summer memories of anawangin

Watching Bea alonzo and Sam Milby’s And I love You So prompted me to write my experience of Anawangin. Im lucky to have gone to anawangin not once but twice and I will keep on coming back! Anawangin is found at Pundaquit, San Antonio , Zambales. Who would not want to go to a white beach that has pine trees on it? I thought pine trees are only found in Baguio City , Tagaytay and other cold mountainous area.

My first visit to Anawangin Cove was on October of 2008. We were able to visit the other two islands, Capones and Camara as well.

From afar, Camara Island looks like a blue whale. During low tide, there is a sandbar that connects the small and big part of Camara. It disappears during high tide. A lighthouse is located at Capones Island . A perfect place for pre – nuptial picture taking or just plain trekking and sight – seeing. At anawangin cove, you can also check the river for your phot-ops.

How to get to anawangin: take a bus from Pasay Victory Terminal headed to San Antonio , Zambales. At San Antonio public market, take a tricycle going to Pundaquit and from Pundaquit, look for Apo Baket’s Resort and Mang Flor ante Lavesoria where you can arrange for a guide or pump boat if you chose not to hike.

Entrance fee is 100 pesos for an overnight stay. There are 3 camping sites depending on the number of pine trees and the bathroom/shower area. First camp site, charges 100 per head for overnight stay. This part of the cove has lots of pine trees and 2 nice bathrooms. Camping site 2 charges 50 per head before but on our second trip, it charges 100 pesos per head and with less pine rees than the first one. Camping site 3 charges ********* but with less pine trees and no bathroom. You pitch the tent and live bundok style. You have to dig up if you feel the urge to poopoo.

Here is a suggested itinerary. A consolidation of itineraries we found on the internet.

Day 1:

4:00 AM – Assembly tim e at Victory Liners Pasay

5:00 AM – ETD to Olongapo, Zambales

7:30 AM - ETA Olongapo and breakfast

8:00 AM – ETD to San Antonio , Zambales

8:30 AM – ETA San Antonio and tryk ride to Brgy. Pundaquit

8:45 AM – ETA Brgy Pundaquit and arrange guide and Sunday boat ride

9:00 AM – Start Trek

11:30 AM – ETA Summit and Eat pack lunch

12:15 PM – Resume trek: Descent to Anawangin Cove

2:30 PM – ETA Anawangin Beach , Rest and Pitch tent

3;00 PM – Activities: beach bumming, swimming, skim boarding, sand castle making, surfing .. gulping

5:30 PM - picture taking sa sunset

6:00 PM – prepare dinner

7:00 PM – socials at gulping… lights out then chismax galore….

Day 2

5:30 AM – wake up call and breakfast

6:3-0 AM – break camp and last minute ligo sa beach

7:00 AM - island hopping (Capones and camara island)

9:00 AM – back to brgy Pundaquit and banlaw (wash up)

9:30 AM – tryke ride to San Antonio and then wait for bus bound for manila (or side trip to subic is possible)

Breakdown of expenses (Philippine pesos):

Pasay to Olonggapo – 211

Breakfast - 50

Olonggapo to San Antonio – 60

Tryk to jump off – 25/head

Groceries – 300

Bangka ride – 300 (two way) 2 way 250 (one way)

Entrance fee – 100

Es tim ated budget – 1600 per head