Mount Bulusan
Volcano Active conical volcano in Bicol region
Active volcano in the Philippines’ Bicol Region on Luzon, set above forested slopes and coastal plains. Visitors come for guided treks, local viewpoints and to observe fumarolic activity from safe distances.
Mount Bulusan is an active stratovolcano in Sorsogon province in the Bicol Region of southeastern Luzon, rising to about 1,565 metres. It is known for frequent small eruptions and steam emissions and is monitored as one of the country’s active volcanoes.
The volcano and surrounding protected area offer trails and viewpoints, but access is managed and often restricted when activity increases; guided hiking and park facilities operate during quiet periods. The summit contains a crater and fumarolic zones that produce steam, ash and occasional pyroclastic activity during eruptive episodes.
Bulusan has a long record of small-scale eruptions through the 20th and 21st centuries and is managed as part of a national park that balances recreation with volcanic hazard monitoring. The mountain sits inland on the Bicol Peninsula near the towns of Bulusan and Irosin and is reached from regional road networks in Sorsogon.
- Activity and monitoring: One of the Philippines' more active volcanoes, it produces frequent small phreatic eruptions and steam emissions; local monitoring by PHIVOLCS informs access and safety restrictions.
What to See #
- Summit crater: The summit crater area and upper flanks, which are the source of fumarolic activity and small steam-driven explosions characteristic of recent activity.
- Natural park: Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, which encompasses forested slopes, trails and viewpoints used by visitors for hiking and nature observation when volcanic activity is low.
How to Get to Mount Bulusan #
Mount Bulusan (Bulusan Volcano) is in Sorsogon province, Bicol Region, on southern Luzon. The volcano is accessed from the towns of Bulusan and Irosin; by car it’s about a 30-60 minute drive from Sorsogon City depending on route and trailhead (shorter from nearby Irosin). Public buses and vans from Sorsogon City and adjacent towns serve Bulusan town and nearby trailhead access points, and from parking areas a short walk or local trail leads toward Bulusan Lake and the volcano’s access trails.
Tips for Visiting Mount Bulusan #
- Check the Bulusan Volcano Natural Park ranger station for current volcanic alert level and trail access before you go-the volcano is active and closures can be issued at short notice.
- Plan summit or crater visits for early morning when cloud cover is lowest and visibility across the Bicol landscape is best; afternoon clouds and rain are common in this region.
- Use the official park trails and hire a local guide through the park office-guides know safe approaches, current trail conditions, and the quickest evacuation routes if activity rises.
- Combine a Bulusan hike with visits to nearby attractions (for example Bulusan Lake and local hot springs) to make the most of the park area; many visitors focus only on the summit and miss these scenic lowland features.
Best Time to Visit Mount Bulusan #
Visit Mount Bulusan in the dry season (December-May) for clearer, safer conditions and better visibility.
Weather & Climate near Mount Bulusan #
Mount Bulusan's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 16°C to 26°C. Heavy rainfall (3353 mm/year), wettest in December.
January
January is mild with muggy conditions (dew point 22°C). Heavy rain (300 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
February
February is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 16°C. Significant rainfall (186 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
March
March is mild with muggy conditions (dew point 22°C). Significant rainfall (177 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
April
April is mild with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Significant rainfall (150 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
May
May is the warmest month with stifling humidity (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (216 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
June
June is the warmest month with stifling humidity (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (260 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
July
July is mild with stifling humidity (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (304 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
August
August is mild with stifling humidity (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (243 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
September
September is mild with stifling humidity (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (291 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
October
October is mild with stifling humidity (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (361 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
November
November is mild with stifling humidity (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (429 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
December
December is mild with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). The wettest month with heavy rain (436 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
