Pundaquit is a fishing village located in San Antonio,Zambales.

The primary livelihood in this small, yet lively and beautiful town is fishing and tourism.

Locals who speak both Ilocano and Zambal, also speak Tagalog as well.

They will be more than willing help you if you ever lose your way to the winding roads from the town traveling to the beaches of Pundaquit.

 

This town is primarily known for its calm and clean beaches compared to San Narciso, San Felipe and upwards the shores of Iba Zambales.

Even though the waters of Pundaquit is facing the open ocean of the China Sea, it is sheltered by the hills, mountains and its neighboring islands. It is also the best jump off point if you want to visit the Camara Island, Capones Island and Anawangin Cove since it is the closest  shores to these destinations.

Have you been to Zambales to explore the fabulous islands and the well-known Anawangin Cove?

Go overboard and be captivated by the stunning beaches, white sand, and the lighthouse.

Island hopping has never been this good.

Camara Island has a great view of the open ocean and is the closest island from the shores of Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales 20-30 minutes boat ride. It has two sides separated by a white sandbar that becomes visible during the low tide and disappears during the high tide. Big rocks that dwarf the tourists are plenty on this island. It won’t be long till you find yourself taking photos of them or with them and just be astonished by their size and weight. Your next stop is the Capones island, a short boat ride from the Camara Island. Here, you could just hang around and enjoy the beach, or simply go up and take a tour of the Parola Grand Capones, a Spanish era Lighthouse. Once you're up in the lighthouse, you will be facing the open sea, a nice view of the blue waters and white sand. A very refreshing sight for those who just want to unwind and breathe fresh air.

 

Save the best for last as you hop on to Anawangin Cove. It is the accessible only by boat proper of Pundaquit, and is by far known as the most popular destination for campers and beach goers out there. Just the mention of the name Zambales will ring a bell for those who have gone to the cove that a trip to Pundaquit is never complete without feeling Anawangin’s mixture of volcanic ash and white sand beneath your feet.

 

 

Trek to Capones Lighthouse:

If you are coming from the east side of Capones Island, you have to trek for an hour or less, to a rocky shore, passing to an unfinished building and statue of Mama Mary. I suggest you have someone with you who knows the place since the trail up has no signage, (only stone guides) and you may get lost. But if you are coming from the other side of the island (near the stairs), the lighthouse is already visible so it is easier to reach the place passing through a field, this side of the island however has rocky shore and some huge waves making it impossible for bancas to dock.

 

Island Hopping:

You can visit the nearby Camara Island, Nagsasa Cove, Silanguin Cove and Anawangin Cove. Being almost parallel to the view of the two islands, Pundaquit is the perfect jump off point to visit Camara island and Capones island. It is recommended to leave early morning and pack your breakfast so you can have a picnic at Camara island.

Capones island is another 15 to 20 minutes boat ride away from Camara and offers a lot more shaded area where you can spend the rest of the day or go on a short trek up the lighthouse and enjoy the view of Zambales and the horizon facing the China Sea

 

Fishing:

Fishing is a livelihood to a lot of locals in Zambales. The Philippine watercraft, also known as the “banka”, can accommodate two anglers bottom fishing and trolling. Quite slow and narrow compared to fishing boats, so get ready to occasionally get wet during the ride. Bottom fishing can bring in a variety of snappers, jacks, trevallies and groupers. Trolling on the otherhand can get you the pelagics such as Dorados, Skipjacks, King Mackerels, Wahoos and occasional billfish species.

Surfing:

During the monsoon season, surfers from different parts of Manila and from North of Luzon, travel to their favorite surfing paradise. Pundaquit was a previous location for Stonemney’s seminars and from then on, locals have adapted to riding the waves and swells of nearby shores. It’s common to see locals surfing in Pundaquit. As a matter of fact, some beach resorts and locals rent out long and short boards and will be more than willing to teach you the basics for a small fee.

Visit Pundaquit Falls:

Walk along the beach southward towards the Pundaquit river. If your resort is too far north of the river, you can take your vehicle and get back to the main Pundaquit road and head southward until the road ends by the river. From the river, it is only a short walk by the seashore until you reach the end of the beach where there is a cliff and a smaller river (or a big stream, you might say). This small river comes from the falls, so, technically speaking, just follow the river upstream for about a hundred meters and you will end up at the foot of the falls. But remember, you may have to cut your own trail or walk along the shallow portions of the stream to get there. As you explore the falls, it gets more interesting as you climb from cascade to cascade. This falls is worth going to only during the wet season (or a little after the wet season) when there is plenty of fresh flowing water filling up the numerous “tubs” along the stream.

 

Aquatic Sports in Barangay Pundaquit:

Jetskis are available for rent.

 

 

Have Great Fun & Adventure !

Rent a ATV and drive along the endless white-sandy-beach

or explore into the nature and nearby mountains of San Antonio Zambales