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Pantabangan is a municipality in Nueva Ecija. Having been relocated after its original site was submerged by the construction of the Pantabangan Dam in the 1970s, it is now a prime glamping spot on the foothills of the Caraballo mountains and a destination for 20th century archaeology, if you can afford to wait years for the old town to reappear from the Pantabangan Reservoir.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Pantabangan was founded by the Spanish in 1645 as an outpost to subjugate the indigenous Ilongot, Isinay and Dumagat tribes in the Caraballo and Sierra Madre mountains. During the 1970s, the old town center was evacuated and its inhabitants resettled after the site, located in a valley in the upper reaches of the Pampanga River basin, was earmarked to be submerged by the rising waters of the reservoir created by the construction of the Pantabangan Dam, the largest of its kind in Central Luzon, and a major lifeblood for agriculture and electricity in the region. Since the 21st century, the shores of what is now Pantabangan Lake have become a popular location for camping, glamping and fishing activities similar to those in Lake Caliraya in Eastern Laguna.
It is home to about 33,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
[edit | edit source]Pantabangan is along the Pantabangan-Baler Road, also known as the Casile Trail, which connects Nueva Ecija with the southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya and Baler, the capital of the province of Aurora. The road begins in the municipality of Rizal to the south, which in turn is directly connected by highways to the major cities of San Jose and Cabanatuan.
Get around
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Tricycles are the main form of transportation between barangays. Boats can be hired for trips on Pantabangan Lake.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Pantabangan Old Town (Lumang Bayan). March-May, if the water levels are low enough. The old site of Pantabangan was razed by bulldozers and dynamite before it was submerged by 50 metres (160 ft) of waters from Pantabangan Lake, but since the 1980s it has reappeared as an island on five separate occasions coinciding with extremely low water levels caused by drought and the El Niño, the most recent being in 2026. During such occasions, there is a higher volume of tourists from outside town seeking to reach the island by boat, along with long-time residents trying to sate their nostalgia. Among the highlights are the remains of the old civic monuments in what used to be the town center, and a huge cross that was left behind at the ruins of the old Saint Andrew Parish Church. P300 for a boat ride.
- 2 Pantabangan Dam, Fatima. 6AM-6PM for viewdeck. One of the largest dams in the country, it is a 107 metres (351 ft) high structure with a length of 1,615 metres (5,299 ft) holding back 9,174,658 cubic metres (324,000,000 cu ft) of water from the upper reaches of the Pampanga River, sustained by the Pantabangan–Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve that covers the Caraballo mountain range in the towns of Pantabangan and Carranglan in Nueva Ecija, and Aritao, Dupax del Sur and Alfonso Castañeda in Nueva Vizcaya. There is a viewdeck at the eastern edge of the dam providing panoramic views of the reservoir and the structure itself.
- 3 Mount Susong Dalaga. Meaning "Maiden's Breast", it is the highest peak inside the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve, with a height of 1,650 metres (5,410 ft).
- 4 Mount Kaanducian, Liberty. A grass-covered peak overlooking Pantabangan Lake.
Do
[edit | edit source]- 1 George Point, Malbang, ☏ +63 953 628 4079, +63 962 863 7853, +63 953 207 9986, +63 956 376 6091. 8AM-6PM for theme park. A dinosaur-themed nature park with large animatronic dinosaur statues, swimming pools, children's playground and overnight accommodations.
- 2 Lake Farm de La Marre Park, Malbang, ☏ +63 917 891 1836, +63 968 602 2106, mktg@lakefarmdelamarre.com. An agritourism-themed resort with spa and overnight accommodation.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Pantabangan Public Market, Pantabangan-Baler Road, Poblacion East (beside the municipal hall).
Eat
[edit | edit source]Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]Most accommodation is around Pantabangan Lake.
- 1 Farm Ridge by Desmond Farm, Malbang, ☏ +63 961 532 5940, farmridgeph@gmail.com.
- 2 Highland Bali Villas Resort and Spa, Sitio Intang, West Poblacion, ☏ +63 947 890 2250, +63 917 149 8272, +63 917 502 0315, reservation@highlandbalivillasresort.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon.
- 3 Montana del Sol Farm, River Side Street, Villarica. A farmstay.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]There may be a few New People's Army rebels hiding in the mountains.
Respect
[edit | edit source]Old Pantabangan is a municipally-designated heritage zone; climbing on the ruins and other kinds of horseplay is strictly prohibited, as well as extracting any kind of debris from the site.
Connect
[edit | edit source]The town's postal code is 3124.