Travel Guide: Capones Island
Four kilometers off Barangay Pundaquit, Zambales in the main island of Luzon, Philippines is the Capones Island or “Isla de Gran Capon” during the Spanish era. It is a two kilometer long bone-shaped island surrounded by white sand and rocky shores.
This island boasts of white sand beaches conducive for overnight camping, day picnic and swimming; turquoise water and rich marine life that is great for diving and snorkeling.
There are no commercial establishments on the island and the only structure there (aside from an unfinished building) is an old Spanish lighthouse (Faro de Punta Capones) that was built in 1890 to guide ships entering and leaving the bays of Manila and Subic, and to warn passing ships of the dangers of rocky shores around the island. The solar-powered lighthouse is Capones best kept secret, with its original brick house structure still in place, though ragged and neglected, but still draws a dramatic picture.
Close to Capones Island is the Camara Island, which is virtually two islands connected by a sandbar.
How to Get There:
By Land
To get there, one must go to Barangay Pundaquit or San Miguel in San Antionio, Zambales, where a boat to Capones Island can be rented for a standard rate of P700.00 (~$17) round trip. It is a 15 to 30 minutes boat ride from the shores of Pundaquit or San Miguel.
To go to Pundaquit, ride a bus bound to Iba or Sta. Cruz, Zambales. Victory Liner has regular scheduled trips to those destinations. Tell the driver to drop you off at San Antonio. If you are coming from their terminal in Sampaloc, it will cost you P220.00 (~$5.25), don’t forget to tell the cashier that you are up to San Antonio only, or they will charge you the full fare to its destination. Travel time is around 3 to 4 hours via NLEX.
From San Antonio, ride a tricycle to Barangay Pundaquit or San Miguel, standard rate is P20.00 (~$0.5), you may opt to add some tip since it is quite far.
By Air/Sea
By ferry, take a Mt. Samat Express (Contact No: 551-5290) ferry ride to Subic in CCP (~P250.00 – P300.00) or the Supercat from Mall of Asia (P300.00) . It is an hour ferry ride to Orion Bataan. From there catch a bus to Subic for another hour or less and then a bus to Iba, Zambales, passing to San Antonio.
By air, charter an aircraft to International Subic Airport, Castillejos Airstrip, or to Iba Local Airport and catch a ride to San Antonio.
Where to Stay:
Since there are no commercial establishments in this island, you may bring a tent or camping equipments (plus foods and drinking water) if you are planning to stay there overnight. Just tell the boatman your planned date and time of return to Pundaquit. Boat rate for overnight trip is highr at P1500.00 for aboat that can fit up to four persons.
Most tourists, however, camp in Anawangin or Nagsasa Cove or stay in Pundaquit where numerous hotels and restaurants can be found. You can have a room for as low as P1000.00/~$25 (or even lower). For Lakwatsero’s compilation of hotels in Barangay Pundaquit click here:
Activities:
- 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.
- Camping: Just bring your own camping equipments, enough foods and water supply.
- Swimming, Snorkeling and Diving: Just bring your own equipments.
- Island Hopping: You can visit the nearby Camara Island, Nagsasa Cove, Silanguin Cove and Anawangin Cove.
- Aquatic Sports in Barangay Pundaquit: Jetskis are available for rent.
- 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. Too little flowing water during the dry seasons makes this falls nearly stagnant, dirty and even stinky. (Source: waypoints.ph)
Viewed 57117 times by 20478 viewers
magandang araw po..
Banca operator po ako dito sa pundakit.. inaanyayahan ko po ang lahat na makita at masilayan ang ganda ng capones island.. anawangin cove..
meron po kaming packaged rate na swak na swak sa masa..
wag mag atubili..
itxt or hanapin: Josie Gonzales
mobile number: 09193910016/09228788756
Hi po, my name is Dindo Nieva,a boatman of Pundaquit. We offer fair, honest and standard boat charges. We also have Tents for rent and rechargeable lamp for rent. Any inquires regarding your trip will be happily answered by us. Please, feel FREE to get in touch with us. Thank you and God Bless po.
Contact person: LIEZEL NIEVA / DINDO NIEVA
Contact number: 09172022692
Regards,
DINDO NIEVA
hello po mam/sir,
we are offering po package tour to any island in pundakit… annawangen, nagsasa, camara and capones island at very affordable price..just text us 09193910016 or 09198437370.. thanks and godbless
May iba pa po kayong option maliban sa resort nila Grace Armada na yan. May camping area po sa harap ng isla kung saan mas malamig at may mga cottage din. Nakapunta na ba kayo ng Anawangin or Nagsasa cove? Parang ganun din ang style. Mahangin din at mas maganda ang Magalawa Island hindi naman sa nagyayabang…
Kung gusto niyo pong i-try na pumunta tawagan niyo po ako sa Manila at tutulungan ko po kayong magcoordinate sa caretaker na isla na uncle ko din na si Uncle Mulo. Ito po yung landline number ko sa Maynila (02)983 0432 or sun number 09222688111 or smart number 09093414621 hanapin niyo lang po si Raymond (ako po yun). Ang number po ni uncle Mulo ko sa Magalawa ay (smart) +639294670505.
Ito po ang presyuhan doon sa campsite :
Boatpick up (2 way)
– 100/pax-kung galing luan
– 200/pax-kung galing masinloc
Entrance fee 100\pax overnight,
Cottage 1000\night (kasya 6pax)
Kasama na po sa entrance fee ang paggamit ng cr at maintenance ng lugar. Ingat lang po na huwag magkalat masyado kasi po maliit lang po na isla yun at mahirap kung magka garbage-problem. You will be spending about 300 or less for food siguro. Maraming nabibilhan ng pagkain sa loob ng island. Puwede rin po kayong magpaluto for a small fee. No available rental of snorkel/mask/fins dun for now so its a good idea to invest on a good set nalang. Wala pa rin po available na rental ng tent pero malapit na po. Mag inquire nalang po kayo kung may available na pagtawag ninyo. Kung magdadala po kayo ng sarili ninyong tent ay libre na po ang puwesto kasi po kasama na po sa entrance fee yun kaya entrance fee nalang at boatride nalang ang babayaran ninyo.
Ang puwesto na kung san nakatayo ang resort nila grace armada ay may problema kasi lumalabas na nagsquat lang sila dun.Dahil dito tuwing pumupunta ang may ari ng isla na si madam L.Ruiz ay pinapasara nila pang samantala ang resort nila Grace Armada. Dahil dito ay kailangan mag ingat kayo lalo na kung hinihingan kayo ng deposit ni Grace Armada. Kung magkabulilyaso tulad ng nabanggit ko ay hindi niyo na makukuha ang deposit niyo.
Basta tawag lang po kayo sakin o sa caretaker na si mang mulo.
If you like to see my place pls visit this blog.
http://libot.blogspot.com/2011/05/beatiful-magalawa-island-in-zambales.html
Sorry but this resort is has been sold. Please do not contact.Thanks
Sorry but this resort has been sold. Please do not contact. Thanks
Sorry but this resort has been sold. Please do not contact mulo or any numbers anymore. Thanks
Hi! I reposted your blog entry in my FB account. I hope you don’t mind. My friends and I are planning to go to Capones and Anawangin on the third week of May
eow poh!
punta po ako ng capones this sunday.. Anyone interested to join me?
About CAPONES, It was indeed a very nice, peaceful and quiet island, I very much feel free when we’re there. Masarap at sariwang hangin pa ang aming nasasagap.
Note to everyone: I strongly suggest and recommend to you guys to experience a night in CAPONES. and if you do contact kua DINDO or ate LIEZEL @ this #. 09172022692….. very supportive at maasikaso pa sila. on time ang sundo at assist nila kami hanggang makauwi kami. salamat po….
Nxt po naming target is CAMARA ISLAND….
NELLY of QUEENS ROW…..
hi,we went overnight in capones island and it’s fun!though walang cr and poso,gumawa ng improvised cr yung mga boatman namin and they brought us 2 pails of fresh water from pundakit..very accommodating and maasikaso sila.oh by the way,jay-r agasa name ng contact boatman namin.though very tiring umakyat sa lighthouse it’s worth the pagod naman kasi ganda ng view sa taas ng lighthouse.boatman-slash-photographer na din ang naging role ni kuya..hehehe try go overnight in capones island.and here is kuya’s number: 09173809104
Thanks for sharing
Love the Capones Island Lighthouse! Been there many times and have the island and lighthouse for my architectural thesis few years ago.
Spent many nights in the lighthouse…….very beautiful and special place!
Beautiful indeed
Hi! we were there last Good Friday. You may get in touch with our boatman Tatay Leny 09187670982.
hi! we’re planning to do our anawangin adventure / capones this may 2010. can you give me the contact person whom we can arrange our trip and package…we are all from Bataan
hi aubrey, you can visit this site for your anawangin trip http://www.facebook.com/anawangincove
also, a travel group can help organize a for you. i’m recommending TRAVEL FACTOR for a fun, carefree adventure for you and your friends. visit their multiply and or facebook accounts.
hi there…
when i saw anawangin /capones on youtube… i have the instant liking to the place…
please help me… if there some organized tour to go there…
I have a friends would love to go the anawangin/capones… we’ll becoming from manila….
it’s my 3nd time to go island hopping
my 1st was in catanduanes, virac
my 2nd was in tingloy island, near mabini batangas..
but i think te best would be the anawangin and capones
thank you….
mia
Hi tanong ko lng po kung san pwede maligo sa capones island?? my balon ba dun ?? or poso ??? Balak sana namin mag overnight stay sa capones..
yes there is, but it is on the light house not on the beach, and from beach to lighthouse requires some time trekking…
Hi!
May I know po the contact person of the organized trip you had. And is it advisable to visit the islands on December? Thank you so much for your site.
I didn’t join organized trip for my Capones/Anawangin trips. I’ve been here twice on a DIY tour. Go DIY, it’s easy and cheaper
@ dookesa_08
kagagaling ko lng ng potipot islang lasy May. It’s true na may mga kubo na dun. 500php ang rent nung mali and 300php ung maliit.
konti lng ung ngka-camping sa potipot nung andun kmi..isa lng ung ngovernight na nakatent. maganda pa din sa anawangin dre.
ei lakwatsero!..ask q lng po ano mas better if we’re going to potipot dis sept to stay on a hotel or go camping @ potipot island?..may accommodations n b sa potipot?..i’ve read some reviews telling n may mga kubo n dw dun..we’re thinking p if potipot or capones?..
ok. if we plan on trekking and coming from the north side, can you refer a guide for us? thank you.
hi! we’re planning to go to Capones this coming monday, may 18. ung boat ride ba to Capones is still P700 and ilan ang pwede sumakay? saka will the boat stay with us while we’re there? how will we get to the lighthouse? thanks
hi! we’re planning to do our anawangin adventure this may 23-24. alin po mas ok n kunin? ung package n which is usually per head or kmi na lng gawa ng iterinary nmin? mga 12-14 pax kmi and we’ll be coming from manila. please advise how… thanks.. btw, thanks for your website.. got a lot of info..
hi,
Can you help me? My bf and I are going to zambales next week. Instead of taking a tour maybe u can help me DIY? we plan to stay 3d 2n and its our first time to go out of town alone ao i hafta organize this ASAP. which islands do u prefer to stay overnyt in? where can we rent a tent and how much would it cost? are there toilets in those islands? thank u so much
Hi Ask ko lang po kung how much ung boat ride to capones island? kung 2 lang kmi plus baby? how much it will cost? or meron din kami kasbay na pasahero dun?