Mapanuepe Lake | The Hidden Paradise of Zambales

In the humble town of San Marcelino, there is a new tourist destination where you can unwind from your everyday routine and help to clear your mind. Let me introduce Mapanuepe Lake, the hidden paradise of Zambales. 

Many locals and tourists are tagging Mapanuepe Lake as the New Zealand of Zambales. The setting is similar to the lush green pasture in New Zealand. You can find here a lot of animals, grass, towering pine trees and a view of Mt. Pinatubo. It is a four-hour drive from Manila which is easily accessible through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

Let me share with you a quick history of Mapanuepe Lake. This new destination is one of the aftermaths of the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. According to the locals, lahars following the eruption blocked the drainage of the Mapanuepe River, south of the volcano, flooding the Mapanuepe Valley together with the barangays of Aglao and Buhawen. They also shared that only the steeple of the church protruding out of the water remained from one of the villages.

This destination is a secluded hideaway known for a relaxing scene of Mapanuepe Lake and a majestic view of Mt. Pinatubo. No wonder why this place has been gaining attention on social media. There are a lot of things to indulge in here. You can pitch a tent, do yoga, swim, ride a boat, ride a bike, star gazing and many more. 

Please be advised that there are no hotels or resorts and no restaurants in the area. You need to bring your own tent or car and food if you want to stay overnight. A tent rental is available which is P250. The entrance fee is P50 and the pitching of a tent is free of charge. For car camping, it's P600 for overnight and P300 for daytour regardless of the number of passengers. Additionally, there's no electricity and signal in the area. Leave your work and enjoy the beauty of nature. 

Always follow the "Leave No Trave principles". Leave what you find, dispose of waste properly, respect wildlife, be considerate of other visitors and others. 

How to Get from Manila Mapanuepe Lake 

There are two ways to get to Mapanuepe Lake : drive or commute. Taking public transportation is the cheapest option. Go to the Victory Liner’s terminal in Cubao and take the bus to Zambales, which costs around P500 per trip. Tell the driver to drop you off in San Marcelino. From there, take a tricycle and tell the driver to bring you to jump off point going to Mapanuepe Lake. The boat ride is 10 minutes. The fare is P500 / 5 pax.

Another option is to ride a bus going to Olongapo City. From the terminal, take a bus going to Iba Zambales then drop off in  San Marcelino.

If you’re traveling by private car, you will need to drive along North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). Take Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Exit at Subic and turn left when you reach the Olongapo Public Cemetery. You will pass the municipalities of Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino, San Antonio and San Narciso. 

There are many places to visit while in Zambales. Some of the Zambales tourist spots that you should be visited nearby Mt. Pinatubo, Capones Island, Nagsasa Cove, and Anawangin Cove.

Please make sure to coordinate the LGU of Zambales at 0977 287 5192 before visiting the place. You can also visit Zambales Tourism Page on Facebook for more details.

Lakbay Norte 2022 is a media familiarization tour in Zambales organized by NLEX Corporation in cooperation with Zambales Tourism, Locally PH and Kurin Water.