Mt Arayat, the second time around!

Mt Arayat, Pampanga
Entry point: Brgy. Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga
Exit point: Brgy. Juan Bano, Arayat, Pampanga
LLA: 15.2067N, 120.7441E, 1030 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 5 hours (NP) 8 hours (SP)
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 1-4 (10kms)
Features: Tropical forest, scenic views of Central Luzon
*Details from: http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2008/09/mt-arayattraverse-1030.html

How to get there
The last time I climbed up Mt Arayat was in 2015. Back then, we had a contact who picked us up from Dau. See our itinerary: click here.

This time, we commuted all the way to the jump off point. From Five Star Terminal in Cubao, we rode a bus that dropped us off at Marque Mall. From the bus stop in Marque, we walked to Total Gas Station where we waited for a jeepney going to Magalang. We asked the driver to drop us off FCC Supermarket. From there, we met our contact guide and hired a tricycle going to the 'Station of the Cross' which is the jump off point of Mt Arayat.

Itinerary
0500 ETD Five Star Cubao
0630 ETA Marquee Mall
0700 ETA FCC Supermarket Magalang
0730 Breakfast/tricycle ride to JOP
0745 Register, start treak
0930 ETA White Rock
1045 ETA North Peak, rest, take pictures
1130 ETA Haring Bato, rest, take pictures
1245 ETA South Peak, lunch, take pictures
1345 Descent to Southside
1615 ETA DENR, washup
1730 Take tricycle to bayan, then jeepney to SM Pampanga, dinner
2030 ETD Robinson's Pampanga
2115 ETA Cubao

Expenses
Guide fee 1:7 - PHP 1500
Bus: Cubao-Marquee Mall - PHP 129
Bus: Marquee Mall to Magalang - PHP 18
Tricycle from FCC Supermarket to JOP - PHP 120/trip
Registration - PHP 30
Washup - PHP 20
Tricycle from DENR to Arayat Bayan - PHP 100/trip
Jeepney from Arayat to SM Pampanga - PHP 28
Bus from Robinson's Pampanga to Cubao - PHP 102

The trail
We decided to climb up Mt Arayat as part of our training climb. It is considered a major hike so make sure your legs are ready. I have shared the details of the Traverse trail on my 2015 post. Check out: https://prildelrosario.blogspot.com/2015/12/travel-2015-climb-mt-arayat-traverse.html.

It was nice to see you again, Arayat!


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