Zambales Overnight Beach Getaway

Zambales is a favorite weekend beach destination of Manila’s adventurous residents. Its dramatic combination of emerald mountains meeting a sapphire sea is irresistible to hikers, campers and nature lovers. Three and a half hours north of the city it is slightly farther and far less developed than Batangas, another popular seaside area south of Manila. While Batangas is commercially established with numerous resorts and vacation communities, Zambales is still rugged and mostly undeveloped. Most of its beaches are uninhabited and free of manmade structures. A few inns have sprung up in recent years but camping on the beach is still the norm.

Standards for beaches are high in the Philippines and Zambales has all the top-end requisites: fine white sand, crystalline water and abundant marine life. It also has uncommon features that make the area stand out in a country of beaches. Pine trees bordering the sand make for a unique atmosphere of a temperate forest growing in a tropical beach. Countless fissures stripe coral reefs and form hiding places for fish and interesting tunnels for snorkelers. Streams cutting across beaches to empty into the sea create natural rinse pools. These elements, combined with the absence of any resort, make for a truly special place.

On this adventure we ride a small fishing boat to ply the coast and explore the many beaches of Zambales. We visit a deserted island with a lighthouse, hike up a hill for a majestic view, go cliff jumping and camp on a quiet beach for an unforgettable escape back to nature.

Highlights and activities

• Enjoy beautiful coves and white sandy beaches.
• Snorkel vibrant coral reefs.
• Visit a 19th century lighthouse.
• Ride a fishing boat and fish using a hand line.
• Go cliff jumping.
• Camp in a secluded beach.

• camping
• hiking / trekking
• snorkeling

1. 

   Day 1: Capones Island and Nagsasa Cove

   We pick you up early and drive 3.5 hours to a fishing village in Zambales where we board our small boat. Our first destination is Capones, an uninhabited island with sandy beaches, beautiful rock formations and a lighthouse built in 1890 that is perched on a bluff. We swim and hike up to the lighthouse to get a great view of the island and the Zambales coastline. Shortly after noon we head to Nagsasa, a large cove with several beaches and a backdrop of mountains. We go to a secluded beach bordered by rock walls and rich coral reefs. There we have lunch and spend the rest of the day snorkeling, exploring the coastline and cliff diving. At night we marvel at billions of stars before retiring to our tents pitched on the sand.

2. 

   Day 2: Silanguin Cove

   After a leisurely breakfast we head to Silanguin Cove. On the way we try our hand at fishing with a hand line and whatever we catch will be lunch. Silanguin Cove has a long beach with shallow water and a rock-free sand bottom, making it perfect for swimming. At one end of the cove is a hill that we hike up for a magnificent view. We have lunch on the beach then make our way back to yesterday’s starting point, stopping at snorkeling areas along the way. We drive back to Manila in late afternoon and arrive at around 8:00PM.

This adventure is offered from November to May. Contact us to schedule your Private Tour.

Includes

• Private transportation.
• Camping equipment.
• 4 meals (lunch of Day 1 to lunch of Day 2).
• All fees associated with the specified activities.
• Guiding service.
• Use of snorkeling equipment.

Excludes

• Food and beverage other than the meals specified above. Allocate 200 to 300 Pesos (about 4 to 5 USD) per meal.
• Travel insurance.

• This adventure involves a lot of time in the water. You don’t need to be a great swimmer (life jackets are provided) but you should be comfortable in the water for you to enjoy this trip fully.
• Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry to the Philippines if you are coming from a yellow-fever infected country; if you are not, this vaccination is unnecessary. The following vaccinations are recommended:
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Typhoid
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • Measles, mumps and rubella