Capones Island Travel Guide: The Lighthouse Island of Zambales

By Lakwatsero On
Capones Island

About Capones

Four kilometers off Barangay Pundaquit of Zambales in the main island of Luzon is the Capones Island or “Isla de Gran Capon” during the Spanish era. It is a two-kilometer long bone-shaped island surrounded with white sand and rocky shores.

This island boasts of white sand beaches conducive for overnight camping, day picnic and swimming; turquoise water and rich marine life that is great for diving and snorkeling.

Capones
Beach at the eastern part of Capones Island

There is no commercial establishment on the island and the only structure there (apart from an unfinished building) is an old Spanish lighthouse known as Faro de Punta Capones, built in 1890 to guide ships entering and leaving Subic Bay and to warn passing ships of the dangers of rocky shores around the island. The solar-powered lighthouse is Capones’ best kept secret, with its original brick house structure still in place, though in ruins and neglected, that still draws a dramatic scene.

Just a stone throw away from Capones Island is the Camara Island, which is virtually two islands connected by a sandbar.

Capones
Ideal camping spot! 🙂

How to Get to Capones Island

To get to Capones Island 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.

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.

Capones-Anawangin-Nagsasa Boat Rate 2017

Destination Capacity Boat Rate
Anawangin + Capones 1-4 persons P1,000
Capones + Anawangin + Nagsasa Cove 1-4 persons P2,500
Anawangin + Capones 5-6 persons P1,500
Capones Island
The old gate of Capones Lighthouse

Where to Stay in Capones 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 Capones Island and stay overnight in Pundaquit or San Miguel where numerous hotels and restaurants can be found.

Recommended Accommodations in Pundaquit

Lalyn's Home in San Antonio

Lalyn’s Home in San Antonio
Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales
Starts at 3,000 PHP (4 Guests)

CHECK RATES

 DG Paraiso Restaurant

 DG Paraiso Restaurant
Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales
Starts at 3,500 PHP (4 Guests)

CHECK RATES

Here are some of the accommodations in Barangay Pundaquit and San Miguel.

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]

Anawangin
Anawangin Cove

What to do in Capones Island and Nearby Areas

  • 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, (only stone guides) and you may get lost. But if you are coming from the other side of the island (near the stairs), 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: Bring your own camping equipments, enough foods and water supply.
  • Swimming, Snorkeling and Diving: Bring your own equipments.
  • Island Hopping: You can visit the nearby Camara Island, Nagsasa Cove, Silanguin Cove, Talisayen Cove and Anawangin Cove.
  • Aquatic Sports in Barangay Pundaquit: Jetskis are available for rent.
  • Visit Pundaquit Falls
  • 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
  • Trek to Mt. Pundaquit, Mt. Nagsasa, Mt. Cinco Picos or Mt. Balingkilat

Sample Itinerary

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 – 1130H: Pundaquit or San Miguel to Camara Island
1130H – 1200H: Free time in Camara Island
1200H – 1230H: Camara to Capones Island
1230H – 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 – 0900H: Breakfast, free time, swim, break camp
0900H – 1000H: Trek to lighthouse
1000H – 1130H: Photo ops, explore, rest in the light house
1130H – 1230H: Lighthouse to the boat
1230H – 1300H: Capones to San Miguel / Pundaquit
1300H – 1500H: Lunch, Shower / Fix up / Trike to San Antonio
1500H – 2000H: San Antonio to Olongapo / Food trip in Olongapo / Olongapo to Manila

Capones Island
Approaching Capones Island

Budget / Expenses

Here’s the estimated expenses for a group of four:

Manila to San Antonio Bus – 270
Food & Miscellaneous – 500
Boat Share – 250
Trike Share – 70
San Antonio to Olongapo Bus –  120
Olongapo to Manila Bus –  215

————————————–

Approximately P1,425 / 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.
  • No mobile signal and electricity in the area

Comments

  1. Mae
    Posted on

    btw.

    1st or 2nd week of may ang plan..

    thanks thanks thanks!!!!

  2. Mae
    Posted on

    hi lakwatsera..

    isa kong batang gapo but i’ve never been to pundaquit.. (kahiya naman) hehe. at ngaun nsa manila n ko nagwwork.. pLan ko sna pumunta with my family.

    Is it possible to visit the camara island, capones island, anawangin cove and nagsasa cove all in one day? pano kaya mgndang itenerary? tsk magkno kya aabutin sa island hop pag ngrent ng boat? we have to bring our own food and drinks ryt?? wla bang pwde pagbnlawan man lang?

    Thanks & more Power!

    All in one day? Hmm, mukhang mahirap ito, pero doable pa din naman but you will not really enjoy and appreciate the place lalo na kung madalian, saka medyo mahirap na ang boat ride pagdating ng hapon dahil usually, maalon talaga sa area na iyon pag hapon. Yep, I would suggest bringing your own foods and drinks, although may small store na sa Anawangin, pero may kamahalan ng konti, so magbaon kayo. In Anawangin, may mga deep well sila, but don’t expect a crystal clear and odorless water from it.

    If I were you, ganito ang gagawin ko, on day 1, go to Anawangin, then to Nagsasa and set up your camp here, medyo malayo kasi ang Nagsasa. Then the next day, daan kayo s Capones and/or Camara before going back to Pundaquit/San Miguel.

  3. juniebubu
    Posted on

    we’re planning to go der by 2nd week of may..if i may ask,how much is the standard fare for a boat ride going to capones island.is it 900?tnx..hope ders no rain showers by 2nd week of may..=) xie xie..

    The last time I went there, March 2008, the standard rate was P700.00 (Pundaquit-Capones-Pundaquit). Expect the the price to range from P700-P900.

  4. my
    Posted on

    hi lakwatsero.
    i’m arranging a zambales get away for 12 pax. fri nyt we’ll leave mla (arrive madaling araw in zambales) and be back mon. hope u could help me:
    1. if we will go to potipot and anawangin/ capones/ camara, dapat ba pundaquit muna on sat then early sun lipat ng candelaria(for potipot)?
    2. would u know if meron malaking cottage sa nora’s to accomodate such big group? pasensya na, wala kc ko makita pix ng nora’s online.. and i trust ur judgement 🙂
    btw, lakwatsera rin ako pero highest level ka. saludo ako!

    hi my, ms. lakwatsera. hehehe! here are my answers to your questions:

    1. Are you really sure on having potipot and anawangin/capones/camara on one weekend? I mean, baka ma-beach bore kayo. But if you insist on this itinerary, it is actually doable and you are on the right direction. Assuming you arrive Pundaquit early morning of Saturday, go to Capones first, trek to the light house, maganda dun, drop by at Camara, and be sure to be in Anawangin around noon to after lunch because the water in the area is generally rough during afternoon. Spend the night in Anawangin, and head up to Potipot early Sunday morning.

    2. As far as I can remember, there is no room in Nora’s that can accomodatae 12 pax. You might need to split into groups 😀

  5. Audrey
    Posted on

    Lakwatsero… We are planning to go to zambAles nextweek na kso undecided pko. I want to see anawangin kso sa crystal beach kami mag ccheckin panu kaya un? Me banca ba from there to anawangin? Kso lam ko its 11km na di ba maxado na un malayo??

    Hi audrey, I will be in anawangin on april 25-26, baka magkita tayo 😀
    Anyway, crystal beach is in San Narciso, Zambales, as far as I know, crystal beach is a private property, kaya walang mga boat there to Anawangin/Capones, you still need to go to Pundaquit, San Antonio

  6. Jey
    Posted on

    Hi! Thanks for the tips! Ido-download ko po sana ung list mo ng accommodations in pundaquit pero nag-eerror sakin. can you please post some of them here? 🙂 yung mga beach po na may boats to anawangin and pwede magluto. thank you!!

    The link is working fine. Try opening the link again. Anyway, I’ll create a separate post for accommodations in Pundaquit.

  7. ranz
    Posted on

    hi..ask ko lang po sana.. saan ba mas ok mag beach and camp?sa san antonio(pundaquit) or san narciso?
    saan mas maganda sand?and safer?
    and aside from anawangin,meron paba campsites with in pundaquit?like ko sana mag tent lang pero takot pako sa anawangin or capones.. pls help.. thanks

    I haven’t been to San Narciso. Camping is great in Anawangin and Capones Island. Pundaquit is not a great campsite and I don’t think campers setup their tents here, since there are resorts/hotels in the area, and the sand is not that great since it is gray/black.

  8. yanda
    Posted on

    is it ok to go there this december?
    thanks!

    yes, as long as there’s no typhoon affecting the area

  9. Anna
    Posted on

    Hi! We are planning to have our prenuptial pictorials at Anawangin and Capones. What itenerary could you suggest for a 2-day zambales tour? We are planning to rent a room at Pundaquit because our photographers would need to charge their camera batteries.. 🙂 Are there other options to reach the Capones lighthouse aside from trekking? Thanks! 🙂

    At this time of year, medyo malakas na ang alon from the west, so hindi na makaka-dock ang mga boat near the lighthouse, that means, na you can only reach the lighthouse by trekking, unless of course you hire a chopper 😛 Anyway, Anawangin is really a great setting, at syempre lalo na ang Capones light house. You can also go to the nearby Camara Island.

  10. lexia
    Posted on

    thanks alot geron!!

    i shall come there soon!

  11. Eugene
    Posted on

    I am seaching for some idea to write in my blog… somehow come to your blog. best of luck. Eugene

  12. lexia
    Posted on

    hi lakwatsero.. i am a lakwatsero too, so i am planning to go to capones island.. i really want to see such a place.. when do you think will be the best time to go there? coz i want to see good sandlayouts.. i also want to see the sandbar in capones but they said that is visible during rainy season only..

    Hi lexia, there is no sandbar in Capones Island, but there is in the nearby Camara (Camera) Island. This sandbar links the two landmass of Camara Island, the best way to go there is around October to January, because this sandbar moves away on other time of the year due to changing water current.

  13. geron
    Posted on

    we’ll be planning to go to capones isalnd this weekend
    hirap pala mag plan esp kapag hindi maxado lakwatsero mga kasama mo

    and i believe dapat naka sapatos tama ba? hindi ata pde ang naka slippers lng all through out?

    dame ko natutunan sa site mo mr.lakwatsero. muah!
    sama ako minsan sau

    thanks secret! ok lang naman nakaslippers/sandals lang. i was only wearing sandals when i went there 😀

  14. mye
    Posted on

    wow sobrang informative ni m.lakwatsero! hehehe. we’ve been there last holy week din e. pero unfortunately, di namin narating ang lighthouse kc wala kaming guide and wala po talaga treail. next week punta kami. this time kukuha na kami ng guide para maakyat ang lighthouse. gusto ko lang sana malaman,san ang part na maganda at safe mag overnight sa capones? un malapit na din paakyat ng lighthouse and camara island? thanks!

    thanks mye! to answer your question on where is the best place to camp, actually depends on the time of the year, the water current/wave changes throughout the year. During southwest monsoon (Habagat) around summer, boats usually dock in the northern beach due to strong current and big waves. During northwest monsoon (Amihan) around October to February, boats usually dock in the north shore near the lighthouse.

  15. aimee
    Posted on

    your blog is very helpful… thank God for kind soul like you

    Thanks aimee!

  16. jen
    Posted on

    hi angel,

    balak kasi namin ng friend kong mag potipot at anawangin (kasama na ang camara at capones) sa november. ano kayang mas convenient na unahin? syanga pala commute lang kami atsaka wala kaming tent so magoovernight lang kami sa pundaquit.

    thanks in advance

    Hi jen, wow, may trip ka na naman? Hehe! Parang mas okey unahin ang Potipot dahil baka masyado kayo mapagod sa Capones/Camara (I assume kasi na magtretrek kayo sa Capones Lighthouse), so parang anti-climatic yun, baka di nyo na maenjoy ang Potipot. Kaya parang mas ok ang Potipot muna, then Anawangin/Capones/Camara. Better spend the night/camp in Anawangin para maenjoy nyo talaga yung place, then day trip in Capones/Camara. But if you plan to stay in Pundaquit, madami namang mga resorts/hotel.

  17. james
    Posted on

    thanks a lot!!

  18. james
    Posted on

    hi lakwatsero, thanks for the reply! am i correct to say that the important thing is that i must reach SBMA first? then after there madali na b? pasensya na im not familiar with the roads. my plan is NLEX-SCTEX supposedly to subic/SBMA then from there pnta na san anotnio zambales

    Yes James, you have to reach SBMA first, then drive northward pa, passing to Castillejos and San Marcelino before reaching San Antonio. You were right, take the NLEX then SCTEX, via SPUR-NLE Interchange (after DAU) or via SCTE-NLE Junction, but I suggest the SPUR-NLE Interchange since mas mauuna yun. Yun na din siguro ang mga route ng Zambales bound buses now. Travel time will definitely cut short.

  19. james
    Posted on

    hi lakwatsero, first of all great site, first time visiting your site as i was looking for information about going to anawangin cove. will regularly visit this site from now on,thanks!

    would like to ask a favor though, do you have a map going to san antonio zambales particulary here in pundaquit where we are planning to stay. Also since open na SCTEX im assuming un travel time is significantly cut short tama b? hoping for your advice and cooments on how i can get there?

    Hi james, if you are looking for a road map, sorry I don’t have. But I think there is an A-Z Road Map of the place, available in bookstores. Anyway, going to this place from Manila is easy, just follow the buses going to Zambales that pass through NLEX, Bataan and Subic. About the SCTEX, well if you are coming from Tarlac, travel time will definitely cut short but if you follow NLEX, Bataan, Subic route (which is the common route from Manila to Zambales) then it will take you three to four hours.

  20. shhh
    Posted on

    thanks thanks…your recommendations would be of great help..If we have things that need to clarify I’ll be leaving a comment again…. 😀

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