The Zambales Coves

Zambales lies on the western shores of Luzon Island, Philippines along the South China Sea. This is one of those provinces that pretty much have it all – untainted forest landscape, the Sierra Madre mountain range, communities that practice living traditions and 107 miles of pure beach. Zambales is known as the bastion of the Aetas; they were the earliest Filipinos to migrate to the archipelago more than 10,000 years ago.
Pundaquit, Zambales is one of my favorite sweet escapes from the city turmoil being very economical and its proximity to Manila. Long stretches of almost white volcanic sand (The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 greatly altered the vast landscape) turquoise waters, serene lagoons lined by pine trees and pristine islets set against white sand beaches and rugged mountains dot the western seaboard of Luzon. I love to spend my weekend here with my family and friends – beach bumming, camping and surfing.
Barangay San Antonio is the most popular jump–off point for the popular coves, Anawangin, Talisayen, Silangen, Nagsasa and  Capones and also known for the Magic Left Reef Break with surfers.
To get there from Metro Manila
Bus:  take a three-hour bus ride from the Victory Liner stations in Cubao, Caloocan City, Pasay City or Sampaloc in Manila. Take the Iba or Sta. Cruz-bound bus and ask to be dropped off in front of the San Antonio town hall. From there you can take a tricycle to Pundaquit.
Private Car:  take the Balintawak exit to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx). From NLEx, take the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) exit, then follow the route to Subic Bay Freeport. From the Subic free port tollgate, turn right on Rizal Highway. Then go straight until you reach the dead end. Turn left (on the right is the tollgate to Olongapo City), then turn right on the first intersection (Canal Street) and exit through Kalaklan Gate (tollgate to Zambales). Follow the Zambales highway until you reach the San Antonio town hall.From the town hall, take a tricycle to Pundaquit where boats wait to ferry tourists to the coves.

Pundaquit Jump Off / Magic Left

Pundaquit has a lot of cheap hotels along its shore but  we always go DIY whenever we go camping. And even if San Antonio has a huge wet and dry market, we prefer to purchase everything we need in Manila to save time. The cove has no electricity and has a weak mobile network coverage plus its 30 minutes minimum away from Pundaquit so you need to prepare everything from your tent to food and other personal stuff. Expect that the coves are packed out with campers during weekends most especially on legal holidays.  It is ideal to leave Manila at 2:00 am or 03:00 am so you can reach Pundaquit by 06:00 am. Pundaquit has killer waves and boat men usually refrain from transferring passengers if it’s too strong so might as well be there as early as possible when the waves are still manageable. 

Where to hire a boat / banka?? 

No worries - in this barangay, everybody knows everybody. Just ask the tricycle driver that you need a boat for transport and he can directly drop you off to the boatman's/bangkero's house or just simply go to the shore - ask a local where to hire a boat then he will find you one - special delivery. RT Boat Transfer cost 1000 php as far as I can remember but sometimes it depends upon which cove you are going and the season (It cost too much during summer) or depends upon how great you are in haggling. 

The boats being used are actually fishing boats and yes, its very light but they have life vest so keep calm. 

Anawangin Cove is the nearest cove from the town proper and the most visited with 30 minutes boat ride while Nagsasa Cove is the farthest with an hour boat ride.