Loads of travel enthusiasts flock to the Province of Zambales, located in the Central Luzon region, during the summer season to experience the various spectacular beaches and islands that it can offer to refresh themselves due to the sweltering heat.
The famous ones are the Anawangin Cove, Nagsasa Cove, Camara Island, Capones Island, and the Potipot Island, all of which have been gracing the pages of various travel magazines as well as in travel blog sites.
A friend of mine went to a lesser-known place called Magalawa Island, found in Palauig, and highly recommended that site to me to discover, and on May 17-18, 2014, I heeded the call.
By the way, there are only two resorts in Magalawa Island: Armada Resort and Ruiz Resort. Despite cheaper rates from Ruiz Resort, we ended up at Armada Resort due to the fact that all air-conditioned rooms at Ruiz were all taken. Luckily, Armada still had some.
Armada Resort requires a downpayment via bank deposit. The rates can be viewed here: http://magalawaislandresort.com/rates/. The overnight package we got cost us Php 3,000.00 per head, which included the following:
• Air-conditioned room with private CR
• Boat Transpo (2way)
• Entrance
• 4 Set Meals (3menu -combi of seafood/fish, pork/chicken, veggies, unlirice, soda, mineral water, dessert)
• Day 1 – Lunch, Dinner; Day 2 – Breakfast, Lunch
• Snorkeling/Rafting (w/ Lifevest and snorkeling gears provided and 1hr max duration)
DAY 1: May 17, 2014
We assembled at the Victory Liner bus terminal in Caloocan and departed at 4:30 AM via a Sta. Cruz-Zambales bound bus. Fare is around Php 450.00 per head.
Since the trip would take more or less 6 hours, make sure you have eaten your breakfast already or just purchase it at the bus terminal.
Be early at the station because they don't accept reservations for AM trips and as early as 3:30AM, the queue gets long already and tickets are on a first come, first serve basis so chances are you'll run out of seats if you get there past 3:30AM.
If taking the Sta. Cruz route: Don't forget to tell the conductor to drop you off at Veritas Road, Brgy. Pangolinan, Palauig, Zambales.
We arrived at the drop-off point at 11:00 AM with an Armada Resort signboard along the road, pointing to the left, which was Veritas Road. Tricycles were parked near the area and we told the driver to drop us at Port Luan. The fare was Php 75.00 - 100.00 per head.
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| Veritas Road |
Along the way we dropped by at a sari-sari store to purchase large mineral water jugs and some food items because these items are a bit costly when bought in the island.
We arrived at the so-called Port Luan at 11:40 AM, which was the only place to get a boat ride to Magalawa Island.
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| Port Luan |
As our boat departed from the port, you would be seeing San Salvador Island from afar, and after that, it was touchdown at Magalawa Island at 12:30 PM.
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| San Salvador Island |
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| Approaching Magalawa Island |
Due to hunger, we went straight to the Armada Resort Canteen to eat lunch, still with our bags with us. The canteen served us Menudo, Sugpo, and Chopsuey. Meals here are plated meals, and were delicious.
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| Armada Resort Canteen |
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| Lunch: Menudo, Sugpo, and Chopsuey |
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| Armada Resort Store |
After “depositing” our belongings in our room, we headed off to the beach area.
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| Air-conditioned Room w/ Private CR |
The most automatic thing you would definitely see on this beach would be the loads of starfish surrounding the area. There were some starfish that have some spikes on their bodies so take precaution when treading the waters.
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| Starfish Galore! |
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| Starfish...Up Close! |
As you walk further to a certain area of the beach, there was a sign warning customers not to swim beyond a given point due to the presence of strong currents which would pose danger for the swimmer.
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| Warning Sign |
Trudging the shore, going to the southeastern part of the island, you would be seeing several skeletons of sea urchins washed up along the shore, which would be good for instant free souvenirs.
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| Sea Urchin Skeletons |
A mangrove area can also be visited as you trek further south.
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| Mangrove Area |
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| Policy & Guidelines |
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| Jellyfish Warning Sign |
The day ended with an early dinner of Lapu-Lapu, Calamares, and Pinakbet at 5:55 PM.
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| Dinner: Lapu-Lapu, Calamares, and Pinakbet |
DAY 2: May 18, 2014
As always, when I travel to beaches and islands, I never miss a sunrise or sunset shot, so as early as 5:00 AM, I was already at the beach area, waiting for the sunrise along Masinloc Harbor.
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| Sunrise at Masinloc Harbor |
After enjoying nature’s awakening, we ate breakfast at 6:15 AM consisting of Tapa, Hotdog, and Egg.
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| Breakfast: Egg, Hotdog, and Tapa |
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| Inside the Canteen |
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| Facade of our Room |
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| Other Cottages |
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| Eastern Part of the Island |
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| Bangka Table |
Next on the itinerary was the Snorkeling/Rafting activity, wherein you will be riding a floating balsa being pulled on by a motorized boat, to be taken at a certain diving spot where you could view corals and marine life underwater using a Lifevest and snorkeling gears provided.
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| "Pulling" our Bangka to Shore |
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| Enjoying the Waters! |
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| Motorized Boat with our Guide |
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| Tourists on the Balsa |
We departed at around 10:00 AM going back to Manila.
Among the islands in the Zambales area, Magalawa Island may be one of the least popular of them all, but it is a great place to go to at a very affordable cost. Worth the travel!
Explore Pinas!
