Taal Volcano is a complex volcano located 50 kilometers from Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Once upon a time, the Taal Volcano was a large volcano, in fact was one of the largest volcanoes in the world, towering 18,000 feet up in the sky. Now, it is the world’s smallest active volcano, only about 700 meters high.
Since 1572, the volcano has 33 recorded eruptions, the most devastating eruption occurred in the year 1911. The most recent volcanic activity happened in 1977, although the volcano has remained quiet since. It is still not safe, for signs of increased activity appeared in 1991, 1992, 1994, and most recently, in June of 2009.
When you visit Taal Volcano, make sure to bring water, hats and plenty of sun screen lotion. Wear light clothes for it can get very hot, it being located in a tropical country. It is most recommended you get a head start early in the morning. You can either take a hike or ride on horseback to go up the ridge and see the beautiful Crater Lake.
From Manila, you can travel by land to Tagaytay, passing through panoramic views of the countryside. Afterwards, you take a zigzag road to the Town of Talisay. To get to Taal Volcano and Taal Lake, you can take a half hour boat ride in any town located on the shores of Taal Lake. The most popular point is in Talisay. However, if you prefer less crowded areas and cheaper rates, you can go to more remote towns like San Nicolas.
The locals are friendly. You do not have to worry about communication, most of them speak good Basic English.