Lake Mapanuepe: The Hidden Paradise of Zambales

Background

Lake Mapanuepe is one of the newest tourist destinations in the Zambales province which is situated in Barangay Aglao, San Marcelino municipality. Because of its gaining popularity among the local visitors, it got featured on KMJS or Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho which is one of the most popular TV shows in the Philippines during the weekend. Many local tourists called this Lake Mapanuepe the New Zealand of the Zambales because the view is very akin to those vast green pastures and lush green grass found in New Zealand. In addition, the area is surrounded by hills and towering pine trees. Lake Mapanuepe has a size of ​​more than 500 hectares and a depth of 20 meters.

According to its past history, Lake Mapanuepe was formed from the destructive explosion of Mt. Pinatubo in the year 1991. The lahar coming from the volcanic eruption blocks all exit points of water going down the Mapanuepe Valley in Barangay Aglao and Barangay Buhawen as well as the river. As a result, the rising waters submerged the Mapanuepe Valley and Lake Mapanuepe comes into existence. It was said that all structures in the two barangays were sunk during the violent eruption and only the sunken Bojaoen church’s huge metal cross can be seen in the middle of the lake.

As of today, Lake Mapanuepe is one of the emerging tourist spots in Zambales province. It is a perfect place for family outings and lazy camping. However, going there will not be easy but it’s totally worth it. The rough road trail going there is around 4 to 5 kilometers starting from the Zambales Mega Dike. Even so, if you are looking for a perfect place to relax then Lake Mapanuepe is a special place for you because you don’t need to trek it’s just chill camping.

Name: Lake Mapanuepe
Location: Barangay Aglao, San Marcelino, Zambales, Philippines
Features: a wonderful view of the freshwater lake and nearby hills

My trip to Lake Mapanuepe

In the past days, I saw in the travel Facebook group the stunning beauty of Lake Mapanuepe. For this reason, I added Lake Mapanuepe to my travel bucket list and started searching online for the organized tour that I will be joining since I am a solo joiner. It was Wednesday when I finally finished searching and joined the organized tour. The organizer gave me the itinerary and the expenses. The event fee is 2500 pesos. As a result, I immediately went to the local bank and deposited the required amount of downpayment. The tour to Lake Mapanuepe is scheduled on Saturday and Sunday.

It was April 15 Friday evening when I left my house and went to our assembly place at the Mall of Asia parking lot to meet with the rest of the group. Because we are not complete yet in our assembly place, we have to wait for the other members. So I bought some burgers and cold drinks at the fast-food restaurant near the parking lot. At 11:20 pm we are now complete and our private van is heading to our main destination which is Lake Mapanuepe.

I wanted to sleep in the van but the soft drinks I had drank earlier made it hard for me to sleep. As a result, I stayed awake all the time on the road trip to Zambales. We arrived at Zambales port at 4:30 am and our group registered. Afterward, we have our boat ride going to the campsite of Lake Mapanuepe. While having a boat ride, I noticed that the lake is so wide and the place is so tranquil.

A few minutes later, we arrived at the campsite and we started setting up our tent and hammock near Lake Mapanuepe. After that, we explored the magnificent and peaceful place. In my point of view, I feel like I’m in the country of New Zealand because it has a good ambiance, vast green landscape, chill camping, birds chirping in the trees, cows grazing nearby, bright blue sky from above, wind whistling through trees and million-dollar views of the freshwater lake and hills nearby.

Without a doubt, it’s a good morning for all of us. For this reason, I thank Lord for another day of witnessing his beautiful creations. Moreover, it is a perfect place for photoshoots, videography, and connecting with mother nature. It is indeed the New Zealand of the Philippines. As of this writing, Lake Mapanuepe is the best camping site I have ever seen and visited.

We enjoy the magical scenery with the view of the clear lake and we share thoughts about this place. One member of the group told us that she never thought we have this beautiful place in Zambales. For this reason, she will come back to Lake Mapanuepe together with her family at the end of this year. In my opinion, the natural beauty of nature, the breathtaking view, and the emerald water of Lake Mapanuepe which is so enticing make me also come back to this place.

We have our group lunch at 11:15 am. The meals prepared by our tour organizer are so yummy and delicious. As a result, at the end of our group lunch, we are so full that we wanted to sleep in our hammock and tent after that. Our group lies down under the shade of the tree while enjoying the delightful views all around the place. At 1 pm, we explore the place again and I notice that the trees here are so different compared to the others. The casuarinas and pine trees are a sign of freshwater nearby. Therefore, I said to myself that there are a lot of beautiful tourist spots in the Philippines waiting to be explored.

According to our tour guide, only the concrete part of the roof of a church serves as a memorial that there were once two barangays (Aglao and Buhawen) in the area now called Lake Mapanuepe. A 69-year-old Jing Valdez, a photographer, was able to keep the photos when the two barangays could still be seen in the area. He also took a picture of the two barangays slowly being swallowed by the water.

We have our dinner at 6 pm. The hosted meal is so satisfying. Then at 8 pm, our group have a bonfire and I can see with my own two eyes the clear night sky filled with innumerable stars. I wish I can take a closer picture of the night sky but my phone is not good enough to take awesome photos. From my perspective, this is the best overnight camping experience with strangers I’ve ever had in my life. We stay awake till 10:30 pm and at 11 pm we have a good sleep.

At 5:45 am (the next day), I woke up to a cold temperature and I saw our tour organizer preparing our breakfast. Then at 6:30 am, I witness one of the magical sunrise views. The light coming from the sun passes through the grazing ground, pine trees, and the clear water of Lake Mapanuepe. For this reason, I take a lot of pictures as a souvenir of this majestic place. Then I said to myself if this place is fully developed it will be a nice tourist spot both for locals and international travelers.

After having our breakfast and enjoying the moments at the camping site, we started to pack up our things. We leave the campsite at 10:30 am and we have a boat ride going back to the port. After arriving at the port, our van headed to our side trip in Zambales but before that, we have our lunch at a small restaurant beside the local highway. At 3 pm, after exploring our side trip place in Zambales, we go inside the van, and the van headed back to Manila.

We arrived at Quezon City around 6:45 pm. We bid goodbye to each other and I rode a train and a jeep going back to my house. At 8 pm, I finally arrived at my house and I thanked God for his guidance and unspeakable gift as I’m totally speechless when I saw Lake Mapanuepe. Also kudos to our tour organizer for organizing this amazing overnight trip and to our local guide. The trip was all worth it. I definitely enjoy the camping moments and breathtaking scenery. Moreover, I will definitely come back to this place in the near future. God willing.

To the people of Zambales, I want to thank you for sharing with us the hidden gem of Zambales. Overall my trip to Lake Mapanuepe sums up this simple quote “Hold on to whatever keeps you happy.”

Sample daytour itinerary to Lake Mapanuepe

12AM – Call time and meet up within Metro Manila
1AM – ETD going to San Marcelino, Zambales
3:30AM – Stop over for early breakfast and coffee break
6AM – ETA Lake Mapanuepe, snap photos and relax
11:30PM – Lunch
1PM – Free time
5PM – ETD going back to Manila, dinner along the way
11:50PM – At Manila, home sweet home

Sample overnight itinerary to Lake Mapanuepe

Day 0
10PM – Meetup at Greenfield Mandaluyong parking area
11PM – Departure going to Lake Mapanuepe in San Marcelino, Zambales

Day 1
5AM – Arrival at the port, register and have a boat ride
5:30AM – Departure to the campsite
6AM – Campsite of Lake Mapanuepe, rest, explore, free time, and prepare the meal for lunch
11AM – Lunchtime (hosted meal)
1PM – Free time, explore the place, lake hopping, and photo-ops
6:30PM – Dinner (hosted meal)
7:30PM – Stargazing and socials
10:30PM – Sleeping time

Day 2
5AM – Wake Up call, prepare breakfast
7AM – Breakfast (hosted meal), sunrise viewing at Lake Mapanuepe
10AM – Break camp and pack up
11AM – Boat ride going to Port
11:20AM – Arrive at the port, going back to Manila and lunch along the way
1PM – At President Ramon Magsaysay’s ancestral house (optional side trip)
7PM – Arrival at Metro Manila, end of the tour

Disclaimer: the sample above itinerary can be changed and is not absolutely 100 percent perfect due to many reasons.

Things to bring on your visit to Lake Mapanuepe:

Bottled water
Dry bag
Food
Pocket money
Change of clothes
Flashlight
Camera and cellphone
Powerbank
Toiletries
Small towel
Jacket and blanket
Alcohol
Cookware and utensils
Cling wrap or foil
Insect repellant
Fully vaccination card
One valid ID
Extra plastic for your garbage and wet clothes
Basic camping essentials
Tent (optional)
Speakers (optional)
Chairs and table (optional)
Fishing rod (optional)
Guitar (optional)

How to Go to Lake Mapanuepe

By commute

1. From Cubao, Quezon City, ride a Victory Liner bus bound to Zambales. Tell the bus driver and conductor to drop you off at Olongapo City, Zambales.
2. Then from Olongapo City, ride a jeep going to the municipality of San Marcelino, Zambales.
3. From San Marcelino, ride a jeep or tricycle going to Barangay Aglao. You may register at the barangay hall of Aglao and leave some donations there. 
   

By private vehicle

Open your Waze app and pin the Mapanuepe Lake or Lake Mapanuepe view deck. From San Marcelino, Zambales pin Barangay Aglao. Note: the signal there is so weak so better ask the locals there to avoid getting lost. Lake Mapanuepe is just three hours via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) – Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) route.

Notable Rates and Fees:

• The local guide fee is 500 pesos for the entire team plus the fuel.
• The car camping is 500 pesos.
• The boat ride is 350 pesos for a maximum of 5 people.
• The entrance fee for a day tour is 20 pesos.
• 50 pesos per head for an environmental fee if overnight.
• The life vest is 25 pesos per head.

Note: rate and fees may change without prior notice.

Reminders and Tips:

• If you wish to lessen your expenses, I highly recommend getting an organized packaged tour when you plan to visit Lake Mapanuepe. Included in the Lake Mapanuepe overnight package tour is a round trip private rented van from Manila going to Zambales and vice versa, a roundtrip boat ride from the port to the campsite, a life vest, entrance fee, tour guide fee, environmental fee, camping site fee, open cottage, beach tent sharing and three hosted meals (first-day lunch and dinner, the second day are breakfast). On the other hand, excluded from the overnight package tour are other personal expenses and boat hopping.

• If you have a small car you will be able to get there but a 4×4 pick-up truck or SUV is preferable. The travel time from Metro Manila going to Lake Mapanuepe is approximately three to four hours.

• There are boats near the view deck that you can rent. Just register first and pay. The boat ride will last only for five minutes to ten minutes. Nevertheless, make sure to wear your life vest at all times for safety purposes.

• There is no electricity and no cellphone signal beside Lake Mapanuepe so better prepare yourself and the things you will need to bring. On the other hand, a small sari-sari store can be found and you can order bottled water. 

• Take Phase 2 for a better sunset view. Overnight camping at Lake Mapanuepe is highly advised to better enjoy the serenity of the place. Moreover, if you do overnight camping, please be reminded that you can bring your own tent or you can rent at the barangay hall at an affordable price.

• For booking and contact information, just search Mapanuepe Lake Aglao on Facebook or you can message Annabelle at https://www.facebook.com/annabelle.joaquin.777. Also, you can contact John Alvin Romualdo at 09567154878.

• The registration will be done at Aglao barangay hall. 

• You can bring and play with your pet but much better if you bring a leash. A wide grassy land is a perfect place for your pet buddy.

• Wear a helmet if you take the Lahar-filled road by a motor. 

• There is a portion of the lake where you can swim, so swim at your own risk. Ask your guide about that. Also, there is a newly built paid comfort room near the camping site.

• Be disciplined. Have a sense of preservation and conservation. Apply the basic camping rule which is to leave no trace. Don’t leave a piece of candy plastic or a cigarette butt.

• Add Lake Mapanuepe to your bucket list now before it became overcrowded and the most popular spot in Zambales. 

• Above all, Lake Mapanuepe is a hidden paradise and must be protected so don’t leave any trash or garbage along the way.
  
  
  
  

There you have it, nature lover people. Grab your friends and take vacations once in a while because you can always make money but you cannot always make memories. Overall, I wish this travel guide to Lake Mapanuepe has been advantageous to you and encourage you to visit this hidden gem in Zambales. If you have any questions, violent reactions, or comments kindly leave them below. God bless and stay safe.