Zambales Tourism: Capones Island

Being born and raised in Olongapo City, Zambales I am by birth blessed with natures beauty at its best. Olongapo is surrounded by mountain ranges, preserved and protected rainforests, and beaches. The same as the entire province of Zambales, it is a long stretch of beach. Let me take you to some key sites on my home province and I can be your local guide. You can ask me anything. 

Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales

Baranggay Pundaquit in San Antonio Zambales has been known as "jump off" point to a nature get-away and island hopping in Zambales. There are several islands that you can visit and camp overnight for the thrill seekers and laid back people. The islands here has no hotels or any private lodgings, bring your tent and your adventure awaits! 

From Pundaquit the closest island that you will see is the Camara Island and farther is the Capones Island. Both have white sands which is not that common in Zambales. Most of our beach are light gray fine sand. 

Capones Island has been famous over the years as a site that you can swim and hike to the lighthouse. My first visit to Capones was like 8 years ago where we camp on the island with some friends and my kids, then was just in Grade School. 

Capones Island Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located in Capones Island off the coast of Brgy. Pundaquit, San Antonio, in the province of Zambales, in the Philippines. The light guide international vessels coming from the north to northwest towards Subic Bay or to Corregidor Island Lighthouse at the entrance of Manila Bay. It has first-order lenses when it was first lit on August 1, 1890. (ref.  Wikipedia) 

The light house can be reached by a short hike from the beach. 

There are 2 options actually on how to reach the lighthouse. So don't get disappointed if the tides are so strong that the boat cannot dock on the beach of the usual trail to the lighthouse thus you need to swim to shore and hike a few minutes. 



Here are the 2 options. 

Option 1: Granting the boat can dock on this side of the island, hike thru the usual trail. It will be short 15 minutes hike thru a concrete stairs up the hill and passing thru a few vegetation and trees. You can easily find the path even without a guide, you will enter thru the gate and walah! 



Option 2: On approach our boatman told us that the wave is so strong that he cannot dock on the beach thus we need to swim to get to the shore. He pointed to us some people swimming to shore from their boats. We value to have souvenir photos so we cannot swim to shore. Is there another way I asked. He said it will be on the other beach but the hike is longer. One hour the most per way. It was still early around 7:30 am so we said, we are Ok with the hike so off we go. Our boatman cannot leave our things unattended and I said we can find our way. He pointed to us where to go and we are off for an adventure. 

We walked thru a rocky shore on the other side of the island, it was like 30 minutes of walk and we thought we cannot find the path going up the lighthouse. We are persistent so we just go on walking. 

Towards the end of the shore where there was nowhere else to go, we found the path going up thru the forested area on our left. It was an easy hike and we are shaded by the trees and shrubs.

After 15 minutes, we enter the lighthouse compound from the side of the quarters. 

The hike was 45 minutes and it was a great experience for us. The lighthouse did not disappoint us. 

The abandoned quarters. 

Getting up higher... the ladder to the top! Are you afraid of  heights? I am NOT :) 

Checking out the quarters

We are not in Boracay.. Check out the white sand. 

Kids having fun  :) 

Over a cliff in Capones Island 

Baler, Aurora Travel Guide

Part1: Land Travel to Baler, Aurora

Baler is situated on the east of the Philippines. A coastal town blessed with nature’s finest rain forest, waterfalls, the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges and Surfing waves. It is a great quite town to lay low and get away from the busy life of the Metro. This sleepy town is now quite famous destination to surf enthusiasts and to us who just want to try surfing and go to the other side of the country.

From Metro Manila, Baler can be reached by about 6-7 hours of travel by bus or driving towards North of Luzon and then head east via Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.

BUS TRAVELLING TO BALER 

Only Genesis Transport, Inc. provides direct trips to Baler, Aurora from Cubao. The first trip is at 3:00 AM with succeeding trips every hour, last trip leaves Cubao at 7:30 AM. From Baler to Pasay, the first bus leaves at 4:30 AM, also with succeeding trips every hour. The last trip departs 3:00 PM. Travel time is approximately 6-7 hours depending on traffic. Advance booking and payment is highly advised since the trips tends to be full. You may call their office to make the reservations and pay via Bank Transfer. If you miss the bus schedule or if you cannot get a reserved set, try PLAN B below.

GENESIS BUS STATION: G/F & 2/F Genesis Transport Bldg., 704 EDSA Cor New York St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines. 

Phone Number: (+632) 709-0803/ 421-1425/ 421-1413/421-1422/709-0544-45 

Baler Terminal. Brgy. Sabang, Baler, Aurora Mobile No: (+63) 919-650-6997

PLAN B :) 

Another option is to take any bus from Metro Manila bound for Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ejica. Then take a Baler bound bus or van in the central terminal on the city. 

Of course if you have your own car you can easily drive north to Cabanatuan City and head east via Pantabangan Road that is around 240 km.  The via Pantabangan Road is a well paved road compared to the via Bongabon Road. 

When we went to Baler last August 21, 2014 from Subic Bay, Olongapo City; we took the Pantabangan Road. We initially want to take the via Bongabon Road because it was shorter, but of course we asked a local bystander when we reached Cabanatuan City to make sure the road is safe. We were advised to take the Pantabangan Road since Bongabon is still under construction and there are rough roads. Pantabangan Road is the usual road being taken by local buses from Metro Manila and Cabanatuan City.

www.google.com.ph/maps

Since our group are driving from Subic Bay, we took the SCTEX and exit at Tarlac and drive east passing Cabanatuan City and reached the Province of Aurora via Pantabangan Road. It was early morning and we saw how the sky changes at dawn as we head east.

www.google.com.ph/maps

Literally we crossed LUZON from west side of the country to the east side where Baler is! Well, this is also to check the other side of the Bay J . It took us 5 hours to reach Aurora Province.

www.google.com.ph/maps