A TRAVEL GUIDE FROM AUGUST 2017

Since we are all working even on weekends + Holidays. We only got a limited time for a short trip like this.

The week before a trip we asked our friends who want to join the not-so-summer-getaway-adventure going to Zambales and it all begins with “Tara Zambales tayo!”

It was 5 of us endured the 4-hours-long-drive to Zambales. Okay, let me correct that, it was 2 of us (Me as Driver & Miggy as car DJ) endured the 4-hours long drive plus 3 of them do the talking and sleeping (Sarap Buhay bes!).

~ITINERARY

DAY 0
06:30 PM – ETD Mnl to Zambales
08:00 PM – Stopover – NLEX; Dinner Time! (KFC & Army Navy)
08:30 PM – Resume Driving going to ZAMBALES!
11:30 PM – Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA); Bought some food and Liquor
12:00 AM – Start of Inuman Session at PMMA student’s barracks (Transient Home)
02:00 AM -Lights off

Note: Btw, this transient house used to be my boyfriend barracks nung nag aaral pa siya. Until now, may mga student parin naman nakatira don but during our visit nasa loob sila ng Academy.

DAY 1
07:00 AM – Breakfast Time!
08:30 AM – Drive to Pundaquit Beach
08:45 AM – ETA to Pundaquit Beach; Look for Affordable bangka service (Island Tour); Bought Some Bread and Tuna (So-called warrior lunch)
09:00 AM – Start of Island Tour
First Stop: Capones Island (Swimming Time!)”
11:30 AM – Second Stop: Agnaem Cove ; Lunch and Siesta Time!
02:00 PM – Back to Pundaquit Beach
03:00 PM – Swimming time for the second time! (You will love the waves)
04:30 PM – Bath time! (Bath like a warrior)
05:00 PM – ETD to Olongappo
06:00 PM – ETA to Olongappo + Dinner time + Buy Pasalubong (If any)
07:00 PM – ETD to Manila
12:00 PM – Home Finally!

Note: Dapat mag a-anawangin kami that time pero dahil masyadong maalon at hindi maganda ang panahon, so hindi na kami tumuloy.

~BUDGET

500.00 PHP – Accommodation (for 5pax)

Day 0
870.00 PHP – Full Tank Gas
370.00 PHP – Toll Fee (NLEX-SCTEX)
Dinner (Stopover) Kanya-kanyang Bayad (KKB)
Total : 1,240.00 PHP

Day 1
1,800.00 PHP – Island Hopping
180.00 PHP – Island Hopping Food (Tuna & Bread)
Medyo di kami prepared at wala talagang mabilhan na pagkain around the area
Total : 1,980.00 PHP

GRAND TOTAL: 3720.00 PHP
BUDGET PER PAX : 744.00 PHP
SAFE BUDGET W/ FOOD : 1,000.00 – 1,500.00 PHP

~HOW TO GET THERE

VIA COMMUTE

Barangay Pundaquit is the jumpoff point to the beaches of San Antonio.

From Manila, catch a Victory Liner bus in Cubao bound to Iba, Zambales, and get off at San Antonio Public Market.
Take a tricycle to Pundaquit
In Pundaquit, ask the locals for the boat rental to Anawangin or Nagsasa Cove. (Island hopping is also possible)

Note: Alternatively, you may also travel by bus to Olongapo City, and then board another bus to San Antonio.

Fare: I don’t the exact fare as of today but usually the bus fare range to 250-300Php going to Zambales, and Tric going to Pundaquit is 30-50Php with a total of 350Php one-way

VIA PRIVATE VEHICLE

Drive along NLEX until you reach the Dao exit.
From the Dao exit, drive along SCTEX. Make sure you’re on a path bound for Subic.
Take the exit at Subic. When you see the Olongapo Public Cemetery, turn left.
You will pass by Subic Town, Castillejos, and San Marcelino. Once you reach an intersection leading to Iba or San Antonio, turn left for San Antonio.
When you’re in San Antonio, turn another left at the end of the main road.
Simply follow signs leading to Pundaquit.

EASIEST INSTRUCTION

Make sure you install your “Waze Map” (GPS navigation software) and just follow the route.

~BOAT RENTAL AND TOUR RATES

Here are the rates of round-trip boat rentals and day tours (as of December 2017):

Anawangin Cove only: Php 1,000.00
Agnaem Cove + Capones Island: Php 1,800.00
Anawangin Cove + Capones Island + Camara Island: Php 2,000.00
Nagsasa Cove only: Php 1,600.00
Nagsasa Cove + Capones + Camara Island: Php 2,000.00

Note that the figures above are per boat, which means it will still be divided by how many you are in the group. A boat can ferry up to 4-6 passengers.