Anawangin and Nagsasa are two coves on the Zambales coast where the sand is a pale, ashy grey and the shoreline is lined with agoho trees, a type of casuarina. Both are reached by boat from Pundaquit, a barangay in San Antonio, and both work best as an overnight camping trip. This guide walks through the route from Cebu via Manila, what the boats and campsites cost in 2026, how the two coves differ, and when the weather is worth the trip.
The trip is not difficult, but it has more moving parts than a flight to a resort island. A bus schedule, a boatman's read of the sea, and a crowded weekend all shape the day, so plan one spare day if you can.
Getting There from Cebu via Manila
Several airlines fly between Mactan-Cebu and Manila every day. Fares change with the season and how early you book, so compare them on the day you plan to travel. From the airport, the simplest way into Zambales is a Victory Liner bus from Cubao or Pasay bound for Iba or Santa Cruz. Ask the conductor to drop you at the San Antonio Public Market. An aircon seat costs about P350 to P400, and the ride takes four to five hours depending on traffic.
The alternative is a bus to Olongapo, which costs roughly P300 to P320 from Pasay or Cubao, followed by a second bus to San Antonio for about P80. It adds a transfer, so first-timers usually take the direct bus unless the direct one is full.
From the San Antonio market, a tricycle to Pundaquit costs about P40 per person and takes around 20 minutes. Pundaquit collects a P20 environmental fee from visitors, so have that ready.
Boats from Pundaquit: What to Expect Paying
Boats leave when they are full or when you book, and there is no fixed timetable. Rates are negotiable, so ask two or three boatmen before you commit. Recent listings put a boat to Anawangin at about P1,500 to P2,000 for up to four people, an island-hopping day tour at P3,500 to P4,000 per boat, and a Nagsasa-only return trip at P2,500 to P3,000 per boat. Split four ways, the Anawangin run comes to a few hundred pesos per person.
Morning crossings are calmer, and most boatmen prefer to leave between about 8 and 11 in the morning. If you arrive late, sleep in Pundaquit and arrange the boat the night before. Day visitors need to be back in Pundaquit before sundown.
Anawangin Cove: The Pine-Shaded Camp
Anawangin is the easier cove for a first camping trip. The sand came from the ash that Mount Pinatubo spread across this coast during its 1991 eruption, and the agoho trees give shade over the tents. Several camp operators sit side by side here, with basic toilets, paid showers and small shops that sell ice, drinks and canned goods. Your boatman will usually take you to the operator he works with, so tell him early if you have a preference.
Walk the length of the beach early in the morning, before the day crowd arrives. Pitch your tent under the trees rather than on the open sand, and peg it down firmly, because the gusts can be strong. Many camps run on generator or solar power with quiet hours around 10pm, and mobile signal is patchy, so bring a book.
Nagsasa Cove: Wider Beach, Fewer Neighbours
Nagsasa lies a little farther south, so the boat ride costs more and takes longer. What you get in return is a broader curve of beach with hills rising on either side and shallow water near the shore. That shallow stretch suits non-swimmers and younger children, but shallow does not mean safe. Keep an eye on children at the edges, and follow the boatman or camp staff when they say the water is rough.
Nagsasa suits travelers who want room to spread out. Anawangin has more camps and more people around, while Nagsasa has fewer camps and more space between them. Both coves have limited food, so bring your own meals or buy them in San Antonio before you board.
Capones Island and Its 1890 Lighthouse
Many boat tours from Pundaquit stop at Capones Island, where a white lighthouse stands above the rocks. It was first lit on 1 August 1890, and the tower rises about 65 feet (19.8 metres). The keeper's house and other station buildings have deteriorated over the years, although the tower itself has been renovated and the site is listed as an Important Cultural Property. The walk up is steep and the rock underfoot is uneven, so wear closed shoes and go early, before the midday sun.
Ask your boatman how long the stop will last before you set off, then decide early whether the climb is worth your time. Some boats only pause briefly, and the lighthouse is a short but steep walk from the landing.
What a Two-Day Trip Costs
Prices change with the season and the operator, so treat these as planning figures and confirm them before you pay:
- Bus from Manila to San Antonio: about P350 to P400 each way.
- Tricycle to Pundaquit: about P40 per person.
- Pundaquit environmental fee: P20 per person.
- Cove entrance: roughly P50 to P130 per person depending on the cove and whether you camp. Check the current amount when you arrive.
- Tent rental: about P500 per night. Bringing your own tent costs less, and you may pay a small pitching fee.
- Camp table and chairs: about P500 for the set.
- Refundable garbage deposit: P600 at some camps, so ask whether it applies and how the refund works.
- Boat: P1,500 to P2,000 to Anawangin per boat, shared among the group.
If you would rather not organise the boat and camp yourself, operator packages for two days and one night ranged from about P1,100 per person in a group of four or five to about P2,300 for a solo traveler in 2026 listings. Ask each operator exactly what the package includes, since the boat, tent, meals and deposit are sometimes billed separately.
When to Go
December to April is the dry season and the best window for the coves. November to February is the most comfortable period for heat. March to May brings the biggest crowds, especially on weekends, and midday on the sand can be hard going. From June to October the rainy season brings rough seas, and boat trips can be cancelled when waves build up, so build a spare day into any plan during those months.
What to Bring and What Will Be Inconvenient
Pack light enough to carry your bag from the boat landing and across the wade back to shore. The sand heats quickly, so bring slippers. Carry at least two litres of drinking water per person per day, or buy large jugs in San Antonio before you board. A power bank, a headlamp and a dry bag for electronics are worth more than extra clothes.
Bring toilet paper, basic medicines and any special food you need. The camp shops stock the essentials, but the choice is limited and prices run higher than in San Antonio. Take your rubbish back with you, since the coves depend on visitors keeping them clean.
If your flights leave you with time in the capital, our Manila 24-hour stopover guide covers a short city visit. For the boat crossing, the island-hopping safety checklist explains life vests and boat checks that apply to every trip out to Capones.
Is It Worth the Trip from Cebu?
For a Cebu traveler, Zambales is a trade-off. You fly to Manila, spend half a day on a bus, and then sleep under pines with little or no mobile signal. In return you get a beach that looks nothing like the reef-and-lagoon islands of the Visayas, a lighthouse with more than a century of history, and a kind of quiet most resorts cannot offer.
Choose Anawangin for an easy first camp with facilities close by. Choose Nagsasa for space and a calmer stretch of sand. Add Capones if the sea is calm, and give the trip a full weekend rather than squeezing it into a single day.