Lakad Pilipinas

The province of Tarlac in Central Luzon is really not known for tourism. In fact, some people even jokingly dub it as the toilet stop of Luzon; the area being frequented only by motorist needing to relieve themselves on their way to another province. But my visit to Tarlac opened my eyes to its many tourist spots and food places unbeknownst to even some of the most veteran travelers in the country. Tarlac has a lot of tourism potential; it has historical places, museums, adventure parks, religious destinations, hiking and biking trails, waterfalls and gastronomic places.

With this travel guide, allow me to help you get lost in Tarlac.

 
HOW TO GET TO TARLAC

       Tarlac province is located in the region of Central Luzon. It is a mere two to three hours ride by bus from
            Metro Manila. Numerous buses with terminals in Cubao, Quezon City (Victory Liner, Five Star, Baliwag Transit,
            Genesis, JAC Liner,) and Manila (Philippine Rabbit, Viron, Genesis) pass by the province through the NLEX. 
                   Fare for an aircon bus is usually pegged at an average of Php250.00, depending on what town you’re going 
            to get off. 
                   There are no operational airports in the city as of this writing.

 
SPEAK TARLAC

       Kapampangan and Ilocano are the common dialect in Tarlac. Although most, if not all, Tarlaquenos speak
            and understand Filipino and English.


  Thank You – Salamat pu / Agyamanak
  Good Morning – Mayap ayabak / Naimbag a bigat
  Good Evening – Mayap a bengi pu / Naimbag a rabii
  How Much? – Magkanu ya ini? / Manu?
  Where Is… – Nokarin ya ing... / Ayan-na…

  Note the translations are in Kapampangan first and Ilocano second.

 
WHERE TO STAY IN TARLAC 
     Tarlac isn’t really a tourism hub, so guesthouses, inns and hotels are not that numerous compared to
            other places. Although the concentration of lodgings are located in the center of the province, Tarlac City,
            one can still find a few lodging houses and resorts on other smaller towns.

  L A   M A J A   R I C A   H  O T E L
  Rates: Starts at Php 350.00 (2pax)
  Address: McArthur Highway cor. Ligtasan St. Tarlac City, Tarlac
  Contact Number: (045) 982-2314 | (0918) 427-9228
  GPS Coordinates: 15°29'00.6"N 120°35'42.4"E

  M I C R O T E L   L U I S I T A
  Rates: Starts at Php 1,500.00 (1pax)
  Address: Hacienda Luisita San Miguel, Tarlac
  Contact Number: (045) 985-1770
  GPS Coordinates: 15°26'11.8"N 120°36'07.2"E

  V . E . S .   F O O D   R E S O R T S   &   V I L L A S
  Rates: Starts at Php 1,200.00 (2pax)
  Address: 588 Jimenez St., Sto. Domingo II, Capas, Tarlac
  Contact Number: (045) 491-3467 | (0917) 8008-816 | (0917) 8000-943
  GPS Coordinates: 15°29'21.6"N 120°34'57.8"E

 
WHERE TO EAT IN TARLAC 
      Tarlac is said to be a true melting pot of Pampangos, Ilocanos, Pangasinenses, and Tagalogs. So I guess it
            isn’t really that surprising that the province has quite a lot of good restaurants lining its streets. What surprised
            me though was the level of choices they have when it comes to the culinary arts; from streetfood, local
            delicacies, all the way to fine dining.

  D A M P A   S A   T A R L A C
  Type: Seafood, Filipino, Paluto
  Address: MacArthur Highway, Brgy. San Rafael, Tarlac City
  Contact Number: (045) 491-1601 | (0923) 898-0908
  GPS Coordinates: 15°26'56.2"N 120°35'52.6"E

  K A R T   C I T Y   T A R L A C
  Type: Restaurant; Rice Meals, Pizza
  Address: MacArthur Highway, San Roque, Tarlac City, Tarlac
  Contact Number: (045) 491-4053
  GPS Coordinates: 15°28'40.4"N 120°35'46.2"E


  K I N G   B U R G E R
  Type: Burger, Sizzling Plates, Rice Meals
  Address: Espinosa Street, Tarlac Plazuela, Tarlac City, Tarlac
  Contact Number: 
  GPS Coordinates: 15°29'16.7"N 120°35'22.8"E


  M A C A P I N L A C   C A K E H O U S E
  Type: Cakes, Pastries, Sweets
  Address: F. Tanedo Street, Tarlac City, Tarlac
  Contact Number: (045) 982 0183
  GPS Coordinates: 15°29'19.2"N 120°35'23.3"E

  P A S E O   D E   H I L A R I O   G R I L L   &   R E S T A U R A N T 
  Type: Filipino, Rice Meal, Delicacies
  Address: 4 P. Hilario St., Tarlac City
  Contact Number: : (045) 982-0703
  GPS Coordinates: 15°29'11.1"N 120°35'22.6"E

  P R I M A D E L I   R I S T O R A N T E
  Type: Restaurant; Rice Meals, Pasta, Italian, Asian
  Address: Southern Bypass Road, Brgy. San Vicente, Tarlac City
  Contact Number: (0923) 340-3761‎
  GPS Coordinates: 15°28'28.3"N 120°35'31.4"E

  U R D U   R E S T A U R A N T   &   B A K E S H O P
  Type: Barbecue, Pastries, Rice Meals
  Address: 71 P. Burgos St. Poblacion, Tarlac City
  Contact Number: (045) 982-2981 | (045) 611-2044
  GPS Coordinates: 15°29'12.9"N 120°35'18.2"E

  V . E . S .   F O O D   R E S O R T S   &   V I L L A S
  Type: Diner, Cafe; Coffee, Salad, Steaks, Rice Meals
  Address: 588 Jimenez St., Sto. Domingo II, Capas
  Contact Number: (045) 491-3467 | (0917) 8008-816 | (0917) 8000-943
  GPS Coordinates: 15°29'21.6"N 120°34'57.8"E




 
WHAT TO SEE IN TARLAC 
       Before visiting Tarlac, the only tourist spot (if you really can call it that) I know in the province is their
            iconic Jesus sculpture in Monasterio de Tarlac. But Tarlac has so much more to offer, especially for nature
            and adventure lovers (although I have yet to cover their hiking trails and waterfalls). For the culturally inclined;
            museums, churches, historical sites and ancestral houses are always available for visits.

  A Q U I N O   A N C E S T R A L   H O U S E
  Address: A. Luna St., cor. Timbol St., Concepcion, Tarlac
  Contact Number: (045) 923 1149
  GPS Coordinates: 15°19'27.9"N 120°39'25.6"E

  A Q U I N O   C E N T E R   A N D   M U S E U M
  Address: Luisita Industrial Park Road, San Miguel, Tarlac
  Contact Number: (045) 985-0968
  GPS Coordinates: +8° 13' 45.47", +124° 14' 22.07"

  C A P A S   N A T I O N A L   S H R I N E
  Address: Barangay Cristo Rey, Capas, Tarlac
  Contact Number: 
  GPS Coordinates: 15.34891°N 120.545246°E

  J S J   G O A T   F A R M
  Address: Barangay Caturay, Gerona, Tarlac
  Contact Number:  (0918) 908-0488 | (0922) 8181-488
  GPS Coordinates: 15°37'53.8"N 120°35'58.3"E

  K A R T   C I T Y   T A R L A C
  Address: MacArthur Highway, San Roque, Tarlac City, Tarlac
  Contact Number: (045) 491-4053
  GPS Coordinates: 15°28'40.4"N 120°35'46.2"E

  M O N A S T E R I O   D E   T A R L A C 
  Address: Mt. Resurrection Eco Park, Brgy. Lubigan, San Jose, Tarlac
  Contact Number: (045) 493-3002 | (0916) 250-8414
  GPS Coordinates: 15°26'11.3"N 120°25'51.9"E

  M O U N T   P I N A T U B O   T R E K
  Address: 4x4 Jump-Off Point at Brgy. Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac
  Contact Number: 
  GPS Coordinates: 15°19'36.0"N 120°25'39.0"E

  M U S E O   D E   T A R L A C
  Address: Romulo Blvd, Tarlac City, Tarlac
  Contact Number: 
  GPS Coordinates: 15°28'52.6"N 120°35'13.7"E

  T A R L A C   R E C R E A T I O N A L   P A R K
  Address: Tarlac Recreational Park & Jose Yap Sports Complex, San Jose, Tarlac
  Contact Number: (0998) 354-4261
  GPS Coordinates: 15°30'04.1"N 120°30'01.2"E

  
EXTEND YOUR TRIP
       If time is on your hands and you still have days left before going back home, Tarlac is a good basepoint
            to extend your tourist vacation. Here are some of the places you can easily go to.

  B A G U I O   C I T Y
  Hours Away: About 4 hours away by bus
  Suggested Number of Days: 3 to 4 days 
  Baguio Itinerary and Travel Guide

  B O L I N A O
  Hours Away: About 2 hours away by bus
  Suggested Number of Days: 2 to 3 days 
  Bolinao Itinerary and Travel Guide

  
TARLAC SAMPLE ITINERARY

       The whole Province of Tarlac covers an area of 2,737 square kilometer. That is a huge, and creating an
            itinerary that would cover all the tourist spots in the province seemed impossible. What I present here instead is
            a trip itinerary we did during the Tara Quin Tarlac familiarization tour, with Tarlac City as our base. This is
            entirely doable, provided you have your own transportation with you.


                D A Y  1

                Morning arrival in Tarlac City from Manila
                Check in at Hotel
                Breakfast at King Burger
                Visit the Aquino Center and Museum
                Lunch at the V.E.S. Foods
                Visit the Aquino Ancestral House
                Visit the Capas National Shrine
                Dinner at Dampa sa Tarlac

                D A Y  2

                Breakfast at Urdu Restaurant
                Visit JSJ Goat Farm
                Visit Monasterio de Tarlac
                Picnic Lunch at the Tarlac Recreational Park (bring own packed lunch)
                ATV, Kayaking, Swimming, Biking at the Tarlac Recreational Park 
                Dinner at Primadeli Ristorante

                D A Y  3 
                Early Hotel Check Out 
                Breakfast at any nearby Carinderia or Restaurant  
                Go to Sta. Juliana in Capas for Mt. Pinatubo Trek
                Picnic Lunch at Mt. Pinatubo Crater Lake (bring your own packed lunch)
                Depart from Tarlac City    END OF 3-DAY ITINERARY

T A R L A C   T R A V E L   G U I D E   A N D   I T I N E R A R Y
U P D A T E D   A S   O F  A P R I L   1 7 ,   2 0 1 4