San Pablo Seven (Crater) Lakes or Seven Lakes of Laguna

I was invited to join an adventure which not carefully thought and planned. It was an out of the box adventure wherein it was discussed few days ago and then last September 30, 2011, we were on the road to San Pablo City. The city is located at the southern portion of Laguna Province.

The specific reason why we were in San Pablo was because of the Seven Lakes. Some people says it is Seven Lakes of Laguna but to be exact it is called as Seven Lakes of San Pablo. All the Seven Lakes are near to each other. Before I came to the city, I had no idea that there is such Seven Lakes until I got a chance to see all of them with my own eyes. We were five people who made it to the said adventure and all of us were belong in the same mountaineering group. All of us were just enough people to fit a 4×4 vehicle that brought by the person (Jimmar) who popped out the idea to us for an adventure.

I researched and I learned an interesting information about the Seven Lakes. The Seven Lakes are not just common lakes as they are all crater lakes which means that all the lakes was formed from inactive volcano crater. I cannot imagine if San Pablo were composed of seven inactive volcano or just one huge volcano with lots of craters? Well, I will leave that idea to the Volcanologist to think about that.

The Seven Lakes of San Pablo are:

1. Lake Bunot

Panlalawigan Pagamutan ng Laguna

Barangay Concepcion

The road to Bunot Lake or Lake Bunot

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As we started our journey to find all the seven lakes in San Pablo. After passing “Panlalawigan Pagamutan ng Laguna” (Laguna Provincial Hospital) in General Luna Street in the city, we found Bunot Lake or Lake Bunot as we reached Barangay Concepcion. Here we had a chance to walk at the side of the lake to see it closer.

2. Kalibato Lake / Lake Calibato

On our way to Calibato Lake or Kalibato Lake

Our way to Calibato Lake with the 4X4 that Jimmar brought

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This is the lake where we drove down a rough road until we were able to park the vehicle to the nearest distance it can to the lake. We trekked going down the lake for a little bit until we reached it. As per Wikipedia, Kalibato Lake is the deepest lake in all seven lakes (as Lake Muhikap does not have existing records for its depths).

3. Pandin Lake

On our way to Twin Lake (Pandin and Yambo Lake)

Pandin Lake is one of the Twin Lake (the other twin is Yambo Lake). After coming from Kalibato Lake, we drove again for few minutes and we got lost as we can’t really see the Twin Lakes name or lake sign name. We were forced to asked locals to gave us the hints where it is until we realised that we already passed the sign of the lake and we had to turn around to see it.

Walkway to Pandin Lake

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Pandin Lake

Pandin Lake (Photo courtesy of Jimmar Lagazo)

We walked few minutes before we were able to see the lake. This is the lake that it seems it is exposed to tourist as I saw a lot of bamboo boat with seats for the visitors which seems that the boat is used to go around the lake.

4. Yambo Lake

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Yambo Lake (Photo courtesy of Jimmar Lagazo)

Yambo Lake is one of the Twin Lake (the other twin is Pandin Lake) and my favorite among the seven lakes that I saw. First thing, we need to climb a bit of high altitude of land (like hills) to be able to see this Lake. And it was worth when we were at the top because we saw the lake that looks like it was untouched though there are some fish ponds existing in one side of the lake but comparing it to other six lakes this one for me was the most likely unused by people in terms of fishing and recreational activities. I saw the water on it very serene state.

And I was also wondering why we need to hike just to see the beautiful lake if there is another way to see it.

5. Palakpakin Lake

Palakpakin Lake (Photo courtesy by Jimmar Lagazo)

Palakpakin Lake is just near from Muhikap Lake. This Lake like Kalibato Lake has photographic scenery with Mount Banahaw though this lake is farther than Kalibato Lake.

6. Muhikap / Mojicap Lake

Mohikap Lake (Photo courtesy by Jimmar Lagazo)

This is the lake with nearby hill called Imok Hill. For me, because of the hill in the background, the lake has striking scenery.

7. Sampaloc (Sampalok) Lake

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Sampaloc Lake (Photo courtesy by Jimmar Lagazo)

The last lake that we visited after we came from one of the beach in Sariaya, Quezon (another province we visited within more than 24 hours). Sampaloc Lake is the biggest among the seven lakes. And its location is just beside the city hall of San Pablo.

This was one of the discovery trip that I did treasured, worth doing in my own country. It made me feel that even in my country home we have this unique natural beauty that needs to be appreciated and requires to be protected. I hope that these seven lakes stay beautiful for so long and for what I learned about these lakes, they are lakes which considered endangered as it becomes exposed to human activities such as livelihoods and tourism.

For more information of the Seven Lakes of San Pablo, here is the official site from its city’s web site where it tells us more information of the lakes. Seven Lakes.

Until then.

Note: This post has been written more than 3 years ago, wasn’t published immediately.