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Photo: Sindre Helvik, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Inevitably associated with the town, the volcano is the biggest draw in the area, particularly its crater lake and the lunar landscapes created along its gullies following the 1991 eruptions. In comparison to the trails in Pampanga and Tarlac, the trails from the Botolan side involve longer distances through the lunar landscapes of the Bucao River, and lesser amenities.
Mount Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano in the Zambales Mountains in Luzon in the Philippines. Located on the tripoint of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga provinces, most people were unaware of its eruptive history before the pre-eruption volcanic activity in early 1991. Dense forests, which supported a population of several thousand indigenous Aetas, heavily eroded and obscured Pinatubo.
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Hagdan-Hagdanan Falls
A waterfall on the slopes of Mount Mangkirat.
The base camp for expeditions leading to Pinatubo. It also features recreational amenities such as a swimming pool, a zip line and wall climbing spots, in addition to a tourist information center from where packages to Pinatubo and related attractions can be negotiated.
A shrine dedicated to the venerated Marian image of Ina Poonbato (Mother Lord of the Rocks), a sculpture of the Virgin May discovered on a rock by Aeta villagers in the 1600s and relocated following the Pinatubo eruption in 1991. Its religious importance increased when the statue was found undamaged by lahar flows amid the ruins of its original location in the barangay of Poonbato.
Botolan Church
Botolan's main Roman Catholic church, built during the Spanish era in 1736 with a triangular facade.
A stretch of beach used more often by local residents and tourists seeking budget-friendly options.
An ecotourism park along the Bancal River featuring kayaking trips and tours of the mangroves at the nearby estuary.