Weekend at Nagsasa Cove: Getting There

Nagsasa Cove is one of the famous destinations at Pundaquit San Antonio, Zambales aside from Anawangin Cove, Capones and Camara.  There's another cove here but I forgot its name.  It is said to be the farthest among these destinations.

I've been to Anawangin, Capones and Camara last year but we didn't camp out in Anawangin Cove, instead we stayed in one of the accommodations available in Pundaquit.  You can read my blog post about it here.  This time, since more and more people are raving about Nagsasa Cove, claiming it to be better than Anawangin Cove, my friends decided to visit Nagsasa Cove and stay overnight there by camping.

Panoramic view of Nagsasa Cove from the sea

Planning on this trip, we prefer convenience, thus we searched for an all in package that will take us to Nagsasa Cove at the same time tour the other coves for my first timer friends' pleasure.  Most of the tour packages require at least 10 pax for the trip to be economical.  The more, the better, the cheaper.  My officemate, who had been to Nagsasa Cove just recently, provided us boatman contact.  The same boatman guided them and provided everything for them while in Nagsasa excluding land transportation going to Zambales.  Since we prefer convenience, its a good thing that the boatman also has contacts for van rentals.  For an all in package, which includes van and boat transfer, tent, cooking equipment, utensils, mineral water, entrance fees, cottages, and island hopping, the charge was Php 1,550 per person good for 10 pax.  At the last minute, we were only 9 pax so the charge was Php 1,600.  Food was not included.   

The van is supposed to pick us up in Makati at 1am but for some reason he requested it to be at 3am.  I declined and said that it's too late already.  We agreed at 2am.  I asked again the reason for change in schedule but he didn't respond.  He arrived in Makati a bit late, 15 minutes late.  The van was big, I think that was Nissan Urvan, with cool A/C.  It can accommodate up to 18 passengers including the driver.  So for us 9 pax, it was a comfortable seating.  By the way, picking up of other people along the way is not allowed.  The driver said that there should only be one pick up and drop off point.

The travel time took 4 hours.  But I believe it should have been shortened if we opted to to take the SCTEX  route instead of San Fernando exit.  I no longer asked the driver why but I guess they're avoiding the high toll fees.  During the trip, we had 2 stop overs, one at SBMA then the other one at San Antonio where we will do marketing to buy foods to cook.  We encountered traffic somewhere in Olongapo due to fiesta preparation.  But good thing our driver asked around for a short cut or other routes to avoid the queue of trucks and other vehicles.  We arrived in San Antonio around 6 am already and the wet market is already opened (it is said to be opened by 5:30am).  We arrived at the "port" of Pundaquit by 7am.  It is not actually port but that was the tail end for land transportation.  There, we were greeted by our boatman, Marvin.  He then introduced us to the boatmen who will take us to Nagsasa Cove and who will assist us in all our preparation needs.  Marvin gave us an option on the island hopping.  He said, we can already visit Anawangin Cove before heading to Nagsasa then on the next day, that's where we will visit Capones island.  Another option is to directly head to Nagsasa Cove in day 1 and take the island hopping on the second day.  We preferred the second option.  I believe most of us were all excited to see and relax at Nagsasa Cove.

Below is the contact details of our boatman, Marvin and the van c/o Jeremy:

Marvin (boatman) - 0927.7594714
Jeremy (van) - 0906.2741883

Again our contacts for the van was also care of Marvin.  Read my next blog where I relate the beauty of Nagsasa Cove.

Canoe Beach Resort: A Review

There are a number of resorts in Barangay Pundaquit San Antonio, Zambles where you can stay overnight or so in case you plan to visit Anawangin Cove and nearby islands and wouldn't want to do camping or sleep in a tent there.

Our choices were Capones Vista and Canoe Beach Resort.  There were very few reviews on these resorts that's why we had a hard time choosing where to stay.  Both have swimming pool, which is one of our requirements in case the waves in Pundaquit becomes strong and we wouldn't able to enjoy the beach.  Capones Vista is more expensive than Canoe Beach Resort but it seems more pleasant and luxurious.  Canoe Beach Resort on the other hand is just plain resort but somehow seems safe, clean and pleasant.  And so we settled for Canoe Beach Resort as it is inexpensive.

In front of the rooms with cottages

 We are a family of 14 including 2 kids.  So we got 3 rooms in Canoe Beach Resort, 2 in the pool area and 1 in beach front area as what they call it.  Funny since its not really beach front.  It just has sands in front of the room.  It's better to stay at a room in the pool area.  Anyway, cost of the room in the pool area is Php 2,500 per night, good for 4 pax while in the beach front area, its Php 1,800 good for 2 pax.  Excess per head cost Php 350.  The rooms are quite spacious that's why all 14 of us fits the 3 rooms.

This is the beach in front of Canoe Beach Resort

Check in time is at 1pm but we arrived hours earlier.  Good thing, they allowed early check in since there's no occupants in the room we reserved.  But we cannot use their aircon.  For some reason, we really can't open it.  Maybe the switches are centralized.  But at least, fans are available.


Rooms in pool area have 2 double size bed, small side table with lamp, vanity mirror and comfort room.  For the room in the beachfront area, 1 double size bed, small side table with lamp, vanity mirror and comfort room.  All rooms does not have ref, television and hot and cold shower.  All room occupants can use their amenities like swimming pool, cooking/grilling area, and volleyball area.  The use of beachfront nipa hut is also included. There's no toiletries (except for 2 small soaps and a roll of left over toilet paper) and towels provided. But I read in some blogs that towels can be provided if you asked for it. Since I stayed mostly at the pool area room, below are my comments on it.

Farthest left is where the room termed "beach front rooms" are located

The room was clean and pleasant. Linens are all new and clean as well. However there's no blanket should one gets cold at night. Your only covering would be the bed linens which were 2, one for bed covering and the other one serves as your blanket. There's no small cabinet where you can put your clothes. There isn't any drawers as well even if there's a vanity mirror and side table. In some rooms (like ours) have a few hinges on the wall where you can hang some clothes. The airconditioning was good and it can be really cold at night.

The shower area was somehow clean. There's a wall separating the shower area and the toilet. I just noticed that there's no "sink" on the toilet side so never splash water on it or else the floor would get a little flooded. My brother splashes water in the toilet area to wipe out the sands. But unfortunately, the floor becomes a little flooded the whole time we stayed there. At the back of the toilet door, there are hinges where you can hang your clothes.

Pool side rooms

There is a small lounging area outside the room but no tables and chairs. It's like a small veranda. Since there's no tv, you can hang out there with some snacks and drinks.

Cafe Pundakit

Restaurant is available in the resort named Cafe Pundakit. Prices are reasonable and serving size can be good for 2 in some of their viands. Bringing of food and drinks is allowed in the resort without corkage fee except for sodas and beer.

The resort also offers island hopping to Anawaning, Camara and Capones. The rates are (taken from their email sent to us):

Other Charges:                          4pax Capacity          5-20pax capacity

Boat Ride: Camara Island         P 800.00                   P 150/pax

                  Capones Island       P 1,000.00                P 200pax

                  Annawangin Cove   P 1,000.00                P200/pax

                  (Annawangin only Entrance Fee- P50/pax)

Camara, Capones                       P 1,200.00              P250/pax

Camara, Capones, Annawangin P 1,500.00              P300/pax

Tour Guide to Pundakit Falls   P 50.00/pax

But since the resort's location is where most of the boats dock, we just decided to ask the boatman there and haggle price for island hopping. For 13 adults, our island hopping cost 350 each for adults.

I wasn't able to dip in the pool so I don't know its temperature.  The pool picture from their website looks big but in actual it is not.  The kids, though, enjoyed swimming in the pool.

The pool

We are allowed late check out without additional charge since no other guests will occupy our room on the same day.  However, airconditioning unit was again turned off at their usual check out time of 11am.

Overall, our stay at Canoe Beach Resort is hassle free and enjoyable.  I would recommend this place for people who wish to visit Anawangin and nearby islands but do not want to sleep in a tent.  If no television is not a factor for you then you might try to stay here.

Discovering Magalawa Island in Palauig, Zambales

I've been hearing about this island since early last year.  I heard its a secluded island with no electricity and no accommodation.  Overtime, this island has improved.  There are accommodations available and electricity and water are available 24/7.  I wished I visited this place before it got a little commercialized.

Well, the island is still nice and worth visiting now.  With its improved surrounding, at least one can no longer worry living in such primitive island.  Details about this island, however, is still limited.  When you search about this island in Google, you will only get one result, which is care of Ms. Grace.  But when we were there, there exist other individuals who sends guests to the island.  I'm just not sure who or which resort handles it.  Anyway, we availed Ms. Grace's package.  This includes entrance, boat transfer, accommodation, food and water activities.  Only the tent accommodation was left for us which cost Php 1,300 per pax (min. of 5 pax, overnight accommodation) so some of us brought their own tent and food.  They just paid for the entrance (Php 300 for overnight) and boat transfer (Php 100) per person.  You cannot cook your own food there supposedly but we saw other people grilling their food.  Good thing our DIY companion still brought their cooking stuff even if I told them its not allowed.  If you still want DIY and don't have any cooking equipment with you, you can just buy meals in the carinderia/store available in the island.  I think budget meal cost Php 70 to Php 100.

Before, Ms. Grace offers island hopping that includes the San Salvador island.  But now, they only offer snorkeling and rafting as water activities.  The reason being is that the current can be unpredictable and its no longer advisable to travel from Magalawa Island to San Salvador.  Well the rafting is a different kind of experience.  Before you proceed to snorkeling, you will ride the bamboo raft first which will be pulled by the boat until you reach the snorkeling area.  The rafting alone can be fun.

Snorkeling in the waters of Magalawa Island is not really spectacular but good enough.  There are lots of star fishes and the corals are big.  Although the fishes I saw are still quite small and there are not much of them.  The time we went snorkeling was almost 4pm already.  So by a little past 5pm, we were instructed to go back to the island.  It's quite short activity but maybe if you started early, you can explore more of what's under the sea.

Magalawa Island is quite big.  We no longer get the chance to tour the whole island as both sides have mangroves, trees and lots of branches already.  The sands are not as fine and white as Boracay but its still nice with lot of crushed shells mixed onto the sands.  The water is clean and clear with a few dried leaves on it.  Swimming here is good although there are areas that are suddenly deep even if you're not yet far away from the shore.

The food offered in the package is ok.  We always have at least 2 viands for 5 pax.  It's always seafood and meat.  The dishes cooked were simple, mostly fried especially for the fish.  It's edible though.  I got frustrated with the breakfast as it was only scrambled egg and hotdog.  I would appreciate it more if it was tuyo (sun dried fish) or tinapa (smoked dried fish) instead.

Our tent accommodation is ok as well.  Throw pillows and blankets are provided in the tent.  And you can even request for more pillows and blanket if you wish too.  So you can still feel comfy inside the tent.  During summer, I would recommend to avail the fan or AC room.  Good thing it rain in the evening and so its not so hot inside the tent while we are sleeping.

Fresh water is available in the area via poso or water pump.  You can take a bath inside the "bamboo" bathroom but you must fetch a bucket of water to do so.  Or you can just take a bath outside, near the poso and change clothes in the bathroom.

Overall, going to this island is another experience.  I would still recommend it to my other friends for beach bumming and overnight relaxation.  The travel time is quite long though, at least 5 hours from Manila with few stop overs.  If you want a worry free accommodation then choose the packages offered by Ms. Grace.  They have fan room, AC room and tent accommodation.  The prices are quite fair and competitive.  But if you're budget conscious, then DIY is recommended.  Besides, its always fun and an adventure camping and sleeping in a tent.