Last Updated: October 3, 2022

12 Most Famous Volcanoes In The Philippines 

The island country of the Philippines is home to some 300 volcanoes, many of which remain active even today. The threat of being buried underneath boiling lava doesn’t stop avid hikers from exploring these majestic mountains, and most volcanoes in the Philippines remain popular hiking destinations!

If you want to read up on the most famous volcanoes in the Philippines and figure out which ones are still hikeable, you are definitely in the right place! This detailed guide will tell you about the twelve most famous volcanoes in the Philippines, as well as the best hiking trails that will take you to the tops of their cones!

Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano
Taal Volcano is a volcanic caldera formed by multiple prehistoric eruptions. It is classified as a complex volcano system because it boasts 47 craters. Taal Lake is situated at the center of the caldera, and the Taal Volcano Island sits near the middle of the lake. The Taal Volcano is the second most active volcano in the Philippines, with around 40 recorded historical eruptions.

Hiking the Taal volcano is possible when there is no volcanic activity. Several hiking trails allow you to explore the top of the caldera and enjoy beautiful panoramic views all around. But you will need to keep track of any warnings issued by PHILVOLCS.

Taal Volcano remains active in 2023 – volcanic activity was recorded in August of 2022, and at the time of writing this, hiking the trails of Taal is not possible.

Mt. Hibok-Hibok

Mt. Hibok-Hibok is an active volcano in the Philippines and it is part of the Pacific ring of fire. It is situated on Camiguin Island, and it boasts a total of six hot springs and three craters. This volcano is classified as a stratovolcano and a dome complex, and it rises to a total elevation of 1,332 meters.

This volcano has erupted five times in modern history. Its first eruption was in 1827, and the final recorded eruption of Mt. Hibok-Hibok took place in 1951. The last time this volcano erupted, it emitted enough boiling lava and poisonous gases to destroy an area of 19 square kilometers.

More than 3,000 people were killed in the eruption, and the population of Camiguin Island was cut in half due to death and emigration.

Despite all this, Mt. Hibok-Hibok remains a popular hiking destination in the Philippines. A special permit is required from the DENR office in the municipality of Mambajao, so be sure to obtain this if you plan on attempting a hike on this volcano. It takes about 3-5 hours to get to the summit, where you will be rewarded for this risky activity with spectacular panoramic views.

Mt. Banahaw

Situated on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, Mt. Banahaw is an active three-peaked volcano. This is also the highest mountain in the entire Calabarzon region, and it absolutely dominates the surrounding landscapes.

Mount Banahaw is considered a sacred mountain, so it’s always been popular with both pilgrims and mountaineers. There are at least four trails that can take you to the top of this majestic volcano, with Cristalino and Tatlong Tangke as the most popular trails.