Overlanding at Mapanuepe Lake

Excitement was in the air as we adventure to Lake Mapanuepe.

Mapanuepe Lake located at San Marcelino, Zambales, was pegged as the “New Zealand of the Philippines.”

There are motorized bangka to get to the site but we took the adventure route, the overlander way.

Together with the Overland Pinas (OPi), we prepped our rigs and started our journey, last Aug 13 to 14.

We took the lahar route going to the site, where our rigs have shown why they’re worthy of calling overlanders.

Mapanuepe Lake was created when "lahar" (lava) stopped the Mapanuepe River from draining. Currently, the freshwater lake may be found where the Mapanuepe and Marella rivers meet to form the Santo Tomas River. The Mapanuepe Valley, encompassing the barangays of Aglao (lower), Buhawen, and Pili of San Marcelino, Zambales, was drowned by successive rains after the eruption. A church tower that sticks out in the center of the lake is the only reminder of what the area formerly looked like.

At the campsite, the calm lake and pastoral grounds is the perfect place for people who wish to disconnect and unwind since it is surrounded by beautiful environment during the day and is covered with stars at night.

Even though we took the rough route coming and going, the tranquility of the lake once we got there balances it out.

So take a break and go to Mapanuepe Lake, the New Zealand of Zambales, especially during the dry season in December to May, you’ll see the lake at its best.

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