Anawangin Cove is one of the few places where you can go for a mountain hike (Mt. Pundaquit) and completing it via a traverse to an ash laden beach front for a refreshing swim.
The Cove, located in San Antonio, Zambales, is one of the provinces devastated by the 1990 Mt. Pinatubo eruption. From an unknown place, to a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts and the curious, Anawangin is a testament of nature's power of bringing to life a place that was once inhospitable.
Ash and sand. Mountains and the sea.
What's magnificent about the place, apart from its coast of ash and sand, is that the beach is lined up with Pine trees instead of the usual Coconut trees. I was mesmerized to see how it all towered up high, and how it could fully grow in such a place, when all the while, thinking that I would only find them in Baguio. The trees extend inland where a river also runs. It was here that I found Anawangin most enchanting. The calm flow of the river was like a mirror reflecting the sand, trees, and the mountains. There was absolutely life all around.
Welcome to the Cove
The Sea in Zambales is known to be unforgiving, and the sea right at the jump off at Pundaquit is no exception. Crossing the ocean to Anawangin can be mild to moderately rough even on a fine day. As you take a scenic ride on your chartered banca, you will see the might of the ocean, smashing wave after wave of sea water through rocks and cliff.
Left: Sea water smashes into the rocks. Right: Sunset at Anawangin Cove
Significant Hours
Bus ride from Manila to Pundaquit: 6 hours
Private Vehicle: 4-5 hours
*Private vehicles may be subject for parking fees
Trike from San Antonio to Pundaquit: 30 mins.
Banca from Pundaquit to Anawangin: 45 mins.
Itinerary
Day1 Victory Liner Cubao
0630 AM - Call time
0730 AM - ETD Victory Cubao to Iba, Zambales
1030 AM - ETA Bgy.San Antonio Zambales and purchase supplies
1100 AM - ETD Brngy. San Antonio to Jump off at Pundaquit
1130 AM - ETA Pundaquit
1145 AM - ETD Pundaquit to Anawangin cove
1230 AM - ETA Anawangin cove
View Victory Liner Schedule
Day2
0600 AM - Wake Up call / Prepare breakfast and eat
0700 AM - Free Time
0900 AM - Clean Up / Break Camp
1000 AM - ETD Anawangin Cove to Capones Island
1045 AM - ETA Capones Island: Register, head to Light House [Explore / Photo ops / Lunch]
1230 PM - ETD Capones Island to Bgry Pundaquit beach shore
0130 PM - ETA Pundaquit [Clean up / Shower / Rest]
0230 PM - ETD Brgy. pundaquit to Brgy. San Antonio
0315 PM - ETA Brgy. San Antonio
0330 PM - ETD Brgy San Antonio to Olongapo
0415 PM - Olongapo to Subic Free port*
0700 PM - ETD Olongapo to Cubao/Pasay
1000 PM - ETA Cubao/Pasay
Post script: Our Itinerary was suppose to take us to Capones Island, however our chartered Banca were experiencing engine problems that we decided to go straight back to Pundaquit than getting stranded in the middle of the ocean.
Expenses
Bus fare:
Option 1: Victory Liner Pasay to Iba, Zambales
Option 2: Victory Liner Cubao - 350Php, via SCTEX - 380Php
Olongapo - Cubao/Pasay 360Php
Trike to San Antonio to Pundaquit and vice-versa: 50Php - Day tour / 100Php - Overnight
Banca: 2000Php for 6 PAX inclusive of Capones Island lighthouse side trip
Anawangin Registration and / Environmental Fee: 150 Php
*Optional Trip: Olongapo Subic Freeport FX fare - 50Php
Special Concerns
- Ocean currents are unpredictable and is strongly advised to check the weather before pushing through.
- It is said that there is a strong under current in the area. Swimming near the shore, waste deep is advised. There has already been a few cases of deaths due to drowning. (Just recently, January 2014, there has already been a report of drowning. Luckily, the girl was resuscitated and survived.)
- During rainy season, the river also gets swollen and current can be strong to cross or bathe in, therefore caution is again advised.
Details are as of October 2013
~ City Boy Tripper
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