Cavite is really home to nice, cheap beach resorts near Manila for less than two hours via Cavitex. Tutubi's doing research on Cavite beach resorts, beyond Lido Beach Resort he visited a few years back besides Puerto Azul Beach Club, the first true beach resort he visited from way back in 1998.

Herewith is his compiled list of Beach Resorts in Cavite (with or without swimming pool), with official websites, telephone numbers, email address/contact details, current room rates/entrance fee, swimming pool (or infinity pool if available)
and other facilities.

UPDATED: January 2016

Bacoor Beach Resorts

no white beaches here, too dirty. expect vendors/fishermen of talaba and tahong

Kawit Beach Resorts

Cavite City Beach Resorts

Noveleta Beach Resorts

Cavite beaches are all inside Manila Bay except those in Naic and Ternate where you can see fine white sand beaches with clear water and trash-free

Lido Beach Resort
Telephone Number: +63.947.150.0298

Villamar Beach Resort
Entrance fee: PhP30.00, shower stalls at only PhP15.00/person.
Picnic tables rental prices: PHP100.00, PhP250.00
Overnight Accommodations (Room rates): PhP1,000/2 persons (ordinary fan room, extra person PhP100.00), PhP3,000.00 for 2 persons aircon room, PhP200.00 extra person)
Contact Numbers for reservations/inquiries:Baby +63.929.8905763; Lolit +63.920.408.4444

Rosario Beach Resorts

La Isla Bonita De Salinas
Entrance Fee/Admission: PhP20.00 (free for Rosario residents)

Mount Sea Resort and Hotel
Room Rates: PhP2998.00 (budget package), PhP5,500.00 (superior)
Telephone Number: +63.46.438.3888
Remarks: nice facilities

Tanza Beach Resorts

La Playa Resort
Address: Halayhay Rd, Tanza
Telephone Number: +63.46.686.9069

Starfish Beach Resort

Tanza Oasis Hotel and Resort
Room Rates: PhP2,500.00 to PhP5,000.00
Telephone Numbers: +63.2.524.3876;+63.2.708.0704;+63.2.516.5432

Villa Excellance Beach Resort in Tanza
Here is the list of the rates and entrance fees of Villa Excellance Beach Resort in Tanza, Cavite.
Beach Entrance Fee: PhP40.00 (weekday), PhP50.00 Weekends and holidays
Swimming Pool rates: PhP60.00 adults (PhP70.00 overnight)

Villa Buenaflor Resort
Address: Brgy. Calibuyo Tanza Cavite
Telephone Number: +63.46.886.1014

Villa Christina Resort

Villa Excellance Beach Resort
Address: Brgy. Sahud Ulan, Postema, Tanza 4108
Telephone Numbers: +63.46.885.2220


Naic Beach Resorts

Aroma Beach Resort,
Naic Cavite
Phone Number: +63.939.407.1304

Ternate Beach Resorts:

* the best beaches in Cavite can really be found in the southernmost town of Ternate due to its distance
from Manila, meaning it's already clean, unlike filth you see on the beach of Noveleta (sorry, Tutubi is an honest blogger)

Boracay de Cavite Beach Resort (Marine Base)
Entrance fee: PhP100.00, PhP200.00 overnight
Parking Fee: PhP50.00 jeep/cars
Remarks: the beach has a checkpoint as it's inside a General Lim Marine barracks.

Caylabne Bay Resort
Website: http://www.caylabne.com.ph/‎
Contact Number: +63.2.813.8520

Little Boracay Ternate (also known as Marine Base Ternate Beach)
Entrance fee: PhP100 per head
Cottage is P350
Overnight stay room rate PhP500.00

Marine Base Katungkulan Beach Resort
Entrance fee: PhP100.00, PhP200.00 overnight
Remarks: the beach has a checkpoint as it's inside a General Lim Marine barracks.

Puerto Azul Golf and Country Club
Day tour rates:
PhP 650/person with buffet lunch (subject to minimum guests), PhP 450/person with plated lunch,
PhP 300/person – just entrance fee , no meals
Remarks: Tutubi visited this place in 1998 but current pictures in the Internet seems nothing much changed :(
this used to be an exclusive, invitation-only resort then. Puerto Azul website not visible now
Contact Numbers: +63.932.863.6070; +63.919.533.5391

Ternate Beach Resort
Entrance Fee: PhP75.00 day tour, PhP150.00 overnight
Telephone Numbers:
Ms. Beth +63.932.211.2725; +63.908.862.7785
+63.46.515.0662
Website: http://ternatebeachresort.weebly.com/contacts.html

RanRich Beach Resort
Address: San Jose 4, Ternate, Cavite
Entrance Fee: day swimming rates at PhP100.00
Room Rates start at PhP1000.00 including big groups, Cottage rentals at PhP500 and up
Contact Number: +63.908.876.5696
Remarks: with big swimming pool, you can also pitch a tent on the beach (PhP150.00) but bring your own tent at the campsite.
You can bring your own food and drinks at no corkage fee

Beach resorts in Cavite with swimming pool

Coming up:

How to Get to Cavite: Map, Bus and Jeepney routes

Labels: Beaches, Calabarzon, Cavite, Cavite Resorts, Southern Tagalog

For anyone wishing to go explore Baguio and Olongapo from Cavite or vice versa, latest information on Saulog buses you see on EDSA going to/from these places. Note that Cavite trips terminal is at Coastal Mall in Paranaque City.

Saulog Transit
Address:
Dra Salamanca, Cavite City, Cavite
Telephone Number: +63.46.431.1753

Bus Routes/Destinations:

Cavite to Olongapo
Cavite to Baguio
Ternate to Olongapo

Bus Trip Schedules:

Cavite City - Olongapo City (via NLEX, San Fernando and Subic)

1st trip 1am
Last trip 6pm
Interval: 1 hr

Cavite City - Baguio:

First Trip 2:30am
Last Trip 8:30am

Baguio - Cavite City

First Trip: 12:30pm
Last Trip 12:00



Bus Fares:
Olongapo to SM North EDSA: PhP207.00
Cavite to Olongapo: PhP269.00
Cavite City - Baguio: PhP494.00
Ternate - Olongapo: PhP300.00
Mendez - Olongapo: PhP325.00

Cavite trips to Ternate will pass by Bacoor, Noveleta, Kawit, Naic, Tanza and Ternate. there's also the Olongapo to Mendez trips

Please get in touch directly with Saulog Transit company for updated fares, freight, cargo, complaints and inquiries.
Official website: none

Related Posts:
Bus Terminals in Cubao
Bus Station in Pasay/Taft/LRT Buendia
Bus Stations in Pasay Taft EDSA Rotonda

Labels: Buses, Public Transportation

Dinosaurs Island Baguio is the summer capital's latest attraction. It features moving dinosaurs brought back to life using animatronics technology from Italy, the same technology used in other dinosaur islands park (e.g. Clark).

Dinosaurs Island is inside Baguio Ecopark along Marcos Highway near the viaduct and after the tunnel (if you're coming from Manila. Map of Baguio Ecopark is available here (via OpenStreetMap, updated by Tutubi).

Dinosaurs Island Baguio Ecopark (information from official website)


How to get to Baguio Ecopark:

Driving Directions from Baguio:
Drive down along Marcos Highway and take the first right before the viaduct.

From Manila via Marcos Highway:
Take first right after the tunnel before the flyover.

Operating Hours:
Park is Open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Daily!
(please inquire from their contact number or email address if open during Holy Week, and other holidays (Christmas Day, New Years Day, All Saints Day et al)

Dinosaurs Island Entrance Fee/Rates/Ticket Prices:

Adults: PhP 350.00
Children, 4-12 yrs old: Php 300.00
3 years old and below: Free

Labels: Baguio City, Cordillera Administrative Region, Theme Parks

Tutubi's helper went home to Iloilo for a one week, paid vacation and also RORO bus fare (it's her choice, Tutubi's willing to shoulder the round-trip airfare but her sister inisted they take the long, sea-going bus ride unlike her other helper who takes the round-trip flight to/from Cebu via Cebu Pacific. One of the ways to keep the loyalty of maids/helpers/yaya/kasambahay as dedicated ones are really hard to find)

The information you will see on this post is about the Araneta Center Bus Station where several bus lines going to the provinces
mostly going south to Visayas and Mindanao can be found for lack of dedicated bus terminal accessible to the commuting public. This bus terminal will, hope it's soon, be replaced by the Southwest Bus Terminal serving Cavite and Batangas (including Tagaytay), North Bus Terminal (no final location but it's either the site of Manila Seedling Bank, UP Diliman near Commonwealth or temporarily at Trinoma (stupid, Tutubi thinks) and by the South Bus Terminal (probably at FTI Complex in Taguig) to serve all southbound buses not served by the Southwest Terminal


A drive-by picture of Araneta Center Bus Station (through a moist glass window thus the spots

Partial list of Bus Companies at Araneta Center Bus Station:

Alps The Bus Inc

Ceres Tours: Iloilo, Cebu

Dimple Star

Gasat Express: Antique, Iloilo, Capiz

RORO Bus Company: Masbate, Mindoro

RSL: Bicol

Ultrabus: Samatr, Leyte

Valisno Express: Antique, Iloilo, Capiz

The RORO Bus booking counter where you can reserve bus seats to Masbate and San Jose Occidental Mindoro. Several other counters like this can be found at Araneta Center Bus terminal for bus ticket bookings and seat reservations. You can see bus telephone numbers on the kiosks

Note: this post will be updated to reflect bus company contact numbers, bus routes/destinations and fares, once available.
This bus terminal is full of people in peak times like Holy Week (particularly Holy Wednesday and Hoy Thursday), Christmas, New Year and All Saints Day

How to Get to Araneta Center Bus Station:

It's accessible via MRT Cubao -Araneta Center Station or LRT 2 Cubao Station. EDSA buses pass by the EDSA Aurora Boulevard where you need to walk to the place behind Shopwise. All jeepneys with signboard Cubao can also take you to the place.

Related Posts:

Bus Terminals in Cubao
Bus Station in Pasay/Taft/LRT Buendia
Bus Stations in Pasay Taft EDSA Rotonda

Labels: Buses, Public Transportation

This was an actual Manila tour of Tutubi he "planned" for his Muslim guests recently which took them from Makati to Quiapo, Intramuros, Luneta and capped with Manila Bay Cruise all in a span of ten hours with little planning and decisions made on-the-fly, typical of Tutubi's spur-of-the-moment traveling style. The itinerary is, however, much too compressed, covered so much ground and ideal for travelers with only one day to spare, feel free to tweak to suit your preferences or just ask Tutubi.

Note: Tutubi doesn't really prepare an travel itinerary as he likes the thrill of discoveries of unplanned travel brings. This was a Saturday which means generally lighter traffic in Metro Manila. Tutubi has a car that's why he's fast for he knows how to navigate the inner streets, where to pass by, mostly avoiding streets where jeepneys (one primary cause of traffic in Manila) don't pass. Take a taxi to exactly follow the route and for faster travel instead of the jeepney. The itinerary route is also possible via public transportation.

8am Met up at Makati Hotel (Berjaya Hotel, which serves halal buffet breakfast)

8:10 Had Breakfast and shopping at Salcedo Weekend Market in Salcedo Village, Makati. Tutubi bought his favorite budbud kabog, his guests looked for halal breakfast, settled for vegetarian samosa at a Persian/Indian restaurant plus all variants of budbud kabog and suman.

Salcedo Weekend Market in Velasquez Park, Salcedo Village, Makati offers regional and international food specialties and delicacies. Open every Saturday from 6am to 2pm

9:am Left for Quiapo, Manila. passed by Osmena Highway (formerly called South Superhighway), right Quirino Avenue, left Paz Guanzon (just before Nagtahan Bridge), right Romualdez, cross Ayala Bridge, left to Carlos Palanca (formerly Echague) then park near Quinta Market (you can find "informal" parking attendants to guard your car on the street, PhP30.00 usual parking fee). Walked to Golden Mosque (you can take padyak or kuliglig for about PhP40.00)

9:45 Arrived at Golden Mosque (Tutubi's first time to get inside the Quiapo landmark) on Globo de Oro Street corner Gunao.

The interiors of Golden Mosque with columns and the mihrab, the semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, facing the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and where Muslims should face when praying. The wall is called "qibla wall." The mosque is usually full during Jumuah prayers on a Friday

10:00 Had brunch at a nearby halal eatery to sample mostly Maranao dishes (mostly yellow in color) fish with spicy coconut sauce and palapa and bodhi (fish roe) fulshed down with Maranao coffee. The neighboring streets of Globo de Oro, Norzagaray, Bautista, Elizondo and Gunao surrounding the Golden Mosque are lined with restaurants serving halal food for the Muslims living and doing business in the area, mostly Maranao and Tausug. You can even find Muslim "wares and wear"e.g. abaya, hijab, malong.

10:30 Took a padyak (human-powered tricycle or pedicab, fare: PhP10.00/person) to Quiapo Church after finding out the Lacson Underpass was closed for repairs).

the well-loved Quiapo Church is the center of the Black Nazarene procession annually held on January 9 and attended by millions of barefoot devotees.

Quiapo is the window to the soul of Manila and probably the Philippines. It's here where you can find Christians and Muslims living together in harmony, doing about business and daily grind. It's home to a famous Quiapo Church which is full of people on Fridays and also the Golden Mosque, where Muslims stop what they're doing to pray also on a Friday. It's also an area of ironies, where else can you find a Catholic Church surrounded by fortune tellers (manghuhula) and little stalls on the sidewalks selling herbal medicines (e.g. pito-pito, a concoction of seven herbs), amulets, anting-anting, katana (samurai swords), kris (Muslim royalty swords), balisong (butterfly knife) and the infamous pamparegla (sold in dark brown "lapad" bottles) which is a euphemism for abortifacient (abortion is illegal in the Philippines). It's also where you can find true Manila: gritty, grimy and non-pretentious.

Other places to see and visit in Quiapo include San Sebastian Church (a short jeepney ride away, take jeepneys on Hidalgo Street with signboards Balic-balic or Lealtad), San Miguel area (take San Miguel jeepneys near Quinta Market or Ilalim ng Tulay), the eyeglasses and optometrist haunt Paterno Street, the generator and power tools street of Evangelista, the fake ID/diploma/thesis/term papers/reaction paper/ street of Recto University, the iconic art deco buildings of Far Eastern University (FEU, where art works of several nationa artists can be found inside the campus), the Nakpil-Bautista house on Bautista Street (former home of Katipunan lakambini Gregoria de Jesus, and where the original painting of Juan Luna "The Parisian Life" used to hang)

Quiapo food trip destinations include Globe Lumpia (since 1953) on Gonzalo Puyat (formerly Raon, a favorite haunt of Tutubi for electronics (he's actually an electronics engineer by profession)), Excellente Ham (opened 1963) and Kim Chong Tin Hopia Factory (1927) on Carlos Palanca (formerly Echague, where stores selling home and kitchen wares can be found), Master Hopia on Villalobos Street, various regional food peddled on Hidalgo Street (the photographer's haven lined with camera shops) besides the Muslim halal restaurants near Golden Mosque (suggestions: bodhi, chicken papar (piaparan), arab spice roasted chicken, kabsa (arabian rice), beef rendang (Maranao style of Indonesian provenance), beef balbacua, pater rice (Maranao style binalot), chili and ginger), bakas (smoked whole tuna) in sticks and the quintessential Maranao spice called palapa (ingredients of toasted coconut, shallots, sakoreb/sakurab (native scallions)

11:00am Went to Intramuros via a jeepney. At the behest of his guests who wanted to try riding the jeepney, Tutubi called up his driver to proceed directly to Manila Cathedral and wait for them there. Tutubi and guests boarded a jeepney with signboard Quiapo - Pier and alighted at the corner of Antonio Luna and Andres Soriano (formerly Calle Real del Palacio) then walked to Fort Santiago (Entrance Fee/Admission: PhP75.00)

Fort Santiago, a Spanish fort near the mouth of Pasig River where once stood the palace Rajah Sulaiman, the Muslim ruler of Manila until the arrival of the Spaniards. The fort also once served as prison of Jose Rizal (the Philippine national hero, his last steps were imprinted on the road leading to Luneta (now Rizal Park) where he was executed by firing squad. There's also a bulwark facing Pasig River and a replica of Rizal's house in Calamba, Laguna serving as a museum.

11:30 Went out of Fort Santiago, looked around at a souvenir shop just outside Fort Santiago then proceeded to Plaza Roma in front of Manila Cathedral to look for a cochero and Intramuros Calesa Tour (calesa is a horse-drawn carriage) at a price of PhP350.00 for thirty minutes.

The calesa tour passed by these Intramuros landmarks: Manila Cathedral, Bahay Tsinoy (Filipino Chinese Museum), Memorare (Monument to the massacre during the Battle for Manila at the closing stage of World War II), Beaterio, Casa Manila (an old bahay na bato and museum, there's an entrance fee but Tutubi and his guests just requested the guard to enter the patio and take pictures), an old Japanese cannon seen from the walls, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), the the budget-friendly carinderias/eateries on the walls along Muralla with student patrons, Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT), Lyceum of the Philippines, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, the ruins of Interdencia then back to Manila Cathedral.

12:00 As it's lunch time, went to Shawarma Snack Center near Robinsons Place Malate on Salas Street. (Tutubi's guests were Muslims, that's why everything must be halal i.e. allowed to eat per the teachings of Islam). It's ironic that the restaurant ran out of shawarma, the only thing Tutubi wanted to eat there probably due to lunch time and he can't wait another 25 minutes for the next batch to be cooked, he ordered chicken tikka masala sandwich.

1:30pm Went to Rizal Park (Luneta) to see the Rizal Monument (near where Jose Rizal was shot and where his remains were buried permanently) and also the Kilometer Zero Marker (reference point of all kilometer markers all over the country). Also at Rizal Park is the Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, Lapu-lapu monument, Quirino Grandstand and near it are Manila Ocean Park (oceanarium and other activities and shows for families, especially children), Museong Pambata (Children's Museum, the US Embassy, and Manila Hotel, Philippine Normal University, LRT UN Avenue Station, Planetarium, National Museum and National Art Gallery.

2:30pm Went to Sun Cruises terminal in CCP Complex for the Manila Bay Cruise. Good thing there's still tables available as it's a reservation required. Booked the 4pm cruise. Visited and took pictures of the Coconut Palace (now the official residence of the Vice-President of the Philippines)

3:00pm Went to Harbor Square for some coffee and rest tired feet after the Manila sightseeing tour

4:00pm Boarded the Sun Cruises yacht for the Manila Bay Cruise

Manila Bay Cruise is operated by Sun Cruises, the operator of Corregidor Island Tours, cruise time is around one hour which involves going south all the way to SM Mall of Asia then back. You need to book in advance for your seats unless you're lucky like Tutubi who was able to buy tickets walk-in. Recommend the 5pm cruise time slot for the sunset or the later 6pm slot during Saturday to see the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) fireworks.

5:15pm Back at CCP Complex

6:00pm Arrived in Makati



Costs and Other details of Manila Sightseeing Tour and Food Trip:

Taxi fare from Makati to Quiapo is around PhP200.00
Golden Mosque entrance fee: none (visitors are requested to make donations)
Kuliglig ride to Golden Mosque: PhP40.00
Parking fee Quiapo: PhP30.00
Jeepney fare Quiapo to Intramuros: PhP8.00 (minimum fare, via jeepneys with signboard Pier)
Fort Santiago entrance fee: PhP75.00
Manila Bay Cruise: PhP550.00 with buffet lunch, PhP350.00 cruise only
Jeepney fare Intramuros to Rizal Park: PhP8.00 (via Quiapo jeepney)

How to Get to CCP Complex from Quiapo or Rizal Park? Just take a jeepney with signboard Vito Cruz (preferably via Taft Avenue), alight at Vito Cruz and take the orange shuttle jeepneys plying the CCP COmplex Route.

Related Posts:
How to Get to Quiapo
The Plant Where Quiapo Got Its Name
How to Get to Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila

Labels: Churches, Food Trips, Makati, Manila, Metro Manila, Mosques, Pasay City

Magalawa Island, an island lined with white sand beach can be found in Palauig, Zambales. It's mostly divided into three parts, the first is settled by a small community of fishermen, the second is owned by a politician who owns Ruiz Resort and the third is by the Armada family who owns Armada Resort Magalawa Island (who claims to own the whole island which is disputed in court against the owners of Ruiz Resort).

the white sand beach of Magalawa Island Armada Resort

Magalawa Island Resort Entrance Fee/Daytour rate:

PhP700.00/head, free for children/babies, inclusive of parking fee, round-trip boat transfers, lunch, and use of resort facilities (including rooms if available) from 8am to 5pm
Overnight accommodations are available, latest rates posted on their official website. Snorkeling is included in the Magalawa Island itinerary and rates, including free use of snorkels, masks and even underwater pictures by the boatmen.

How to Get to Magalawa Island:

Online map of Magalawa Island can be found here via OpenStreetMap. You can use Garmin GPS Navigators or iOS and Android apps (e.g. OSMAnd) to easily find the place.

How to Commute to Magalawa Island (Public transportation, the backpacking way):

1. Take a Victory Liner bus bound to Sta. Cruz, Zambales at Victory Liner Caloocan just near LRT Monumento station. Bus Fare is around PhP650.00
2. Request the bus driver to drop you off in Barangay Pangolingan, Palauig Zambales (near Radio Veritas Road), expect total travel time of around six hours where you will pass by
San Fernando, Bacolor, Guagua, Lubao in Pampanga, Dinalupihan (Bataan), Olongapo City, and the Zambales towns of Subic, San Marcelino, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, Iba (the capital of Zambales), Palauig town proper.
3. Take a tricycle to take you to Armada Fish dealer compound in Brgy. Luan where you can find a small pier (Fare is PhP150.00/trip, negotiable)
4. Ride the boat to Magalawa Island (this is included in the package of PhP700.00/person day tour rate). Boat ride is around 10-15 minutes

Driving Directions to Magalawa Island:

1. Follow one of these two routes:
1.1 NLEX -SCTEX - Tipo Exit to reach Olongapo City or Subic Bay Freeport
1.2 NLEX - left San Fernando Exit and follow Jose Abad Santos Avenue to pass by Bacolor, Guagua, Lubao (where Double Happiness Restaurant is, the stop-over of Victory Liner buses), Dinalupihan (turn right here, if you missed this you'll find yourself on Bataan Provincial Highway going to Balanga), pass by Olongapo city proper (Rizal Avenue) then turn right when you see the Ulo ng Apo monument, a rotonda (roundabout, with landmarks Victory Liner Olongapo and Jollibee)

2. After Olongapo City, you'll pass by town of Subic, Zambales, San Marcelino (the hometown of Ramon Magsaysay and where you can find vendors selling singkamas), San Narciso (you won't pass by San Antonio, where you can find Pundaquit, the gateway to Camara Island, Capones Island, Capones Lighthouse, Anawangin Cove and Nagsasa Cove) San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, Iba (the capital of Zambales), and Palauig.

3. After passing by the intersection of the highway and the road leading to Palauig town proper, you will pass by a zigzag road (twisties) then turn left to a corner. This road (mostly rough road) leads to the jump off point to Magalawa Island. Travel time here is around thirty minutes.

4. Enter the Armada Resort compound and park there, board the boat to Magalawa Island.

Enjoy!

Other notable islands in Zambales with white sand beaches:
Capones Island in San Antonio
Potipot Island in Candelaria
Hermana Mayor Island in Sta. Cruz
Hermana Menor Island in Sta. Cruz
Balaki Island in Infanta
San Salvador Island in San Salvador
Matalvis Island in Masinloc
Agat Island
Pilapir Island

lots of islands indeed to explore in Zambales!

Labels: Beaches, Central Luzon, Islands, Travel Guides, Zambales