Zambales Island Hopping (Travel Guide)

Today we are writing our Zambales island hopping travel guide visiting amazing places like Capones Island and Anawangin Cove in Zambales.

Zambales is one of the closest places to us that we visit in the Philippines. Since we are based in Angeles City in the province of Pampanga, it is so easy to get to Zambales for a day trip or spend a weekend.

Most of the tourists that you can find around Zambales are locals but you can also see some foreigners around the area. Zambales province is well known for being a mango province in the Philippines. So, it’s a must to try them!

Read here our favorite Hundred Islands and where to stay in Zambales!

HOW TO GET TO ZAMBALES

HOW TO GET TO ZAMBALES FROM MANILA

There are buses from Victory Liner from Manila to Zambales and it takes 4 hours via Olongapo and the rate is 270 PHP. There are buses from Olongapo to San Antonio in Zambales 40 minutes and the fare is 55 PHP.

HOW TO GET TO ZAMBALES FROM CLARK

There are buses from DAU bus terminal in Angeles City to Olongapo City 150 PHP and it takes almost 2 hours. There are also vans going to Olongapo from DAU bus terminal it takes 1 hour and 30 minutes and the rate is 130 PHP. This is the way that we took from Angeles City in Pampanga.

HOW TO GET TO PUNDAQUIT BEACH

Once you are in San Antonio, to reach Pundaquit from the bus stop tricycles are charging 30 PHP per person or a minimum of 60 PHP if you are traveling alone. If you are planning to do island hopping or overnight we recommend you to go to the market and buy some food since there aren’t so many places in Pundaquit where to eat and buy food.

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 to visit Zambales 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!

ZAMBALES ISLAND HOPPING TRAVEL GUIDE – BUDGET ZAMBALES ISLAND HOPPING

There are a few options for a budget island hopping in Zambales. The small boats can only have 4 people and it costs 2000 PHP going to Capones, Camara Island and Anawangin Cove. If you add Nagsasa Cove, it will be 2500 PHP which means you added 500 PHP. 

There are bigger boats where you can get it cheaper for 10 people. Prices are per boat so if you join 4 people it will be 500 PHP per person which is amazing for an awesome day of island hopping in Zambales. There are a few more combinations depending on the islands that you are visiting and the capacity of the boat.

If you buy in a local carinderia before leaving Pundaquit, it will only be 50-60 PHP per meal to takeaway or eating before the tour. You can get a gallon of water for 50 PHP for the island hopping. There are showers available for 25 PHP after the island hopping in Zambales.

If you want to reach San Antonio by tricycle, it is 30 PHP per person to Pundaquit and vice versa and a minimum of 60 PHP per tricycle. There is a fee for visiting Anawangin Cove which is 70 PHP per person and it will be double the price if you will stay overnight. Before reaching to Pundaquit there is an environmental fee of 20 PHP per person, the tricycle will stop there and you will do the payment.

Sleeping in a tent in Nagsasa Cove, Capones Island or Anawangin can cost 500 PHP for renting a tent and the islands usually have a fee for staying overnight. It’s usually 100-150 PHP per person. For renting a cottage 350 PHP during the day and 750 PHP if you stay overnight.

Click here to book your accommodation in Zambales with Agoda and Booking!

Click here if you want to get your discount booking activities in the Philippines with Klook!

ZAMBALES ISLAND HOPPING

You will get surprised how nice the beaches are in Zambales, they perfect for a day tour. There are a few places to visit in Zambales and we will tell you all of them in our Zambales island hopping travel guide.

PUNDAQUIT BEACH

The first beach that you will find before starting the island hopping. It’s full of boats for fishing and for touring. The beach is good for surfing if it’s something that you like it. But we will recommend you visit all of them.

CAMARA ISLAND

Camara Island is an eye view from Pundaquit beach and it will take 15 minutes going by boat. It’s wavy and with big rocks, beautiful with clear water and close to Capones island.

Click here to get your discount ticket for Aqua Planet with Klook!

CAPONES ISLAND

Capones Island is next to Camara island and also an eye view from Pundaquit beach. It’s ideal for lunch or staying a couple of hours swimming, overnight or even trekking to the lighthouse.

ANAWANGIN COVE

You have a bigger space for swimming than in the other beaches and the water is so calm in this cove. There is a forest and a lake behind. The beach is popular for camping especially with the locals. There is a fee if you’ll stay overnight for 100-150 PHP. You can pitch your tent or renting in Anawangin Cove.

There is no electricity in and no phone signal in Anawangin so it’s the perfect place for disconnecting to the real world! To reach Anawangin Cove from Pundaquit beach will take 30 minutes and if you go only to this beach a small boats for 4 people can cost 1000-1500 PHP.

NAGSASA COVE

Nagsasa Cove is very similar to Anawangin Cove but a little bit farther from Pundaquit Beach. The entrance fee is 70 PHP per day and 150 PHP overnight. If you include Nagsasa Cove in Zambales island hopping, it will cost you 2500 PHP a boat for 4 people. If you go direct from Pundaquit beach, prices can go to 2000 PHP for only this destination.

It’s perfect for camping and hiking around during the day. You can swim and enjoy is so quiet. Similar like Anawangin there is no electricity and phone signal in Nagsasa Cove.

TALISAYEN COVE

It’s so quiet in Talisayen Cove and probably least visited of the mentioned island in the island hopping in Zambales. To reach Talisayen Cove from Pundaquit beach, it will cost you 2000 PHP and 2500 PHP if you add more destinations like Capones, Camara Island and Anawangin Cove.

There is no electricity and phone signal in the island! You can pitch your tent or rent for 400-500 PHP. We advise to bring your own tent since it costs 1000 PHP will be better option than renting and you can use for future trips!

SILANGUIN COVE

Sunsets are amazing in Silanguin Cove. If you stay overnight you can walk around the island. There is a Natural spring that you can visit for 100 PHP and it is inclusive of the fees of the guide. To get to Silanguin Cove, rates will be 2500-3000 PHP for a small boat good for 4 people.

There is no electricity and phone signal in the island!

ZAMBALES ISLAND HOPPING TRAVEL TIPS

Water is a must in the islands when you spend the day exposing to the sun. We recommend you to bring enough water. You are able to rent a gallon of water for 50 PHP and share with your friends so you will be able to refill your water and avoid using so much plastic to keep clean the beaches.

Multi uses knife where you can open a bottle or a can are great to bring to these trips. It’s little space and you can use in many situations.

Flashlight, we love the ones with dynamo. You can charge the battery by turning and you will have always light.

Mosquito repellent when the sun goes down.

Sunblock during the day is a must when staying in the beach.

If you like taking pictures would be nice if you are bringing your camera to keep memories. Also drones and underwater camera if you have are always playful when spending the days in the islands.

Tent it takes little space and it will avoid you to get worried of renting one. Make sure you have a tent with a mosquito net and bring a small blanket or sleeping bag for the night.

Bring enough food for the day, cans and sandwiches are the best options if you want to avoid cooking and the hassle.

Bring your power bank, it’s always useful the phone for taking pictures, listen to music or even reading if you have books for this.

ZAMBALES ISLAND HOPPING OVERNIGHT OR DAY TOUR?

We decided to stay on a day tour in our first visit. But we will be back in a few months to stay overnight to write about the experience. It can be amazing to stay disconnected with no electricity and no phone signal every once in a while.

Watching the stars and going to sleep early to catch the sunrise after nice hiking around the island. It sounds like an awesome plan to do! We will write about the experience and what place we chose to stay overnight in Zambales.

Feel free to use our links for discounts. Using our links will help us continue with the maintenance of the website and it will not cost you anything. Thanks for the love guys 

Happy Travels!