Let me talk about my college friend Mimay. To be honest, it’s weird that I call her a “college friend.” Although we shared the same batch, same college org and even same classes, we weren’t really close in college, looking back. She was busy doing theater while I was busy being emo. It was after graduation that we really became friends. While I was busy avoiding going home — I hated my apartment that time — she was busy stalking a barista at a cafe just around the block. That was when we started hanging out together and got close. A year later, she moved to California for good. Goodbye, cafe buddy.

But last summer, Mimay decided to come home, to the Philippines, with her American boyfriend. As a “welcome back” treat, we planned to spend a weekend out of town with my other college friends. Initially, they wanted Puerto Galera or Batangas, but eventually, we all agreed that Anawangin Cove in Zambales was the best choice since none of us had been there before.

Preparing for a Camping Trip at Anawangin Cove

Since it was a camping trip, it took a lot more preparations that our usual trips. For starters, we needed to find tents and carefully pick the food we would be bringing. Here are some tips you might want to consider when planning for a trip to Anawangin.

  • Tents. Ask your friends. One of them might just own a tent that you can borrow. A medium-sized tent can accommodate up to four people. But if you’re the type that protects your personal space so much, you can also limit it to only 3. It is not advisable to rent tents. If you planning on renting a tent for P500 per night, ditch it and just buy one. There are tents available at DIY shops and sports houses for as low as P800. Best part is you get to keep the tent and you won’t have to worry about finding one next time.
  • Food. Bring food items that are easy to prepare. Although there are stores on the beach, expect them to be pricier. Cupped noodles, bread and canned goods are good choices. You can try to bring cooked food but make sure they do not spoil easily as you don’t want your buzzkill tummy to ruin the fun.
  • Water. In secluded beaches, water is gold.
  • Can/bottle opener and knife. You will need these to open stuff. Opening things with your teeth is impressive but…
  • Rope. You might need this to create an improvised clothesline so your wet clothes will dry easily.
  • Flashlight. No electricity, baby.
  • Mosquito repellent. Avoid mosquito bites and all the diseases that might come with them.
  • Sunblock. Protect your skin from the sun, of course.
  • Camera. Anawangin offers not just a good place to swim but awesome scenery that you WILL want to capture.

Also, don’t try to bring too many clothes. If you’re staying for only a night, bring just enough. Don’t forget toiletries.

How to Get to Anawangin Cove

  1. From Manila, catch a Victory Liner bus bound to Iba, Zambales.  You may go to their Caloocan or Pasay terminal.
  2. When you pay, tell the cashier you’re getting off in San Antonio.
  3. Once inside the bus, tell the driver or the conductor to drop you off at the San Antonio Public Market.
  4. Take a tricycle going to Pundaquit (P60 per 2 pax, or P30 per pax).
  5. In Pundaquit, rent a boat for P1500 roundtrip. That’s P1500 per boat so it will still be divided by how many you are in the group. This boat will take you to Anawangin Cove, Camara Island, and Capones Island. If you want to go to Anawangin Cove ONLY and NOT Camara and Capones, rent is P900.

That’s it! The boat will take you to Anawangin Cove! Enjoy!

Expenses

If you’re planning an overnight trip at Anawangin Cove with your friends, here are some figures you might want to take note of. These are not exact amounts. I rounded ‘em off.

P500 – Roundtrip bus fare from Quezon City to San Antonio, Zambales
P60 – Roundtrip tricycle fare
P1500 – Boat fee — Anawangin Cove, Camara Island, Capones Island (divided by how many you are in the group)
P100 – Overnight fee (A friend told me it’s now P150, but we paid only P100 when we were there)

Basically, that’s it. Bring your own food to save money. And as said above, if you’re planning to rent a tent, forget it. Just borrow from a friend or buy one.

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This is part of our overnight weekend camping getaway at Anawangin Cove in Zambales. To read more about the rest of our trip, check out our ANAWANGIN COVE series here.