Pundaquit Escapade

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.

Zambales being only 3 hours away from Manila, We left Dau Bus Terminal around 3AM then we reached Olongapo City around 4AM. The travel time is pretty fast due to the aid of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway. Pundaquit however, is another 30 to 60 minutes away from the first city which is Olongapo. Traveling to Pundaquit is not as hard as it looks, buses have a cheap fare treat for as low as 40 Php. The North has all the scenic roads and interesting people you’ll see along the way. We reached the municipality of San Antonio half past 7AM. That’s enough reason to make daytrippers and backpackers feel more relaxed,  laid back and away from the rat race and hustle and bustle of the city.

This town is primarily known for its calm and clean beaches compared to its neighboring towns. Even if Pundaquit is facing the open ocean of the China Sea, it maintains its calm shorelines as it is  sheltered by Capones and Camara 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

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.

Although there’s not a lot of flora and fauna to feast your eyes on, nature lovers will still delight on the strikingly erratic landscape of Zambales. The best way to admire the beautiful scenery is by trekking through the panoramic backdrops. Zambales is a relatively safe place with friendly, accommodating locals and a low crime rate; but it’s still best to keep your guard up.

Capones island is another 15 to 20 minutes boatride 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.


The Anawangin Cove is by far the most popular destination for campers and beach goers alike. 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.

It is advisable to bring your own food and hygiene necessities instead of purchasing in the beach resorts. The prices are quite high than the normal prices. There is a public market but it is not actually located in Pundaquit, rather it’s right beside the municipal hall of San Antonio, which is the last town before you reach your destination. It’s best that you buy your goods and water here before heading towards the town of Pundaquit.

Pundaquit is blessed with fine beaches and majestic surroundings. It wasn't long before the sun was headed towards the horizon to call it a day. We had to head back home. It would have been nice to get closer to the horses, walk along the river, explore the homes on the cliffs, trek up the mountains, or discover the treasures of Capones Islands, but perhaps another time. Actually, not perhaps, Pundaquit more than deserves another visit. And I can certainly attest that Pundaquit is indeed one of Zambales' lesser-known gems if not the gem of Zambales.