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03 January 2015

Taal Volcano Trek Guide: Cost, Rates, Scams and Tourist Traps

The Philippines, like most other destinations, has lots of scams and tourist traps. Herewith are some of them in Talisay, Batangas with people taking advantage of tourists for extra moolah not thinking that what they're doing scares tourists away and impacts future tourist arrivals

UPDATED January 2016

Here's an updated budget travel guide for Taal Volcano crater trek/hiking with fares, rates and commute/how to get there information, even tourist traps and scams for travelers/backpackers.

taal volcano talisay batangasearly morning view of Taal Volcano and Taal Lake where fishermen/boatmen wait for passengers to ferry to the volcano island

Going on a trek to Taal Volcano involves this "script"
1. Go to Talisay, Batangas either via Tagaytay or Tanauan
2. Rent a boat
3. Trek to the crater (boil eggs at steaming hot springs)
4. Go back (of course)

Rates:

Boat Rental Rate/Fee: PhP1,500.00 (standard boat rate)
Trek guide: PhP500.00 (good for 6 persons)
Horse ride: PhP450.00 (if you don't feel like trekking)

Beware of these Scams/Tourist Traps:
boat guide fee: PhP500.00
Boat "unloading fee" : PhP50.00 (just a small piece of wood to step on to get off the boat)
Drinks at the crater: PhP50.00 (vendor will tell you that you need to buy one for your guide)
Photography: PhP400.00/picture (they will take pictures but not required to avail)


Other Rates and Fees:
SLEX Toll fee: PhP214.00 (Nichols to StarToll)
SLEX to Startoll: PhP25.00
Startoll Tanauan exit: PhP7.00


Overnight Accommodations:
Balai Sofia Bed and Breakfast PhP1,399.00 (overnight stay)
Club Balai Isabel

Overall budget/cost for a Taal Volcano day tour will be low if you avoid tourist traps and scams

How to Get to Talisay, Batangas


sa ganap na

3 comments:

  1. Space BagsJan 13, 2015, 2:30:00 PM

    Trekking has been one of the best outdoor activities to try because it always unleashes your adventure side. Also, it gives you confidence that you can do even the complicated types of adventures.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownFeb 22, 2015, 10:52:00 PM

    I am doing a carrying capacity study for Taal volcano. it will be great if you can fill up the questionnaire below. It will also help if you can pass on the link to people you know who have also been there. Many thanks. Let me know if the link doesn’t work.

    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1orPlWfxkmNRaRmKtZOZUSc4-sE-ioLuUi_Qen1d5zFE/viewform

    ReplyDelete
  3. KatDec 26, 2015, 6:46:00 PM

    Really wanted to view this post but it seems your blog is not compatible with mobile? I can only view the cut off snippet no matter what i click. Sad.

    ReplyDelete