The Seven Lakes of San Pablo

When visiting Nina’s aunt and uncle at their retirement home in Hacienda Escudero in Tiaong, Quezon, we would always pass by the bustling city of San Pablo. Although a bit of a congested city, San Pablo is also home to the Seven Lakes, crater lakes created by volcanic activity. We would sometimes combine our visits to Tiaong with forays to these lakes until we had covered all seven of them.

The Seven Lakes are located in the area between the dormant volcanos of Mts. Makiling and Banahaw. These bodies of water have been termed maars – low profile craters created by shallow volcanic eruptions. These lakes are relatively small – from 14.5 hectares to 104 hectares in size – but exceptionally deep, with one reaching a depth of 135 meters (443 feet).

Lake Pandin

Probably the most popular and among the most beautiful lake of the seven is Lake Pandin. To reach this lake requires a short walk of less than a kilometer along a paved path from the clearly marked parking lot along Werner-Schetelig Ave. or the road going to Nagcarlan and Liliw. (We’re not sure if motorbikes are allowed on this paved walkway.) Enterprising folks have organized rafting tours of this lake together with a lunch option. The tours are well organized and visitors are given life vests for safety.

While you enjoy lunch, the raft crew will ferry you over the placid waters of the lake and into the opposite shore. Lake Pandin’s waters change colors depending on the season. The first time we were here – towards the end of summer or the dry season – the water was a pleasant emerald green. When we next visited in November a few years later, the water had turned into a deep olive-green shade.

Lake Yambo

Lake Yambo viewed from a rise on the northern shore of Lake Pandin

When we did a rafting tour of Lake Pandin for the second time, we got all the way to the opposite or northern shore of the lake, climbed a steep rise of ground, and were greeted by a panoramic view of Lake Yambo. This lake has often been called the twin of Lake Pandin because of its proximity to the latter. On another visit, we drove along the Calauan-Nagcarlan Road, entered a narrow road within Nagcarlan town with a sign pointing towards Lake Yambo, and drove along that paved road for 4 kilometers. Folks living near Lake Yambo have followed the example of those at Lake Pandin to offer rafting tours of the lake with meal options. Lakes Pandin and Yambo are the among the farthest from San Pablo City proper.

Two views of Lake Yambo from the Nagcarlan side

Lake Calibato

About as far from the city proper as Lake Pandin is Lake Calibato. This was the last lake we got to visit and it took us a while before discovering how to get there last year. It is just a short, 10-minute walk from a parking lot along the road to Nagcarlan. With a maximum depth of 135 meters, it is the deepest of the seven and is a major supplier of tilapia fish for San Pablo. The lack of houses and absence of visitors during our visit here made for a serene view with the looming heights of Mt. Cristobal in the distant background.

Two views of Lake Calibato with Mt. Cristobal in the background

Lake Bunot

Sometimes known as the Sunset Lake of San Pablo, Lake Bunot lies closer to the city proper and may be easily accessed via Sabang or Carmelita Road from the main avenue from San Pablo to Nagcarlan (the Werner Schetelig Avenue). This lake is often viewed from an open-air restaurant (Cusina de Sabang) that lies on its southeastern shores and therefore faces west, allowing for beautiful sunset views. We have yet to witness a spectacular sunset from this lake, however, so it is something to look forward to in our future visits.

Palakpakin Lake

Lying east of the twin lakes of Pandin and Yambo in Bgy. San Buenaventura is another pair of lakes. One of them, Palakpakin Lake lies just astride a road in the interior. It used to be that the best view of this lake was from a bridge between Bgys. San Buenaventura and San Lorenzo. We also went down to the lake level from this bridge to talk to resident fishermen along the lakeshore. In recent years, however, a number of resorts have opened on the northern shores of the lake and along the road, giving even better views of Palakpakin Lake.

Mohikap Lake

North of Palakpakin Lake is Mohikap Lake (sometimes spelled Mojicap), the smallest of the Seven Lakes. When we visited Mohikap several years ago we had to pass by a row of houses before descending a steep flight of 105 concrete steps to get to the lake. It is by far the most tranquil – and for us the most scenic – of all the Seven Lakes despite its small size. Today a nature park (Lake Mohikap Nature Park) occupies the approach to the lake with a view deck provided and rafting tours made available. This park is one reason why we are looking forward to revisiting this place.

Sampaloc Lake

At 104 hectares in size, Sampaloc Lake is the biggest of San Pablo’s lakes. It is also the lake closest to the city proper of San Pablo. It used to have a maze of fish pens and a number of illegal settlers along its shores. As a result, the lake had become the least clean of the Seven with its grimy waters discouraging us from visiting. Recently, however, the local government embarked on a cleanup drive, removing several illegal fish pens and informal settlers. This was very evident during our latest visit last year. A number of mobile cafes and food stalls have also sprang up along the boulevard on the lake’s western shore and its board walk.

The Seven Lakes might not have your ideal lake scenery but considering their location within the boundaries of a major city in Laguna, they are probably the best one can hope for. We could only pray that the locals would do a good job of keeping them clean and green not just for the sake of their visitors but for their own and that of generations of locals to come.