I had been longing for this trip ever since my friend Mayo announced the itinerary for the Anawangin trek in her Multiply. I have heard about this place so much from my friends and have seen spectacular photographs in the posts of numerous bloggers. My excitement was further heightened by the fact that my previous trek to Mt. Pinatubo was such a big surprise that I thought this was going to be another fantastic trip.
To get ready for the trip, I went shopping for some basic gear needed for trekking and some trail food. It was only my second hiking trip but that didn’t stop me from getting the chance to set food on the pine-covered beach of Anawangin, even if it meant trekking for 6 hours. I wanted to avoid the weekend traffic so as soon as I had packed my things, I went to the jeepney terminal near Alabang Star Mall to meet everyone at Victory Liner in Pasay. On board a jeepney en route to the bus terminal to join another group of wanderers, mostly strangers to me, I hoped to have another memorable trip and gain new friends.
I arrived at Victory Liner terminal in Pasay an hour earlier than our meet-up time. Good thing JT, was already there so we chatted for a while and had a bit a bit of a chat with the other passengers. We were supposed to leave at 11:00 but it was almost 12:00 when the bus left for Zambales. It took us around 3 hours to reach the Municipal Hall of San Antonio where Sir Paul picked us up with his Fortuner in 3 batches – there were 21 of us and his truck was not available that time. Sir Paul is a retired military officer who owns part of the island in Talisayin cove, several boats and a truck so it had been convenient for us to have everything arranged by him.
We had our packed breakfast on the beach of Barangay Pundaquit. After preparing our daypack bags, we unloaded the rest of our stuff into the pump boat. Some of us would go straight to Anawangin on a boat to bring our tents, water and food supplies. It was convenient and had considerably made the trek easier. Before dawn, we were already on our way to a six hour trek over the mountain of Pundaquit.
It was still dark when we started the trek. It was very still and despite the obscurity of the surroundings at that time, I could already see the beauty in the silhouette of the landscapes around us. I followed the glimmer of light from my friends’ headlights as we threaded through the sandy path of Mt. Pundaquit. Except for the smell of dust at the start of the trail, the chatter and excitement had mellowed down as we went deeper into the mountains.
My excitement was further heightened when I got a clearer glimpse of the scenery. I saw a dry river bed beyond the thick bushes,the trees and surrounding vegetation, and the contour of the mountain finally unfolded before us.
We had our first stop near a small water fall where we spent a bit of time resting and snapping pictures. We waited for quite awhile till the sun was up. It’s a good thing Neo lent me his tripod or I wouldn’t have been able to get any clear shots of the place, since all my pics were blurry due to the low light (I’m still a newbie in photography).
We passed through trails surrounded by shrubs, grasses and some interesting ornamental plants as well as rolling hills and mountains. We had a few stops as the trail started to steepen. Most of us were newbies in mountaineering so we were walking in a slow phase. Along the trail, I saw this huge purplish dung, which according to our guide was from a wild tamaraw. The sight of it had triggered gory stories like the climber who was violently attacked by these wild animals. Fortunately for us, we didn’t see any at that time although that would have been a lot of fun since our guide knows how to deal with these animals anyway.
After some more huffing and puffing, we finally reached the peak where the 2-3 hours of descent to the beach would start. I was still catching my breath from the steepest part of our climb so far, but I didn’t pass up on the opportunity to climb some more to a higher elevation to get a better view of the cove. As much as I wanted to capture the spectacular view, the limitation of my lens got in the way, so after the endless picture taking we descended into a steep and rocky slope.
We passed by a long stretch of dry river beds and occasional patches of dried shrubs and bushes. The foliage gradually became greener as we approached the beach cove. We could already hear the melodious sound of the pine trees swaying in the wind, an indication that we are indeed very near the end of our trek.
I briskly picked up my pace and rushed along the path surrounded by pine trees. The beach was everything that I expected it to be. A mixture of volcanic ash and white sand, pine trees just behind the banks of the cove and the mountains of rock blended perfectly.
I quickly removed my shoes and tried to massage my feet with the sand. After a few minutes of rest, we started to pitch our tents and got ready for lunch. We arrived on the beach around 11am, just as we had expected for our six-hour trek of Mt. Pundaquit. The trail on the mountain was fairly steep. The hardest part for me though was during our descent to the slightly steep but rocky slope. There were no shrubs or trees to hang on to while walking down the trail which gave me two options, to run downhill or to slow down.
After pitching our tents, we hurriedly devoured our unusually delicious packed-lunch and finally got to rest and enjoy the beach. It was very tempting to just lie down in the hammock and enjoy this serene splendor, but Jherwin invited us to join him and Sir Paul to visit another cove nearby where his beach hut was located. So off we went to a short visit to Talisayin Cove which was as spectacular as Anawangin Cove as well.
The night ended with socialization with the whole group which some of us missed including me. But when I woke up past midnight, I still found some of them lying on the sand with post-valentine hang over. After joining them for quite a while we all went back to our own tent anticipating our adventure for the next day – a visit to Capones Island.
Total Expenses : 1100
Breakdown of Expenses
300 – food (includes packed-breakfast and lunch, snacks, dinner and breakfast the next day
1100 – bus fare from Manila to San Antonio, guide fee, boat rentals, Anawangin fee, guide fee,transport from San Antonio proper to Pundaquit and Pundaquit to Olongapo bus terminal, water and improvised freezer, plus id and key chain
How to get there:
a. Take the bus of Victory liner from Caloocan or Pasay City bus terminal which is around 270 pesos. Then get off at San Antonio proper and take a chartered tricycle to Pundaquit which around 150 pesos for 3 pax. There are many boats for rent in the jump-off site in Pundaquit ranging from 1000-1400 depending on your itinerary. You may opt to trek the mountain of Pundaquit or ride a boat to reach the cove.
b. Our package – you may call Jherwin at 09065032211 to arrange any package you want whether you will trek or take the boat to Anawangin
What to bring:
Overnight campers
tent and other camping gears
cooking gears
hammock
change of clothes
insect repellant
water and food supplies
snorkling gears
camera
trail food and water (for trekkers)
Note: you may buy your food and water supplies in Pundaquit and ask your rented boat to bring them to Anawangin directly especially if you are going to trek. You may ask one of your travelmates to join the boatman and look after your things.
Bits and Info
Anawangin Cove
- It is a crescent shaped cove with a pristine white sand beach. What makes the place unique is the unusual riddle of tall pine trees flourishing round its vicinity. There are no roads leading to Anawangin. It is only accessible by a 30 minute boat ride from Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales or by a six-hour trek through hot, open trails thru the Pundaquit range. The cove’s relative isolation has kept it free from development – as of this writing, there are no resorts on this sparkling piece of natural beauty, save for a few huts and deep wells. Just behind the beach is the pine forest and a marsh, where one can find natural springs feeding to the sea. The area is home to a number of bird species. (wikipedia)
maybe some day i can join you
the last picture’s a perfect one
waaah! gusto ko din mag pundaquit! ganda ng mga shots mo claire..
are you using manual settings ba?
ang ganda po! =)
heaven! ang ganda claire! inggit ako, but at least it feels like i’m in anawangin cove just by looking at your great shots! continue exploring the world! live & conquer! you are blessed to have the means, freedom and passion to travel around our country. i’ll visit your site everyday–looking forward for more places to visit! mwah!
excellent shots claire!
kala ko ba newbie kp lang? hehe.
no joke, ang galing. swerte k n din kc may chance k makapag travel all around…
sulitin mo yan.
congrats and keep ‘em coming!
Wow! Super ganda ng place…super ganda ng mnga shots! and super ganda din for dure ng DSLR mo claire!!
Next time sama namn ako jan!ahuhuh
ay…at least may babalikan akong place dyan…yung talisayin…pati na rin nagsasa cove. intay na lang ulit ng chance makahanap ng kasabay. hehehe.
im loving sooo much the pic of somebody’s hand na may hawak na mga shells.. ^_^ and the last featured pic is to die for..
galing may talent ka talaga sa photography!
haha
I think that’s my hand 
lovely pics claire
hopefully we will visit this place again soon
hi nightwing, you may contact sir paul thru jherwin, he’s the one who’s in charge of coordinating everything related to anawangin together with sir paul, his number is09065032211, they always go there every month so just ask him about the next schedule
it is nice~~
xplore m mn dw Mt.kawakawa soBrang lupiT nya pRomizz.
Hi
I think nakita ko ung group nyo, 21 members ung team nyo di ba?
jeff
Hi claire
hehe kayo nga.. kami ung malapit din sa poso.. May nakilala ako sa inyo na naka-nikon d90 ung long hair na naka shade nalimutan ko name basta member sya ng dpp.. saka ung girl na kinausap ko na naka canon.. ewan ko kung kasama nyo un.
hehe ikaw pala un, aun si neo nakilala namin sya ng gf ko during the long exposure photo ops sa may rocks part ng anawangin. hehe ako yata ung nagsabi sau ng try to long expose sa mga rocks hehe anyway nice meeting u at ung group.
Ah madali lang un anyway keep shootin! Ingats
jeff nagkita na pla kau ni claire hehehehe plagi ko binibisita 2ng blog nya eh hehehehhe bukas kmi nmn..
hi!
How can we contact Sir Paul to arrange the visit? may mga sched ba? basically, i am alone lang and wanna ho there.
can u text me please?
09209549510
wow claire!
this is one good site too!i’m loving your site na talaga!bagay na bagay yung title ng blog mo!”LAKWATSERA DE PREMIRA” perfect!! =)
i’m not a picture addict pero ingit ako pag may nakikita akong magagandang shots.just like the pictures you have here.heheh!keep it up.i’ll try to contact jherwin baka pwede din ako sumama to their trips.
more trips to come!and more good blogs to share!
thanks again!
Nice work! I’ll have to do a cross post on this one
Hi!
Is there a way I can get in touch directly with sir Paul if Jherwin will not reply?
thanks
ganda talaga ng shots mo claire!
Hi po. pupunta po kami sa Anawangin this coming Saturday May 9-10. Tanong ko lang po kung kelangan po ba talaga ng guide sa pag trek? first time po kasi nmin lahat eh. by the way ang gaganda po ng kuha nyo. nakaka excite tuloy. Thanks.
Thank you for sharing your experience and this blog entry has really been helpful to me and my friends. ^^
thanks too Tala, im glad u got some helpful tips from it, till our next adventure,
magkano b ang bayad dun sa mga naggguide? at ska si sir paul lng ba ang ngaarrange ng nghhike dun?
thanks claire, you are awesome! hehe. I’ll use this guide for my trip to here!
hi. your post is really nice. i like your pictures.
im planning to bike (mountain bike) Anawangin. any idea/s if the trails are bike-able?
thanks!
hi! magkano po ang bayad sa guide sa mt. pundaquit?
maki of akyaters mountaineers
sure you can join us with your friends, we are planning this june 20 – 22 going to anawangin via mt. pundaquit. you can check our site also akyaters.wordpress.com
thanks claire
Cliare thanks thanks thanks :d ayos tong site mo wag mo kaming kakalimutan pag yumaman kana :d
sama ka june 27-28???
anawangin cove
talisayin cove
nagsasa cove
capones island
need ko ng photographer&bloger hehehe
sagot ko lahat,,, kung di ka pwede baka may interesado text nyo lang po ako :d
question lang poh..dun sa picture parang may hotel na tinatayo..
anu poh ba yun?..hotel?
@ claire
dun poh sa may talisayin cove..hehe
ah, ok..
im planning to go there this august 7
Indeed, awesome and impressive “pieces of real estate” that has retain most of their tranquil and natural identity…but, for how long? The more they receive attention through the media, the more people will be enticed and attracted in their discovery. And, will eventually flock into the area in throves guised as adventurers but with no respect to the preservation of the natural surroundings. Already, the adverse environmental disturbance of the area by visitors is evident and if this aspect remains uncontrolled, these “tranquil pieces of real estate” will soon just be another worthless speck of mother earth.
mgkano exact binayad nyo sa tour guide sa pgtrekk? bka mgtrekk dn kmi kaso 3 lng kmi..
i think 500 pesos po
tnx po..
balak kasi nmin mgtrekk ppunta tpos boat pabalik. dun b sa pgttrekk mhihrapan b kami kung ddlhin dn nmin lahat ng gmit nmin? kasi wala nmng mgbbantay ng gmit nmin kung my boat pa.. mgkano n dn po pla ung bayad sa boat, pg one way at two way? xnxa na madaming tanong.. sa 22o lng eh naeexcite n ako ngtatanong p lng. hehe 
I am not sure about the rate now but i think you will get an idea of the expenses by reading the breakdown of our expenses at the bottom of my blog.
Hi! we are planning to go anawangin on nov28-30, we need a guide for the trek, may maiirecommend ka ba? may contact no. ba? please.. thanks!
if you need assistance in anawangin i can help you just give me a call 09065032211
thanks claire
kagagaling ko lng jan last week.. sabi nila best season pumunta ay sept.. mas green ang paligid at may laman ang mga river.. sayang ngayon ko lng nalaman suggestion mo about our things.. sayang di tuloy kami nakapag-trek mula pundaquit..
You can always go back there and trek Mt. Pundaquit. You might also want to visit the other coves like nagsasa or talisayin.
Been there too,,last week and last October.. I agree that anawangin might be better visited after rainy seasons… If you plan to ride boat.. Rivers are filled with water and the link between the sea and river is visible. If you visit by October..
I was not astonished on my visit this summer because there are some changes that gave me disappointment.
Lucky we have enjoyed our Capones Island Visit….
http://trifter.com/caribbean-latin-america/awesome-capones-island/
More Powers lakwatsera de primera!!!
I agree, when I went back to Anawangin last month, it’s like a totally different cove. I like Nagsasa Cove now although it’s starting to become like Anawangin as well
mam/sir
good day..
we are offering package for annawangin tour.. for more info kindly text us at 09193910016 or 09193123992..
we are hoping to serve you soon..
godbless
joan
hello there
we are offering package tour going to annawangin cove for more info kindly text us ay 09193910016 or 09193123992
Hi, i wanna ask if yung 1500(per pax) is enough na for overnight stay in anawangin, inclusive of side trip at capones island? hoping for your reply. Thanks!
It depends on the number of pax in your group. Bigger group lesser expenses.
Hi Claire,
Try to visit Potipot Island in Candelaria Zambales coz it was so virgin.. Mas preferred ko siya compared to anawangin..
Hi Oreo, yeah it’s beautiful and easy to get to, I’ve been there as well as Magalawa Island.
basta yung creative zones dun sa dial, di ko din masyado kabisado, editing na lang ang savior
hahahahh talagang explore ko kaya kawa kawa sa ligao city, coming soon april, syempre start with your own
yep marami nga kami kasabay nun sa anawangin lovapalooza hehhe, valentines eh
hhahaha ako po yung girl na naka canon, si neo naman yung naka d90, dami kasi natin nun,
hay naku di pa ko marunong ng mga long exposure na yan, clear shots nga nangangapa ko, heheheh, more practice pa
hi Red, well, it’s very unlikely that he wont reply unless he doesn’t have a load heheh anyway u can check his multiply site, his id is his own number, you can also leave a message there in his guest book
hi sorry for the late reply, just got back from another lakwatsa, it’s better to have a guide especially that many of u are first timers, it’s cheaper anyway if you will divide the fee among yourselves. unless you know the place i will suggest to get a guide
usually guide’s fee is 500 pesos, but most packages include the guide already, no it’s not only Sir Paul, i will recommend to do it yourself na lang and don’d avail of the package, maybe you can just get a guide if you are going to trek, but you can arrange the boats when you are already in Pundaquit, there are so many options and you can negotiate right there.
wow, that would be interesting, i’m not sure though of any bike trail going to Anawangin
hi maki, the last time we went there 500 ang guide fee,im not sure if this is the standard rate or it can still be cheaper or more, anyway if one of u had been there na,u might not need a guide anymore, thanks 4 dropping by ang keep on climbing, and maybe i can join one of ur climbs next tym if u allow sabitera like me heheh
sorry i don’t know which picture you are referring to
ah, it’s not a hotel, i think it’s a private rest house of one of the owners of the island, :-0