TREK GUIDE | Mt Arayat (Ayala - San Juan Bano Traverse) 1,026 MASL

The North Peak as seen from The South Peak of Mt Arayat.

 
Mt Arayat Ayala-Juan Bano Traverse (ArTrav) 1,026 MASL 

Mountain Trek Guide

Mt Arayat is an extinct Stratovolcano proudly standing like a lone Island in the flat plains of Pampanga with 1,026 MASL, with steep slopes littered with Rock Boulders, pristine trails within forested areas that passes through the broken Caldera that we now call the Northern and Southern Peaks. This mountain stands with a proud silhouette all over the towns that surrounds its base, it cast a wide shadow that it can be seen even from neighboring provinces like Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Zambales and Bataan.

Mountain Facts

Mount Arayat is an extinct Stratovolcano. Rising to a height of 1,026 MASL (3,366 FASL). Located within the Municipality of Arayat and Magalang, Pampanga. The mountain is considered a mystical one, the legendary home of Aung/Aring Sinukuan/Sinkuan/Suku or the Fairy known as diwata Mariang Sinukuan depending on which version of the story the readers or listeners prefer, but in ancient Kapampangan folklore as well as the research known to have been gathered by Kapampangan students of Henry Otley Beyer, it was and is the abode of Apung/Aring Sinukuan, rival of Namalyari of Mount Pinatubo, who is in varying versions, the son of Cargon-Cargon who was mortally wounded in a fight with a giant from the Zambales Mountain Range which is said to be the home of Apu Namalyari. (Source: Wikipedia Mount Arayat)

Trail Notes

The blogger has traversed Mt Arayat on the same Ayala - San Juan Bano Trail twice last September 2014 and January 2015. See Chased By A Typhoon In Mt Arayat.

Assault via Brgy Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga, North West of the Mountain where large grottos of Stations of the Cross are placed. The new trail is established following the power lines reaching the Mt Arayat North Peak Campsite at 1026 MASL where the Telecom tower is situated. This trail is forrested with many tree tunnels making the hike easy. Not much challenge except the continues steep slope with few Rock Boulders. This side of the mountain has trail markers in yellow, painted in rocks and huge boulders. The North Peak campsite is a bare patch of land, the highest point of Mt Arayat itself.

From the North peak, descending to the South peak has a few challenge especially to first time hikers. Vertical clay and Rock walls with rope segment abound making this a Technical Climb and not easy after all. The Andesitic dome known as White Rock is along the way and once the South grassy peak is reached, you can look back and realise that you just circled the broken Amphitheater like Caldera. Thickly forrested trail, Banyan Trees with extended long vines constantly block the way, creeping Bamboo grasses are abound too.

Once the descent has started from the South Peak side, it becomes a continues rocky trail untill you reached the open plains and paved road in San Juan Bano side.

Suggested Itinerary

Entry point: Brgy. Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga
Exit point: Brgy. Juan Bano, Arayat, Pampanga
Dayhike of Estimated 8 Hrs, 10 kms.

0300 Assembly at Victory Liner Cubao EDSA South Bound.
0400 ETD Terminal
0500 ETA SM Pampanga
0530 Take jeep bound to Magalang, Pampanga.
0630 ETA Magalang Jollibee, breakfast, take tricycle to Brgy. Ayala (jump off)
0730 Commence trek
1100 ETA North Peak (summit), lunch
1200 Resume trek, head to South Peak via ridge
1300 ETA Haring Bato
1400 ETA South Peak
1430 Descent
1630 ETA Bgy. San Juan Baño, Arayat
1730 Take tricycle to bayan, then jeep to SM Pampanga
1800 ETA SM Pampanga, dinner/snacks/post-climb
2000 ETA Manila

NOTE: We hired a jeep on our arrival in SM Pampanga to take us to Brgy Ayala for the first registration, and the jump off.

Estimated Expenses

Bus: Cubao to San Fernando, Pampanga - Php 102

Jeep: San Fernando to Magalang - Php 35

Tricycle: Magalang to Bgy. Ayala registration desk (jump off) - Php 70/trip

Tricycle: Bgy. Juan Bano to bayan - Php 50/trip

Jeep: to SM Pampanga - Php 25

Bus: San Fernando to Manila - Php 102

Guide: Optional, Php 400-500 range.

Hiring a Jeep from SM Pampanga is an option if within a group, this eliminates all the tricycle expenses. Amount is negotiable with the driver, depending on the number of climbers.

Hiring a van from Manila is also an option.

Brgy Ayala side of Magalang do not require registration fee, only guide fee ranging from Php 400 - 500 and donation when passing the DENR entrance guarded by the Philippine Army. Each hiker or group of Hikers needed to be logged as this station would be responsible for rescue efforts if something where to happen.

Brgy Juan Bano requires Php 20.00 registration fee wether you are Ascending or Descending on their side. Unfortunately, the rumors of extortion is well noted on this side. Caution is given in making negotiations like hiring a guide for traverse.

On The Map

Ang Pala-lagaw Photo Gallery

These photos are all published in my Flickr Account.

Click here for more: Mt Arayat Traverse

One of Mt Arayat's trail resident.

Some parts of forested trail has open canopy.

Trail markers in the Ayala side are painted in rock boulders.

Tree tunnels make the assault hike pleasant.

Peak 2 or sometimes reffered to a South Peak as seen from Peak 1 (North Peak).

The summit is a bare patch of land, serves as the campsite and location of the tower and police outpost.

Before that climbing down a vertical rock wall is this site with the sweeping view of Pampanga plains.

Francis Balgos is a Call Center Agent, Weekend Travel Warrior, Amateur Spelunker, Sometime Surfer, Newbie Mountain Climber, Photography Enthusiast, Certified Beach Bum, A first born son, Faithful lover, True Explorer...

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