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The province of Tarlac in Central Luzon is really not known for tourism. In fact, some people even dub it, jokingly, 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 unknown to most 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 gonna get off. As of this writing, there are no operational airports in the city, the nearest one being Clark in Pampanga.
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 smaller towns.
LA MAJA RICA HOTEL
► CHECK DISCOUNTED RATES
Address: McArthur Highway cor. Ligtasan St. Tarlac City, Tarlac
Contact Number: +63 (45) 982-2314 | +63 (918) 427-9228
GPS Coordinates: 15.4835052, 120.5929224 
MICROTEL LUISITA
► CHECK DISCOUNTED RATES
Address: Hacienda Luisita San Miguel, Tarlac
Contact Number: +63 (45) 985-1770
GPS Coordinates: 15.4366163, 120.5998113 
V.E.S. FOOD RESORTS & VILLAS
Address: 588 Jimenez St., Sto. Domingo II, Capas, Tarlac
Contact Number: +63 (45) 491-3467 | +63 (917) 8008-816 | +63 (917) 8000-943
GPS Coordinates: 15.4893385, 120.5805335
► SEARCH FOR MORE ACCOMMODATIONS IN TARLAC
WHERE TO EAT IN TARLAC
Tarlac is said to be a true melting pot of Pampango, Ilocano, Pangasinense, and Tagalog people. So I guess it isn’t really that surprising that the province has a lot of good restaurants lining its streets. What surprised me though was the level of choices they have, from streetfood, to local delicacies, and all the way to fine dining.
DAMPA SA TARLAC
Type: Seafood, Filipino, Paluto
Address: MacArthur Highway, Brgy. San Rafael, Tarlac City
Contact Number: (045) 491-1601 | (0923) 898-0908
GPS Coordinates: 15.4489496, 120.5957557 
KART CITY TARLAC
Type: Restaurant; Rice Meals, Pizza
Address: MacArthur Highway, San Roque, Tarlac City, Tarlac
Contact Number: (045) 491-4053
GPS Coordinates: 15.4778941, 120.593978 
KING BURGER
Type: Burgers, Sizzling Plates, Rice Meals
Address: Espinosa Street, Tarlac Plazuela, Tarlac City, Tarlac
Contact Number:
GPS Coordinates: 15.4879774, 120.587478 
MACAPINLAC CAKEHOUSE
Type: Cakes, Pastries, Sweets
Address: F. Tanedo Street, Tarlac City, Tarlac
Contact Number: (045) 982 0183
GPS Coordinates: 15.4886719, 120.5876169 
PASEO DE HILARIO GRILL & RESTAURANT
Type: Filipino, Rice Meals, Delicacies
Address: 4 P. Hilario St., Tarlac City
Contact Number: : (045) 982-0703
GPS Coordinates: 15.4864219, 120.5874224 
PRIMADELI RISTORANTE
Type: Restaurant, Rice Meals, Pasta, Italian, Asian
Address: Southern Bypass Road, Brgy. San Vicente, Tarlac City
Contact Number: (0923) 340-3761
GPS Coordinates: 15.474533, 120.5898669 
URDU RESTAURANT & BAKESHOP
Type: Barbecue, Pastries, Rice Meals
Address: 71 P. Burgos St. Poblacion, Tarlac City
Contact Number: (045) 982-2981 | (045) 611-2044
GPS Coordinates: 15.4869219, 120.5862002
WHAT TO SEE & DO IN TARLAC
Before visiting Tarlac, the only tourist spot (if you really can call it that) I know in the province is the iconic Jesus sculpture at the 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.
AQUINO ANCESTRAL HOUSE
Address: A. Luna St., cor. Timbol St., Concepcion, Tarlac
Contact Number: +63 (45) 923 1149
GPS Coordinates: 15.324430, 120.657190 
AQUINO CENTER AND MUSEUM
Address: Luisita Industrial Park Road, San Miguel, Tarlac
Contact Number: +63 (45) 985-0968
Opening Hours: 8:00AM to 5:00PM Daily
Entrance Fee: PHP100.00 Adults
GPS Coordinates: 15.434424, 120.602130 
CAPAS NATIONAL SHRINE
Address: Barangay Cristo Rey, Capas, Tarlac
Contact Number: +63 (936) 307-3105
Opening Hours: 6:00AM to 5:00PM
GPS Coordinates: 15.3489152, 120.5430573 
JSJ GOAT FARM
Address: Barangay Caturay, Gerona, Tarlac
Contact Number: +63 (918) 908-0488 | +63 (922) 8181-488
GPS Coordinates: 15.6316163, 120.5973391 
KART CITY TARLAC
Address: MacArthur Highway, San Roque, Tarlac City, Tarlac
Contact Number: +63 (45) 491-4053
Opening Hours: 3:00PM to 12:00AM Weekdays | 10:00AM to 2:00AM Weekends
GPS Coordinates: 15.4778941, 120.593978 
MONASTERIO DE TARLAC
Address: Mt. Resurrection Eco Park, Brgy. Lubigan, San Jose, Tarlac
Contact Number: +63 (45) 493-3002 | +63 (916) 250-8414
Opening Hours: 7:00AM to 6:00PM Everyday
GPS Coordinates: 15.436565, 120.431421 
MOUNT PINATUBO TREK
► BOOK A TOUR ONLINE
Address: 4x4 Jump-Off Point at Brgy. Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac
Contact Number: +63 (45) 925-0154 | +63 (922) 280-7921
GPS Coordinates: 15.326535, 120.426931 
MUSEO DE TARLAC
Address: Romulo Blvd., Tarlac City, Tarlac
Opening Hours: 8:30AM to 5:00PM
Entrance Fee: Free
GPS Coordinates: 15.481283, 120.5849502 
TARLAC RECREATIONAL PARK
Address: Tarlac Recreational Park & Jose Yap Sports Complex, San Jose, Tarlac
Contact Number: +63 (45) 493-2471 | +63 (999) 885-3981
Opening Hours: 9:00AM to 5:00PM, Tuesday to Sunday
GPS Coordinates: 15.5011441, 120.4981446
FESTIVALS IN TARLAC
INURUBAN AND CHICHARON FESTIVAL
Location: Camiling | Date: Every October 8
BUYBOY FESTIVAL
Location: San Clemente
Date: Every Last Saturday and Sunday of April
MALATARLAK FESTIVAL
Location: Tarlac City
Date: Every January 20
BELENISMO SA TARLAC
Date: Whole December
~ MALATARLAK FESTIVAL PHOTO BY KAREN PATIO
TARLAC TOURIST SPOTS MAP
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.
► DAY ONE
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
► DAY TWO
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
► DAY THREE
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
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.
BAGUIO CITY
Baguio Travel Guide
Hours Away: About 4 hours away by bus
Suggested Number of Days: 3 to 4 days
BOLINAO
Bolinao Travel Guide
Hours Away: About 2 hours away by bus
Suggested Number of Days: 2 to 3 days 
NUEVA ECIJA
Nueva Ecija Travel Guide
Hours Away: About 2 hours away by bus
Suggested Number of Days: 1 to 3 days 
QUIRINO
Quirino Travel Guide
Hours Away: About 6 hours away by bus and transfers
Suggested Number of Days: 3 to 4 days 
TUGUEGARAO
Tuguegarao Travel Guide
Hours Away: About 8 hours away by bus and transfers
Suggested Number of Days: 1 to 2 days 
VIGAN CITY
Vigan Travel Guide
Hours Away: About 6 hours away by bus and transfers
Suggested Number of Days: 3 to 4 days
One stop shop ka na talaga :) Galing :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jombats! Bisita na sa Tarlac! :)
Deletehw mch po budget for 3d/2n at tarlac,f sundan ang itineraru nyo?
ReplyDeleteI heard Echo Park in Tarlac.. but I don't see it here... I want to have a picnic with family there and I am thinking if there is place where we can also order Lechon Baka.....
ReplyDeleteHi Lita, Did you mean Monasterio De Tarlac? Monasterio de Tarlac is located at the Mount Resurrection Eco Park in the barangay of Lubigan.
DeleteHi I am really interested. How can I get there? Exactly. Especially in the crater? Please reply ASAP! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Naya, you mean Mount Pinatubo? You may click the link above for a detailed post about how to get there :)
DeletePwede po ba na i-include niyo rin poyung expenses kung okay lang para po may idea po kami kung kaya ng budget. Hehe. Salamat :)
ReplyDeleteHi guys, for the trip budget, I specifically didn't include one as a traveler's budget can wildly differ from person to person, some likes to eat a lot, a few don't; some likes to stay at posh hotels while others opt for the cheapest accommodations.
ReplyDeletehi! bka my idea po kayo how to get to bolinao pangasinan from tarlac? we're planning to go there after our tekking at mt. pinatubo. thanks in advance :)
ReplyDeleteSorry for the delayed response. I think you can catch a bus from the Dau terminal going to Bolinao. Were you able to go?
DeleteHi :) May age limit po ba pag mag-sstay dun?
ReplyDeleteHi there, age limit for which place? :)
DeletePwede po ba solo traveler sa Monasterio de Tarlac? May masasakyan po ba papasok?
ReplyDeleteHi Anon, yes you can commute to Monasterio de Tarlac. There are jeepneys and tricycles that can bring you there.
Deleteanu po yung iba pang pwedeng puntahan malapit sa Capas National Shrine? Salamat :)
ReplyDeleteHi there, as far as I know there's not much else to see around Capas except the National Shrine
Delete