolds for those seeking a deeper connection to the soul of this caldera, formed by a series of massive volcanic eruptions beginning over 100,000 years ago, eventually enclosing the former inlet by the 18th century a.d. Precipitation gradually converts Taal’s waters from salt to fresh, the resulting ecosystem giving rise to unique species endemic to the lake. The surface elevation steadily rises, submerging entire municipalities, prompting some towns to relocate to higher ground and burying others in its depths.
The shoreside Taal Lake Conservation Center maintains comprehensive information about the history, culture, geography, and environment of the waters and surrounding area, and leads efforts to sustain the local economy in the face of rampant development threatening its sensitive socio-ecological balance. Pusod, as the TLCC is referred to, also offers eco-friendly waterfront accommodations to academics and tourists alike, and organizes excursions lead by local guides across the lake to climb and study the volcano up close. From the vantage point of Pusod’s veranda and cabanas, Taal is at her most alive, an ethereal being, mysterious and emotional, in constant commune with the people who share in her past and in her destiny…
To read more, please go to LAKE TAAL BECKONS in The Adventure of Kokoy - A Travel Guide…
