Scaled last May 22-23, 2010.
Located at the heart of Pampanga’s plain lies a prominent mountain called Mt. Arayat standing at a height of 1030MASL at Magalang side define as North Peak and 1008 MASL at Arayat side as South Peak. My article will focus only at the south peak since this one is the trail we have took. I can give a difficulty of 4/9.. mildly difficult against the online rating of 3/9. It might be easy for going down if you are coming doing traverse and exit at this side. Comparing magalang side is much easier than Arayat side. The summit can be reached between 3-5hrs depending on your strength. At the opposite side, North peak has tower guarded by military personnel.
According folklore, Mt Arayat was Apo Sinukuan who challenged Pinatubo that his rock cannot reach him. Pinatubo show his power and threw the rock to Arayat. As of today Mt Arayat still forested but one disadvantage of hiking it is that there are mosquitos so it is highly advisable to bring repellant. Mt Arayat is easy to reach, one should take a bus going Bataan and drop at SM San Fernando. Take jeep going to Arayat Town where there is queue of tricycle. Ask the tricycle driver to drop you at Nursery or Plaza.
Taking this side is also highly disadvantage because of extortion of surging price for guide fee of 1000/day. We had told that the Mt.Pulag is just 500 a day and told us this is Arayat and not Pulag. Instead of aborting our climb though we were already there and we have agreed to settle for 800 pesos. I wondered why DENR San Juan Bano tolerate this act of the guide wherein they required guideship and hiker can do nothing instead taking the bait since you are already here.
The trek start at an old abandon plaza wherein some locals have construct houses due to recent rock slide incident on that year.
There is nearby water where you can refill your container because there is no watersource along the trail. Your official hike will start at the stair in plaza
After you pass this part, you will emerge at grassland then road. For about 15minutes you can reached the DENR where you have to register
From DENR it will lead you to open road up to slope of grassland. The sun scourging high and almost uphill climb to grassland. There were no flats throughout and I was not fit that time so it is easy for me to get tired. We reached the Mango trees where we took rest for a while. I consumed almost 1L of water and suffering from heavy perspiration. Our guide pick us indian mango which is crunchy and juicy. He also bring us sinegwelas. We took 15 minutes break
We resumed by 11:15AM and proceed to our next destination which is the view deck and plan to have lunch here. Now we entered at woodland, all are uphill climb but not very steep
The trail become cardiac as we approached on the rock boulder wherein lifting your legs is not enough. You have to use your hand for support and as we go near the view deck, trail become much steeper. Use your upper body strength.
we do have brief lunch here and having picture taking at the view deck. I guess our elevation now is 600-800MASL
We left the area by 1pm and still the trail is forested except it is now inclined littered by several thorny plants.
At 2PM, we managed to reached the South Peak of Mt. Arayat 1008 MASL which is enclosed by the trees similar to Mt. Makiling
Nearby 3 minutes from the summit, there is view deck wherein you can the snake river of pampanga and its vast plain of rice field
We do have an hour break and regained my strength. At 3Pm we left the peak doing swift descend, we managed to reach the plaza(jump off) in 2.5hrs. My friend Conrad bid his farewell to us because of his committed appointment while us stayed and pitch tent to enjoy our nature-tripping.
All trails are well established.
Actual Itinerary and expenses
6AM Bus departure (Genesis bus)
7AM ETA SM San Fernando
7:30AM Alight jeep plying to Arayat (20-30pesos),
8:15AM Arayat town, queue of tricycle.. pay 100 pesos
8:30AM Nursery, negotiate with the guide. Entrance fee is 10-20pesos
8:45AM Start trek at Plaza
9AM DENR San juan Bano, register
11AM 1st stop over before entering through the woodland
12:30PM arrival at view deck, took brief lunch
1PM Resume trek
2PM Arrival @Arayat South peak 1008MASL
3PM depart South peak
5:30PM Arrival at Plaza, tidy up
6:30PM ETA Arayat Town Proper, wait for the jeep going to San fernando
8PM manila arrival
Tips-
there is no limatik presence
bring 3L to be safe because there is no watersource
55% of the trail is covered by the trees, the slopes from plantation to plaza is expose to sun
Signal is present
Bring mosquito repellant
Be cautious on rock bouldering
Safe budget – P500-700
CEF'S NATURE ADVENTURE 
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