Anawangin Cove, Zambales 2023 DIY Travel Guide

Tall pine trees towering over you in a campsite just a few steps from the salt water and ocean waves? Sure. Anawangin Cove has it.

In just a 4 to 5-hour drive from the hustle and bustle of Manila with a 30-minute wave-battling boat ride is a hidden paradise called Anawangin Cove located at Barangay Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales. It is one of the recently known coves of Pundaquit along with Agnain and Nagsasa. As aforementioned, the beach is known for its relaxing campsite, fine gray sand and the beach itself enveloped in the mountain ranges of Pundaquit which can be trekked during one’s stay in there to get an awesome bird’s eye view of Anawangin. It has been one of the tourists’ favorite destination to feed their beach bumming and wanderful souls apart from the ones located in Subic. For from this cove, they can go on an island hopping to Capones and Camara Islands as well.

waiting for our boat at Pundaquit

View at the shore of Mt. Pundaquit at 6 in the morning

Anawangin Cove’s sand might be fine but it’s unique for its color. If you are expecting for a wide stretch of white sand, Capones Island has it.

I was not able to take much photos in Camara Island because I was in great disappointment upon our approach to its shore. There are garbage, a lot of garbage in its waters. It could have been a good spot for diving but you would choose not to because of it. According to the locals, these wastes were from Pundaquit carried by the waves to the island. Another, we were not able to get off the boat because the waters are high as well as the waves.

How to Get There

1. Take a Victory Liner bus from Caloocan bound for Iba, Zambales. One way trip costs Php 374.00 in a regular air-conditioned bus. You can also go to their official website to book your trip. Get off at San Antonio town proper. Note: The unloading zone in the town proper is near to the market and I suggest that you buy goods and food from there if you plan not to bring some. 2. From the town market, ride a tricycle (terminal’s near 7 11 across a small chapel near the market) to Brgy. Pundaquit Note: Environmental fee is at Php 20.00 per head and a parking fee is at Php 25.00 for those who will bring their own ride 3. As for the boat ride, it is highly suggested that you contact a local prior to your trip so that they can make reservations for you. You can contact Mang Boy or Ate Liwayway for this. Boat rental is at Php 1,500.00 for 6-7 persons and Php 2,500.00 – Php 3,000.00 for a boat which can carry 10-15 persons. You can also make arrangements as regards the island hopping.

Upon your arrival at the beach, there are several resorts where you can stay in which offer open cottages, tables and comfort room use. An amount of Php 100.00 per head shall be paid for the use of their amenities. In our case, we stayed in Balai Resort since it was the least crowded when we got there. Tent pitching is free of charge. The good thing about that resort is that their washrooms are clean, there’s sink with tap water, there’s a basketball and volleyball court and you can rent balls from them for Php 100.00 for two hours should you not be able to bring your own. Open cottages rate is at Php 350.00 and open tables are at Php 150.00. There are also sari-sari stores in there where you can also buy charcoal, woods for campfires and some instant food, too. But I suggest you buy woods and charcoals in Pundaquit because it’s a little pricey in the cove.

The Campsite of Balai Resort

The good thing about contacting a local prior to your trip is that you can avail a package from them which includes the boat ride back and forth the cove, island hopping, tent rental, utensils, grill, woods, charcoal, drinking water and ice box. They can also cook food for you.

Things to do in Anawangin

1. Swimming 2. Beach Bumming 3. Camping 4. Stargazing 5. Trekking – The best time to trek is either at 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM 6. Island hopping – best time is at the morning since the ocean is a little calm at this time of the day

Anawangin DIY Sample Itinerary

DAY 0: 12:00am – ETD Manila DAY 1: 05:30am -ETA San Antonio 05:30am – 06:00am – buying goods and essentials at the town 06:00am – ETD to Brgy. Pundaquit 06:15am – ETA Brgy. Pundaquit/ meeting with the local boatmen 06:45am – ETD to Anawangin Cove 07:15am – ETA Anawangin Cove/ check in to the resort 07:20am – tent pitching/ cooking for breakfast 08:30am – breakfast 08:30am – onwards – Beach bumming DAY 2: 05:30am – trekking 05:45am – 06:30am – sunrise watching 06:30am-06:45am – descend 06:45am – 07:45am – breakfast 07:45am onwards – beach bumming 11:00am – early lunch 12:00nn – start of Island hopping 12:30pm – Capones Island (sandbar and lighthouse) 2:30pm – Camara Island 2:10pm – Brgy. Pundaquit/ wash up 3:30pm – homebound 6:00pm – Subic (Duty Free) early dinner 10:00pm – ETA Manila Here are the contact details that you might need: ?Ate Liwayway/ Kuya Cris – 09278040264 ?San Antonio Municipal Tourism Office – 09198906042 I suggest that you constantly communicate with them most especially as regards the waves, sailing and the weather.

If you want to stay in a room or resort and just choose to include Anawangin as part of your island hopping in your itinerary, there’s a nearby resort called Capones Island Resort located at Pundaquit. Or you may want to click below my page for hotels near Anawangin.

Zambales Travel Requirements 2022

As of January 2022, the following are the requirements that you need to prepare shall you decide to visit the province of Zambales:

Download the Zambales Visita QTP
Valid ID
Confirm hotel/ resort accommodation booking
For fully vaccinated tourists: LGU-issued COVID-19 vaccination card or vaccination certificate which should at least be dated and completed two weeks before your departure for your trip
For those with incomplete vaccination/ unvaccinated tourists: 72-hour valid negative RT-PCR test or 24-hour valid rapid antigen test.

There you go. I hope this one helps should you decide to go this awesome place! The place itself is instagrammable! You just have to choose the best spots that will suit your beach poses and goals and a friend with a sense of photography.