PSA: New direct flights to Clark from Singapore starting from 16 June 2024!
If you’ve visited one of the stunning white-sand beaches and picturesque islands in the Philippines, chances are you got there by flying to Manila or Cebu first.
But here’s a hack… you can fly directly to another fantastic place — Clark. It’s a lesser-known side of the Philippines — think slow-paced city living with easy access to natural sceneries and fun outdoor activities.
P.S. Jetstar will be operating direct Singapore to Clark flights starting 16 June 2024*, with tickets available for booking now!
Now that you know Clark exists, here are 11 of our favourite things to do:
Getting around Clark and surrounds
You’ll most likely be spending your time in Clark Freeport Zone, where the International Airport and most activities are located. At the moment, public transport in the area is quite limited.
So the best way to get around Clark is by renting a car! It was useful when we had to drive to a meet-up spot at 4AM, and it allowed us to visit more remote areas. Parking is easy in Clark, too. Here are your options:
Car rental (Most recommended) — Pick up and drop off your car when you land at the airport! Make sure to ask if they have RFID tags for North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) because you’ll most likely be accessing these roads, which have toll gates
Grab: GrabCars are available, but the area it services is limited
Taxis: The taxis in Clark are distinct due to their vibrant blue colour, but it’s hard to spot one in the wild. Best to call them in advance!
1) Trek Mount Pinatubo for a stunning crater lake view
Mount Pinatubo is quickly becoming the locals’ favourite hiking spot for many reasons: beginner-friendly trails, scenic views, and a picturesque crater lake to top it off.
Start with a bumpy 75-minute 4×4 jeep ride through rugged terrain and river crossings, while you admire panoramic mountain ranges. Head off right before sunrise for a chilly ride with a moody setting!
Next, walk through volcanic ash fields and water streams until you reach the serene crater lake that Mount Pinatubo is famous for. No swimming, unfortunately 😢
*Pro-tip: Bring a windbreaker and face scarf as it gets super windy (especially at the peak) so dust and pebbles will hit you.
Cost: From ~₱3,000/pax (~S$72) for a join-in tour; no hotel pick-up (day tour from Manila with join-in option, also available)
Tour timings: 5:30AM – 2PM
Meet-up point: At the base of Mt Pinatubo — 70min drive from Clark International Airport via Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway. Make sure to exit at Concepcion. (Google Maps)
2) Day trip to Puning Hot Spring
Photo credit: @angelasua via Instagram
For more relaxing outdoor things to do in Clark, check out Puning Hot Spring.
Photo credit: Puning Hot Spring & Restaurant via Facebook
Start off with a scenic 4×4 jeep ride to the foot of Mount Pinatubo.
Photo credit: Puning Hot Spring & Restaurant via Facebook
Once there, you’ll undergo a “volcanic sand spa” treatment where your body will be buried under hot sand. It is said to help with blood circulation and body detoxification.
To top off your R&R sesh, they’ll apply a volcanic clay mask on your face.
Then end the trip by taking a dip in one of their 12 mineral-dense hot spring pools, naturally heated by the active volcano. You’ll also enjoy a buffet featuring local dishes!
Note: Visiting this place requires you to book an entire half-day tour through their Facebook page.
Cost: From ~₱5,500/pax (~S$132), min. group size of 4pax
Tour timings: Start anytime between 8AM – 2PM; closes at 5PM
How to get there: 26min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
3) Visit Philippines’ largest water park
With 38 slides and attractions across various age and thrill levels, heading to Aqua Planet is a fun way to refresh yourself from the Philippines’ blazing heat.
For something chill, we recommend wading with your kickboard in the wave pool.
For those with a mild threshold for thrill, try the Spiral Slide with a partner, or compete with them in the signature racing slides. And for the more hardcore folks… let’s just say you have plenty. of. options.
Then of course, there’s the classic lazy river, popular across all ages!
Cost: From ~S$25/pax
Opening hours: 10AM – 4PM
How to get there: 11min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
4) Test your skills at Gemik Sports Club
Taking an ATV ride through a former military base camp is one of the highlights at Gemik Sports Club, but you could spend an hour or two here with the various other activities.
Like if you ever wanted to know what it felt like to be a Hunger Games tribute, try archery, target-shooting, or even an airsoft battle.
Cost: From ~S$75/2 pax for archery, shooting, and 20-minute ATV ride package
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM
How to get there: 8min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
5) Watch the sunset at Nabuclod Mountain Views
Heading to Nabuclod Mountain Views in Floridablanca is one of the most rewarding things to do in Clark. It’s 70 minutes away via car, but after the long drive, you’ll be greeted by the beautiful sunset juxtaposed with mountain ranges.
There’s actually a good view on both sides, and there are many view decks spread throughout to make sure you get a banger photo.
This viewpoint is not yet well-known to local tourists, so it’s a nice place if you’re looking for somewhere more peaceful to hang out.
*Pro-tip: While the drive up the viewpoint is quite scenic and not difficult, start the drive down before the sun fully sets because there are barely any street lights here.
Entrance fee: ₱20/pax (~S$0.50)
Opening hours: 24 hours
How to get there: 70min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
6) Try various rope activities at SandBox Pampanga
In an unassuming place near Clark lies SandBox Pampanga, a place that can only be described as a “levelled-up playground” for both kids and adults.
Once there, you’ll be transported back to your childhood when you see slides, mini-maze… and a sandbox (shocker!).
But reality will hit when you hear distant screams from guests trying one of their thrilling activities, like the country’s tallest giant swing, a free-fall activity, and a roller-coaster zipline.
Their signature attraction is the Aerial Walk, where you will be climbing, zipping, and balancing your way through a rope obstacle course. It’s quite a workout, tbh!
Entrance fee: ₱100/pax (~S$2.40, waived if you purchase a package)
Cost: Varies per activity; packages from ₱450/pax (~S$11/pax)
Opening hours: 9AM – 5PM, closed on Mon
How to get there: 25min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
7) Visit one of Clark’s public parks
If you’ve been to Manila, you’ve probably noticed the lack of public parks and greeneries… fortunately, Clark has many of them! 🌳
For example, the Air Force City Park has cute aircrafts to give you a glimpse of Clark’s rich aviation history. There’s also an aesthetic flower-themed cafe to check out in the area.
Photo credit: Feliix Inc.
Then there’s the popular Clark Parade Grounds, a huge park near restaurants. It’s meant for sporting events so you’ll probably see many joggers and football players there. Nearby is the Clark Bicentennial Park, a popular picnic place for families.
How to get there
Air Force City Park: 14min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
Clark Parade Grounds: 16min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
Clark Bicentennial Park: 18min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
8) Try wakeboarding at Decawake Clark Cable Park
Photo credit: Decawake Clark Cable Park
Perhaps try something new at Decawake Clark Cable Park — the eager instructors here will make sure you’ll be wakeboarding in no time!
They have a beginner-friendly pool with smaller obstacles and slower speed, but those who want a challenge themselves can try the advanced course with more ramps, rails, and sliders to work with!
Beyond that, Deca Wakepark is super huge on building their community, so there’s often hosted sunset and nighttime events. Many guests have also pointed out how great the coffee is at their in-house cafe!
Cost: ₱600 on weekdays (~S$14) and ₱700 (~S$17) on weekends, for a 2-hour session
Opening hours: 8AM – 6PM
How to get there: 13min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
Read also: 7-Day Cebu Itinerary — The Perfect Mix of Adventures in Moalboal, Oslob and Bohol
9) Chill out at a nearby farm
Cafe in Tibby’s Farm. Photo credit: Vin Valencia via Facebook
The sheer number of hotels and casinos in the area may make you think a farm visit isn’t one of the best things to do in Clark.
But only 20 minutes away is the elusive Tibby’s Farm — a farm with an aesthetic glasshouse cafe inside. They promote sustainable agriculture, so you’ll be enjoying farm-to-table dining!
Workshops and farm tours are usually held on Saturdays, which cover a range of topics such as herbs, terrarium-making and pottery. Check their Facebook page for updates.
There’s also the Pampanga Grapes Strawberry Mini-Farm, tucked away in Floridablanca. It’s a pretty small farm mostly used for photoshoots, but it’s also great for a quick hangout.
Tibby’s Farm (incl. 1798 Lifestyle Studio cafe)
Cost: ~₱120/coffee (~S$3)
Opening hours: 8AM – 6PM, closed on Sun & Mon
How to get there: 17min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
Pampanga Grapes Strawberry Mini-Farm
Entrance fee: ₱25/pax (~S$0.60)
Opening hours: 7AM – 6PM, closed on Sat
How to get there: 40min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
10) Spend the day at a luxurious golf course
Photo credit: Mimosa Plus Golf Club via Facebook
Recognised as the country’s best golf course two years in a row, Mimosa Plus Golf Club is a great place to partake in Clark’s golfing culture.
Photo credit: Mimosa Plus Golf Club via Facebook
Aside from the scenic surroundings, the courses are meticulously designed to make sure both beginners and experts have a smooth play.
They’re also amping up their sustainability efforts, but the best part as a traveller is that you don’t need to pay for the membership just to have some tee time!
Cost: ~S$131/pax for 18-hole course (contact operator for final price; book 15 days in advance)
Opening hours: 6AM – 7PM
How to get there: 8min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
11) Bring the family to Dinosaurs Island
Jurassic Park geeks, Dinosaurs Island is a must-visit. But even if you’re not, you’ll soon find out why it’s a popular field trip destination for the local students: the small park has family-friendly activities like a “jungle safari ride” and walking trail featuring animatronic dinosaurs. There’s also the classic 7-D attraction where you’ll “experience” a dinosaur chase.
Then head over to the neighbouring Insectlandia, which has giant replicas of (you guessed it) insects. It’s pretty cool ’cause it’s kind of like an outdoor museum!
Cost: From ~S$17/pax
Opening hours: 8AM – 5PM
How to get there: 8min drive from Clark International Airport (Google Maps)
Bonus: Eat local delicacies and go cafe-hopping
Clark is located in Pampanga, the region known as the Culinary Capital of the Philippines.
While there aren’t a lot of mum-and-pop restaurants in Clark itself, you can try out authentic Kapampangan cuisine at Matam-ih. They serve local favourites like kare-kare (peanut-based stew) and sisig (crispy pork on a hotplate).
Susie’s Cuisine is also a famous store in Pampanga selling kakanin — rice delicacies and desserts.
Bloom & Brew Cafe
Cafe-hopping is a popular activity in Clark for families, with many spacious and yummy cafes to try like Here Cafe, Cafe Dia, and Cafe B.O.M. But my favourite is the Bloom & Brew Cafe in Air Force City Park for its cosy vibe!
Should I fly to Manila, Cebu, or Clark?
Now that you know a little more about Clark, you might be wondering if it’s better to fly there instead of Manila and Cebu. In my opinion, it depends on what you’re looking for in a trip.
Manila is the best option if: (1) you’re a city or nightlife enthusiast, and (2) you’re planning to visit the remote parts of the Philippines. More flights go to and from Manila than the other two.
Cebu is the best option if: (1) you are a fan of beaches and diving, and (2) you’re planning to hit nearby islands in the Visayas region (e.g. Bohol and Siquijor).
And Clark is the best option if you want a quieter trip with suburban vibes, sprinkled in with a little nature. If it gets too relaxed though, you can always drive your way to Manila — only 3 hours away.
Read also: 10 Things You Need to Know before Travelling to the Philippines
Direct Singapore-Clark flights from 16 June 2024
If you’ve decided that Clark is for you, check out Jetstar since they now have direct flights from Singapore, up to 5 times weekly*!
Jetstar is one of the best budget-friendly options if you want to fly to Clark: it was recently named the World’s Safest Low-Cost Airline. And they guarantee the lowest fares if you book directly on their website — if you find a lower comparable fare online, they’ll beat it by 10% (T&Cs apply).
Their membership program, Club Jetstar, lets you enjoy more savings with perks like 20% off baggage and seat selection, member-exclusive and early access to sales.^
So you can end up spending a lot less for your Singapore-Clark flight, with tickets are starting from S$108^ for flights leaving 16 June 2024* onwards 😉
Which of these things to do in Clark, Philippines do you want to try? Let us know in the comments below!
This post was brought to you by Jetstar.
*Singapore-Clark flights commence on 16 June 2024, Friday flight service will start on 18 Oct 2024, subject to government and regulatory approval. Schedule subject to change. Other T&Cs apply.
^One way, excludes checked baggage, includes taxes. Prices are quoted in Singapore dollars and are based on fee-free payment options such as SingPost offline payment mode and Jetstar vouchers. For other payment options, a payment fee may apply. Limited availability, selected travel dates and conditions apply. Club Jetstar has an ongoing annual membership fee of SGD $48. See the Club Jetstar terms and conditions for more details. The annual membership fee is non-refundable. Discounted member fares, bag and seat selection available at the time of booking on eligible flights only (excludes Jetstar Holidays). Other T&Cs apply.
