Mount Arayat

1,033 m (3,389 ft)

Mount Arayat has two peaks, the South Peak and the North Peak – which is the true summit. Regardless of which peak you decide to climb, you’ll need a day to complete the entire hike.

It takes roughly 2.5 – 3.5 hours or more to ascend to the summit of either of the peaks (and 2 – 4 hours to descend) on the most popular trails up to the two summits. Depending on fitness levels, weather conditions and the length of rests, you may just be able to squeeze in both trails on the same day – although doing that will be a challenging task for most hikers.

There are two other trails you can opt for if you are looking to do an extra challenging route – the Mount Arayat Pinnacle trail, which goes from the Pinnacle to the South Peak (this trail is 8 km/5 mi long), or the Mount Arayat Quad Peak trail which takes about 12 – 14 hours to complete and includes steep rugged cliffs.

This hike is a challenging one, and not recommended for beginners. The terrain includes steep inclines and declines as well as rocky climbs, slippery mud and dense vegetation.

Regardless of which peak you climb, the terrain is much the same.

The hike starts off on a wide dirt road, which turns into a wide dirt path. The first 20 minutes or so of the trek has no trees or coverage. After which, trees make an appearance and keep the trail sheltered from the heat of the sun and wind for most of the rest of the trail. When the weather is dry, the ground is hard and consists of dry leaves and crumbly dirt. However, when it is wet, the ground is muddy and can be very slippery.

From the point when the trees start, the trail is surrounded by greenery the whole way up. This vegetation also however begins to encroach on the trail making the path narrower and more difficult to navigate than the relatively more well-worn section at the start. In some places, you will find trees growing diagonally over the path and vines hanging over the trail. In these places, you’ll need to duck under or climb over the trunks.

Some climbing up and over rocks and thick tree roots is required in parts. You do get glimpses of a view at some points though, which helps keep the motivation up.

Towards the summit, the vegetation becomes more dense. You’ll probably end up with a fern or some other kind of tree branch in your face. There is a steep section going downwards which will require climbing using your hands and knees on the way back.

The North Peak has a communication station which partially blocks the view, but there is still a wide view of the plains, rice paddies, South Peak and Pampanga River below. The South Peak is said to have a better view as there are no obstructions, but both summits offer a rewarding view of the scenery below, especially if you catch the sunrise or sunset.

The descent proves to be almost as, if not more, challenging than the ascent. It is slippery (especially when it is wet) and steep.

The weather is hot, rainy and humid throughout the year, though some parts of the year are slightly more bearable than others.

The best time to hike Mount Arayat is in February when the skies are clearest with the least rain, the muggy period has not quite yet begun, and the temperature is cooler than the rest of the year. August would be the worst time of year to plan a climb up Arayat as it would be rainy, slippery, and oppressively hot and humid.

April to mid-May is the hot season – April being the hottest with an average high of 34.4°C (94°F) and low of 25°C (77°F). The cool season is from the end of November to the beginning of February – January being the coolest month of the year with an average low of 22°C (72°F) and high of 30°C (86°F).

From mid-May to late October there is the highest chance of rain on any given day, with August being the month with the most wet days. The drier season lasts from late October to mid-May – the driest month being January with an average of 2.9 wet days.

A hiking pole/walking stick, and hiking boots with proper traction are musts for this trek. Gloves may be helpful when grabbing onto branches and rocks. Other things to bring would be about 3 litres of water, insect repellent, trail food and a rain jacket.

There are no rest stops or facilities on this trail or at the summit. The options for water are limited so make sure to bring your own water. There is, however, at least one very small flat area with a bit of a view along the way where you can have a short rest.

You will need a guide for this climb. Guides are often also farmers in the area, so they know the terrain well and can offer local insight. Hikers should register at the DENR Registration Area.

Mount Arayat is located on the island of Luzon, in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. it is a 2-hour drive from Manila.

To get to Mount Arayat you can book a private bus liner heading towards San Fernando, Pampanga or Baguio / Angeles, Pampanga. Hop off at SM City Pampanga, or MarQuee Mall. From there you would need to catch a jeepney to Magalang (tell your driver you are going to Arayat), and then a tricycle to Mount Arayat National Park in Barangay Ayala.

There haven’t been any specific reports of safety concerns up Mount Arayat, however for climbing safety it is important to make sure you have a guide and suitable gear.