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If you and your friends need to retreat from your busy, energy-sapped lives in Metro Manila and spend a night or two surrounded by sand, sea, slopes and sunlight, there’s really only one place—one that isn’t too far from the metropolis— that comes to mind: Nagsasa Cove in San Antonio town, Zambales province.
One of Luzon’s top spots for camping and quick getaways in general, it’s easy to see why Nagsasa Cove— which is accessible from San Antonio’s Pundaquit village—is popular. For one, San Antonio is only a three- to-four-hour drive from Metro Manila, and it takes an hour to reach the cove by boat. Another, it’s very peaceful, especially since there’s no mobile-phone and Internet signal and electricity available, making whatever electronic gadget you bring there useless.
There’s no need to worry about that, though, for Nagsasa Cove offers several calming sights and fun activities that can occupy you during your stay, as long as you come prepared. Here are a few:
• Island-hopping and swimming. Should the boat ride to Nagsasa Cove give you aches, you can stop first at nearby Camara and Capones islands, where you can swim in its waters and relieve yourself of your aches for a few minutes, or even an hour or two. You can resume swimming once you’re at the cove. While you do, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the sunset and the nearby mountain.
• Camping and stargazing. Once evening sets in, prepare a bonfire, light it and enjoy the crackling sound of burning wood mingling with the relaxing sound of waves landing on the shore. You can also lie down on the beach and gaze at the star-studded sky.
• Trekking and waterfall-visiting. Start the new day with some exercise, and there’s no better way to do that than trekking 90 minutes to Mount Nagsasa. Once you reach it, reward yourself by taking a dip in a skin-soothing mini-waterfall.
If you’re going to Nagsasa Cove, here’s a suggested itinerary for two days:
• Leave Manila at 4 a.m. Expect to arrive at San Antonio at 7 a.m.
• Visit Camara and Capones islands and stay until 11 a.m., so you will arrive at Nagsasa Cove by noon and have your lunch. Enjoy the rest of your first day at the beach.
• Wake up early on your second day. Better to start your trek to Mount Nagsasa as early as 5 a.m. and enjoy the waterfalls from 7 to 9 a.m. You can also have your breakfast upon reaching the falls. Be sure to get back to your camp before noon, as the sand trail is scorching-hot during the day.
• Pack up and leave for Manila after lunch.
A two-day trip to Nagsasa Cove costs about P2,000 to P3,000 per person. PNA/TMM
For more information on Nagsasa Cove, send an e-mail to the Department of Tourism in Region 3 (Central Luzon) office at tourismregion3@gmail.com, or visit www.visitmyphilippines.com. You can also visit www.facebook.com/tourismzambales.