Best things to do in San Antonio, including free and rainy-day options

San Antonio is a coastal town in Zambales, on the South China Sea side of Luzon. Almost everything a visitor does here happens around Pundaquit, the barangay where boats leave for the islands and coves. The table below is the short version: what it is, what it costs, how long it takes. Treat every line as a starting point and confirm locally, since access, fees and sailings change with weather and season.

The classic trip is a banca (outrigger boat) from Pundaquit to Capones Island, with its old lighthouse and rocky beach, and Camara Island, a small sandbar-and-reef stop nearby. Boats are chartered, not ticketed per seat, so the price is per boat and drops per person as your group grows. Agree the route, the number of stops and the return time before you leave the beach, and confirm the current rate and whether the trip is running at the Pundaquit boat station rather than trusting an old figure.

The second trip is north along the coast to the coves: Nagsasa and Anawangin are the well-known ones, backed by pine-like trees and with no road access, so a boat is the only way in. These are camping coves as much as beach stops; day visitors can go, but staying overnight is the point for many people. Bring cash, water and food, since supplies at the coves are limited and priced for the location. Confirm access and fees locally before you commit.

On land, Pundaquit beach itself is the easy win: grey-gold sand, fishing boats, and a sunset that faces west. A short walk inland leads to Pundaquit falls, a small cascade that is more of a wet-season sight; in a dry spell it can be a trickle, so ask locally before you walk and expect a fee. In town, the public market and the church are a low-key hour if you want to see how the place works when no one is on holiday.

If the weather turns, head to Olongapo, the nearest city, for shops and restaurants; it is roughly 45–60 minutes by road depending on traffic (check). That is also where you find the bigger selection of shops and pharmacies. Confirm opening hours and transport times on the day.

Boat charters are the main expense and are quoted per boat, so a group of four or six pays far less each than a solo traveller. Cove and island fees are small and collected locally, where they apply. Food, tricycle rides and market purchases are inexpensive by US or European standards. Treat every figure here as a 2026 estimate and confirm on the day; rates move with fuel prices and season.

San Antonio is small, so plan around the boats rather than around opening hours. Mornings are for the sea; afternoons are for the beach, the falls walk or a nap; evenings are for sunset and dinner. Keep a buffer day if you are here in the wet season, because coast guard rules can stop all boat traffic with little notice.

Rain here usually means the southwest monsoon or a passing typhoon, and boats stop first. If the sea is closed, shift inland: Olongapo for city comforts, or a slow day in San Antonio town with the market and a long lunch. Confirm what is open before you travel, since hours vary. The falls walk is better in the wet season than in a dry spell, but skip it during heavy rain, when the trail turns to mud and the stream can rise quickly.

San Antonio sits between Olongapo to the south and the quieter Zambales coast to the north. Most travellers pair it with Olongapo for transport and city services, or push on to Cabangan and beyond for a slower beach stay. If you are building a longer Luzon route, this fits naturally between Manila and the northern Zambales coast.