Cabangan is among the 13 cities that make up the province of Zambales. It sits proper in the midst of the province, bordered by the cities of Botolan on the north and San Felipe on the south. Its western aspect immediately opens to the West Philippine Sea. It’s about 200 kilometers from Manila, which might take round 4 to 6 hours journey time.
It was as soon as a laid-back city with only a handful of resorts and vacationers, with residents principally farmers and fisher people. Inside the final couple of years, resorts have began to mushroom throughout its beachfront and tourism began to choose up, due most likely to the booming browsing scene on the neighboring city of Liwliwa.
Even with this, Cabangan continues to be fairly laid-back. In case you’re on the lookout for a seaside getaway with not a lot vacationers, Cabangan may be the weekend getaway for you.
HOW TO GET TO CABANGAN
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| A VICTORY LINER BUS PASSING THROUGH CABANGAN |
Solely Victory Liner ply the Manila-Cabangan route. From Manila, you possibly can take buses with Iba and Sta. Cruz signal boards. These can be found at Caloocan, Cubao, Sampaloc, and Pasay stations. Journey time is round 5 to 6 hours. Fare is at round ₱370.00, give or take.
Saulog Transit additionally passes by Cabangan, however its route is restricted from Olongapo to Iba solely.
Driving to Cabangan is simple sufficient. From Manila, take the NLEX (North Luzon Specific Means), then hook up with SCTEx (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway) going to Subic. From there, take the Olongapo-Bugallon Freeway till you attain Cabangan. Drive time is round 4 hours.
UNDERSTAND CABANGAN
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| AN ANCESTRAL HOUSE IN CABANGAN |
Geographically, Cabangan is principally divided into two land areas by the Olongapo-Bugallon Freeway. West aspect for the seaside half, east aspect for the mountain and river areas. Within the midst of those two is the city middle the place the Municipal Corridor, the market, banks, ATMs, meals locations, church buildings, groceries, and comfort shops are.
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| MOUNTAIN LAYERS IN CABANGAN |
Language-wise, the city is roughly divided into two components through the Tangway River. The northern space speaks Zambal whereas the southern half, Ilocano. Nonetheless, everybody can perceive and converse Filipino or Tagalog fluently. And like all over the place else within the Philippines, most can perceive English—although not everybody can converse it fluently.
SAFETY IN CABANGAN
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| A CARABAO IN CABANGAN |
It is extremely secure in Cabangan. Being a small neighborhood, criminality is sort of low and nearly non-existent. The one factor to be careful for are the quite a few stray canine alongside the streets (and doubtless a couple of cows and carabaos, do you have to wander throughout farmlands, lol), which may get fairly labored up upon unfamiliar vacationers.
STAYING CONNECTED IN CABANGAN
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| CABANGAN’S MOUNTAINOUS EAST SIDE |
Globe, Good (additionally Solar), and DITO networks have very robust indicators all through Cabangan. Web connectivity can also be excellent. Personally, I can say that the Web velocity in Cabangan even exceeds these in Manila—most likely because of the low inhabitants of customers within the space.
GETTING AROUND CABANGAN
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| AN OLD TRUCK IN CABANGAN |
There are three modes of public transportation in Cabangan; tricycles, jeeps, mini-buses, and common buses.
To get from one barangay to the following utilizing the principle freeway, locals use both the jeeps, mini-buses, and common buses that ply the freeway. And to get from the freeway to the barangay interiors, they use tricycles—which have particular terminals per barangay. Minimal fare for tricycles is about at ₱20.00 per particular person.
Word that it’s fairly straightforward to get a tricycle while you’re alongside the city middle, however when you want one whereas inside the inside barangays, you may discover it tough to search out one. My tip, get the cellular variety of the primary tricycle driver you’ll journey on.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN CABANGAN
Cabangan Seashores
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| SURFER IN CABANGAN BEACH |
The primary cause folks go to Cabangan is the ocean. Cabangan Seaside is split into eight barangays and these are simply accessible through automobile or public transport. The waves listed below are actually not for everybody, it’s robust most occasions of the 12 months. It does get calm throughout the summer time months, particularly throughout the early mornings. It’s really as a result of these robust waves that surfers began to flock Cabangan.
Watersports & ATV
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| BANANA BOAT RIDE & ATV AND BUGGY RENTAL IN CABANGAN BEACH |
Watersports actions like banana boat rides, dragon boats, and ATV rides has additionally just lately invaded the as soon as quiet seaside of Cabangan. Banana boat journey costs begin at ₱250.00.
Cabangan Rivers & Falls
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| TWO KIDS AT DAPYA RIVER IN CABANGAN |
The opposite points of interest in Cabangan may be discovered alongside its mountainous space alongside its jap aspect. Right here, you possibly can go to Dapya River and Agbobotilya. These are literally particular areas of the Maporac River. The previous is nice for a laid-back picnic whereas the latter is healthier for the extra adventurous guests because it includes a little bit of a hike and a few cliff leaping actions.
One other river vacation spot is the Namnel Watershed. Getting there includes passing by means of personal roads marked with No Trespassing indicators although, so I’m unsure if it’s actually authorized to go there.
For these wanting a little bit of a hike, there’s additionally the Matag-Ay Lanum Falls in Barangay San Juan.
For these actions, I strongly advise that you simply contact the Cabangan Tourism Workplace: Fb |(0929) 816-5103 | cabangan.mto@gmail.com
Bangan Pier
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| RIDING A BALSA DURING SUNSET AT CABANGAN’S BANGAN |
One other picnic place we frequent is the Bangan Pier river cottages. Bangan actually interprets to an estuary—a physique of water the place the river meets the ocean. The water right here could be very heat, shallow, and brackish. Small rentable huts have sprouted alongside its banks and comes with limitless balsa or raft rides.
Apart from the seaside, most of those vacationer spots—that are picnic locations—really require a full day or, on the most, half day expertise. These are particularly pleasurable for large teams.
Cabangan Mountain Hikes
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| MT. MARIGLEM IN ZAMBALES ~ PHOTO BY JRICK0601 |
Cabangan has just lately opened Mt. Mariglem Zambales for Cabangan vacationers. The mountain is positioned on the western aspect of Cabangan, at Barangay New San Juan, simply after Agbobotilya River. It has an elevation of 573 MASL (meters above imply sea stage) and has a 4/9 problem stage. The hike may be completed as fast as two hours, however principally take half a day. The latter a part of the hike features a go by means of three rivers, Agbobotilya, Maligha, and Nilumabangan Rivers, the place lunch may be purchased.
A DIY hike at Mt. Mariglem may be organized on the Cabangan Tourism Workplace. As of this writing, Mt. Mariglem is simply open throughout Tuesdays to Sundays (3:00AM to six:00PM, in a single day tenting not allowed on summit, allowed on the river space) with solely 150 climbers allowed entry per day. Ought to Mondays fall on a vacation, Mt. Mariglem is open and closure is moved the following working day. Stroll-ins are allowed throughout Tuesdays to Fridays, with weekends strictly for reservation solely.
Mt. Mariglem reservation may be made on the Cabangan Tourism Workplace: Fb | Contact Quantity: (0929) 816-5103
Mt. Mariglem Zambales Climb Charges:
Entrance Charge: ₱50.00 per particular person
Native Information: ₱700.00 (Good for as much as 5pax)
Kolong-Kolong Tricycle Trip to Bounce Off: ₱550.00 per journey (As much as 5pax)
Chicken Watching In Cabangan
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| A YELLOW VENTED BULBUL IN CABANGAN |
Cabangan can also be a superb place for birding lovers. I’m no avian professional, however I do see a number of chook varieties each time we keep there together with kingfishers, crows, bulbuls, nice egrets, Brahminy kite eagles, to call a couple of—or really, these are the one ones I can determine.
Holy Week Actions
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| BANCATHON BOAT RACE IN CABANGAN DURING HOLY WEEK |
Each vacationers and locals flock the seashores of Cabangan throughout the Holy Week. Vacationers go for the apparent cause that it’s a nationwide vacation and work is suspended. Locals go because of the custom of tenting out on the seaside from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday. There are additionally some actions hosted by LGUs throughout these occasions, like a carabao race, boat race—which they dub as bancathon—and a seaside live performance that includes native artists.
Annual Christmas Lights Show
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| CHRISTMAS AT THE CABANGAN MUNICIPAL HALL |
In case you go to throughout Christmas season, head over to the Cabangan Municipal Corridor throughout the evenings to see the annual Cabangan Christmas lights show. The entire constructing is wearing Christmas lights, with a thirty-foot Christmas tree punctuating the night sky. It’s additionally a superb place for a meals journey as quite a few road meals carts are additionally parked proper by the curb. Individuals from throughout Zambales flock the city for this.
WHERE TO EAT IN CABANGAN
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| CRISPY PATA AT LC’S STOP & CHOW CABANGAN |
Apart from the same old carinderias and road meals stalls discovered alongside the principle street of Cabangan, there are a couple of notable eating places you possibly can go to on the town. There are the basic go-to eating places like LC’s Cease & Chow and TCT Emily’s which serves conventional Filipino and Western fares. Then there are the brand new ones like twenty first Bean (a resto café serving fraps and pastas), 1st Streat (good for picnic take-outs), Casa Baraca (Filipino & Western), and Arya’s Chill & Grill (Center Japanese dishes).
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| LUGAW AND MAMI AT MAMI MADZ CABANGAN |
Getting meals whereas on the seaside is a little more difficult since there are hardly any locations to eat within the space apart from many of the resorts’ in-house eating places. One place we frequent after going to San Isidro Seaside is a straightforward mami and goto place, Mami Madz.
WHERE TO STAY IN CABANGAN
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| CABANGAN BEACH |
As of final depend, there are not less than 150 resorts dotting Cabangan Seaside. These vary from actually costly seaside homes and resorts, to DIY pitch-your-tent sort of locations. Worth vary from lower than ₱1,000.00 per night time to ₱10,000.00 plus per night time.
For essentially the most fascinating lodgings, take a look at my Finest Cabangan Seaside Resorts article.
For inexpensive lodging, I counsel testing Google Maps, since most resorts in Cabangan don’t have Agoda listings.
WHAT TO BUY IN CABANGAN
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| SUMAN AT CABANGAN’S PUBLIC MARKET |
The one vacationer associated memento I purchased in Cabangan is a San Isidro Seaside shirt from Mami Madz, in addition to that, there’s about zero memento objects on the town.
Overlook about your Cabangan keychains and ref magnets although, what you possibly can deliver house as a substitute are native foodstuff you possibly can rating on the public market—panutsa (cannon-sized candy sugar cane balls), pilipiting (dried anchovies), alimagmag (dried tiny shrimps), and rice cake treats like suman, patupat, and cascaron. And don’t overlook the mangoes—Zambales is famous for his or her candy dinamulag mangoes that they even dedicate an entire pageant for it, the Dinamulag Competition.
In case you have a cooler with you, you can even deliver house contemporary barillete fishes, these are skipjack tunas that are like smaller variations of yellow-fin tunas.
The finest time to go to the Cabangan Public Market is throughout Tuesdays and Fridays, the city’s market days.
CABANGAN TOURIST SPOTS MAP
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| CABANGAN TOURIST SPOTS |
CABANGAN SAMPLE ITINERARY
Not like different seaside locations in Zambales, visiting the city of Cabangan shouldn’t be actually match for a two-day weekend. Nicely, you possibly can positively do it, for those who simply zip by means of the points of interest and easily chill on the seaside. Or you possibly can take away the Day Three of the itinerary, however you’d should sacrifice your time on the seaside.
In case you actually need to maximize your time on the town, three days ought to do it. Why that lengthy? It’s as a result of most locations in Cabangan are picnic locations, they require not less than half a day for full enjoyment. Cabangan is a sluggish journey kinda place.
All vacationer locations in Cabangan are reachable through public transport, however it may be a problem. Having a personal automobile is unquestionably a bonus. Be warned, some areas in Cabangan require rough-road driving, so make sure that your autos are match for some filth street actions.
And once more, contact the Cabangan Tourism Workplace for steerage and an precise bodily information if you wish to go go to Mt. Mariglem, Matag-Ay Lanum Falls, Agbobotilya, and Dapya. In case you’re availing of the Mt. Mariglem hike, it passes by means of Agbobotilya, Maligha, and Nilumabangan River after the ascent, so it’s a great way to go to these river areas with out spending extra for transportation. However for those who’re not into mountaineering, I additionally added an alternate Day Two Cabangan itinerary that received’t contain a hike to Mt. Mariglem, however nonetheless embody a go to to Agbobotilya River and Dapya River.
DAY ONE: ARRIVAL, BEACH, BANGAN | ₱1,933.00 PER PERSON BASED ON A GROUP OF TWO
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| BANGAN PIER IN CABANGAN |
• Early Morning Arrival
• Early Test-in At Resort (depart baggage on the foyer if not allowed)
₱40.00 – TRICYCLE TO RESORT FROM BAYAN, PER PERSON
₱2,000.00 – AVERAGE RESORT RATE, GOOD FOR TWO PERSONS
• Swim At Cabangan Seaside
• Picnic Lunch At Bangan Pier (deliver take out meals from Bayan)
₱40.00 – TRICYCLE TO BAYAN, PER PERSON
₱200.00 – TAKE OUT FOOD PER PERSON, APPROXIMATE
₱100.00 – TRICYCLE FROM BAYAN TO BANGAN PIER, PER PERSON, (ROUNDTRIP, GET DRIVER’S MOBILE NO.), APPROXIMATE
₱500.00 – COTTAGE RENTAL
• Swim At Bangan Till Sundown
• Dinner at twenty first Bean
₱250.00 – AVERAGE MEAL PRICE PER PERSON, APPROXIMATE
₱13.00 – JEEP FROM 21ST BEAN TO BAYAN, PER PERSON
₱40.00 – TRICYCLE TO RESORT FROM BAYAN, PER PERSON
DAY TWO: MT. MARIGLEM, RIVERS, BEACH | ₱1,870.00 PER PERSON BASED ON A GROUP OF TWO
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| MT. MARIGLEM IN CABANGAN ~ PHOTO BY ERIKA GARCIA |
• Breakfast At Resort
₱2,000.00 – AVERAGE RESORT RATE, GOOD FOR TWO PERSONS
• Trek Mount Mariglem
₱40.00 – TRICYCLE TO TOURISM OFFICE, PER PERSON
₱550.00 – KOLONG KOLONG TRICYCLE RIDE TO MOUNT MARIGLEM JUMP OFF, GOOD FOR 5 PERSONS
₱50.00 – MT. MARIGLEM ENTRANCE FEE
₱700.00 – LOCAL GUIDE, GOOD FOR 5 PERSONS
• Go to Agbobotilya: Half Of Mariglem Hike
• Hike Down To Maligha River: Half Of Mariglem Hike
• Lunch At Nilumabangan River: Half Of Mariglem Hike
₱200.00 – FOOD PER PERSON, APPROXIMATE
• Go Again To Resort For Seaside Sundown
₱40.00 – TRICYCLE TO RESORT, PER PERSON
• Dinner At Casa Baraka or on the resort
₱40.00 – TRICYCLE FROM RESORT TO CASA BARAKA, PER PERSON
₱250.00 – AVERAGE MEAL PRICE PER PERSON, APPROXIMATE
₱40.00 – TRICYCLE FROM CASA BARAKA TO RESORT, PER PERSON
DAY TWO ALTERNATIVE: RIVERS & BEACH | ₱1,913.00 PER PERSON BASED ON A GROUP OF TWO
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| DAPYA RIVER IN CABANGAN |
• Breakfast at resort
₱2,000.00 – AVERAGE RESORT RATE, GOOD FOR TWO PERSONS
• Go to and hike to Agbobotilya
₱40.00 – TRICYCLE TO BAYAN, PER PERSON
₱200.00 – TAKE OUT FOOD PER PERSON, APPROXIMATE
₱100.00 – TRICYCLE TO AGBOBOTILYA JUMP OFF POINT
₱??.00 – GUIDE FEE
• Hike right down to Dapya River
₱20.00 – ENTRANCE FEE
• Lunch at Dapya River (deliver take out meals from Bayan)
₱300.00 – COTTAGE RENTAL
• Early dinner at LC’s Cease & Chow or on the resort
₱100.00 – TRICYCLE FROM DAPYA RIVER TO LC’S STOP & CHOW, APPROXIMATE
₱250.00 – AVERAGE MEAL PRICE PER PERSON, APPROXIMATE
• Sundown on the seaside
₱13.00 – JEEP FROM LC’S STOP & CHOW TO BAYAN, PER PERSON
₱40.00 – TRICYCLE FROM BAYAN TO RESORT, PER PERSON
DAY THREE: BEACH | ₱330.00 PER PERSON BASED ON A GROUP OF TWO
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| SAN ISIDRO BEACH IN CABANGAN |
• Breakfast At Resort
• Chill At The seaside
• Test-Out Of The Resort
₱40.00 – TRICYCLE TO PUBLIC MARKET, PER PERSON
• Purchase Pasalubong At The Public Market (Finest On Market Days, Tuesdays and Fridays)
₱XX.00 – TOTALLY UP TO YOU
• Lunch / Dinner At LC’s Cease & Chow
₱40.00 – TRICYCLE TO LC’S STOP & CHOW, PER PERSON
₱250.00 – AVERAGE MEAL PRICE PER PERSON, APPROXIMATE
• Depart Cabangan
► ₱4,133.00 to ₱4,176.00 ~ TOTAL BUDGET PER PERSON BASED ON A GROUP OF TWO
UPDATED AS OF APRIL 2024