About Anawangin
The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 changed the landscape of Central Luzon and among the changes it brought is the emergence of coves on ash and sand mixture, one of which is Anawangin Cove.
Anawangin Cove is in the town of San Antonio in the province of Zambales, facing the South China Sea. It can be reached via half an hour boat ride from Barangay Pundaquit or San Miguel, or via a four to six hours trek of Mt. Pundaquit.
It used to be mountaineers’ secret getaway after a climb, today it is an open secret. Anawangin Cove, along with Talisayen, Nagsasa and Silanguin, is now a famous camping getaway of tourists from all walks of life.
The placid Anawangin River that flows from Mount Balingkilat to the roaring South China Sea adds beauty to what is already a sight to behold. Through the years, the hidden cove has maintained its allure and serenity that can be attributed to its remoteness.
Experience a back-to-basic living and fall in love with this secluded cove. With no electricity and mobile signal, Anawangin is your perfect weekend getaway.
How to Get to Anawangin
Bus: Manila to San Antonio (Zambales)
To get to Anawangin from Manila, ride a bus bound to Iba or Sta. Cruz, Zambales via Olongapo. Victory Liner has scheduled trips to these destinations. Tell the driver to drop you off at San Antonio. Fare starts at P270, travel time is around 3 to 4 hours via NLEX.
Upon reaching San Antonio, transfer to a tricycle to Barangay San Miguel or Pundaquit, standard rate is P30 per person, you may opt to add some tip since it is quite far.
Boat to Anawangin
Boats can be chartered at Barangay San Miguel or Pundaquit going to Anawangin, rate starts at P1,000 for Anawangin – Capones round trip good for maximum of four persons. Travel time from Pundaquit to Anawangin is roughly 45 minutes.
Pundaquit Boat Rate (As of 2020)
| Destination | Small Boat Rate (1-4 person) | Big Boat (Minimum 10 person) |
| Camara | P1,000/boat | P150/person |
| Capones | P1,200/boat | P200/person |
| Anawangin | P1,200/boat | P200/person |
| Talisayen | P1,700/boat | P300/person |
| Nagsasa | P2,000/boat | P400/person |
| Silanguin | P3,000/boat | P600/person |
Note: Side trip – additional P100
Where to Stay in Anawangin and Pundaquit
Since there is no commercial establishment in this island, you may bring a tent or camping equipments (plus foods and drinking water) if you are planning to stay there overnight. Just tell the boatman your planned date and time of return to San Miguel/Pundaquit.
If you are not into camping, you can have a day trip in Anawangin and stay overnight in Pundaquit or San Miguel where numerous hotels and restaurants can be found.
Accommodations in Pundaquit
|
Lalyn’s Home in San Antonio |
DG Paraiso Restaurant |
Here are other accommodations in Barangay Pundaquit and San Miguel.
Casa San Miguel Bed & Breakfast
Evangelista St., Brgy. San Miguel, Zambales
Contact No: +639178382752
Megan’s Beach Resort
Contact No: (047)6210507, (047)9133784, +639194808520
Email:[email protected]
Nora’s Beach Resort
Contact No: +639182788188/+639196374917
Punta De Uian
Contact No: (047)2522692/+639188888426
Email: [email protected]
Wild Rose Beach Inn
Contact No: +639106615613
Email: [email protected]
Things to Do in Anawangin and Nearby Areas
- Camping
- Trek to Mt. Pundaquit, Mt. Nagsasa, Mt. Cinco Picos or Mt. Balingkilat
- Surfing (Bring your own board if you will be surfing in Anawangin, otherwise you can surf in the nearby Crystal Beach with surfing equipment for rent)
- Skimboarding (Bring your own skim board)
- Island and Beach Hopping in nearby Nagsasa Cove, Capones Island, Camara Island, Talisayen Cove and Silanguin Cove
- Sidetrip to Capones Island and see the century old Capones Lighthouse
- Explore Palauig, Potipot, Masinloc, San Narciso or Liwliwa (San Felipe)
- Check out Anghalo Falls in San Felipe
- Taste the sweet mangoes of Zambales
- Trek to Mount Pinatubo Crater Lake via Botolan
- Enjoy arts and music at Casa San Miguel
Anawangin Itinerary (Sample)
DIY weekend camping itinerary
Day 1
0500H : Departure from Manila to San Antonio, Zambales
0930H : Arrival in San Antonio
0930H – 11:00H: Market to buy necessary camping supplies, foods and other equipments, bring packed lunch or buy from the market, proceed to Pundaquit or San Miguel via trike to ride the boat
1100H – 1200H: Pundaquit or San Miguel to Anawangin
1200H – 1400H: Setup camp, fix stuff, lunch
1400H – 1800H: Explore, swim, photo ops
1800H – 2000H: Wash-up, prepare dinner
2000H – 2100H: Dinner
2100H onwards: Bonfire, Night party, Socials
Day 2
0600H: Wakeup Call
0600H – 0800H: Breakfast, fix-up, break camp
0800H – 0900H: Anawangin to Capones Island
0900H – 1000H: Trek to lighthouse (if first timer, you need a guide, may balon sa taas, you can take a shower to freshen up :D)
1000H – 1100H: Photo ops, explore, rest in the light house
1100H – 1145H: Lighthouse to the boat
1145H – 1215H: Capones to San Miguel / Pundaquit
1215H – 1500H: Lunch, Shower / Fix up / Trike to San Antonio
1500H – 2000H: San Antonio to Olongapo / Food trip in Olongapo / Olongapo to Manila
Budget / Expenses
Here’s the estimated expenses for a group of four:
Manila to San Antonio Bus – 270
Anawangin Entrance Fee – 100
Food & Miscellaneous – 500
Boat Share – 300
Trike Share – 70
San Antonio to Olongapo Bus – 120
Olongapo to Manila Bus – 215
————————————–
Approximately P1,575 / person
Tips
- Since this area is facing the open waters of the South China Sea, the water is generally rough any time of the year specially during afternoon.
- Camping fee in Anawangin is at P100 per person.
- There are small stores in Anawangin that sells water, chips, candles, canned goods and other basic goods.
- No mobile signal and electricity in the area
*First published: 23-Aug-2009 | Updates: 12-Apr-2012; 27-Jan-2018; 20-Aug-2019; 06-Mar-2020
To go to Pundaquit, ride a bus bound to Iba or Sta. Cruz, Zambales. Victory Lines has scheduled trips to those destinations. Tell the driver to drop you off at San Antonio. If you are coming from their terminal in Sampaloc, it will cost you P220.00 (~$5.25), don’t forget to tell the cashier that you are up to San Antonio only, or they will charge you the full fare to its destination. Travel time is around 3 to 4 hours via NLEX.
From San Antonio, ride a tricycle to Barangay Pundaquit, standard rate is P20.00 (~$0.5), you may opt to add some tip since it is quite far.
By Air/Water
By ferry, take a Mt. Samat Express (Contact No: 551-5290) ferry ride to Subic in CCP. It is an hour ferry ride to Orion Bataan, for around P250.00 (~$6.00) . From there catch a bus to Subic for another hour or less and then a bus to Iba, Zambales, passing to San Antonio.
By air, charter an aircraft to International Subic Airport, Castillejos Airstrip, or to Iba Local Airport.
Where to Stay:
Since there are no commercial establishments in this island, you may bring a tent or camping equipments (plus foods and drinking water) if you are planning to stay there overnight. Just tell the boatman your planned date and time of return to Pundaquit.
Most tourists, however, stay in Pundaquit where numerous hotels and restaurants can be found. You can have a room for as low as P1000.00/~$25 (or even lower). For Lakwatsero’s compilation of hotels in Barangay Pundaquit click here:
Activities:
- Trek to Capones Lighthouse: If you are coming from the east side of Capones Island, you have to trek for an hour or less, to a rocky shore, passing to an unfinished building and statue of Mama Mary. I suggest you have someone with you who knows the place since the trail up has no signage and you may get lost. But if you are coming from the other side of the island (where Marimar shot some scenes), the lighthouse is already visible so it is easier to reach the place passing through a field, this side of the island however has rocky shore and some huge waves making it impossible for bancas to dock.
- Camping: Just bring your own camping equipments, enough foods and water supply.
- Swimming, Snorkeling and Diving: Just bring your own equipments.
- Island Hopping: You can visit the nearby Camara Island.
- Aquatic Sports in Barangay Pundaquit: Jetski is available for rent.
- Visit Pundaquit Falls: Walk along the beach southward towards the Pundaquit river. If your resort is too far north of the river, you can take your vehicle and get back to the main Pundaquit road and head southward until the road ends by the river. From the river, it is only a short walk by the seashore until you reach the end of the beach where there is a cliff and a smaller river (or a big stream, you might say). This small river comes from the falls, so, technically speaking, just follow the river upstream for about a hundred meters and you will end up at the foot of the falls. But remember, you may have to cut your own trail or walk along the shallow portions of the stream to get there. As you explore the falls, it gets more interesting as you climb from cascade to cascade. This falls is worth going to only during the wet season (or a little after the wet season) when there is plenty of fresh flowing water filling up the numerous “tubs” along the stream. Too little flowing water during the dry seasons makes this falls nearly stagnant, dirty and even stinky. (Source: waypoints.ph)
Lakwatsero Experience:
Lakwatsero has been to Capones in 2008. Watch out for the narratives of his travel in “My Travels”.
my friends and i are planning to go to anawangin this sat (yep, too soon ;o ) we’re around 10-15 people. can you help us estimate the cost of our stay in anawangin? (i.e boatride, entrance fee, overnight stay)
we’re looking for the cheapest alternative hehe
thank you so much!
sir pwede po kyo magbase sa rate namen…
CHEAPEST Anawangin Tour Packages
===>>>>>P1300/head minimum of 12pax and above..
===>>>>> P1400/head minimum of 10-11pax
===>>>>>P1600/head minimum of 8-9pax
PACKAGED INCLUDE:
Roundtrip AIRCON Van transfer all in boat tour anawangin, capones, camara island -2 days 1 night stay in anawangin
-entrance fee
-TENT FOR YOUR GROUP CAPACITY
-gogles for snorkeling
-cooking utensils
-cooler na with ice pa!
-Mineral water 5gallons
-Bonfire woods 1seT
-KITCHEN UTENSILS
Additional 400 per head for food (4meals)
FOR MORE INFO :
Smart: 09185595597 or 09399398456
TM: 09358118095
Sun: 09223753555
TExt or please call for immediate response..
GROUP WHO LACKS IN NUMBERS MAY CONTACT US TO JOIN YOU IN OTHER GROUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We also offers boat package only for those commuters or with their own vehicle…
Package B Rates:
P 600 per head for 10 pax.
P 600 per head for 8 pax
P700 per head for 6-7pax
P600 per head for 5 pax
Inclusions:
(Pick up point: Town proper of San Antonio, Zambales)
*Vehicle service from San Antonio to Pundaquit where the Boat ride station is located
*Boat ride to Anawangin (round trip)
*Island hopping (Capones / Camara Island)
*Entrance fee / Environmental fee
*TENT USAGE FOR YOUR GROUP CAPACITY
*GOGLES FOR SNORKELING
*cooking utensils (ihawan, kaldero)
*cooler WITH ICE pA..
Hi,
We are going to anawangin tom. maybe by 7 am we almost there, but the problem is… we don’t have any idea on what to do.. Were 5 and we are looking for a tent and a boat to rent.. how much is the boat rental and also the tent..
We’re planning to go to Anawangin on May 29-31, 2010.
Our plan is to leave Manila by 10-11pm. Approximately what time can we be there at Pundaquit?
1. Can we immediately rent a boat to Anawangin right after we arrived at Pundaquit? Is there an available boat at morning like 1-5am? Or if not, what time is the boat available? Last, how much the boat would cost if we’re 6-8 persons.
2. We’re planning to ride a van rather than to go there taking a bus. Where can we leave our van in Pundaquit? Do we need reservation for the parking? Can they assure us that the van will not get carnap?
3. Is there a reservation for staying overnight in Anawangin? If yes, do you know the number?
Thank you for your time and we highly appreciate if you can answer all our questions. 🙂
GodBless! :))
Hi mitchel, if you leave Manila by 10-11 PM, you will arrive Pundaquit by 2-3AM. Too early huh! Here’s my reply to your other questions.
1. It actually depends on your arrangement with the boatman, if you have reserved/contacted them earlier, but I DOUBT if they travel to Anawangin at this time. If ever they do, it would be hard for you to setup your camp at dark. So I suggest you leave around 2 or 3AM to arrive in Pundaquit by 6 or 7AM.
If you’re 8, you might need two boats at P1500 each, or if they have bigger boats that costs P2000 and up.
2. You may leave your car at resorts in Pundaquit for a certain rate. Try Nora’s beach resort. Or I suggest you contact Mang Johny (0920.2224687), they have parking space and boats for rent in San Miguel, a neighboring barangay of Pundaquit.
3. No need :))
Wow..where planning for a getaway experience..I think this is nice.
salamat sa post.
Hi,my friends and i are planning to go to Anawangin this middle of june. Is it safe to go there by this sched.? For how many person the banca (that costed 1500) can carry? What was the total cost (individually) of your trip to camara, anawagin, and capones island?…
June is still good. The P1500 boat can fit up to five people. All in all, my Anawangin and Capones trip costs less than P1500, that was one year ago.
hello =)) we’re planning to go to anawangin this may 22-23 (overnight).. ask ko lang kung kailangan pa naming magpa-“book” somewhere before going here.. if yes, saan at pa’no? are there boats in the island if ever we decided to go island hopping?
Hi joanne, no need for advance reservation or booing when going to Anawangin. What you need is to contact boatman in advance to take you to the cove and for your island hopping, there are contacts posted in my entry. But if you failed to contact any boatman, marami naman dun sa area, you can ask around 😉
“a banca to Anawangin can be rented for P1500.00”
Hi. Is this a round trip fare or one way only?
Round trip 😉
Me and my troup are planing to go there on May 14-16.
Please advice:
plan is to leave Manila by 6PM then will arrive at San Antonio or Pandaquit by 9 or 10??We plan to have an over night swimming at San Antonio or Pandaquit before going to Anawangin,
1.How much would it cost 10 persons to rent a room or can we use the tent in San Antonio or Pandaquit?
2.Essential tools (like knife,flash light) to bring?
@5am we are planning to go to Anawangin,
3.How much would it cost if we go Island Hoping(please advice on date and specify the rate).
@Anawangin May15th Night,
4.Can we just use BANIG?
5.Can we go snorkeling?
6.Can we cook at Anawangin if we bring a stove, pan and other cooking matl’s?
7.We do have 2 vans going to at San Antonio or Pandaquit, where can we leave them?
8.Finally how much would each person contribute for this ESCAPADE??weeee excited.
Thanks alot, appreciate if you could answer all 8 inquiries. esp the 8th question.
GodBless.
Wow! So this is next week! I’ll try to answer your questions based on my knowledge and experience in Anawangin.
1. I believe you can pitch your tents on the shores of Pundaquit, but you have to pay to the resorts, it will be minimal for sure. Or like you said, you can check-in at one of the resorts in the area, the cheapest I know is Nora’s Beach Resort, the facilities are basic though. Try calling them for their latest rate.
2. Bring the necessary camping equipments in Anawangin. Remember, there is no resort and electricity in Anawangin, not even mobile signal. Yes that include lamp/flashlight, tent, sleeping bags, knife, can opener, lighter, camping stove, cook set, etc. and etc., plus your foods and water of course.
3. The cheapest rental for a roundtrip boat trip to Anawangin is P1500, the boat can fit up to four people (five if you are all light weight). That usually include a side trip to an island before you return to Pundaquit. I suggest Capones Island, the lighthouse is picturesque. They mas ask for extra fee if you insist on going to Camara aside from Capones, because the package includes only one island sidetrip, oh well it depends on your arrangement with the boatman.
This is how I envision your itinerary based from your inputs. Please expect to have a higher boat rate for this.
May 14
6PM: Manila to Pundaquit
9PM: Arrival in Pundaquit (Overnight)
May 15
6AM Wakeup Call/Breakfast/Market time
8AM Pundaquit to Camara
830AM – 1000AM Explore Camara
1000AM – 1030AM Camara to Anawangin
1030AM onwards – Anwangin overnight
May 16
6AM Wakeup-call/Breakfast
9AM Anawangin to Capones
930AM – 1200PM – Capones/Trek to light house (guide is a must for first timers)
1200PM – 1230PM – Capones to Pundaquit
1230PM – 0200PM – Lunch/Washup/Fixup
0200PM – 0600PM – Pundaquit to Manila
4. Yes you may, but if it rains, be prepared to get wet.
5. The water in the area is generally rough especially in the afternoon, so i doubt if you can snorkel around.
6. Yes.
7. You can leave the vans on the resorts, they have parking spaces. I’m not familiar with the parking rate though.
8. The last time I went to Anawangin, I spent less than P1500 for the entire trip 😉
Enjoy Anawangin!
…may i know where is the nearest terminal if im in taguig?me & my friends are planning to visit Anawangin..thanks!
I think the nearest would be Victory Liner Terminal in Pasay, along EDSA, near Magallanes.
I’d like to ask, we’ll be in zambales kasi nextw eek 🙂 we’ll be staying in Crystal Beach (San Narciso) and planning to go to Anawangin, the resort is charging us 3k for boat (6pax). Now I’m thinking maybe we can just drive to pundaquit and ride a boat from there. How may minutes away ba yung resort sa pundaquit? and is that a good idea?
Thanks 🙂
That would be a great idea if you are on a budget, San Narciso to Pundaquit would take less than an hour.
me and my friends were planning to go to anawangin. we dont have a van so we decided to commute.. can you help us how we can get there.. thanks!!
i’d love to visit anawangin but we are not into camping there overnight,do you have any advise where to stay? thanks… love your site…
You may stay in Pundaquit, there are resorts and hotels there. Then just have a daytrip to Anawangin 😀
how much will it cost me to rent a boat to visit anawangin,camara and capones? thanks a lot
Depends on your haggling skills. But on the average, a day trip would cost approximately P1000 more or less.
I made a video blog about my ANAWANGIN TRIP.. I hope this one would help..
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=EB7733B9DBCA30E1&search_query=anawangin+cove
on the second week of january we are planning to have a day tour to anawangin and visit the nearby island there like capones and camara, do you think that we can make it in one day, because we are avoiding to leave late in the afternoon since the water is rough mostly in the afternoon.and in the evening we will be heading to tuguegarao,is there a connecting bus to tuguegarao from zambales?
salamat
We went to Anawangin over the summer and we had a great time! The place is beautiful and it’s an amazing feeling, sleeping under the stars. I want to go back! 🙂
Great blog you have here! 🙂
Wait a minute, end of August Nagsasa?! Aren’t you going to Iloilo for that? hehe
Awesome shot, as usual!
hi, do you know about nagsasa cove?
if yes, if its okey to go there in month of november
WAS THAT AGOHO? I THOUGHT THOSE WERE PINE TREES.. IVE BEEN THERE TWICE THOUGH…HI THERE! WUT U DOIN?! 🙂 http://www.kumagcow.com
COME BY MY SITE TODAY PLEASE!
I have always planned to visit this beautiful place… Soon, I’ll also get to see this. 😀
nice place! never knew such existed… I just hope there were more photos hehe.. will just search the net for it. thanks!