French
Deutsch
Arayat is a town in northern Pampanga, Philippines. It is named after the eponymous inactive volcano that looms over it.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Arayat is known to have existed before the Spanish era. It was conquered by the Spanish in 1579. A predominantly agrarian town along the banks of the Pampanga River, its main draw is Mount Arayat, a massive 1,026 metres (3,366 ft) dormant volcano that looms over the Central Luzon plain and was regarded as sacred by the animist natives during the precolonial era.
It is home to about 151,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
[edit | edit source]
From Manila, take the San Fernando exit along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) leading to the Gapan-Olongapo Road, also known as Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA), then turn left towards Arayat, passing through Mexico and Santa Ana. An alternate route is to take a right turn at NLEX Angeles Exit and continue towards Magalang, then turn south towards Arayat.
From San Fernando and Magalang, there are jeepneys servicing Arayat, although the Magalang route only runs in the morning. It is also traversed by the jeepney and minibus routes running between San Fernando and Gapan in Nueva Ecija via JASA. Buses running from Metro Manila to San Isidro in Nueva Ecija also pass by Arayat via JASA.
- 1 Arayat Central Terminal, J.M. Espino Street, Mangga-Cacutud. The main transport terminal in Arayat, servicing the jeepney and minibus route to San Fernando. There are segregated spaces for tricycles heading to various barangays of Arayat.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Downtown Arayat is at a junction between JASA on one side, and the road leading to Magalang and Angeles City on the other, which in turn has a junction west of town with bypass roads leading separately to Mexico and Santa Ana. Tricycles are the main form of transportation between barangays.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Mount Arayat (Bunduk ning Alaya). A looming inactive volcano that also contains the largest stretch of forested jungle between the Zambales and Sierra Madre Mountains. The mountain is part of a protected reserve known as Mount Arayat National Park. However, access to the area is partially restricted due to rudimentary facilities and landslides that have disrupted the usual hiking trails.
- 2 Santa Catalina Parish Church (Arayat Church), J.M. Espino Street, Poblacion, stcatherineofalexandriaarayat@gmail.com. Arayat's main Roman Catholic church, built in the Renaissance style during the Spanish era in 1753.
- 3 Medina Ancestral House (Calo-Medina Ancestral House), P. Tan Street, Paralaya. A Spanish-era private residence dating from 1840.
- 4 Samia-Santos House, J.M. Espino Street, Paralaya. A colonial era residence built in 1926.
- 5 Bale Batu, Baliti (beside Gintung Pakpak Ecopark). 6AM-5PM. Meaning "Stone House" in Kapampangan, it is a residence designed and built by local artist Jesus Padilla using cement and pulverized rocks from nearby Mount Arayat and modeled after Angkor Wat in Cambodia. P50.
- 6 Pau Falls, Baliti (near Gintong Pakpak Ecopark). A cascade at the foot of Mount Arayat.
Do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Gintung Pakpak Ecopark, Baliti. An ecotourism venue at the foot of Mount Arayat featuring forest groves and a man-made reservoir.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Arayat Public Market, J.M. Espino Street, Mangga-Cacutud.
- 2 WalterMart Arayat, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, San Jose Mesulo, ☏ +63 998 577 0565. 9AM-8PM.
- 3 Puregold Arayat, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Plazang Luma, toll-free: 246 8424Country code missing. 7AM-7PM.
- 4 CityMall Arayat, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, San Jose Mesulo.
- 5 Six-22 Supermarket, J.M. Espino Street, Poblacion.
Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 Soupy Buns, 30 General Alejandrino Street, Poblacion, ☏ +63 967 124 8989, soupybunsph@gmail.com. 11AM-9PM. A restaurant serving Taiwanese cuisine, including xiao long bao.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Palm Cabanas Resort, 558 Magalang-Arayat Road, San Antonio, ☏ +63 927 777 7794, palmcabanasresort@gmail.com.
Connect
[edit | edit source]Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Arayat |
| San Fernando ← Santa Ana ← | S  N | → Cabiao → Gapan |