A Weekend in San Narciso, Zambales

In this post, I will share with you our 2D1N San Narciso, Zambales Itinerary and Expenses last April 2019. We planned our San Narciso trip four months ahead of our actual trip so that we can have enough options in choosing our accommodation considering that the month of April is part of peak season for beach goers. Luckily, me and my girlfriend had enough pictures and we would be happy to share it to you guys in the latter part of my blog.

Bus Transportation

Cubao – San Narciso
Going to San Narciso from Cubao has two options:

Option 1 –
Ride a Victory Liner bus going to Olongapo. Trips to Olongapo from Cubao starts at 1AM until 11:30PM. For fares and schedules, kindly check it here. From Olongapo, ride another Victory Liner bus bound to either Sta. Cruz or Iba then tell the conductor to drop you off at San Narciso. AC and Ordinary buses both have daily trips to either Sta. Cruz or Iba from Olongapo Terminal. For fares and schedules, kindly check it here.

Option 2 –
Ride a Victory Liner bus going to Iba then tell the conductor to drop you off at San Narciso. Trips to Iba from Cubao starts at 5AM until 9PM. For fares and schedules, kindly check it here.

We decided to stick with Option 2 since their trips are via SCTEX and we can save time. Ticket reservation online on a point to point basis is available for this route but since our destination is only up until San Narciso, we decided that we will just buy our tickets OTC on the day of our trip which I think one of the worst mistakes to commit when traveling during a peak season. I should have known by that time that we can buy tickets for our trips OTC ahead of time. I lined up in the terminal as early as 5am and I was surprised to see the queue for the ticketing office for Zambales trips. It was already 6am by the time I had the chance to buy for our tickets. Supposed to be, we are planning to but tickets for the 9am trip but the attendant told us that all the morning trips to IBA are fully booked and the next available trip will still be at 1PM so we opted to stick with Option 1. The attendant told us that the next available trip to Olongapo will be 10AM (via SCTEX) and 11:30AM (via San Fernando/Lubao). During this time, it was obvious that are planned itinerary will not be followed anymore. Luckily, I had my instincts with me and proved to be beneficial for both of us. We bought the 10AM (via SCTEX) ticket and decided to line up as chance passengers for Cubao – Olongapo trip. We chose the 10AM (via SCTEX) trip so that we will have shorter waiting time in case we are not able to secure seats as chance passengers for Cubao – Olongapo trips prior to our scheduled trip. The attendant told us earlier that we will not earn a refund if we are able to secure seats as chance passengers for Cubao – Olongapo trips via San Fernando/Lubao. It was already nearing 6:30AM when we lined up as chance passenger and we are lucky enough to secure seats for the 6:30AM Cubao – Olongapo trip (via San Fernando/Lubao) with the downside of not having a refund since our ticket was via SCTEX. After arriving in Olongapo at around 10:30AM, we lined up for Olongapo – Sta. Cruz trips through ordinary bus since there were more available ordinary buses than AC buses during that time. After lining up for almost 30 minutes, we were able to secure seats and arrived at San Narciso at around 12:30 PM. The trip was tiring and stressful since the volume of passengers that are bound to different destinations within Zambales are high and the traffic conditions are not that tolerable also. It was a lesson learned for both of us especially when it comes to planning our future travels together.

San Narciso – Cubao
Going back to Cubao from San Narciso is easier. We just waited for AC Victory Liner buses from either Sta. Cruz or Iba along the highway. AC Victory Liner buses from either Sta. Cruz or Iba are either bound to the following locations:
– Caloocan
– Pasay
– Sampaloc
There are also ordinary Victory Liner buses that are bound to Olongapo in which I think came from Sta. Cruz.
If you are bound for Cubao, you have two options:

Option 1:
Ride an AC Victory Liner bus then tell the conductor to drop you off at Olongapo although I’m not sure if AC Victory Liner buses that are bound to Pasay will drop off passengers at their Cubao terminal. From Olongapo, ride a Victory Liner bus bound to Cubao. For fares and schedules, kindly check it here.

Option 2:
Ride an Ordinary Victory Liner bus then tell the conductor to drop you off at Olongapo. From Olongapo, ride a Victory Liner bus bound to Cubao. For fares and schedules, kindly check it here.

In our case, we rode an Ordinary Victory Liner bus and dropped off at San Antonio, Zambales to have lunch at Rosa Farms. After having lunch, we rode an AC Victory Liner bus bound to Caloocan and dropped off at Olongapo. From Olongapo we rode a Victory Liner bus bound to Pasay and dropped off along EDSA – Ayala since provincial buses were still allowed to drop off passengers along EDSA during that time. Kindly see the breakdown below for our Bus Transportation Expenses:

Cubao – Olongapo (via San Fernando/Lubao; AC Bus)
Bus Fare: 285PHP x 2 Pax = 570PHP
Note: Stopover will be at Lubao, Pampanga.

Olongapo – San Narciso (Ordinary Bus)
Bus Fare: 64PHP x 2 Pax = 128PHP

San Narciso – San Antonio (Ordinary Bus)
Bus Fare: 17PHP x 2 Pax = 34PHP

San Antonio – Olongapo (AC Bus)
Bus Fare: 50PHP x 2 Pax = 100PHP

Olongapo – (EDSA – Ayala)
Bus Fare: 237PHP x 2 Pax = 474PHP
Note: Other buses will enter SCTEX through SBMA and will exit at Dinalupihan. Stopover will be on Lubao, Pampanga and San Fernando, Pampanga.

Total Bus Transportation Expenses:
570PHP + 128PHP + 34PHP + 100PHP + 474PHP = 1,306PHP

Accomodation

It was still January when we were choosing an accommodation for our San Narciso trip. Our preferred accommodation, which is Crystal Beach Resort was already fully booked for all weekends of April. Luckily, I was able to stumble upon Zambawood – Julyan’s Surf BnB while searching for other available accommodations and they still have available rooms for 2 persons for April 6 (Saturday) – April 7 (Sunday). I immediately asked for their payment methods and paid immediately for our reservation. The rate for Zambawood – Julyan’s Surf BnB is 2000PHP per person inclusive of continental breakfast. Kindly see below for the breakdown of expenses for our accommodation:

Zambawood – Julyan’s Surf BnB
Rate: 2,000PHP/Pax
Down Payment (50%): 1,000PHP x 2 Pax = 2000PHP
Balance Payment (Upon check-out): 1000PHP x 2 Pax = 2,000 PHP

Total Accommodation Expenses:
2000PHP + 2000PHP = 4,000 PHP

Yes, 4,000 PHP for one night is expensive but there are a lot of accommodations in San Narciso which are cheaper and affordable than Zambawood – Julyan’s Surf BnB. The good thing about Zambawood – Julyan, Surf BnB is that the area is less crowded and peaceful.

Tricycle Transportation

Upon are arrival in San Narciso, we hailed a tricycle going to our accommodation. There is a tricycle stand across the bus stop in which you will be dropped off. Upon check-out, we also hailed a tricycle to take us to the bus stop. The security guard in Zambawood texted a tricycle driver to pick us up so we had no problem looking for a tricycle going to the bus stop. Kindly see below for the breakdown of expenses for our tricycle transportation:

Bus Stop – Zambawood (Main Gate):
Tricycle Fare: 25PHP x 2 Pax = 50PHP

Zambawood (Main Gate) – Bus Stop:
Tricycle Fare: 25PHP x 2 Pax = 50PH

Total Tricycle Transportation Expenses:
100PHP + 100PHP = 200PHP

Food

Food choices in San Narciso are limited. Upon are arrival, we were supposed to eat at Dude’s Pizza but we were informed by a local that Dude’s Pizza is already closed for good. Fortunately, we were able to stumble upon Cafe Verde Resto Bar which is a few blocks away from the tricycle stand. We had our late lunch there and their food was delicious. Price range for their food is also affordable. I recommend that you drop by and dine here if ever you are planning a trip to San Narciso. We had our Dinner and Breakfast at Zambawood – Julyan’s Surf BnB. Meal Orders should be placed a day before so make sure to plan your orders ahead. The next day while on the way to Olongapo, we stop by at Rosa Farms in San Antonio, Zambales to have lunch. Their food was delicious and has an open space dining area which are shaded by trees. Kindly see below for the breakdown of our food expenses:

1 – Cafe Verde
Food/Drinks Ordered:
– Grilled Tilapia: 110PHP
– Sinigang na Hipon: 240PHP
– Cucumber Lemonade: 35PHP x 2 = 70PHP
– Special Halo Halo: 95PHP
– Rice Platter: 90PHP
Total Expenses: 605PHP
Address: National Rd, San Narciso, Zambales
Note: A sumptuous and delicious lunch after an hour long trip to San Narciso.

2 – Zambawood – Julyan’s Surf BnB (Dinner)
Food/Drinks Ordered:
– Tilapia: 100PHP
– Chicken Adobo: 150PHP
– Coffee (3 in 1): 15PHP x 2 = 30PHP
Total Expenses: 280PHP
Address: San Narciso, Zambales
Note: Their food was delicious. If ever you checked in at Zambawood – Julyan’s Surf BnB, orders your meals a day ahead.

3 – Zambawood – Julyan’s Surf BnB (Breakfast)
Food/Drinks Ordered:
– Continental Breakfast for 2 Pax
– Tapsilog: 150PHP
– Bangsilog: 150PHP
Total Expenses: 330PHP
Address: San Narciso, Zambales
Note: Their food was delicious.

4 – Rosa Farms
Food/Drinks Ordered:
– Grilled Chicken: 200PHP
– Grilled Liempo: 200PHP
– Green Mango Shake w/ Miracle Fruit: 210PHP
– Mango Shake: 200PHP
– Mango w/ Bagoong: 130PHP
– Rice: 50PHP x 2 = 100PHP
Total Expenses: 1040PHP
Address: Km. 156 San Marcelino – San Antonio – San Narciso Rd, San Marcelino, Zambales
Note: Their food was delicious.

Total Expenses

Bus Transportation: 1306PHP
Accommodation: 4000PHP
Tricycle Transportation: 100PHP
Food: 2255PHP
Grand Total: 7661PHP

Itinerary

Day 1 – Saturday
– ETD Cubao 6:30AM
– Stopover at Lubao, Pampanga
– ETA Olongapo 10:30AM
– ETD Olongapo 11:00AM
– ETA San Narciso 12:30PM
– Lunch at Cafe Verde
– Trike to Zambawood (Julyan’s Surf BnB)
– Check-In at Zambawood 2PM
– Wash Up
– Roam around the Zambawood Compound; Chill by the Beach
– Dinner 7PM
– Chill by the beach at night
– Lights Out 10PM

Day 2 – Sunday
– Early Wake Up Call 6AM
– Morning walk by the beach
– Breakfast 8:30AM
– Chill by the beach
– Wash Up 10AM
– Check-Out 11AM
– Trike to Bus Stop
– ETD San Narciso 11:30AM
– ETA Rosa Farms, San Antonio, Zambales 11:50AM
– Lunch at Rosa Farms
– ETD Rosa Farms, San Antonio, Zambales 1PM
– ETA Olongapo 3PM
– Ride a Victory Liner Bus bound to Pasay
– ETD Olongapo 3:30PM
– ETA Ayala 7:30PM