Silanguin Cove is an hour’s boat ride from Pundaquit, San Antonio Zambales. The beach cove is located near the more popular destinations such as Anawangin and Nagsasa. There are rumors that foreign companies are starting to setup resorts in this particular cove. For now, Silanguin Cove is largely undeveloped and tourists occasionally come by on beach-hopping tours.

Photo courtesy of loqal.ph

Anawangin used to be Zambales’ best kept secret until its popularity went viral, enabled by the interwebs. Now for those who miss the quiet and serene Anawangin or would like to know how it used to be like you can head down to Talisayin Cove.

The beach features a vacation house and a viewing deck that overlooks the peaceful beach. Inland there is a river that has the Zambales mountains as a backdrop.

How to go to Talisayin Cove

From Manila, head to San Antonio, Zambales using the travel directions here. Upon reaching Pundaquit, ask boatmen to send you to Talisayin, which takes around an hour.

Photo courtesy of VivaFilipinas.Tumblr.com

Mount Pinatubo is an active volcano that erupted in the 1990′s. Long classified as a dormant volcano, its sudden eruption displaced indigenous Agta tribes living on its slopes and hastened the pull out of the U.S. base in Subic, Zambales. Tons of volcanic ash that spewed out during Mount Pinatubo’s eruption, made life even more difficult not only to the people of Zambales but to neighboring provinces as well. As the rainy season came, lahar floods submerged several towns in Tarlac and Pampanga, washing away houses, livestock and farmlands. To this day, these towns are still reeling from the effects of Mount Pinatubo’s eruption.

Right now, the peak of the volcano that blew off during its eruption is now a crater lake, that greets hikers to its serene view – quite unimaginable as the center of destruction when it erupted.

Trekking to the crater lake of Mount Pinatubo requires one to drive to Zambales, passing through the North Luzon Expressway. This drive is approximately 2 to 3 hours, depending on stopovers and traffic.

Reaching the Mount Pinatubo Tourist Center, SUVs are the only mode of transport to navigate to the start of trail. The SUV ride takes approximately an hour, driving through a vast unusable, wasteland.

There are two trails leading to the crater lake: one takes three hours and another, and much easier trail, takes less than 45 minutes. The easier trail is closed after strong rains, as the water can easily erode “cliffs” of volcanic sand. The three-hour trail, though requires passing through streams and slippery rocks, is manageable for beginners.

Reaching the lake, is a sight to behold for weary travelers as its bright turquoise water provides a calming effect. Travelers can bathe on the lake, but are cautioned to stay near the shore as the drop is abrupt three meters from the shore.

Travelers can head to the spa, at the one side of the lake where one can indulge in treatments utilizing warm volcanic sand.

For more information, about transportation, guides and transfer services, you can go to TrekkingPinatubo.com

Crater Lake photo courtesy of Jemson

If you do not want to brave the beach this summer with crowds, Magalawa Island offers an alternative to the smaller Potipot Island in Zambales. It is located in the town of Palauig and is known for its off-white sand.

There are cottages in the island for those wishing to lounge and stay for a few nights in the island. Prices are depending on the number of persons and duration of stay. See the contact information below.

To get to Magalawa Island, one has to board a Victory Liner bus in Manila bound for Santa Cruz Zambales. Ask the driver to drop you off at Masinloc Public Market. Behind the market there are boatmen who will gladly take you to Magalawa Island for P100 per head. The boat ride takes 40 minutes.

You can also contact the following email magalawaisland@yahoo.com and mobile number 09398707413 to inquire about the rates in the island and assistance for boat transportation.

via PhilippinesPlace.blogspot.com

Beaches in the Philippines are as diverse as its people. While some are deserted island getaways and some have loud and noisy beachfronts, each beach has its own character. The list we compiled below is not confined to a specific set of criteria, such as the availability of modern amenities, accessibility, etc. Instead, by their own uniqueness.

1. White Beach, Boracay. The grand dame of the Philippine beaches and the unofficial summer capital of the Philippines.

2. Maira-ira Beach, Pagudpud. A great getaway up north complemented by Ilocano dishes.

3. Alona Beach, Panglao island. Has a status of playing second fiddle to Boracay.

4. Malapascua, Cebu. Great getaway for those seeking peace and tranquility.

5. Bantayan, Cebu. Another great beach in the premier province of the Visayas.

6. Siargao Island. A surfer’s paradise in the South.

7. Camiguin Island. Great beaches accompanied by extreme activities inland.

8. Miniloc Island, Palawan. Lime stone formations that rival those in Thailand and Vietnam.

9. Sogod Beach, Cebu. Nice beach with a well-serviced resort.

10. Potipot Island, Zambales. Easily gets crowded in the peak summer months. But a very good substitute to white sand beaches of the South without flying by plane.

Nagsasa Cove is a well-kept secret even though it is close to several other better known spots. The pristine white beach is backed by mountains with streams and waterfalls running down to the sea. The ocean itself is crystal-clear and shimmers with an inviting azure shade of blue in the warm sunshine.

Unlike Anawangin, a popular cove nearby, Nagsasa Cove is nearly deserted most of the time, allowing you to relax and enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings.

The northern end of the beach provides a camping site that includes good, clean bathrooms. There are usually only a few tents to be seen at this site. The caretaker of the site and the other few local people are very friendly and helpful to the travelers who come here.

It remains to be seen how long this wonderful place can remain as unknown and as unspoiled as it is at the moment. If you are a person who loves untouched, beautiful, natural settings then you will find yourself very much at peace here.

In conclusion, Nagsasa Cove is nearly deserted, completely unspoiled and has some of the most gorgeous scenery in this part of Luzon.

Photo from: pundaquit.com

This is one of the surf camps closest to Manila. You can stay here for the night if you plan to head on to more peaceful coves such as Anawangin and Nagsasa.

Telephone: 913 4309

The management can arrange dive trips for you. You can also opt to hire a boat to the Capones light house – one of the few remaining Spanish-era structures in this part of the Philippines.

Telephone: 0918 278 8188

Has a library and a pool table for bookworms and hustlers. Offers deep-sea fishing activities for additional fees.

Telephone: 0918 910 1208

Norwegian-managed resort with nice rooms.

Telephone: 0917 732 0716