LOOK LEFT Pundaquit Beach is the dock-off point of travellers heading to the islands of Capones, Anawangin, and Nagsasa. We prepared less for this trip and it took us 6-hours to queue at the bus station. We took an Iba-bound bus for another 5 hours on the road. We arrived San Antonio by sunset. Quite honestly we are initially disappointed upon arriving at our accommodation. It is an extremely tiring trip and there's is a big group occupying half of the resort. They tend to be rowdy through the night. We stayed here since we refuse to camp in the islands. We got non-aircon cottages which is actually a steal for a budget of less than Php1000 per night. Meals is not a problem, they serve pretty good breakfast. Tables and chairs are also provided outside the cottages. There is also a tree house deck for relaxation. Like most backpackers inn, the rest rooms are communal but well-maintained. There is no vehicle parking in their premises but there nearby spaces available for rent. On to our second night of stay, as soon as the big group leave, it turned out as a quiet place to stay and unwind. The hotel staff also assisted us in getting a boat to Nagsasa for our Day Tour. We booked the boat for Php1200 back and forth. Tried Ohana Art Cafe for dinner. Food is just okay. We ordered the set meal for P350 per plate. For our last night in Pundaquit, we had a Filipino food feast at Canoe Beach Resort. Menu extremely affordable and surprisingly good. We had Sisig, Sinigang, Caldereta, Ensalada, Grilled Fish, and Drinks for Php1200. read more

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Out of the other coves you can visit in Zambales, Nagsasa is my favorite. Just a few hours from Manila, the campsite is not as crowded and you can go on a nice hike across the mountainous area to enjoy two waterfalls. There is also a very basic toilet and shower so you can still do your business and clean yourself up. I like that on the right side, if you're facing the cove, is an open area where you can play Frisbee or tan to your heart's content. The water is also calm and warm. Guides are available for the hike. We did this on a whim so we did not have the right attire, but we survived our in flip flops and swim shorts. It's always better to be prepared, though. If you're on a budget, buy food at the wet market before boarding the boat to the cove. You can cook in the little kitchen hut at the campsite, just remember to ask your guide nicely. You can also ask them to charge your gadgets for you for a small fee (less than P30), but that means they will take a boat back to your take-off point where there is electricity. If you run out of water, you can also ask them to get water for you. We found out that one of the waterfalls is the source of that water so if you're picky, bring plenty of bottles or a portable filter. read more

Nagsasa Cove - Camp, cook, wash and dry your own clothes! - Campgrounds Near Me - San Antonio, ZMB