San Antonio is a town of the province of Zambales in the Philippines. Situated at the western side of the mountainous Subic Peninsula, it is primarily known for its numerous secluded coves and beaches.
Understand
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San Antonio was first settled by Ilocano settlers from northern Luzon in 1830. It became an independent town in 1849. Since the American period, it has hosted Naval Station San Miguel, an annex of the US naval base in Subic Bay now run by the Philippine Navy.
The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 is credited with the town's tourism boom, as residents attributed ashfall from the volcano for filling the town's otherwise rocky beaches and coves further down the Subic Peninsula with sand and enabling groves of pine-like agujo (casuarina) trees to spring up around the coves.
Get in
[edit]San Antonio is bypassed by the Olongapo-Bugallon Road, the main thoroughfare in Zambales. The main routes into town are two roads connecting it with the highway, one from San Marcelino and another from San Narciso.
Victory Liner buses from Metro Manila pass by the town on their way to the provincial capital, Iba and Santa Cruz. More frequent trips to San Antonio can be taken from Olongapo.
Get around
[edit]Tricycles are the main mode of transportation between barangays. To reach most of the coves however, boat trips are recommended due to the absence of roads. The de facto port is at Pundaquit, a coastal barangay where fishermen can be hired to ferry tourists sleeping in the coves or just ride along one-day excursions to the coves and nearby islands.
Hiking is also a viable option for those also wanting to see the peaks of the Subic Peninsula.
- 1 Pundaquit Beach, Pundaquit.
See
[edit]- 1 Anawangin Cove. The most famous and visited cove in town featuring white sand beaches and an agujo grove. The place can get crowded with campers from Metro Manila on weekends.
- 2 Nagsasa Cove. A less crowded alternative to Anawangin with scant phone signal. There is also a shallow creek entering the cove near its southern edge.
- 3 Capones Island. A picturesque island with white sand beaches, stunning views of the mainland mountains and an equally picturesque lighthouse.
- 4 Casa San Miguel, Evangelista Street, San Miguel, ☏ +63 915 622 0335, [email protected]. A house inside a mango orchard built in 1921 and now hosting a museum on local history, culture and art. P125, P75 minors.
- 5 Nagsasa Falls. A small cascade near Nagsasa Cove.
- 6 Mount Pundaquit. A highlight in the hiking trail from Pundaquit to Anawangin Cove overlooking Agnain and Diego's Coves.
- 7 Silanguin Cove. The farthest of San Antonio's coves. Unlike the other coves, its beaches are of the gray sand variety. At the mouth of the cove is an eponymous island.
- 8 Talisayen Cove. An less-visited cove between Anawangin and Nagsasa Coves.
Do
[edit]See beaches and do related activities along the South China Sea coast.
Buy
[edit]- 1 San Antonio Public Market, R. Corpuz Street, Rizal.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Bigfoot Restaurant & Rest House, Olongapo-Bugallon Road, West Dirita, ☏ +63 908 456 8791. 11AM-11PM, closed Tu. Restaurant serving Filipino dishes. Their main draw is the halo-halo.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Many of the coves are strictly camping-only. The nearest standard accommodations are in Pundaquit.
- 1 Capones Vista Beach Resort, Madarang Boulevard, Pundaquit.
- 2 Cabo de Roca Villas, Pundaquit Road, Pundaquit.
- 3 Monty's Riverside View Resort, Pundaquit.
- 4 Punta de Uian Beach Resort, Pundaquit.
- 5 Youhan Beach Resort by Cocotel, San Miguel.
- 6 Hidaway Resort, Pundaquit.
- 7 Canoe Beach Resort, Purok 4, Pundaquit.
- 8 Jerjosvilla, Pundaquit Road, San Nicolas.
- 9 Cely's Farm and Resort, Purok 4, San Esteban.
- 10 Arirang Bay Resort and Hotel, Purok 6, San Miguel.
- 11 Destinare Beach Resort & Campsite, Anawangin Cove.
- 12 Beachwalk Hotel and Resort.
- 13 Megan's Paradisio Beach Resort, Purok 4, Pundaquit.
- 14 Ok Lah Beach Resort, Purok 5, Pundaquit.
- 15 Pundaquit Luxury Resort, Purok 5, Pundaquit.
- 16 Pearl Island Resort, Purok 2, Pundaquit.
- 17 Wave Song Resort, Purok 5, Pundaquit.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through San Antonio |
| Iba ← San Narciso ← | N  S
|
→ San Marcelino → Olongapo |