@ Kegler,

It took us 45 minutes on horse to go up Taal. 2 ours? Perhaps they are talking about to and fro, including shooting off a few golf balls into the lake (yeah - sounds kitschy, but seems to be a popular thing to do on the top. Of course we did not do it - I would hate to spoil nature thus) and boiling an egg on the steam that emanates from the cracks close to the trail (Again, we did not do that... no idea why not!).

@ CJWNL

The Pinatubo "trek" HAS to consist of the 4WD road trip (We are not allowed to walk in the Philippines Army base area). When we did the trek, it was more than an hour added walking (we left Capas at 7 am and reached the crater at 11). So I am not sure how your tour operator managed to make you walk lesser. Perhaps he used the 4WD a bit more. Of course, most of the people in our tour started groaning after that 1 hour and were wishing that we could use the 4WD more. he he! Especially those who were not prepared as far as footwear s concerned.

You see, we realised that everyone likes the IDEA of trekking up Pinatubo, but not everyone seems to like to DO it. At least that was the case with our group!

Incidentally, (I am not trying to promote any particular tour operator), but Pinay Keypoint Team (http://pinatubotrek.blogspot.com/) seems among the better and more regular operators from Manila for the Pinatubo trek.

Pinatubo tours (http://pinatubotours.blogspot.com/) also are very reasonably priced.

OR

tourists can simply come to Capas (all Victory liners en route to Baguio / Alaminos pass through it), then trike to Sta. Juliana base camp - and the local tourist office assigns a guide + 4WD to you. Of course, one must reach Capas by 6 am , to reach the tourist office before 7 am.