Tribes and Treks Yangil: From Lahar to Life

Beyond the Ashen Trails: A Day with the Aetas of Yangil

Some journeys take you off the grid, others take you straight to the heart. Our visit to Tribes and Treks Yangil was both—raw, beautiful, and deeply grounding. Tucked beyond the lahar plains of San Felipe, Zambales, this immersive trip offers more than just scenic views. It brings you face to face with the Aeta community and their quiet but powerful mission to bring life back to the forest.

I went with Zed, MAD Travels’s Raf, Chloe of Halo-Hilo, and our filmmaker friend Andee. We started our day on motorbikes, crossing vast plains of lahar, riverbeds, and soft terrain. We had to get off the bikes a few times because we’d sunk mid-river, swallowed by soft ash. It was wild in the best way.

We, of course, had to take the fastest route up Yangil and rode a motorbike. hehe.

To reach the village, you can trek for about 2 hours, ride a carabao cart for an hour, or take a 30-minute motorbike ride—if the conditions allow it. However you go, it’s part of the magic.

At the base camp, we spotted a tiny bamboo hut where kids were huddled like it was an internet café. Turns out, that’s the only place in the area with signal. Even in the most remote places, people find ways to connect.

The 'internet cafe' of Yangil.

When we got to the community center, the kids welcomed us with dances, laughter, and songs. Then came the salo-salo lunch prepared by the nanays: comforting bowls of tinola, flavorful adobo, and bamboo tea served under the trees. It was the kind of meal that doesn’t just feed you, but fills you up inside too.

Potting Hope, One Seedling at a Time

After lunch, we joined the community in potting native seedlings. This is part of a long-term goal to restore a 4,000-hectare forest. The vision is to grow a forest that doesn’t just heal the land, but also provides food, medicine, and sustainable income for the Aetas. Every seedling we touched felt like planting a little piece of the future.

The goal of MAD Travel for this IP Community? To restore a 4,000-hectare forest.

Before leaving, we supported their small marketplace. We took home bamboo straws, wooden utensils, niyog bowls, beautiful lanterns they plan to export, wild honey, and even a bow and arrow. Sadly, no gabi chips—they’d already sold out. Locals still rely on the forest for food, hunting wild boar and deer as part of their daily life.

An Ecotour Worth Taking

Tribes and Treks isn’t your usual eco-tour. It’s a chance to witness how nature and culture thrive when communities are given the space and support to grow. The Aeta of Yangil aren’t just rebuilding a forest. They’re restoring a legacy.

Ready to go on this exciting ecotour? You can book the Tribes and Treks Tour via MAD Travel!

Up Next: Feast from the Forest at La Mesa Park!

** Article originally written and posted by Hungrytravelduo.co