Last updated on January 24th, 2023 at 09:54 pm
This post will be all about the Zambales tourist spots and things to do in Zambales. We stayed for quite a while in Zambales and we enjoyed our Zambales itinerary so much. Most tourists that you can see in Zambales are locals because it is one of the closest places with a lot of beaches in Manila. Zambales
is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region in the island of Luzon. It’s one of the places that is closest to us since we’re based in Angeles City in Pampanga, which is just a few hours drive away. Zambales may be famous for its amazing beaches, but it still has a lot to offer.
There’s also a number of foreigners exploring Zambales. We will discover all these places for you in our Zambales travel guide! Read here where to stay in Zambales
SIM CARD AT MANILA AIRPORT
I wouldn’t recommend you to buy a sim card at Manila airport. If you wish comfort you can buy eSim online and if you aren’t in a hurry just go around phone shops in the city and compare prices to buy the cheapest sim card in Manila. Read here Philippines sim card for tourist and best Philippines eSim
You can find the cheapest Filipino eSim with Airalo Philippines eSim prepaid for $4 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). For $9 USD with 3 GB data, for $13 USD with 5 GB data, for $21 USD with 10 GB data and for $32 USD with 20 GB data valid for 30 days.
Nomad eSim Philippines for $5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days. For $10 USD with 2 GB data, For $13 USD with 3 GB data and for $15 USD with 5 GB data valid for 30 days. MTX Connect eSim Philippines for €24 with 4 GB data valid for 14 days. Holafly Philippines eSim for $44 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER coming with 8 GB data valid for 30 days and you can activate with QR Code.
WHERE TO STAY IN THE PHILIPPINES
You can get accommodation starting from 800-1000 PHP (less than $20 USD) for a room in a guesthouse. Can you imagen if you are two of you traveling in the Philippines, it will be $10 USD each.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION WITH BOOKING AND AGODA!
BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
You can read Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your Heymondo Travel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full Heymondo Travel Insurance Review
You can get Safetywing Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads valid for 28 days Safetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included
ZAMBALES TRAVEL GUIDE
HOW TO GET TO ZAMBALES
GETTING TO FROM MANILA TO ZAMBALES
If you are getting from Manila to Zambales from Manila. There are buses from Victory Liner in Manila. The trip takes 4 hours via Olongapo and the rate is 270 PHP. There are buses from Olongapo to San Antonio in Zambales which takes 40 minutes and the fare is 55 PHP.
GETTING FROM CALRK TO ZAMBALES
If you are getting from Clark to Zambales. There are buses from DAU bus terminal in Angeles City to Olongapo City which costs 150 PHP and takes almost 2 hours.
There are also PUVs or vans going to Olongapo from DAU bus terminal. The ride takes 1 hour and 30 minutes and costs 130 PHP. This is the way we took from Angeles City in Pampanga to Zambales.
BEST TIME TO VISIT ZAMBALES
Since the Philippines is made up of many different islands, weather conditions may vary from one city to another. If you’re traveling to Zambales, you can expect considerably small variations to the city’s weather.
Humidity is high in the Philippines and the warmest months here are April and May. Basically, January to March is the best time for this Zambales itinerary as this is the sunniest period of the year and is relatively cooler than other months.
Click here to know more about the weather in Zambales!
CURRENCY AND ATMS ZAMBALES
The currency in Zambales is Philippine Peso. Occasionally, some establishments can accept dollars but it is preferred that you exchange it to Peso for better and easier transactions. You won’t also find it hard to find ATM machines in Zambales. There are a lot of establishments as well as banks in the town proper that has ATM machines.
Click here to know the exact rate!
INTERNET AND WIFI CONNECTION IN ZAMBALES
Hotels, restaurants and coffee shops in most areas offer internet and wifi connection. Using data internet isn’t that bad as well. The internet is reliable enough to have some work done. Read here about the best Filipino SIM for tourist.
TRANSPORTATION AROUND ZAMBALES
The main mode of transportation used in Zambales are tricycles for short distances and buses for longer trips. There’s a lot of buses in the highway, coming to and from Manila. On places near the sea, they have motorboats for fishing and for going to other islands as well.
Click here to get your discount ticket for Aqua Planet with Klook!
ZAMBALES ITINERARY DAILY BUDGET TRAVEL
Those doing this Zamblaes itinerary will find inexpensive but a little bit pricier meals than other places in the Philippines. A full meal in Zambales can go for as low as 80 PHP per person while a bottle of beer can be bought for around 50-65 PHP. Restaurant food can be bought for around 500-800 PHP for two people around Zambales province.
Pretty cheap, right? And if you only have 20 PHP in your pocket and you’re feeling pretty hungry, you can even buy plenty of street food with your cash.
Transportation is also pretty cheap with jeepneys going all over town at a flat rate of 10 PHP and 50-100 PHP if you want to move around tricycle.
You have to add extra budget for island hopping and entrance fees in the islands. An island hopping day joining to mroe people can be around 500 PHP with entrance fees included for an amazing day tour around the beaches and islands in Zambales.
Those who are looking for budget hotels in Zambales and can find 900-1200 PHP. There are mid budget establishments go for around 1500-2000 PHP. That’s only $19-38 USD! For those who want a more luxurious stay, you can check in at very nice hotels at around $50-120 USD. You can also try AirBnB in Subic area and find deals starting from $15 USD.
Click here to book your accommodation in Zambales with Agoda and Booking!
Click here if you want to get your discount booking activities in Clark, the Philippines with Klook!
ZAMBALES TOURIST SPOTS AND THINGS TO DO IN ZAMBALES
1. BOTOLAN RESETTLEMENT SITES
This is a model resettlement in Botolan that offers an amazing view of the volcano’s crater from the hilltop. Before, it was the place where native Aetas lived before they were evacuated due to the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. This place is perfect if you love to reconnect with natives and learn their culture.
Click here to book your stay in Botolan before your trip!
2. CAMARA ANCENTRAL HOUSE
Camara Ancentral House is an old-fashioned but amazing structure in Zambales. It was the house of the first Filipino governor of Zambales, Vicente Camara, where its name was derived from. This house also served as the headquarters of Japanese during the the war. Because of its extravagant structure and history, it became one of the tourist spots in Zambales.
Make sure to book your accommodation near Camara Ancestral House before your trip by clicking here!
3. OLONGAPO
Olongapo, or the beach city, has a narrow entrance guarded by the navy and has a deep sea harbor. It was also a historic place for the Philippines that made it to the top tourist spots in Zambales. Places you can visit in Olongapo City include the the Subic Bay, Inflatable Island, Camayan Beach, and Baloy Beach.
Book your stay in Olongapo with Booking!
4. ALWASAN LANUM CAVE
Alwasan Lanum means “water outflow” and a concave fissure that has a small waterfall inside. The best part about this cave is that you can hear the majestic water flowing.
Click here to book your accommodation in Santa Cruz Zambales!
5. FORT PAYNAUEN
This fort is also one of the historical places in Botolan, Zambales famous to tourists. It served as a prison for the locals and natives in Zambales as well as the Spanish officials who displeased the Spanish Governor General or Archbishop of Manila. If you are into feeling the old vibes of Zambales as well as learning about history, then you should definitely visit this place.
Don’t forget to book your stay in Botolan by clicking here!
6. SUBIC BAY FREEPORT
Subic Bay Freeport Zone, which is known simply as Subic Bay or Subic is a special economic zone covering portions of Olongapo City and the towns of Subic in Zambales and Morong and Hermosa in Bataan.
Click here to book your accommodation in Subic Bay!
7. THE HELLSHIPS MEMORIAL
This peaceful place in Subic served as a memorial place to commemorate the soldiers who fought during the World War 2. It is a great place to relax or when you want to contemplate life. It is also very classy and historical.
Make your stay in Olongapo hassle-free by booking your stay in advance! Click here.
8. INA POON BATO CHURCH
Zambales Itinerary – Credits to Ina Poon Bato Website
Ina Poon Bato is known for many names including Nuestra Señora dela Paz of Zambales, “Apo Apang”, or The Doting Queen of Zambales. If you came to Zambales for a pilgrimage, this church is something you shouldn’t miss because for the locals, Ina Poon Bato is miraculous. You can stop by this church to pray or experience the vibes of the religious locals praying.
Book your stay with Booking.com before visiting Ina Poon Bato!
MORE ZAMBALES TOURIST SPOTS AND THINGS TO DO IN ZAMBALES
9. EL KABAYO WATERFALLS
El Kabayo waterfals has two falls. The first one is 4-feet high, and the other is 15 feet high. It’s one of the places in Zambales where you can swim, have a bath, and beat the summer heat. There are also accommodations available in Kabayo waterfalls just in case you are planning overnight. There is an entrance fee of 50 PHP.
Click here to book your stay with Agoda before your trip to El Kabayo Waterfalls!
10. CAPONES LIGHTHOUSE
This activity is quite popular between Filipinos who do overnights in Capones Island. At sunrise, it’s a perfect time for trekking to the Lighthouse and enjoy the views of the island from the top.
Make sure to book your accommodation in San Antonio before your trip. Click here!
11. HIKE A MOUNTAIN
There are few mountains to hike in Zambales. The most popular hike could be Mt Pinatubo. Trekking this mountain can be done in one day, which involves riding a 4×4 on a lahar field and a 3-hour trekking back and forth. Below are some of the pricing packages if you are coming from Manila:
Package 1 (from Manila to Pinatubo Crater Lake via Capas) – PHP 2000 to PHP 3000
Package 2 (from Manila to Pinatubo Crater Lake via Botolan) – PHP 2500
Take note that this does not include food and may change without further notice. If you have an idea about the recent packages to hike Mount Pinatubo, please comment below and we’ll update the blog post.
If you want to book your stay near Mount Pinatubo before your trip, just click here.
12. ISLAND HOPPING IN ZAMBALES
You can just get a bus and heading to Zambales, less than 40 minutes driving. There are a few island to visit: Camara Island, Capones Island and you can visit Anawangin Cove and Nagsasa Cove.
Prices to organize the island hopping are around 2000 PHP for going to Camara, Capones Island and Anawangin. If you include Nagsasa Cove, Talisayen Cove in your itinerary, you will have to pay 2500 PHP total for all the islands.
You have to bring your own food to the tour but you can get a gallon of water from the boatmen for 50 PHP for the whole day. You can go around Pundaquit and find a carinderia where you can buy food and rice for your day tour.
Click here to get your discount ticket for Aqua Planet with Klook!
If you are traveling alone, we recommend you to join to groups so you will be able to pay around 500 PHP for your island hopping in Zambales.
How to get to Capones Island? You have to ride a bus from Olongapo bus terminal to San Antonio. It costs 50 PHP for a local bus and it takes 40 minutes. Once you are in San Antonio, you have to get a tricycle to Pundaquit. There are 4-kilometers rides from San Antonio to Pundaquit and they charged us 30 PHP per head.
13. CASA SAN MIGUEL
Casa San Miguel is one of the tourists’ favorite when they visit Zambales, It was built in 1921 in a 15-hectare mango orchard and where famous people stayed for some quite a long time. Casa San Miguel is where you could find the Museum of Community Heritage which boasts the unique and rich culture of the local community.
It has guest rooms (bed and breakfast), a restaurant, a pre-school, and a concert hall for you to enjoy it more.
Entrance fee for adults is PHP 125 and PHP 75 for kids.
Click here to book your accommodation near Casa San Miguel before your trip!
14. CAMPING AT THE BEACH
The most popular beaches for camping are Anawangin Cove and Nagsasa Cove. You have to pay an entrance fee and make sure you bring everything that you need since they aren’t selling food and water. They are renting tents if you need. There will be no electricity but the experience will be awesome!
15. SUNSET AT THE BEACH
In Subic, the sunsets almost never disappoint, so it’s always the moment of the day we looked forward to. We took magical shots every trip that we did in Subic! Choose your favorite one. If you stay for sunset when camping, be ready with the tent so you can enjoy this magical moment.
16. SPENDING THE DAY IN THE BEACH
Anawangin, Nagsasa, Subic. There are many beaches to choose from in Zambales, whether you visit them for swimming or relaxing. Read our post where we tell you our 15 favorite beaches in Zambales so you can choose your favorite one.
FOOD TO TRY IN ZAMBALES
MANGO
When you’re in Zambales, the number 1 food you should try is their mangoes! It is the province’s best and main produce and their mangoes are deemed to be the sweetest and most delicious mangoes in the world. Definitely a must try! You can also buy from everywhere in Zambales to bring home to your loved ones.
WHERE TO STAY IN ZAMBALES
THE LIGHTHOUSE MARINA RESORT
The Lighthouse Marina Resort features an outdoor pool and views of the sea. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant. Every room at this hotel is air conditioned and features a flat-screen TV with cable channels and DVD player. All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom fitted with a bath.
For your comfort, you will find bathrobes, slippers and free toiletries. You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property. Rate starts at $146 USD.
The lighthouse Marina Resort can be found at Block4, Lot1, Moonbay Marina Complex Waterfront Road, Central Business District. Click here to check their rates and availability.
LE CHARM SUITES
Le Charmé Suites- Subic offers rooms in Olongapo. Providing a restaurant, the property also features a terrace, as well as a hot tub and a sauna. Guest rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a electric tea pot, a bath, free toiletries and a desk. With a private bathroom equipped with a bidet and a hair dryer, certain accommodations at the hotel also have a balcony.
At Le Charmé Suites- Subic every room is equipped with a seating area. A buffet breakfast is available daily at the property. The accommodation has an outdoor pool. The area is popular for cycling, and bike rental is available at Le Charmé Suites- Subic. Price starts at $138 USD.
Click here to check their rates and availability!
ASIANA HOTEL
Asiana Boutique Hotel has accommodations with a garden. The 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom and free WiFi. Subic Bay Convention Center is 3.5 km from the hotel. Guest rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV. The restaurant at Asiana Hotel specializes in International, Asian and Local cuisine.
The accommodation can conveniently provide information at the reception to help guests to get around the area. The guests especially love the staff’s service and friendliness plus the location it close to everything- from Harbor Point, public markets, supermarkets, and of course, bar and restaurants!
Asiana Boutique Hotel is exactly at #48 Gordon Avenue, Pagasa and a room for one-night stay starts at $20 USD. Families can also stay in their Family Suite for around $58 USD. Click here to check their links and availability!
HARLEY’S PUB AND HOTEL
Having a “Very Good” rating in Agoda, Harley’s Pub and Hotel is one of the places where to stay in Zambales under the cheap hotels category that you should consider. Their rooms have their own shower and bathtub, TV, wifi, and are all air-conditioned. Aside from this, it is a pet-friendly place and they have a 24-hour service desk for your convenience.
What the guests love about Harley’s Pub and Hotel is the proximity to the beaches. They even have an access to the beach through the restaurant of the hotel.
Harleys Pub and Hotel is located at 9 Baloy Long Beach Rd, Barrio Barretto, Olongapo City, Subic Bay and a standard room for one-night stay starts at $20 USD and one-night stay in a room with the beach view is around $28 USD. Click here to check their links and availability!
Le Charm Suites is at 2nd fl. La Terraza Bldg. 1131 Palm St., Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Click here to check their rates and availability!
Like what we said earlier, you can find different kinds of accommodation places throughout Zambales- from budget and backpack inns, Airbnb’s to luxurious hotels and resorts. You can find a budget hotel and stay there for around PHP 900 per night.
There are also hotels that would cost as high as PHP 6000 and above. With this price you can get the best stay and most comfortable experience from the hotels you’re checking in.
There are different areas to stay in Zambales, depending if you want to stay close to Subic, close to the island hopping and you can even have the possibility of camping in the beach!
Click here to book your accommodation in Zambales with Agoda and Booking!
FESTIVALS IN ZAMBALES
ZAMBALES MANGO FESTIVAL
Like what we said, mango is the primary export product of Zambales and because of that, they are very thankful to their mango produce so they have their own festival to celebrate their pride. It is also called the “Dinamulag Festival” and it is their way of expressing their joy and fulfillment for having a bountiful harvest throughout the year.
People who wear colorful costumes dance in the streets and there are also live bands and concerts. Everything is festive during the Mango Festival, which is celebrated every month of April.
PAYNAUEN ‘DUYAN’ FESTIVAL
Paynauen Duyan Festival is also an annual celebration in Iba, Zambales. Paynauen is a Zambal word meaning “pahingahan” or something to rest on. Similarly, “duyan” or hammock, is something to rest on.
This festival features events like Bb. Paynauen/Ms. Paynauen, Street Dancing, Duyan Parade, and many other fun activities that the whole town enjoys. This is celebrated from April 25 to May 1.
DOMOROKDOK FESTIVAL
This festival, which is celebrated from May 3-4 annually, is one of the most popular festivals in Zambales. It features the beautiful women in Zambales by having “Miss Botolan” and “Miss Botolan Tourism” beauty contests. There is also a street dancing competition that everyone prepares for.
SCOOTOURISTA FESTIVAL
This is a festival that serves as a promotional campaigns for businesses via parades, rallies and races. Scooters are on parade at the Scootourista Festival primarily because Subic Bay is where many big scooter companies drop off the goods to sell to the Filipino market.
Big names such as Honda and Mitsubishi as well as American motorbike brands participate at the Scootourista Festival and races are held between professional drivers.
Click here to book your accommodation in Zambales with Agoda and Booking!
Click here if you want to get your discount booking activities in Clark, the Philippines with Klook!
There you have it! Are you ready to visit Zambales with your loved ones and friends? Make sure to share them this guide too! Let us know what you’ve experienced in Zambales and let’s talk about it the comments.
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Happy travels!