The perfect cone of Mt Mayon (2462m) rises dramatically from the flat Albay terrain, and can be seen from as far away as Naga and Catanduanes. The volcano’s name derives from the Bicol word magayon, meaning ‘beautiful single lady’, and the Philippines' most active volcano is a cantankerous beauty at that, responsible for over 40 deadly eruptions since 1616, the most recent taking place during our research in September 2014.
During peaceful spells, Mt Mayon can be climbed with mandatory guides.
At the time of writing, warning levels had been raised to 'critical': there was an exclusion zone of 8km around the volcano and the residents of the villages evacuated. The last victims of Mt Mayon were four German hikers and a local guide, killed by a minor belch of ash and rocks during their ascent of the peak. In 2006, after lava flows subsided, a biblically proportioned Typhoon Durian triggered mudslides on Mt Mayon that killed more than 1000 people, while in 1993, 77 people were killed by eruptions, including a team of American vulcanologists. The deadliest eruption to date took place in 1814, destroying the Cagsawa Church and killing over 1200 people.
Mt Mayon is carefully monitored by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PhiVolcs) , located near Ligñon Hill in Legazpi. The institute closes an area of between 6km and 10km around the volcano when there is a danger of eruption. When the volcano simmers down, you can climb part of the way up. PhiVolcs strongly recommends you don’t climb beyond 1800m, although some guides will take you to 2000m. Go much higher than that and you’ll be overwhelmed by the sulphurous gases.
