There was a time in
my life when weekend with no plans automatically became camping at Anawangin
Cove. It became so often that we decided to leave
some camping gear there with local contacts who eventually became our friends.
I first visited
Anawangin Cove in 2007 after I heard stories from friends who raved about the
white sand and the pine trees.
Its sand is actually ash gray, not white, but it turns almost white during noon then golden during sunset. The trees that line the beach are also not pine-trees but agoho trees. This landscape is actually a product of the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption, which also left the forest denuded and the coral reefs destroyed.
Back then, only
mountaineers frequented the place and we would occupy just a small portion of
the beach. We camped around the simple
hut of the caretakers. The only
amenities available for us were a comfort room and a waterpump and those were
enough for us. So, I witnessed how this once sleepy town became a booming
tourism destination among weekend wanderers who prefer roughing it out and
camping at the beach. Thanks to social
media.
The place quickly
adapted and beach resorts offering simple amenities sprawled almost overnight
welcoming tourists who come in droves especially during summer. I knew it was
coming the moment I saw beach flags being installed.
When tourists came,
we took it as a cue to start exploring other coves. The first one we visited was
Nagsasa Cove, which is almost the twin of Anawangin.
Nagsasa is farther
and more challenging to get to. It looks
almost exactly like Anawangin so it is a runner up in terms of popularity.
Like Anawangin,
there are also resorts lining the beach. Although there are a lot of options
available here, it is also good to arrange camping spots ahead, also
boats.
I recommend Henry (0926 672 6070),
who has a small house in Pundaquit, the jump-off point, where you can wash-up
after the trip. Plus, try to bring
everything you need during the whole duration of the camping trip like food,
water, softdrinks, beer, etc.
Going back to
narrating about the coves, there are two other options for a more tranquil
beach camping experience. Yes, there are
stories already of loud sound systems in both Anawangin and Nagsasa.
First is Talisayin
Cove, which sits between Anawangin and Nagsasa.
It is quieter and more laid back.
This is the usual site though of Incantatus, a regular music festival. So, make sure not to come during these events if getting away from it all is
what you want. But if you want good music as background for your beach escapade, google them up. It is also a nice way to meet fellow travel addicts because the music event attracts mostly backpackers.
The other one is
Silanguin Cove, the farthest from Pundaquit.
It is about a two hours boat ride. I personally feel this is the most
picturesque among the coves and the most secluded. Occasionally, there are jet-ski aficionados
who come from Subic, which is very near the cove.
The southern part of the cove is also good to explore. Our friends who climbed Cinco Pincos saw this from afar so we decided to rent a boat to take us there. Walking is also an option.
Both coves have the same ashen sand covered beaches and agoho trees. But, there are more places here to hang your hammock or place your beach mats in these coves. There are also more spots to enjoy watching the sunset alone, reading a good book or just taking selfies without photo bombers.
Aside from these
coves, San Antonio also has other spots to offer like Capones Island and Agnaem
Beach.
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