Miked's Travel PH

There are a lot of beaches located in San Antonio, Zambales. Nagsasa and Anawagin Coves are probably the most popular ones. So popular that people began flocking to it. So if you're looking for a more peaceful, less crowded and silent place, here's Talisayen Cove for you.

The silent cove of Talisayen

How To Get There

Commuting from Manila

From bus terminals in Pasay/Cubao/Manila, ride a bus bound to Iba, Zambales. The A/C bus fare is P250.

Tell the bus conductor to drop you off in San Antonio Public Market. The travel time is around 3-4 hours.

Ride a tricycle to Pundaquit then hire a boat to Talisayan Cove. Boat rental starts from P1300 - P2000, which is good for 4 pax.

The boat ride is around an hour, and the entrance fee to the cove is P100 per pax for overnight.

Pundaquit Beach

Boat Rental Notes

The P1300 rate is only a boat transfer to Talisayen Cove only (not including Anawangin, Nagsasa or Capones Island), good for 4 pax.

The usual rate for boat rental that includes other coves is around P500 per pax in a group of 4, and also includes kitchen utensils, camp-cooking essentials, drinking water and a tent.

All boatmen have almost the same rate, but you can still haggle with their rates.

You can contact Kuya Joven at 0915-959-9595.

All aboard!

Where to Stay

You can pitch a tent on the campsite or the beach shores and you can also rent a small hut which is good for 4 pax. If you didn't get a boat package including a tent, You can rent at P200 for a small tent good for 2 pax. Restrooms are also available, you just need to fetch water from the well.

Camp Area with Small Huts

The beach

Where to eat

There are no eateries or store on the cove so you need to bring your own food, and cook it there. Cooking utensils are provided by the boatman, but you need to bring extra charcoals or camping stove. You can buy some ingredients in San Antonio Public Market.

Bantay Presyo!

Grilled Hotdogs + Corned Beef + Salted Egg for Breakfast

Activities

There's not a lot of things to do on the cove, just enjoy the nature, go bond with family or friends, and of course swimming and relaxing on the beach. Network coverage is also weak and sometimes none at all. You're here for the peace and quiet right?

Have a stroll in the area

Sunbathe!

Swim!

Just Enjoy the Beach!

Catch the sunset!

What to bring

Foods to be cooked, snacks, drinks, and paper plates and cups

Tent for overnight camping (They charge PhP 200.00 for small tent rentals, pretty expensive just for a rental)

Night lamps and flash lights and extra charcoal and firewood.

Sun protection (sunblock, sunglasses, rash guard, hat) and insect repellent

Dry bag for your gadgets protection against water!

Awesome dry bag from HULL & STERN!

If you're looking for a reliable and great quality dry bag, be sure to check out HULL & STERN! Not only their dry bags are quality made, it is also good looking that will look nice on whatever outfit you are wearing. They have a variety of dry bag styles and sizes for your needs. Check out their Facebook page here for more details!

Keeping my stuff dry!

Itinerary

Here's a weekend overnight itinerary in Talisayen Cove.

Day 1: Saturday

04:00 AM: ETD Manila to San Antonio, Zambales
08:00 AM: ETA San Antonio/Buy food/supplies in Public Market
09:00 AM: ETD Pundaquit Beach to Talisayen Cove
10:00 AM: ETA Talisayen Cove/Free time

Day 2: Sunday

07:00 AM: Breakfast/Wakeup
10:30 AM: Pack up or Optional Side trip to Capones
12:00 NN: ETD Talisayen to San Antonio
01:00 PM: ETD Zambales to Manila

Sands from the ashes of Pinatubo

Expenses

Here's the expenses per person without the food.

Fare - Bus Manila to Zambales RT: P500.00

Fare - Trike San Antonio to Pundaquit RT: P60.00

Tour - Boat Transfers Pundaquit to Talisayen + side trip + camping essentials: P500.00

Entrance Fee - Talisayen Cove P100.00

Total: P1,160.00

Cheers from Talisayen Cove!

It was once an unknown place where people go when they want peace and tranquility. Now Anawangin in Zambales and its neighboring coves are probably one of the most popular destinations in the North. A great weekend destination since it is just a few hours away from Manila.

Nagsasa Cove

How to get there

If commutting from Manila, you can ride a bus going to Iba, Zambales from the bus stations in Pasay, Caloocan, and Cubao. Tell the conductor the drop you off in San Antonio. Fare is PhP 250.00. Another option is to take a bus bound for Olongapo (fare is PhP 200.00) then take another bus going to Iba. The travel time from Manila - San Antonio is around 3 - 4 hours. When you're in San Antonio, take a tricycle to Pundaquit (fare is around PhP 20.00 each). From there you can contact your boatman to fetch you.

If by private vehicle, take NLEX and exit in San Fernando then continue to drive straight toward Bataan Provincial Highway then turn right to Dinalupihan Exit to take SCTEX you'll then reach Olongapo and then Zambales. There are available parking areas on Pundaquit beach, where you can leave your vehicle for PhP 100.00.

Pundaquit Beach

When you reach Pundaquit beach, you will be taking a 45-minute boat ride to get to Anawangin. Usually, the boat transfers come together with an Island Hopping. For PhP 500.00 per person, you'll have the transfer to the cove (Anawangin or Nagsasa), with Camara and Capones Island Hopping. They also include a 5-gallon drinking water, cooler with ice, cooking utensils, tents, firewood, and charcoal. You can also ask a mini gas stove, but they'll charge an additional for that.

Capones and Camara Island

*When you reach San Antonio, make sure to buy all things that you need in the market. Prices in the coves are surprisingly high.
*If you want to hike Mt. Pundaquit, you can tell your boatmen to deliver your stuff in the cove.

WHAT TO BRING

Tent for overnight camping (They charge PhP 200.00 for small tent rentals, pretty expensive just for a rental)
Cooked or canned foods (Don't bring foods that easy to spoil)
Paper plates and cups
Sun protection (sunblock, sunglasses, rashguard, hats)
Insect repellant lotion
Flashlight, candles or lamp (there is no electricity in the cove, but I heard a videoke machine!)
Extra charcoal and firewood (firewood costs PhP 200.00 in the cove!)
Garbage bag (Clean as you go, please!)

First stop, Anawangin Cove

Anawangin Cove

Anawangin is probably the most popular among the coves in Zambales. It is the nearest cove from Pundaquit and the most visited one. Compared to Nagsasa, this cove is smaller so it's a little crowded here in peak seasons. At the center of the cove is a small shallow lake. Entrance fee is PhP 50.00 for day-tour and PhP 100.00 for overnight. There are also restrooms and shower rooms in the cove, as well as "sari-sari" stores (just expect that prices are higher than usual).

Sands of Anawangin, mostly from Mt. Pinatubo's ashes

Small stores and souvenir vendors in front of the beach

Huts and tents in the cove

Shallow lake at the center of the cove

Carabao skull display in a small store

Summer pine trees!

Nagsasa Cove

Not far from Anawangin is Nagasasa cove. A bigger cove than Anawangin but have the same beauty. There is also a small waterfall here that you can do a side trip. Same entrance fee of PhP 50.00 for day-tour and PhP 100.00 for overnight. Restrooms, "sari-sari" stores are also available here.

On the way to Nagsasa Cove

Sitio Nagsasa

Nagsasa Cove

Huts in the beach front

Directional arrows

Climbing Mt. Nagsasa

View from top

Capones Island

Well, we didn't have the chance of exploring this island because of our boatmen's "schedule conflict", Anyways this is where Capones Lighthouse is located. It's also a big island, with creamy-white sands. No entrance fee here.

Capones Island

Just went here very quickly

The lighthouse is on the other side of the island

Activities

Camping and Bonfire
Beach Volleyball (court and ball can be rented)
Swimming, Skimboarding (bring your own skimboard) and Cove/Island Hopping
Hiking in Lighthouse in Capones, Waterfalls in Nagsasa or Mt. Pundaquit

Expenses

Roundtrip Bus Fare Manila San Antonio-Manila: PhP 500.00 (per person)
Roundtrip Tricycle San-Antonio-Pundaquit-San Antonio: PhP 40.00 (per person)
Boatride with Freebies: PhP 500.00 (per person for group of 6)
Entrance Fees: PhP 50.00 (Anawangin - daytour), PhP 100.00 (Nagsasa - overnight)

Without food, the total expense is PhP 1,190. You can have a relaxing weekend without spending too much. Just remember to be a visitor, not a tourist. Take only selfies and leave only footprints.