The Backpack Adventures

Located near the shores of the Barangay Pundaquit in San Antonio in the province of Zambales, Camara Island is a favorite island-hopping destination of the province.  Camara Island Camara Island Details Camara Island is about 2 to 3 kilometers off the nearest shore of Pundaquit. The island is no bigger than a professional football field. 4/5 of the island is dominated by a rocky hill while the remaining 1/5 consists of a stretch of 30 to 40 feet of cream-sand beach.  Camara Island - San Antonio, Zambales That boatman seems to enjoy the island too... Camara Island also has a picturesque view of Pundaquit and its mountain Camara Island is home to a few trees and an occasional flock of seabirds. Its surrounding waters are clean and teeming with marine life which is why it is perfect to go snorkeling in it.  The wave kisses the beach gently... The beach landing... Aquaman's secret hideout A view from the top of one of the rocks Gotta love the view...

Our mountaineering adventure today takes us to one of the most famous (and destructive) volcanoes in the Philippines - Mt. Pinatubo .  Mt. Pinatubo Mt. Pinatubo Details  Located in the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga, and Zambales, Mt. Pinatubo is actually a volcano that once stood at about 1,745 meters above sea level. However, its powerful 1991 eruption reduced it to almost half its size. It now stands 960 meters above sea level. Mt. Pinatubo - Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales Speaking of Mt. Pinatubo 's historical 1991 eruption, Here are some trivia about it. Prior to the 1991 eruption, the last recorded eruption of the volcano happened some 500+ years ago. Ash from the eruption is said to have reached as far north as Russia. Ash from the eruption damaged several airborne planes. Ash from the eruption also caused massive casualties and damages to the nearby provinces when it got mixed with rain from the monsoon season. This deadly mixture is known as  a lahar . Speaking

Our adventure today takes us to the highest mountain in the province of Zambales. Join me as we hike Mt. Tapulao . Mt. Tapulao Mt. Tapulao details Located in the town of Palauig, Mt. Tapulao is well known for its semi-temperate climate, pine trees, and rocky trails. It got its name from tapulao or pine trees in the local dialect. Mt. Tapulao - Palauig, Zambales Height:  2,037 m Major trailhead:  Sitio Dampay, Brgy. Salaza, Palauig Zambales Climb time:  7-12 hours depending on your pacing Mt. Tapulao 's rocky trail Due to the many similarities between Mt. Tapulao and Mt. Pulag in Benguet, and the proximity of Mt. Tapulao to Manila, seasoned hikers would say that it is a perfect alternative to Mt. Pulag. Hence they dubbed Mt. Tapulao as the " Poor man's Pulag ". No matter the comparisons there are, both mountains give every climber the same aspiration to reach the top. Hello, pine trees! If you're planning to climb Mt. Tapulao . I suggest t