CAPONES ISLAND, ZAMBALES: IMPORTANT TRAVEL TIPS



2018 • 06 • 22

Capones Island is part of a trio comprising Capones Islands; the other two are Camara Island and an islet attached to it. The island is located almost four kilometers off the coast of Pundaquit in San Antonio, Zambales. It’s a small island boasting light cream sand and clear turquoise waters. Majority of the island is marked by rocky cliffs, fringed by both light-sand beaches and rocky shores. It is usually part of the island hopping (or cove hopping) tour in Pundaquit or San Miguel; the itinerary usually includes Anawangin Cove and/or Nagsasa Cove, which are the more popular beach camping destinations.

How to Get There

Nearest Airport: Clark International Airport (Pampanga); Ninoy Aquino International Airport, also known as Manila International Airport (Manila)

By Land

  1. From Manila, board a bus bound for Santa Cruz or Iba, Zambales (P270-P360). Travel duration is around 5 hours, depending on traffic.
  2. Get off at San Antonio Public Market and ride a tricycle to Pundaquit (P40/head). Travel duration is 15-20 minutes.
  3. From Pundaquit, rent a boat to take you to Capones Island or take an island hopping tour package if you want to go to other nearby islands or coves.
  4.  
    If you are coming from Olongapo, board a Victory Liner bus going to Santa Cruz or Iba, Zambales (P50-60). Alight at San Antonio Public Market and take a tricycle to Pundaquit (P40/head). Rent a boat going to Capones Island.
     
    For a hassle-free trip and for those who want to experience camping, most people book package tours offered by tour operators and agencies. Usual package inclusions are roundtrip transfers, camp food, entrance fees, tents, and boat transfers. Check itinerary and package inclusions first before booking.

 


Entrance Fee and Other Charges

  • Entrance Fee: There used to be a makeshift resort there last April 2017 with the entrance fee of P350 (day trip) and P750 (overnight). We visited last November 2017, but we didn’t see the resort, only a concrete wall that seems like the shower area of the said resort.
  • Camping Fee: P400-500 (tent rental)
  • Cottage Fee: No cottage on the island as of writing.
  • Other Boat Tour Package Rates: Rates are per boat (small boat can accommodate up to 4 pax)
  • Anawangin Cove Only (P1200)
  • Talisayen Cove Only (P1500)
  • Nagsasa Cove Only (P1800)
  • Silanguin Cove Only (P2500)
  • Anawangin + Capones Island (P1300)
  • Anawangin Cove + Capones Island + Camara Island (P1800)
  • Nagsasa Cove + Capones Island (P2100)
  • Nagsasa Cove + Capones + Camara Island (P2400)
  • Capones Island + Anawangin + Nagsasa + Camara (P3000)

  • Don’t Miss

    • The Lighthouse. If you can’t go inside the lighthouse (as what other visitors have noted), you can still appreciate the view from that vantage point. Be careful when climbing/trekking up.
    • Take lots of photos and build memories. Capones is very picturesque.
    • Camping. If you like roughing it out, spend the night here with your gang.
    • Swimming and sunbathing!
    • Explore further. If you like trekking, scale the whole island. But if you will do this, it is better if you have a guide or someone who knows the trails and the way around the island.
    • Watch the sunset.

    Don’t Forget

    • Bring protection from the sun, especially during summer when it’s scorching hot: sunglasses, hats, rash guard, environment-friendly sunscreen, umbrella, etc.
    • Wear protective footwear, especially during summer when the sun is really strong. Also, some parts of the beach are rocky.
    • Be mindful of other revelers. Keep your speaker volume at a minimum if you are camping out for the night.
    • Capones Island is tamer when it comes to crowd volume compared to the more popular Anawangin Cove and Nagsasa Cove.
    • Have enough cash on hand. It is recommended to buy your food at San Antonio Public Market to save money. Bring water enough to last for two days if you are camping the night out on the island.
    • Bring your power bank to keep your cameras and phones charged. The mobile network signal is weak to none at all.
    • Bring a first-aid kit, medicine, flashlight, insect repellent lotion, whistle, Swiss knife, rope, and other life-saving gadgets and tools. Advise your boatman/contact in advance if you are spending the night on the island, so they can prepare whatever is needed. You may ask them to bring fresh water for rinsing or you can just wash yourself when you get to the mainland, either in Pundaquit or San Miguel.
    • Bring your own tent if you don’t want to rent. You can also bring your own portable stove for cooking.
    • Don’t leave your things unattended.
    • Leave nothing but footprints. Bring your trash with you. Observe proper garbage disposal.

    If You Have More Time and Budget

    • Explore other nearby coves and islands including Anawangin Cove, Nagsasa Cove, Silanguin Cove, Talisayin Cove, and Camara Island.
    • You can also hike Mount Pundaquit, Mount Nagsasa, or Mount Balingkilat.
    • Other attractions are Nagsasa Falls, Casa San Miguel, Pundaquit Beach, Pundaquit Falls and many others.

    Where to Stay

    If camping is not your thing, you can stay in Pundaquit. Remember to book your hotel in advance, especially during peak season. But if you want to extend your trip to Subic, here are some of the top accommodations according to Agoda users, in no particular order.

    Photo above was provided by the resort via Agoda.

    For more options, search here: Subic Resorts


    Reminders

    Comments

    1. Felix Lanuza says:

      maganda ung lugar, hassle lang ung mga bangka walang disiplina, kung saan saan nagbababa ng sakay nila, ung mga guest hindi makapag enjoy magswimming dahil sa dami ng bangka, dapat may lugar kung saan sila dapat magbaba at magsakay ng mga guest na pumupunta sa capones, nawawala lang sa beach ung mga bangka pag may dumating na coastal patrol, pero pag wala ung patrol nandon lahat ng bangka sa pampang

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