Capones Island
Posted on 30. Mar, 2008 by Lakwatsero in Destinations, Luzon
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 can boast of having an average waves ideal for beginner surfers; 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 draw 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, San Antionio, Zambales where a banca to Capones Island can be rented for a standard rate of P700.00 (~$17). It is a 15 minutes banca ride from Pundaquit.
To go to Pundaquit, ride a bus bound to Iba or Sta. Cruz, Zambales. Victory Lines has 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, standard rate is P20.00 (~$0.5), you may opt to add some tip since it is quite far.
By Air/Water
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.
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.
Most tourists, however, 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 and you may get lost. But if you are coming from the other side of the island (where Marimar shot some scenes), 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: Jetski is 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)
Lakwatsero Experience:
Lakwatsero has been to Capones in 2008. Watch out for the narratives of his travel in “My Travels”.
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Mae
Apr 28th, 2009
btw.
1st or 2nd week of may ang plan..
thanks thanks thanks!!!!
Mae
Apr 28th, 2009
hi lakwatsera..
isa kong batang gapo but i’ve never been to pundaquit.. (kahiya naman) hehe. at ngaun nsa manila n ko nagwwork.. pLan ko sna pumunta with my family.
Is it possible to visit the camara island, capones island, anawangin cove and nagsasa cove all in one day? pano kaya mgndang itenerary? tsk magkno kya aabutin sa island hop pag ngrent ng boat? we have to bring our own food and drinks ryt?? wla bang pwde pagbnlawan man lang?
Thanks & more Power!
juniebubu
Apr 20th, 2009
we’re planning to go der by 2nd week of may..if i may ask,how much is the standard fare for a boat ride going to capones island.is it 900?tnx..hope ders no rain showers by 2nd week of may..=) xie xie..
my
Apr 17th, 2009
hi lakwatsero.
i’m arranging a zambales get away for 12 pax. fri nyt we’ll leave mla (arrive madaling araw in zambales) and be back mon. hope u could help me:
1. if we will go to potipot and anawangin/ capones/ camara, dapat ba pundaquit muna on sat then early sun lipat ng candelaria(for potipot)?
2. would u know if meron malaking cottage sa nora’s to accomodate such big group? pasensya na, wala kc ko makita pix ng nora’s online.. and i trust ur judgement
btw, lakwatsera rin ako pero highest level ka. saludo ako!
Audrey
Apr 10th, 2009
Lakwatsero… We are planning to go to zambAles nextweek na kso undecided pko. I want to see anawangin kso sa crystal beach kami mag ccheckin panu kaya un? Me banca ba from there to anawangin? Kso lam ko its 11km na di ba maxado na un malayo??
Jey
Apr 5th, 2009
Hi! Thanks for the tips! Ido-download ko po sana ung list mo ng accommodations in pundaquit pero nag-eerror sakin. can you please post some of them here?
yung mga beach po na may boats to anawangin and pwede magluto. thank you!!
ranz
Mar 2nd, 2009
hi..ask ko lang po sana.. saan ba mas ok mag beach and camp?sa san antonio(pundaquit) or san narciso?
saan mas maganda sand?and safer?
and aside from anawangin,meron paba campsites with in pundaquit?like ko sana mag tent lang pero takot pako sa anawangin or capones.. pls help.. thanks
yanda
Nov 21st, 2008
is it ok to go there this december?
thanks!
Anna
Nov 10th, 2008
Hi! We are planning to have our prenuptial pictorials at Anawangin and Capones. What itenerary could you suggest for a 2-day zambales tour? We are planning to rent a room at Pundaquit because our photographers would need to charge their camera batteries..
Are there other options to reach the Capones lighthouse aside from trekking? Thanks! 
lexia
Nov 4th, 2008
thanks alot geron!!
i shall come there soon!