Ramir and I have been wanting to bring our kids to Anawangin Cove and Capones Island in Zambales. Through research, we found out that Pundaquit in San Antonio, Zambales is a good take off point. So with some balikbayan in tow, our party of 7 adults and 2 kids ventured into another weekend adventure.
Weeks before, we're looking for a resort that has a room which can accommodate all nine of us, has a pool and would allow bringing in of food.
CANOE RESORT
We found Canoe Resort through the net and it has all our criteria. Its not a perfect resort. But its ok. Our room has 5 double deck beds. So each of us had a bed assigned to us. It has a toilet and bath. And an aircon. It has no TV. No hot and cold water. No toiletries. No towel. But we're good. We paid 4,500 pesos for the room so we're really not expecting much. Aside from we're warned in advance. But it was a good resort.
There are huts and grill areas you can use for free. There's a small play area where kids can hang out. And they have a pool. Actually, it's the pool that sealed the deal for us. I knew that we wouldn't be island hopping the first day so we need a diversion. The pool was the perfect diversion.
And it's shoreline, although lined with boats, is swimmable.
They also have a Cafe Pundakit which serves good-tasting shakes. They have other things on their menu but we haven't tried them because we brought our own food. This was also a plus point since they don't charge a corkage fee. We also enjoyed roasted marshmallows because they arranged a bonfire for us for 300 pesos.
The only sad part was, we weren't able to have our peace because a group of men had set up their drink-all-you-can party area outside our room. But we're almost done with our bonfire when they came in.
But nevertheless, it was an enjoyable stay.
CAMARA ISLAND
We started our next day early. We woke up at 430am to prep for our island hopping tour. We cooked rice and packed all our food stuff.We picked up five servings of chicken pork adobo at the resort's restaurant which we pre-arranged the day before. Since we have kids with us, we made sure that we have enough to eat. Our boat arrived at 6am. There was a slight drizzle but it was a beautiful day.
We headed out to our first destination - Camara Island. We had the whole island to ourselves.
This is where I saw waves crashing on each other. The waves from the east side are crashing on the waves from the west side. And the sun starts to rise but its a bit cloudy. Its such a nice day without having to be sunburned.
CAPONES ISLAND
Then we went to Capones Island. Since we took off without eating breakfast, by the time we landed here, we're famished. We laid out our food on the sand and used our life vests to sit on. It was an impromptu picnic.
I like this island better bacause of the climb-able rocks. You can actually have a top view of the whole scenery. Its different up there.
I have to mention that this island put our resourcefulness to a test. Since there's no facility for the call of nature, we resorted to digging a hole and covering it with sand when my youngest declared that she had to go. Thank God for wet wipes, tissues. And children who knows how to have a good time.
We initially wanted to visit the Capones Lighthouse but we felt that it would be too taxing for Nanay and the kids so we just requested our boatmen to just bring the boat near the lighthouse so we can view it from afar. They willingly obliged.
ANAWANGIN COVE
Our last stop was Anawangin Cove - a crescent-like beach nestled between mountainsides with a pine tree forest as its backdrop. The whole place was fenced with bamboo. Probably a way to identify different territories.
At the father end of the beach, where it's quieter and fewer people, we took advantage of the rock formations.
We paid 50 pesos per head as entrance fee and 300 pesos for the cottage. They also have some toilets installed which also doubled as a bathing rooms. You can get water from drums just stationed outside the comfort rooms for your showering and flushing needs. There are also stores stationed around the cove. You may buy food and souvenir items from them. We asked one store owner to cook rice for us since we ran out of it. We paid 100 for a kilo of rice. We also bought halohalo for 30 pesos a serving and Not bad for some comfort food in the island.
We can stay here all day. The water is crystal clear. There was almost no wave. The water temperature is just right. We had a blast.
Weeks before, we're looking for a resort that has a room which can accommodate all nine of us, has a pool and would allow bringing in of food.
CANOE RESORT
We found Canoe Resort through the net and it has all our criteria. Its not a perfect resort. But its ok. Our room has 5 double deck beds. So each of us had a bed assigned to us. It has a toilet and bath. And an aircon. It has no TV. No hot and cold water. No toiletries. No towel. But we're good. We paid 4,500 pesos for the room so we're really not expecting much. Aside from we're warned in advance. But it was a good resort.
There are huts and grill areas you can use for free. There's a small play area where kids can hang out. And they have a pool. Actually, it's the pool that sealed the deal for us. I knew that we wouldn't be island hopping the first day so we need a diversion. The pool was the perfect diversion.
And it's shoreline, although lined with boats, is swimmable.
They also have a Cafe Pundakit which serves good-tasting shakes. They have other things on their menu but we haven't tried them because we brought our own food. This was also a plus point since they don't charge a corkage fee. We also enjoyed roasted marshmallows because they arranged a bonfire for us for 300 pesos.
The only sad part was, we weren't able to have our peace because a group of men had set up their drink-all-you-can party area outside our room. But we're almost done with our bonfire when they came in.
But nevertheless, it was an enjoyable stay.
CAMARA ISLAND
We started our next day early. We woke up at 430am to prep for our island hopping tour. We cooked rice and packed all our food stuff.We picked up five servings of chicken pork adobo at the resort's restaurant which we pre-arranged the day before. Since we have kids with us, we made sure that we have enough to eat. Our boat arrived at 6am. There was a slight drizzle but it was a beautiful day.
We headed out to our first destination - Camara Island. We had the whole island to ourselves.
This is where I saw waves crashing on each other. The waves from the east side are crashing on the waves from the west side. And the sun starts to rise but its a bit cloudy. Its such a nice day without having to be sunburned.
CAPONES ISLAND
Then we went to Capones Island. Since we took off without eating breakfast, by the time we landed here, we're famished. We laid out our food on the sand and used our life vests to sit on. It was an impromptu picnic.
I like this island better bacause of the climb-able rocks. You can actually have a top view of the whole scenery. Its different up there.
I have to mention that this island put our resourcefulness to a test. Since there's no facility for the call of nature, we resorted to digging a hole and covering it with sand when my youngest declared that she had to go. Thank God for wet wipes, tissues. And children who knows how to have a good time.
We initially wanted to visit the Capones Lighthouse but we felt that it would be too taxing for Nanay and the kids so we just requested our boatmen to just bring the boat near the lighthouse so we can view it from afar. They willingly obliged.
ANAWANGIN COVE
Our last stop was Anawangin Cove - a crescent-like beach nestled between mountainsides with a pine tree forest as its backdrop. The whole place was fenced with bamboo. Probably a way to identify different territories.
At the father end of the beach, where it's quieter and fewer people, we took advantage of the rock formations.
We paid 50 pesos per head as entrance fee and 300 pesos for the cottage. They also have some toilets installed which also doubled as a bathing rooms. You can get water from drums just stationed outside the comfort rooms for your showering and flushing needs. There are also stores stationed around the cove. You may buy food and souvenir items from them. We asked one store owner to cook rice for us since we ran out of it. We paid 100 for a kilo of rice. We also bought halohalo for 30 pesos a serving and Not bad for some comfort food in the island.
We can stay here all day. The water is crystal clear. There was almost no wave. The water temperature is just right. We had a blast.
BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES
Gas (Manila-Pundaquit-Manila) - P2500
Accomodations - P4500
Towel rental - P50 pesos each
Fruit Shakes (banana, melon, watermelon) - P50 pesos each
Large bag of ice (unused ice can be brought back to the cafe and be retrieved once you need them again) - P100 pesos
Bonfire - P300 pesos
Chicken Pork Adobo (5 servings) - P750
Island hopping (Camara, Capones and Anawangin) - P2700 pesos (300 pesos x 9 pax)
Rice (1 kilo) - 100
Halohalo - 30 pesos per serving
ITINERARY/SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Day 1
7:00am - Leave Manila for Pundakit
11:00am - Arrival at Canoe Resort (with stopovers in a gas station and two markets), check in and settle down
12:00nn -Lunch
1:00pm - Nap time
3:00pm - Swim at the pool
4:30pm - Transfer to the beach
5:00pm - Shower and change for Mass
6:00pm - Mass at a nearby chapel
7:00pm - Head back to the resort
7:45pm - Dinner
8:30pm - Bonfire
9:30pm - Sleep time
Day 2
4:30am - Wake up (for adults)
5:15am - Wake up (for kids)
6:00am - Arrival of Boat
6:30am - Arrival at Camara Island
8:00am - Arrival at Capones Island
10:00am - Arrival at Anawangin
1:30pm - Arrival at Canoe Resort
3:00pm - Check out
3:15pm - Leave Pundaquit for Manila
Some Notes:
1. Our room just have one comfort room. Canoe resort has a common shower and toilet rooms which ia free to use. We use these to cut down on our waiting times.
2. There's a chapel within walking distance of the resort.
3. There's a market 15 minutes away from the resort.
4. Tatang Pedring is our boatman. You may contact him at (0916) 5254052.
5. Ms. Annie is our contact at Canoe Resort. You may reach her at (0939) 3740737.
Gas (Manila-Pundaquit-Manila) - P2500
Accomodations - P4500
Towel rental - P50 pesos each
Fruit Shakes (banana, melon, watermelon) - P50 pesos each
Large bag of ice (unused ice can be brought back to the cafe and be retrieved once you need them again) - P100 pesos
Bonfire - P300 pesos
Chicken Pork Adobo (5 servings) - P750
Island hopping (Camara, Capones and Anawangin) - P2700 pesos (300 pesos x 9 pax)
Rice (1 kilo) - 100
Halohalo - 30 pesos per serving
ITINERARY/SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Day 1
7:00am - Leave Manila for Pundakit
11:00am - Arrival at Canoe Resort (with stopovers in a gas station and two markets), check in and settle down
12:00nn -Lunch
1:00pm - Nap time
3:00pm - Swim at the pool
4:30pm - Transfer to the beach
5:00pm - Shower and change for Mass
6:00pm - Mass at a nearby chapel
7:00pm - Head back to the resort
7:45pm - Dinner
8:30pm - Bonfire
9:30pm - Sleep time
Day 2
4:30am - Wake up (for adults)
5:15am - Wake up (for kids)
6:00am - Arrival of Boat
6:30am - Arrival at Camara Island
8:00am - Arrival at Capones Island
10:00am - Arrival at Anawangin
1:30pm - Arrival at Canoe Resort
3:00pm - Check out
3:15pm - Leave Pundaquit for Manila
Some Notes:
1. Our room just have one comfort room. Canoe resort has a common shower and toilet rooms which ia free to use. We use these to cut down on our waiting times.
2. There's a chapel within walking distance of the resort.
3. There's a market 15 minutes away from the resort.
4. Tatang Pedring is our boatman. You may contact him at (0916) 5254052.
5. Ms. Annie is our contact at Canoe Resort. You may reach her at (0939) 3740737.
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