I have been on a balikan Anawangin trek in 2010, and I never regretted not to camp overnight because of the unavailability of acceptable comfort rooms there. This time, my friends from my Spanish class wanted to get together after we’re done with our Level 1 in class.
There were other suggested places like Potipot (also in Zambales) or Cagbalete (in Quezon), but when the idea of Anawangin surfaced and I was against it, it was automatic for the group to choose the latter. Asaran lang. LOL!
It was an easy trip since two members of the group have been there before, and the four island destinations are quite near each other. The challenge for me is the overnight stay in a tent. It was an ambivalent feeling actually since the idea of sleeping under the faint light of the moon and the starry skies is a first time for me (well, except for some drunken college moments where I woke up in the beach).
There were eight of us: Karla (my workmate who was also with me in Sagada), siblings Francis, Bryan, and Minette, officemates Nash and Jiggs, and pretty Lai (nyeh!).
HOW TO GO TO ANAWANGIN
- Catch a Victory Liner bus going to Iba, Zambales. You can go to either their Caloocan or Pasay terminals.
- Tell the cashier that you are dropping off at San Antonio. Bus fare is around 260-280 pesos, and travel time is 3 to 4 hours.
- At San Antonio, take a tricycle that will bring you to Pundaquit. It costs about 20-25 pesos each, and it takes around 15-20 minutes to reach your destination.
- There are actually a lot of resorts in Pundaquit. But for those who want to camp out and stay overnight either in Anawangin Cove or Nagsasa Cove, there are a lot of boats available there. You can even ask the tricycle driver for a referral.
- There were no standard fixed rates when we went there, so basically we paid 4,000 pesos for a big banca which can accommodate 8-12 persons. That is already good for four destinations: Camara Island, Capones Island, Anawangin Cove, and Nagsasa Cove.
T TIP: Buy your bus tickets early and be at the terminal early. You also have to consider the travel time by bus. If you plan to stay in a resort in Pundaquit, text the resort manager your expected time of arrival. If you plan to go camping in Anawangin, you have to consider that bankeros do not leave Pundaquit and go island hopping very early. Safety is still a priority.
WHAT TO BRING
You have to understand that prior to going to Anawangin, I have this fear which I got from too much reading of mountaineering blogs. Due to unexpected weather conditions, there were those who got trapped in the mountains of Anawangin. You see, aside from reaching the cove through boat you can also reach there through hiking. There were several unfortunate circumstances that happened to some mountaineers at different occasions, and I don't want to add to the increasing number of human casualties.
And before I scare people off from going to Anawangin, I have listed here the essential things to bring to survive an overnight camping trip to the cove:
1. Tent. Good if any of you planning to camp has one. But to save you the burden of carrying a lot of things, you can rent tents from the bankeros for 300 to 500 pesos depending on the tent's size. Usually, medium size tents can accommodate 3 persons, and large ones can accommodate about 5. But if you have long-term plans of camping out in different locations (climbing mountains, etc.), I believe it's better to buy your own.
2. Bottled Water. Big ones. Almost everything that is being sold in Anawangin is priced twice.
3. Food. Buy those that are easy to prepare such as cup noodles, and canned goods. If you're staying for just one night, you can also bring freshly-cooked food that's not going to spoil easily (think adobo).
4. Flashlight, Lighter, Matches, Candles. Just anything that produces light and fire. This is especially helpful when you intend to cook for lunch, and bonfire at night. We actually cooked our lunch/dinner in Anawangin, and we just bought wood from the locals (about 50 pesos a bundle).
5. Multi-Purpose Knife. It can open your canned goods, your soda and beer bottles, and even wine bottles.
6. Personal Necessities. Basically soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, baby cologne, depending on whatever ritual you have. But never forget: Sunblock and Mosquito Repellant.
Good News! There is great improvement in the comfort rooms in Anawangin. One, it's already in plural form (I was so overwhelmed I forgot to count how many exactly. Maybe six.). Two, it's cemented. Three, there's plenty of running water. It's not anymore ancient like the first time I went there in 2010. I'm already in tears na naman knowing that. LOL!
Here is the list of entries on our overnight Zambales trip:
I. How to Go and What to Bring to Anawangin Cove
II. Camara Island and Capones Island
III. Anawangin Cove and Nagsasa Cove
IV. Summary, and Boat Rental Rates
You have to understand that prior to going to Anawangin, I have this fear which I got from too much reading of mountaineering blogs. Due to unexpected weather conditions, there were those who got trapped in the mountains of Anawangin. You see, aside from reaching the cove through boat you can also reach there through hiking. There were several unfortunate circumstances that happened to some mountaineers at different occasions, and I don't want to add to the increasing number of human casualties.
And before I scare people off from going to Anawangin, I have listed here the essential things to bring to survive an overnight camping trip to the cove:
1. Tent. Good if any of you planning to camp has one. But to save you the burden of carrying a lot of things, you can rent tents from the bankeros for 300 to 500 pesos depending on the tent's size. Usually, medium size tents can accommodate 3 persons, and large ones can accommodate about 5. But if you have long-term plans of camping out in different locations (climbing mountains, etc.), I believe it's better to buy your own.
2. Bottled Water. Big ones. Almost everything that is being sold in Anawangin is priced twice.
3. Food. Buy those that are easy to prepare such as cup noodles, and canned goods. If you're staying for just one night, you can also bring freshly-cooked food that's not going to spoil easily (think adobo).
4. Flashlight, Lighter, Matches, Candles. Just anything that produces light and fire. This is especially helpful when you intend to cook for lunch, and bonfire at night. We actually cooked our lunch/dinner in Anawangin, and we just bought wood from the locals (about 50 pesos a bundle).
5. Multi-Purpose Knife. It can open your canned goods, your soda and beer bottles, and even wine bottles.
6. Personal Necessities. Basically soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, baby cologne, depending on whatever ritual you have. But never forget: Sunblock and Mosquito Repellant.
Good News! There is great improvement in the comfort rooms in Anawangin. One, it's already in plural form (I was so overwhelmed I forgot to count how many exactly. Maybe six.). Two, it's cemented. Three, there's plenty of running water. It's not anymore ancient like the first time I went there in 2010. I'm already in tears na naman knowing that. LOL!
Here is the list of entries on our overnight Zambales trip:
I. How to Go and What to Bring to Anawangin Cove
II. Camara Island and Capones Island
III. Anawangin Cove and Nagsasa Cove
IV. Summary, and Boat Rental Rates
