Anawangin Cove, Zambales

Anawangin Cove was a secret hide away for campers and mountain hikers before it became famous for its unusual growth of 'pine trees' along its shore, for its crystal clear water and white sands. Besides from that a picture perfect landscape of the rocky mountains surrounding it, which makes it isolated from the technology of humans.

Our trip started by leaving Quezon Avenue around 5am, which was supposed to be at 3am. We were in a group of four plus another group of 3 and a tour guide. At 9am, we reached the town of San Antonio in Zambales to buy our last minute things for the camping experience but we didn't buy anything assuming that we already had everything that we need since we bought canned goods for the whole trip. The other group went out to buy some charcoal, vegetables, fish and a couple of mangoes.

In 15 minutes or less, we reached Pundaquit, which is a fishing village and the docking area bound to Anawangin and Nagsasa Cove, Capones, Camara and Magalawa Islands. This was also the place of preparation for the camp, where the tents, water, and cooking utensils were available for rent or for sale.

There were a lot of fishing boats here complete with names to identify their owners. The Pundaquit shores also had some resorts like Punta de Uian and few gorgeous private vacation homes.

The view of Pundaquit, specially the mountain, from the boat was ravishing!

So relaxing view of the sky, the mountains and calm waters of the sea.

There were not so much trees growing at the mountain because its mainly made of solid rock. Only a few plants and much more of a bamboo-like plant grows at the mountain.

After a 30-minute ride, I was finally stepping at Anawangin Cove. I was really excited to experience this, away from the usual day in the city without any connection to the outside world.

The first thing I noticed was the fences, which was not there before according to the people who already been here before. This fascinating part of land was already owned by three different individuals and because of land disputes and arguments, owners decided to place the fences within their boundaries. It really destroyed its natural view and beauty like the old times when it was not yet  explored.

Good thing, the place was still isolated from electricity and doesn't even have signal from the three mobile networks.

It was like I can't believe what I'm seeing. Its natural wonder, its clear waters, the growing pine trees and take note, there's no coconut tree here. Not even one local lives here before but because of its ownership, caretakers of the land almost lives here, making business from their nipa hut store selling necessities like food and water at a whopping price. Even the woods for cooking was even sold here for 120 pesos per bundle and goes up by 30 pesos at night.

According to our tour guide, before you could just freely get the the wood from fallen branch of the trees for camping but since they are already selling it, the danger of loosing the pine trees at Anawangin was already at risk.

Numerous pine trees were cutted down, visible as you walk along the camping grounds and even worst beyond the fences at the back. There were also other trees like the umbrella trees being planted there making the pine trees extinct sooner that we thought.

We stayed at the middle part of the camping grounds since different owners had their own set of frequent travellers, who brought in tourists. A minimal fee was asked for camping overnight but if its included to your travel package going to Anawangin, you need not to worry anymore.

I don't know if the trees were young or just really grow like this, thin branches with not so many leaves to cover the ground. Worrying about water to use for cleaning, taking a bath or washing clothes? There's a deep well free for everyone to use. There were even toilets and dressing rooms for everyone to share.

Setting up the tent was easy but finding a good shade for the tent was not because its really scourging hot for us to stay inside the tent during daytime but windy enough to chill and relax.

Your tent might be this big, enough for a group of 8 to 10 persons (this is not our tent). We just had a small tent good for 4 persons. 

The fences were not just placed along the shore but also placed vertically along the trees which separates the cove into three parts.

Noontime came and we had to prepare our lunch, we were really not prepared for this since we only bought canned goods, how are we going to cook the rice, we didn't bought any charcoal at the market. I was expecting that the tour guide will also provide that since it was a package deal but not. We were saved by the other group which was with us at the van going here. They have 3 bags of charcoal but was not enough overnight.

After lunch time, we decided to rest until 4pm so that the sun would be settling down and we could start our mini-trek to the small mountain top. We started to walk at the back of the camping site, where a river is located. The water was not free flowing but its still crystal clear. the ambiance was like you are at the set of the film, Twilight, where anytime a wolf might appear from the woods.

The view leading of the river leading to the sea was beauteous! I love it!

I was a little bit paranoid that what if a crocodile suddenly appears from the silent waters of the river or leeches that might stick to our skin while walking but there's none.

I was like in New Zealand minus the cold weather. 

Seeing snow? The reflection of the sun makes the sand glow white.

After you reached the point where water from the river meets the sea water, there's a way leading to the top of a small mountain. Beware, there's a man 'guarding' the way up the mountain and asks the people whose going up to pay 10 pesos each as per owner's commandment. We didn't pay the man right away and just asked him if we could just pay him after the climb since its the only way down too.

This was the view from the first few steps of the hiking. The water was so blue! Going up was really hard since the stepping stones were not stable. The soil color was red to orange and the only thing you could hold on to was the bamboo grass.

Breath-taking top view!

The river was like from a man-made golf course but it was naturally formed.

This was the stunning view of the other side of the cove from the top of the small mountain we trekked. No one was camping at the other side of the cove and neither the fences were there. After catching our breaths from the small hike and had our pictures taken, we went down the same path where we went up. It's so dangerous when going down because of its steepness.

When we reached the ground safely, we tried not to mind the man who asks for a 10 peso fee and went directly to the sea to take a dip. Fortunately, he's not that demanding because everyone was questioning what he does.

The sun was setting down and we need to go back to our campsite since there's no electricity, it would be difficult for us to come back. We also had to prepare our dinner.

These were the different signs from different land owners who owns the cove doing some business. Before there was only one store in Anawangin but since the division of land came, each properties had its own sari-sari stores. Although, there were fees collected, they kept the shores and campsite clean.

While its getting dark more people started to flock at the deep well to rinse themselves and wash the cooking utensils that will be used for dinner. After dinner, the sky was lit by the people who flew sky lanterns while three of us still swimming at night. That was my second time to see the stars that plenty again after I last saw them at Mt Pulag.

After three hours, we decided to take a bath already since the temperature started to feel more colder and we still have to wake up early the next day for our island hopping to Capones Island. c",)