A camping area is provided for those who want to spend the night in Anawangin. Trekking or mountain climbing and surfing are other activities you may also enjoy. For a day tour, one can only stay before the sun sets in order to get back to the Pundaquit shores safely.
Pundaquit, San Antonio is roughly 4 hours away from Manila by car. The new SCTEX highway after the Dau exit at NLEX is the faster way to Subic compared to the old route via San Fernando. Prepare Php 500 at least for all the toll fees to and from Zambales. From Subic, exit through the Kalaklan gate to Olongapo City. Drive all the way to the towns of Subic, Castillejos, and San Marcelino until you reach San Antonio.
There are a number of resorts in Pundaquit from the class A (Punta de Uian) to the less expensive resorts (Megan’s and Nora’s). An airconditioned room good for 4 persons at Megan’s costs Php 2,500 per night. You may bring in food and drinks and not worry about corkage fee. They can also serve food at the resort but the food selection depends on what they only have available in the fridge. You better plan your menu ahead of time and bring your own food to keep your tummies pleased.
It is a secluded island about 15-20 minutes away by boat from the shores of Barangay Pundaquit in San Antonio, Zambales. This island is the farthest from the shore among the 3 famous islands in Zambales - the other two are Capones and Camera. The boat ride costs about Php 600 for a round trip to and from Anawangin. The boats can accommodate up to 6 people however, this still greatly depends on the behavior of the sea. In our case, we left Megan’s Resort at about 1 PM and the waves were rather big so we had to divide our group and get 2 boats.
If your idea of a beach trip is chillin’ out by the beach in a hammock, singing around a campfire with a guitar and climbing beach cliffs to wait for the sunset then you should definitely go to Anawangin.
The Beach Cove
Anawangin is a cove in the town of San Antonio in Zambales. It is a beach that has an off-white sand and an evergreen forest cover near the shore (you’ll rarely see a coconut tree in Anawangin). Behind the forest is a small stream that flows out to the sea (During summer this stream dries up into a shallow pond). There are also two beach cliffs bounding the beach, which you can hike up and enjoy the view.
Getting There
Going to Anawangin will approximately take 6 hours. From Manila, you can drive or take a bus to San Antonio, Zambales. Upon arriving at San Antonio you can hire a boat at Pundaquit that will take you to Anawangin. It is advisable to leave Manila at night so it wouldn’t be hot while traveling.
Google Map
Use this handy google map to trace the way to San Antonio Zambales.
Best Time To Go
The best time to go would be around February when the weather is not too hot and humid, and there are not as many people camping. Though we like the hippie vibe during the Summer months of April and May, the campsite is just too crowded.
What To Bring
There are no modern facilities in Anawangin; there are only a couple of toilets (without roofs) and water pumps as sources of running water. Bring lots of drinking water since drinking from the water pump is not safe, and the weather tends to be too hot at around 12 noon. Also bring your own food, there are no hotels and resorts that could prepare meals for you. For sleeping, you have to bring your own tent and pitch it under the forest cover where it is much cooler than by the shore.
What to do
Anawangin is definitely Boracay’s exact opposite in terms of development, but that doesn’t mean you’ll run out of stuff to do during your stay. Here are some suggested activities you could do aside from lying in a hammock by the beach:
1. Bonfire
Gather fallen twigs and light up a fire for warmth during the night. Bring a guitar so you can sing around the campfire. Just don’t forget to put it out when going to sleep.
2. Climbing
The beach is bound by two cliffs in the north and south. The northern cliff is higher and is not adviseable to trek in since it has loose rocks. The southern cliff is gentler and is easier to climb. You can get a great view of the beach at sunset (just don’t forget to bring flashlights so you could see your way down).
3. Trekking
Behind the evergreen forest is a stream (a dry riverbed in the summer) leading to a large hill. You can trek your way to this hill, just be cautious since there were reports that there are wild animals in this area.
4. Skimboarding
You could bring your skimboard to practice your moves. The beach is great for this activity since it has a fine sand and few rocks.
5. Ultimate Frisbee
Have your group play with you or better yet, invite other campers to join your group for a great game of frisbee.
You can arrange sidetrips with your boatman if you want to go island hopping. Nearby are Capones and Camara Islands. Capones Island is known for its centuries-old Spanish lighthouse while Camara Island is a rock climbing destination. Inform your boatman in advance and clear the details with him since there is no cellphone signal coverage in Anawangin.
Rooms and Accommodation:
There hotels in Pundaquit. One of which is Punta de Uian (http://www.puntadeuian.com), their contact number is 0918 800 8426. Based on their site the family villa rate (for 6 persons) is at 10,000 pesos.
Contact:
Anawangin Cove
Brgy. Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales
Calaguas group of islands
Camarines Norte
Contact number: 0922 822 8278
or
Travel and Tours Contact Information:
Discover Asia International Travel and Tours
Main Office: 123 Narra St Sta Clara Sta Maria, Bulacan
Manila Office: Unit 223 Cityland Pioneer Building, Pioneer St ,Mandaluyong City (Near Robinson’s Mall - Pioneer)
Mobile #: 0919-531-7620 (Anne)
Email Address: rranay_discoverasiaintl@yahoo.com
