Capones Island Travel Guide: The Lighthouse Island of Zambales

By Lakwatsero On
Capones Island

About Capones

Four kilometers off Barangay Pundaquit of Zambales in the main island of Luzon is the Capones Island or “Isla de Gran Capon” during the Spanish era. It is a two-kilometer long bone-shaped island surrounded with 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.

Capones
Beach at the eastern part of Capones Island

There is no commercial establishment on the island and the only structure there (apart from an unfinished building) is an old Spanish lighthouse known as Faro de Punta Capones, built in 1890 to guide ships entering and leaving Subic Bay 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 in ruins and neglected, that still draws a dramatic scene.

Just a stone throw away from Capones Island is the Camara Island, which is virtually two islands connected by a sandbar.

Capones
Ideal camping spot! 🙂

How to Get to Capones Island

To get to Capones Island from Manila, ride a bus bound to Iba or Sta. Cruz, Zambales via Olongapo. Victory Liner has scheduled trips to these destinations. Tell the driver to drop you off at San Antonio. Fare starts at P270, travel time is around 3 to 4 hours via NLEX.

Upon reaching San Antonio, transfer to a tricycle to Barangay San Miguel or Pundaquit, standard rate is P30 per person, you may opt to add some tip since it is quite far.

Boats can be chartered at Barangay San Miguel or Pundaquit going to Anawangin, rate starts at P1,000 for Anawangin – Capones round trip good for maximum of four persons. Travel time from Pundaquit to Anawangin is roughly 45 minutes.

Capones-Anawangin-Nagsasa Boat Rate 2017

Destination Capacity Boat Rate
Anawangin + Capones 1-4 persons P1,000
Capones + Anawangin + Nagsasa Cove 1-4 persons P2,500
Anawangin + Capones 5-6 persons P1,500
Capones Island
The old gate of Capones Lighthouse

Where to Stay in Capones and Pundaquit

Since there is no commercial establishment 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 San Miguel/Pundaquit.

If you are not into camping, you can have a day trip in Capones Island and stay overnight in Pundaquit or San Miguel where numerous hotels and restaurants can be found.

Recommended Accommodations in Pundaquit

Lalyn's Home in San Antonio

Lalyn’s Home in San Antonio
Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales
Starts at 3,000 PHP (4 Guests)

CHECK RATES

 DG Paraiso Restaurant

 DG Paraiso Restaurant
Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales
Starts at 3,500 PHP (4 Guests)

CHECK RATES

Here are some of the accommodations in Barangay Pundaquit and San Miguel.

Megan’s Beach Resort
Contact No: (047)6210507, (047)9133784, +639194808520
Email:[email protected]

Nora’s Beach Resort
Contact No: +639182788188/+639196374917

Punta De Uian
Contact No: (047)2522692/+639188888426
Email: [email protected]

Wild Rose Beach Inn
Contact No: +639106615613
Email: [email protected]

Anawangin
Anawangin Cove

What to do in Capones Island and Nearby Areas

  • 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: Bring your own camping equipments, enough foods and water supply.
  • Swimming, Snorkeling and Diving: Bring your own equipments.
  • Island Hopping: You can visit the nearby Camara Island, Nagsasa Cove, Silanguin Cove, Talisayen Cove and Anawangin Cove.
  • Aquatic Sports in Barangay Pundaquit: Jetskis are available for rent.
  • Visit Pundaquit Falls
  • Explore Palauig, Potipot, Masinloc, San Narciso or Liwliwa (San Felipe)
  • Check out Anghalo Falls in San Felipe
  • Taste the sweet mangoes of Zambales
  • Trek to Mount Pinatubo Crater Lake via Botolan
  • Enjoy arts and music at Casa San Miguel
  • Trek to Mt. Pundaquit, Mt. Nagsasa, Mt. Cinco Picos or Mt. Balingkilat

Sample Itinerary

DIY weekend camping itinerary
Day 1

0500H : Departure from Manila to San Antonio, Zambales
0930H : Arrival in San Antonio
0930H – 11:00H: Market to buy necessary camping supplies, foods and other equipments, bring packed lunch or buy from the market, proceed to Pundaquit or San Miguel via trike to ride the boat
1100H – 1130H: Pundaquit or San Miguel to Camara Island
1130H – 1200H: Free time in Camara Island
1200H – 1230H: Camara to Capones Island
1230H – 1400H: Setup camp, fix stuff, lunch
1400H – 1800H: Explore, swim, photo ops
1800H – 2000H: Wash-up, prepare dinner
2000H – 2100H: Dinner
2100H onwards: Bonfire, Night party, Socials

Day 2

0600H: Wakeup Call
0600H – 0900H: Breakfast, free time, swim, break camp
0900H – 1000H: Trek to lighthouse
1000H – 1130H: Photo ops, explore, rest in the light house
1130H – 1230H: Lighthouse to the boat
1230H – 1300H: Capones to San Miguel / Pundaquit
1300H – 1500H: Lunch, Shower / Fix up / Trike to San Antonio
1500H – 2000H: San Antonio to Olongapo / Food trip in Olongapo / Olongapo to Manila

Capones Island
Approaching Capones Island

Budget / Expenses

Here’s the estimated expenses for a group of four:

Manila to San Antonio Bus – 270
Food & Miscellaneous – 500
Boat Share – 250
Trike Share – 70
San Antonio to Olongapo Bus –  120
Olongapo to Manila Bus –  215

————————————–

Approximately P1,425 / person

Tips

  • Since this area is facing the open waters of the South China Sea, the water is generally rough any time of the year specially during afternoon.
  • No mobile signal and electricity in the area

Comments

  1. shhh
    Posted on

    Hi!

    I’ve heard na s capones daw is mejo rocky pa ung place pero s anawangin soft n daw sands don pero kc my forums bout anwangin na mejo delikado daw (http://pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=335661&page=2).. my balita pa na may namatay n don… ano kaya pwede mo suggest…balak kc namin magswimming either s anawangin or capones. thanks a lot 🙂

    Yep it is true that Capones beach is quite rocky and Anawangin’s beach is better considering the abundance of pine trees in the area. The news about someones death in Anawangin is also for real, but some people added myth to the story. I would still recommend Anawangin and Capones for camping, but of course you should take care. Accidents do happen.

    The best option would be to camp in Anawangin, and have a day trip to Capones and/or Camara, Capones has this beautiful lighthouse so don’t miss it 😀

  2. dickies
    Posted on

    kung walang cr sa capones san kami posible mag-cr? balak kasi namin punta this coming october e. Safe ba ng ganong month? thanks ulit…..

    Parehong safe naman ang Capones and Anawangin for camping. CR, wala tala on both place, so magpaka boys and girls scouts kayo. Hehehe 😀

    October is a good month, just watch out for the weather bulletin, in case of typhoon, cancel your trip.

  3. dickies
    Posted on

    hi lakwatsero, san mas safe mag ovrnyt? sa anawangin or sa capones? tnx….

  4. Vessy
    Posted on

    Sepcifically were planning to go at san antonio and capones island..

  5. Vessy
    Posted on

    Hi,our company planning for an outing this coming 8&9th of june.Can u suggest cheaper accommodation & have set up for team building games?Included also the food package?Coz i don’t have any idea in that place.tnx a lot.. *ves

    Hi ves, i am not sure if hotels in Pundaquit provide packages for company team building. For cheaper accomodations, try wild rose, megans or nora’s, but they don’t have function room for activities and games like most if not all hotels in the area. But I think the beach is a great place for your activities. You may try contacting these hotels: Link

    := Bleue (aka Lakwatsero) =:

  6. trixy
    Posted on

    hi bleue – thanks for the quick reply!! appreciate the advice and hopefully, the weather will cooperate as well 🙂

  7. trixy
    Posted on

    hi, we’re planning to go to capones and/or anawangin this weekend.. i’m a bit concerned since i’ve been hearing about the rough open waters going to the island/cove respectively. is it safe to go there at this time? checked weather forecast and there’ll be light to moderate winds.. any advice? thanks!

    Hi trixy, the waters surrounding Capones is generally rough any time of the year. Personally if I were you, I would still push through with my plans (but you decide) unless there is a typhoon. Just take EXTRA, SUPER EXTRA care.

    Another trivia about Capones is that, the white beaches move around throughout the year. So don’t be surprise if you find the white beaches on the north side when some say that it is on the south side. They in fact move, depending on the current of the water.

    := Bleue (aka Lakwatsero) =:

  8. Sean Manzano
    Posted on

    What was the camping like on Capones Island during Holy Week? Were there any Holy Week events on Capones? Were the hotel rates at Pundaquit more during Holy Week than other weeks? Would I have to book a hotel in advance. I am planning to visit San Antonio and Capones next year during Holy Week.

    Hi, there are no events whatsoever in Capones during Holy Week. The events are in neighboring towns of San Antonio. As usual, hotel rates in Pundaquit are higher during this time, it is actually their peak season so you have to book in advance.

    := Bleue (aka Lakwatsero) =:

  9. Butch
    Posted on

    ohh by the way i’m from san diego california…regards to all lakwatsero..kumbatchero..

  10. Butch
    Posted on

    Hi, its been like 20 years i didn’t step on capones island & I’m planning to come home on december, i am looking forward to spend overnite to capones island and bring some hot girls to spend the night with me, is it safe there? I’m also grown up and live in barrio san miguel for some years. Drop me a line when you can..say hi to all my cousins there too?

  11. shem
    Posted on

    Hello, thanks so much for this feature. We’re planning to go to Capones this year. May I ask where Anawagin is? Can’t seem to find it in the map =)
    Thanks so much!
    More adventures to you

    shem, Anawangin is in San Nicolas, south of Pundaquit, it is actually a cove and in the main island of Luzon but the easiest, convenient and common way to get there is via 30-minute boat ride that cost P800.00(round trip) from Pundaquit.

    I found a map of the area showing Pundaquit, Capones, Camera Island and Anawangin Cove in PinoyMountaineer site.

    := Bleue (aka Lakwatsero) =:

    capones anawangin pundaquit map
    Image courtesy of PinoyMountaineer.

  12. anne
    Posted on

    hi we’re planning on an island hopping on the 16th. we might start in potipot and we plan to visit capones again.can you suggest a route or should we just ask the bangkero to send us in capones after our trip to potipot?(we’ll just add fare for the bangka)

    hi anne, potipot is in Candelaria, Northern Zambales, while Capones is in San Antonio, Southern Zambales, and they are approximately 80km apart, I am not sure if the bangkero’s from Potipot can go to as far as Capones and vice versa, if they, expect the fee to double (or even triple). Why not just stay in Anawangin, island hop in Camara and Capones, then the next day travel by land to Candelaria/Masinloc and from there island hop in Potipot, you may also try island hopping in the privately owned Hermana (Mayor and Menor), and Salvador Island that is best for scuba diving, although these islands are quite far from Potipot 🙂

    := Bleue (aka Lakwatsero) =:

  13. potipot
    Posted on

    hi lakwatsero,

    pupunta kase ako ng zambales this weekend. sa potipot naman. hehe. may ferry ride na bang derecho pa subic? kse ang nakikita ko lang sa internet kadalasan, hanggang orion lang. eh nabanggit mo ngang meron na agad sa subic. magkano ba ung ferry na un? tsaka san sa manila bay? hehe. do u hav contct number? 🙂 kase gusto namin itry ung alternatives. baka kase mas mabilis at mas mura.

    salamat 🙂

    Hi potipot, apparently the Manila-Subic direct ferry ceased operating, so let me correct my post, the only option left for a ferry ride is through Mt. Samat Express in CCP terminal that will get you to Orion, which will definitely cut your travel time by one hour compare to a bus ride.

    := Bleue (aka Lakwatsero) =:

  14. Lakwatsero
    Posted on

    Thanks lloyd! 🙂

  15. lloyd
    Posted on

    Lakwatsero, very informative! we are planning to go there this weekend.

  16. Lakwatsero
    Posted on

    Wow! Enjoy your Capones trip excited!

  17. excited
    Posted on

    ei, anybody there wants to join us this coming weekend?

  18. Lakwatsero
    Posted on

    Hi John, I believe there’s none. I haven’t seen one eh.

  19. john
    Posted on

    ask ko lang po if there are toilets near sa camp site sa capones?

  20. Lakwatsero
    Posted on

    Alex, the P700 is for round trip boat rental and not per head, the boat can fit up to 6 people excluding the boatman. You can have a room for as low as P800.00 per night.

Comments are closed.