I know how it feels to stay at home all this year due to pandemic. You surely yearn for the scenic view and the curvature landscape of the mountains, or the white sand, the waves and the gasps of the pristine waters of the beach. How much do you miss island hopping, camping, and trekking with your barkadas? If reading this excites you or makes you sigh, then, you need a break!
Local tourism in Zambales isn’t open to the public, yet, only for locals. This is due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the province. And to prepare the industry of tourism in this area, the Provincial Tourism Office is finalizing all the preparations needed for the much-awaited reopening.
Nonetheless, here are 10 of the must visit tourist destinations in Zambales and Olongapo City that you might want to explore. Which of these places have you visited already?
1. Liwliwa Beach, San Felipe
Requirements to enter: S-PaSS (upon border entry if from outside Zambales); additional requirements such as health declaration form, swab test, or antigen test.
Price Ranges: Entrance (Free), Hostels per night (P400 – P1,400), Environmental Fee (P50)
Open to the public as long as with compliance to the local IATF guidelines, like minimum health protocol, guests ages, and health declaration form. Additional requirements such as online reservation may be required depending on the resort management.
2. Mt. Pinatubo, Botolan
Requirements to enter: S-PaSS (upon border entry if from outside Zambales); additional requirements such as health declaration form, swab test, or antigen test.
Price Ranges: Complete Tour Packages (from P 8,000 – P10,000 per adult)
Temporarily closed as alert status raised to level 1 by PHIVOLCS
3. Inflatable Island, Olongapo City
Requirements to enter: Health declaration form, swab test, or antigen test.
Price Ranges: 1 hr pass (P599) to Whole day pass (P999)
Open to the public as long as with compliance to the local IATF guidelines, like minimum health protocol, guests ages, and health declaration form.
Geographically, Olongapo City is part of Zambales
4. Potipot Island, Candelaria
Requirements to enter: S-PaSS (upon border entry if from outside Zambales); additional requirements such as health declaration form, swab test, or antigen test.
Hostel (P888 – P21,000), Boat Fare (P400, up to 4 pax)
Open to the public as long as with compliance to the local IATF guidelines, like minimum health protocol, guests ages, and health declaration form.
5. Baloy Long Beach, Olongapo City
Requirements to enter: Health declaration form, swab test, or antigen test.
Price Ranges: Trike Fare to Baloy (P30), Cottages (P200 – P600), Hostels (P1,045 – 7,000)
Open to the public as long as with compliance to the local IATF guidelines, like minimum health protocol, guests ages, and health declaration form. Additional requirements such as online reservation may be required depending on the resort management.
6. Destinare Resort, Anawangin Cove, San Antonio
Requirements to enter: S-PaSS (upon border entry if from outside Zambales); additional requirements such as health declaration form, swab test, or antigen test.
Price Ranges: Trike Fare to Pundaquit (P60, up to 2 pax), Boat Fare to Anawangin (P1000, up to 4 pax)
Open to the public as long as with compliance to the local IATF guidelines, like minimum health protocol, guests ages, and health declaration form.
7. Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio
Requirements to enter: S-PaSS (upon border entry if from outside Zambales); additional requirements such as health declaration form, swab test, or antigen test.
Price Ranges: Boat Fare from Pundaquit (P2000 – P2500, up to 4 pax)
Open to the public as long as with compliance to the local IATF guidelines, like minimum health protocol, guests ages, and health declaration form.
8. Capones Island, San Antonio
Requirements to enter: S-PaSS (upon border entry if from outside Zambales); additional requirements such as health declaration form, swab test, or antigen test.
Price Ranges: Entrance (P350), Boat Fare from Pundaquit to Capones (To be determined)
Open to the public as long as with compliance to the local IATF guidelines, like minimum health protocol, guests ages, and health declaration form.
9. Talisayin Cove, San Antonio
Requirements to enter: S-PaSS (upon border entry if from outside Zambales); additional requirements such as health declaration form, swab test, or antigen test.
Price Ranges: To be determined
Open to the public as long as with compliance to the local IATF guidelines, like minimum health protocol, guests ages, and health declaration form.
10. Happy Sunshine Camp, Masinloc
Requirements to enter: S-PaSS (upon border entry if from outside Zambales); additional requirements such as health declaration form, swab test, or antigen test.
Price Ranges: Jeepney Fare from Masinloc to Coto (P60), Maintenance Fee (P200), Tent Pitching (P200), Rooms (P350, 2 bedrooms and P700, 4 bedrooms)
Open to the public as long as with compliance to the local IATF guidelines, like minimum health protocol, guests ages, and health declaration form.
Gained fame when featured in the movie “My Perfect You” starring Gerald Anderson and Pia Wurtzbach