Move over Baguio City, for Central Luzon may soon be the country’s hottest summer capital, both literally and figuratively, that is.

With the Department of Tourism (DOT), together with the Presidential Commission for the Central Luzon Growth Corridor (PCCLGC), going high gear in promoting the region’s tourist destinations, it all appears that Central Luzon cities and provinces have combined potentials as a Shangri-la for outdoor adventures and watersports for nature and beach lovers; a pilgrimage for the religious.

A haven of arts and crafts, as well as century-old houses, for antique collectors; a showcase of modern science complementing agriculture; a center for holiday luxuries for the rich and opulent; and, an entertainment hub for the nocturnal.

ADVENTURE TREKS

On top of the list of the Central Luzon adventures is, of course, the three-hour hike to the 2.5-kilometer jewel blue crater-lake of the Mt. Pinatubo, once an abominable threat to life and property in the region when it erupted and spewed volcanic debris more than a decade ago.

The Pinatubo crater-lake trek starts in Barangay Sta. Juliana in Capas, Tarlac. It is advisable to reach to village on board a 4x4 all-weather vehicle.

Every hike to the volcano is required by the DOT to be provided with Aeta guides and donations from trekkers for conservation purposes.

The quest for Mt. Pinatubo is not however only about hiking. It also includes community immersion with the different Aeta tribes living in the area. And there is also a priced trophy: the Certificate of Conquest.

A similar adventure to the volcano’s crater-lake is the "Mt. Pinatubo mountain climbing safari" via Sapangbato (Gate of Heaven) near the Clark ecozone. Unlike the trek from Sta. Juliana, this journey would be along lunar landscapes and involves "high-impact mountain climbing and rappelling."

Yet another Pinatubo exploit is the lake tour in San Marcelino town in Zambales, where trekkers can completely see "the awesome spectacle left by the 1991 volcanic eruption." One would be surprised to see here "a lake atop a mountain village where about 600 houses were buried under water."

There is also a challenging experience called "Mt. Pinatubo River Crossing," a five-hour safari action to the volcano’s crater rim via the Pasig-Potrero river channel. It involves defying fast streambeds, climbing prolific waterfalls and viewing fantastic lunar landscapes.

For those who prefer less taxing feats, the DOT has a package that combines tours to the Clark ecozone and its museum, and the Fontano and Mimosa leisure estates; a visit to Angeles City’s commercial district and its array of century-old houses; the Angeles Furniture Village where there are seemingly endless display of arts and crafts; and, finally, a drop at the lahar-buried villages of Bacolor, Pampanga.

JUNGLE TOURS

Central Luzon, with its diverse cultures of Tagalog, Pampango, Ilocano, Zambal and Aeta ethnolinguistic groups, has a rich depot of folklore, tales and legends. And all have their own versions about the legendary Mt. Arayat in Pampanga.

Seated almost exactly in the middle of the region, Mt. Arayat was an enigma to the people of Central Luzon, for it protruded in the middle of a plain.

Adding another legend to Mt. Arayat is Sinukwan, which gives forth cool mountain spring water that is being diverted into giant pools.

Every tour to Mt. Arayat being organized by the DOT includes a visit to the Paskuhan Village/Gardens of the World, and the Candaba Swamp, where thousands of migratory birds from China can also be watched every month of November.

And aside from Mt. Arayat, jungle tours are also available for the rainforest of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, where Aetas provide outdoor orientations on basic mountaineering, fire building, trap making, wildlife identification and other survival techniques of the wilderness.

Tours to Subic’s rainforest come with other value-added amenities, such as aqua sports, fishing, beach combing, yachting and horseback riding.

WATERSPORTS

Down in Zambales, watersports are being promoted by the Zambales Surfing Association.

Surfboarding usually takes place at the Surf Spot in Barangay La Paz in San Narciso town, while scuba diving adventures are held in Masinloc.

Other watersports available are wake boarding, para-sailing, jet-skiing and kayaking.

Details about these adventures are now even available in the World Wide Web. Try surfing Camp.ph and StingrayDivers.com.

SCIENTIFIC TOUR

Obviously, this is quite offhand for adventure seekers. But it is educational to the young, and contributes further to the region’s agricultural productivity, especially now that it attracts international attention.

The tours to the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija province particularly comprise visits to agri-based institutions, an introduction to the farming technologies being developed by the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), and a trip to the Philippine Carabao Center.

Primarily arranged with the Nueva Ecija Provincial Tourism Office, those who take part in the "scientific tours" can also shop for agricultural products in Muñoz.

BULACAN PILGRIMAGE

Last but not the least in the Central Luzon tours is the religious visit to the pilgrimage province of Bulacan.

The province is host to centuries-old historical landmarks, among these are the Barasoain Church, the Casa Real, the Malolos Church, Hiyas ng Bulacan and the San Miguel heritage sites.

Aside from having religious institutions and landmarks, Bulacan is also popular for the culinary delights of Malolos.

HOW TO BE PART OF THE CL ADVENTURES?

Tours to the region are mostly organized by the DOT regional office in San Fernando, Pampanga, the tourism department of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, as well as the local tourism offices in the cities and provinces of Central Luzon.

There are also private companies and organizations that organize these adventures, especially those that involve treks to the Mt. Pinatubo.