ANAWANGIN COVE AND THE NICE PEOPLE OF PUNDAQUIT, ZAMBALES

It started as a 'spur of the moment' thing. Hubby wanted to go somewhere where we can celebrate our fourth-year anniversary and enjoy snorkelling (both our favorite!) at the same time. He wanted to surprise me, but eventually he accepted the fact that he needs my help in planning so he informed me that he wanted to go to Anawangin Cove.

This is Anawangin cove. Beautiful, isn't it?

When we got home from the airport (brother-in-law has to return to reality already), we started researching about how to get to Anawangin Cove. It was fairly easy and relatively cheap.



ADVENTURE, HERE WE COME!

Fares shown at the Victory Liner
Terminal in Caloocan.

    

On the morning of January 28, 2015, we left home at 3 in the morning to catch the 4:30 am Victory Liner bus trip to Iba, Zambales. Anawangin cove is in Pundaquit, San Antonio. Thus, we will alight at San Antonio, Zambales and from there, buy our food and get a tricycle ride. Bus fare was Php260.00 per person.

We arrived at San Antonio at about 8-something in the morning, probably because there was no traffic jam and we only had one stopover, which is at Subic, Olongapo, to drop-off some passengers and let on new ones. Victory Liner's terminal at Subic is quite nice. The toilet was clean though it had some lighting problems. Food stalls were abundant as well, though I only remember Dunkin' Donuts because I didn't get to explore as the driver reminded us we only had ten minutes for toilet break. Talk about time pressure!



ONTO THE NEXT STEP.

We decided to have a little breakfast at San Antonio, Zambales since we only managed to grab two hotdogs and one order of pancit canton at the Victory Liner Caloocan terminal. In short, we were already hungry. Good news is, locals at San Antonio were nice to point us where we can grab some decent meals (Yep, rice or noodles, please!) because bad news is, it was too early and the nearby carinderias were still not ready to serve breakfast.

Palabok at Php 22.00

Batchoy at Php 30.00

   



We also bought our cooked food and water from San Antonio since we don't have time to cook and we only want to swim and enjoy the waters of Anawangin. But for those who want to stay overnight, there are plenty of shops to buy supplies from in San Antonio; there is a wet market, a 7-eleven store, and mini-grocery store nearby where we alighted from the bus.

We were lucky to meet Manang Beth Lonzanida at the wet market while looking for cooked food. She offered us a good deal for a big bangka, which was new, (Can seat up to 35 persons) and a ride to Pundaquit as well. You can contact her at 0918-6375 853 or 0939-4949779 and ask her for quotations and boat reservations. She also has accommodations for overnighters but I didn't get to see the house as I couldn't contact her while at Anawangin cove because there is no network signal there.

Ate Beth's boat, "the Little Mermaid" from afar.

THIS IS IT..

    

Yep, geared up and ready for the sun!

According to my research, the usual package for a small group of 4 is Php 1,500 and the itinerary comprises of three islands: Camara island - Capones island - Anawangin Cove. But aside from the fact that the sand in Camara is white and Marimar (Marian Rivera) shot her burning hut scenes there, there is nothing much in Camara so we skipped that island to have more time to snorkel in the waters at Capones island.

I guess it was low tide when we came to Capones island and it surely made snorkelling enjoyable. The corals aren't that far from the shore and there are plenty of fish to see. 

The lighthouse in Capones island. Our boatman, kuya Junior, said this lighthouse used to be open to the public.
But a recent accident forced the Navy to close it, perhaps temporarily.

The clear waters surrounding Capones island.

The picturesque beach of Capones island.

The rocky beach on the other side of Capones island. Fish often live under rocks. 
I saw some mudskippers but they won't stay put and pose for me!

The calm waters make it safe to swim in the rocky beach.

Underwater shot of the corals in Capones island.

The sea looked more like a rocky pool here. :)

We had a great time snorkelling at Capones island. But is almost noon and the sun is becoming too hot to bear. So we had to say goodbye to this paradise and head for another one, Anawangin cove - a camper's Elysium.

THAT PARADISE CALLED ANAWANGIN COVE.

  

Anawangin cove has resorts which offer huts for a price. Tables are for free but guests mostly set up their own tent!  

     
Anawangin cove, according to kuya Junior, came to be after Mt. Pinatubo erupted and showered the area with ash, thus, the grayish-white sand. The boatmen and guides were mostly former fishermen who saw the promise of tourism as camper and hiker learn of the area. 

Kuya Junior is also very protective of the islands and the cove. He warned us against bringing home sand as souvenir and he would offer to take our trash for fear we would throw them in the water. Kudos to you, kuya Junior! Keep it up!

Picture taken with kuya Junior. You may contact him at 0920-2259412. This was taken at Capones island, though.

   

Anawangin cove, view fronting the sea.

    

After the snorkelling and posing for photos at Capones island, hubby and I felt the pangs of hunger. Just go a little bit deeper into Anawangin cove shade from the scorching sun will be provided by the tall trees. By the way, the resort-keepers charge fifty pesos per person for day tours and 150 pesos for overnighters. 

   

A reminder to throw trash in the bins and keep the area clean.

We have too much stuff - tripod, snorkels and what-have-yous;we barely had space for food.

Our simple lunch: adobo and dinuguan with boiled egg. Yum! It was genius of hubby to bring a container, it helped prevent our food staining our stuff. And then we used the lid as an alternative plate!

A water pump! Saw this after eating when I was looking for water to wash our utensils. I admit I was excited to try it once again!

  After lunch, we decided to explore the cove further and saw this almost dried up river.

     

  

It was fun walking on the almost dry river bed.

We were only able to swim for a short while in Anawangin cove and there isn't much to see underwater compared to Capones island. And since we only prepared for a day tour, we decided to go back to the main island  by 3 pm. It was rather early but aside from the fact that we wanted to shower and change at Pundaquit since the sea breeze feels a bit sticky and there are plenty of resorts by the beach to rent; we also wanted to be able to catch the 5 pm bus at San Antonio. 

Our fourth wedding anniversary celebration was surely memorable!

We will surely return to Anawangin cove, or perhaps venture next to Nagsasa cove, which is further away. 



Photo credits go to my hubby :) A photographer at heart, you can see more of his works here.