They say Mayon Volcano only appears in its full glory when it likes you. I guess, during my first and second visits here, the mountain wasn’t fond of me. On this trip though, she clearly showed her approval as she appeared naked all throughout. With patches of thick clouds quickly passing the tip of her perfect cone-shaped peak, Mayon blessed us with her presence as we romped over the lava-hardened soil beneath her. Aboard ATV vehicles, we crossed streams of water and careened up and down muddy trails to the echoes of jubilant screams of "Yahoo!"
ATV Riding Near Mayon Volcano, Albay
Quick Escape to Girlfriend’s Hometown
I was in Legazpi to accompany my girlfriend attending the wedding of her childhood friend. Post-wedding, we allotted a day to explore the city. We went to the beautiful Daraga Church, hiked all the way up Lignon Hill—while carrying her adorable one-year-old nephew Ababou—and booked an ATV ride near Mayon.
The ATV Trail Experience
It was a memorable week highlighted by our afternoon adventure on the wide expanse at the foot of Mayon. I’ve driven a few ATVs before, but none more magnificent than the trail here. From rock-strewn to sandy, to muddy, and even grass-covered trails, we rode over them all with ease—thanks to the power lift of the machines we were riding.
There were parts along the route when I thought I’d be hard-pressed to pull it off, like the steep terrain dotted with gravel or the knee-deep rivulets. Each time, though, with just a mild cry from my ATV’s engine, its horsepower kicked into a higher gear, pushing me through the tricky landscape with relative ease.
Level-Up Obstacles
We called those portions of the trail "level-up obstacles," which Monnette and I would ecstatically cap with a celebratory holler each time we successfully passed through.
The whole ride lasted for a couple of hours, just enough time to feel all the adrenaline and rush of wheezing through the landscape sculpted by numerous past eruptions of Mayon. It began with a brief orientation at the booking office of Bicol Adventure ATV—the outfitter of ATV rides in Mayon, as well as other activities like zip-lining and guided hikes—and ended back there with a refreshing cold drink.
Overall, the ATV ride in Mayon is a great way to experience a thrilling activity while enjoying the great outdoors of Legazpi, Albay. Pray that the weather cooperates and the clouds do not cover Mayon like a curtain, because riding an ATV with the world's most perfect volcano serving as a grand spectator makes the entire experience a whole lot better.
How to Get to Mayon Volcano
Manila to Legazpi: Bus trips starting from Pasay and Cubao take you to Legazpi in about 9 to 10 hours of overnight travel.
Flights from Manila to Legazpi are also available via Cebu Pacific Air.
