Alta Niña Beach Resort, Accommodation Near Potipot Island

Alta Niña Beach Resort is a small quiet resort located in the stretch of Candelaria Beach in Brgy. Uacon, Candelaria Zambales. Candelaria is known because it is the jump off point to Potipot Island , a white sand island in the area. I chose to stay in this resort because by that time I was researching, this is the place that met our budget and our other needs.

To get to Alta Niña on a public transportation from Manila, you can ride Victory Liner buses bound to Sta Cruz, Zambales then ask the driver to drop you in Brgy. Uacon. You'll be dropped in the highway. There will be a waiting shed on your right and a signpost that says Alta Niña with an arrow pointing you to a 300 meter pathway (just accross the waiting shed). Just continue walking and you'll see the entrance of Alta Niña which is before La Trinidad, another resort in the area.

I've stayed in the resort with my family. I like that it was very quiet when we were there. They have two buildings solely dedicated for accommodation which are painted in orange and white. The resort doesn't offer much when it comes to amenities, they have a videoke machine but don't expect a pool and restaurant. You might not need a pool though because it is right in front of the beach. The beach has cold and clear water, black sand that is so fine. The shore is wide which is very ideal for beach games. (Beach Ultimate anyone? ^_^)

Their kind caretaker, Kuya Noel cooked for us through our entire stay. We just paid him before leaving. Surprisingly, I like his version of sweet and sour lapu-lapu, a dish that was never my liking. I also remember TJ, his very cute adorable son who showed us his amazing dance steps at a very young age. I bet he can be a famous dancer in the future. TJ was teary eyed when we left, as well as my mom :) I think that if only kidnapping isn't a crime, she would take him home with us. Hahaha!!! It's really nice to have a kid around a group of adults sometimes. :) Mang Noel even went on his way of finding a boat to take us to Potipot Island. We we're allowed by the owner, Niña to use their hut for our meals for free. ^_^

Resorts in Candelaria have generally higher rates compared to other places I've been but Alta Niña have one of the lowest rates in the area. The room is very basic but you'll notice how clean it is upon entering, probably because the building is quite new. It has a double bed, a single bed, a dresser, cold shower and a sink in the porch area. Upon pleading to Ate Nina, all six of us were allowed to stay in the room and were just provided 2 more cots. The room is really just for maximum of 5 people. We paid Php2,200 for the room per night and a minimal fee for Mang Noel's use of kitchen utensils facilities to prepare our food for 2 nights and three days. I think that is reasonable enough than booking 2 rooms somewhere else.

The shores of Candelaria have a very beautiful and dramatic sunset, one of the things you don't want to miss while staying in the resort.

My family had an enjoyable stay in Alta Nina Resort.

For Inquiries, you may contact Ms. Niña A. Mabalay at these numbers.
Mobile: (0918) 9265373
Landline: (+632) 6468069
Mobile Landline: 9868391
E-mail: niniamabalay@yahoo.com

BTW, If you’re planning to cook in the resort, you may want to visit the market in Sta. Cruz, Zambales. This is the next town from Candelaria (when coming from Manila) They have incredibly low priced seafoods. I was able to buy a kilo of Lapu-lapu (fish) for only Php80. A yellow fin tuna for only Php90 and the usual Php 360/kg medium sized shrimp in Manila for only Php140/kilo in Sta Cruz.

Other Beachfront Resorts in Candelaria


Isla Vista Resort
           - I've stayed in this resort back in 2007 with my colleagues from Intercontinental Hotels Group. The resort owns a wide expanse of land dotted with coconut trees. I would suggest this place for a big group since they have houses that can accommodate maximum of 22 people. We stayed in their house with 5 airconditioned rooms, have television and karaoke in the living room and a kitchen with stove and fridge. I's also nice that corkage is limited to their restaurant and pavilion area so it is perfectly fine to bring, cook and consume food in the house without having to pay corkage. The only thing that turned me off during our stay is the absence of lights in the walkway, or if there is, they didn't turn it on. The resort is fenced and the gate to the beach isn't very near the rooms/houses so walking might not feel safe especially when you're not with a big group. If you want to check their rates, you can visit their site at http://www.islavistabeachresort.com/home.html


Sun Bloom Resort
          - Having read a lot of positive reviews for this place, this was actually my first choice for our family's accommodation. The owners of the place as well as the caretaker were very kind and prompt in answering the email inquiries I've sent them. They can also cook for guests. Only, they don't allow six people to stay in a room, and I would have to get two. Since I have a budget to work on, I needed to look somewhere else and decided to stay in Alta Nina instead.  To check their rates, go to http://www.sunbloomresort.com/


Trinidad Bay Resort
          - This is Alta Nina's neighbor resort. From the beach, this resort looked charming with tidy looking white wooden fences. Inside the fence are Mediteranean Villas and Balinese type huts. Noticeable from the shore are their walkways with trellis where yellow bell plants crawl. They have their own boat to take visitors to Potipot Island. You may visit them by checking this site, http://www.latrinidadbayresort.com/


Dawal Beach Resort
          - If a swimming pool in the resort is a must for you, then Dawal will be your perfect option. This is the most famous resort in the area. They probably offer the most facilities and amenities that will make a guest's stay comfortable and fun, for a higher rate of course. This is Isla Vista's neighbor and I heard blaring sounds of videoke when I went for a walk, thought the sound was coming from this resort. This is their site if you want to check their rates, http://www.dawal.com.ph/


Potipot Gateway Resort
          - This is the nicest resort (in terms of design and structures) I've passed by while walking in the shores of Candelaria Beach. I wouldn't need to get inside their property to get a feel of the place. It felt vibrant, classy and relaxing. Visible from the outside are the nature inspired houses. Some parts of these houses are open and some are visible through large glass windows and inside are tasteful furniture and comfy couches with fluffy pillows. That sight made me want to drop myself in one of their couches. :) This is their website. http://www.potipotgateway.com/

Related Post: Potipot, a Small Island Paradise

The Blogger would like to Share: Tips on Creating Your Do-It-Yourself Trips

Potipot, a Small Island Paradise

Potipot Island is a privately owned island. Rumors have it that it is owned by a high ranking military official and politician. That doesn't matter much though. What weighs more is the fact that setting foot in this paradise-like island is allowed, even camping for the night is accommodated.

Potipot is separated from the main land and crowd of Candelaria Beach located in Brgy. Uacon. The best thing is it's very accessible, only a 5 minute boat ride before you get to exhale in awe for the beauty of this small yet promising island.

We arranged for our lunch to be cooked very early in the morning. Mang Noel, Alta Niña Beach Resort's caretaker agreed to cook our food through our entire stay at their resort. He also arranged a boat ride for us going to Potipot. Usual boat rate is Php400 and boat can accommodate maximum of 6 people. We left the resort bringing our lunch basket with kilaweng tuna, grilled porkchop, hotdogs, fruits and breads.

It was my second time to be in the island, having visited it about two and a half years ago with my colleagues. I don't usually go back to the same place twice, thinking it's always better to invest money, time and energy with something new. This is different though. I kind of fell in love with this island and I can't wait to see my family's reaction once they set foot in its creamy white shores. Their facial expressions and remarks assured me they felt love at first sight too. :)

We paid Php100 entrance each, it doubled since the last time I was there. Overnight fees doubled up as well.

Right after breakfast, we all basked into the very inviting waters of Potipot. The cyan to bluish water never failed to tempt me and I always gave in. The sand is creamy white and looks really white from the shores of Candelaria, thus the name Potipot. It is fine unless you walk to the other side of the island but that's tolerable and not annoying at all.

I'm not sure how long we've swam and wallowed in the shallow crystal clear waters but I found myself going back to the shades of the trees and lying on my hammock. It was really relaxing, the view, the tress, the cool wind, being with my family.. Well, life was perfect that moment and I wished it remains like that forever, haha!

After lunch, cumulonimbus clouds start appearing yet the sun seemed to have been in a competitive mode for it shone even brighter and it kind of hurt my skin even after applying a lot of sunblock. That doesn't stop us though from going back to the waters, frolicking under the heat of the sun and the crystal clear water. You’d even see your feet while standing.

One of the best features of Potipot besides the color of the sand is the stillness of the water. It is the most calm of all the beaches I've been so far. It's just like hundreds of olympic sized pools joined together, no wonder why I fully learned how to swim in its waters. About an hour passed and the clouds turned blacker then it rained. We we're laughing and shouting, we are all like kids once again. I can't remember the last time I bathe in the rain, this time it happened while we're swimming. It was nothing but fun. I noticed that the sea suddenly got warm once the downpour started.

Few hours after the rain, we decided to explore the rest of the island. We walked around it and should have made it in 30 mins if we didn't stop frequently to take pictures.

At the other side of the island, we saw there's grass area. The sand is still smooth until we walked further and rocks started to appear in the waters.

We saw a dead sea snake in the shore, and my sister walked past it right away, she's terribly afraid of snakes. We also saw two blue star fishes, sadly, one is left dead and drying in the sand. I took that dead star fish, placed it is a mossy rock in the waters then captured a photo of it. I remember seeing more starfish on my previous visit. I was thinking where they might have been :(

Walking further, I noticed that a long stretch of the shore is teeming with see weeds. If there's an influx of tourists in the island, it would make it impossible for them to swim in that part of the beach, I'm sure it would be very bothersome feeling things rubbing on your skin. I'm not sure though if the caretakers clean that area during peak season, otherwise people will be concentrated on the eastern side of the island.

Nearing our rented table, we walked to the nearby tree house. It looked simple but with uniform balustrades in each side of the stairs that added a touch of a little elegance. Visitors are not allowed to climb up and check it out, the guards said it is for the exclusive use of the island's owner. For visitors who would like to stay in the island and who don't wish to bring their own tents, there are huts available for accommodation ranging from Php1500-2500 the day we went there. There is a water pump as a water source as well as cemented bathrooms. I just wonder why the faucet inside the bathrooms wasn't working anymore. I was able to use that on my first visit.

After getting ourselves exhausted from walking around, we tired ourselves even more by swimming. It’s worth to get tired anyways. I know that my family had a really fun day in Potipot.

Time is really fast when you're enjoying, for we didn't notice it's already about time to leave. We fixed our things then I took pictures for the last time, had a few more shots before our boat arrived to take us back to the resort.

How to go to Potipot Island from Manila

Ride a Victory Liner bus going to Sta. Cruz, then ask to be dropped at Brgy. Uacon, Candelaria, Zambales - the town right before Sta. Cruz. (Iba bound buses will work but you need another ride going to Sta. Cruz) You will need to pass a resort of your option (there are many options) to get to the shore of Candelaria Beach where boats can take you to Potipot Island. Our boat was arranged by Alta Niña's caretaker. Trinidad Bay Resort beside Alta Nina has their own boat as well as Isla Vista Resort on the farther end of the beach. Rate is ranging from Php400 to Php600 depending on yor haggling skills.

Nagsasa Cove: Another Gem in Zambales

The week before the date going to Nagsasa Cove had been really stressful for me. Being in charge of almost everything, I started working on our expenses, collected funds, started doing the grocery, buying our food in the market, even accompanying friends hunting for affordable tents that will be used in our camping. I, together with Ynah also cooked our group's packed lunch prior to leaving for the bus station. The good thing is, Nikko was always there to assist me with almost everything.^_^

Those are the things you have to look into when planning to go to Nagsasa Cove. Like Anawangin, there are no facilities/amenities in the area except for a faucet and restrooms. You really need to bring every possible thing that you'd need specially drinking water and food. Regardless of that fact though, the place is still often flocked by people who learned of the place for it boasts of a very wide coastline, peace and relaxation.




Our plan was to leave Manila through Victory Liner located in Pasay. Last trip going to Iba is 11:30 PM so before that time, we all were already there. As I was buying the ticket for everyone of us, I overheard the girl behind me talking to her friends. They were also headed to San Antonio and they are a big group as well. I'm really thankful that I arrived earlier than her and was in line first, otherwise, we won't be able to leave that night. The last seats of the bus were sold to me. After the 11:30 trip, you'll have to wait for the 5AM trip the following day. Maybe, if you're planning on a trip like this, it will pay to buy the tickets in advance especially when you're with a big group. ^_^




We arrived in the town of San Antonio at around three in the morning. Mang Alfring (thesame boat service I used in Anawangin and Capones) sent me a message to drop by the Local police office first to register our names. That maybe, is a safety precaution if something happens. We we're then fetched by tricycles (which was arranged by Mang Romeo - Mang Alfring's son for us)to bring us to Brgy. Pundaquit, the jump off point to Nagsasa Cove. We waited for the break of dawn in the shores of the beach before riding the boat taking us to the cove. I made sure I texted my parents before I hopped into the boat because there's no cellphone signal in Nagsasa.

I was so sleepy since I didn't even had a nap the day and night before. The calmness of the water induced me to sleeping in the boat. I didn't know how I managed to sleep sitting but I really dozed off, for few minutes, waking up just before our boat docked the extensive shores of the cove.






We had breakfast ( champorado and cupcakes fom Gen) with our boatmen before setting up camp. Some hit the beach right away, while others were organizing our things. I, on the otherhand lay down on a bamboo table under the agoho trees to steal a nap. I wasn't successful though.

The day was spent cooking, swimming and just exploring the area. The boys also tried skimboarding and were mostly occupied playing Ultimate (frisbee). What occupied us girls was far more interesting,:D since we have to endure the dizzying effect of Gen's concoction. lol! Nobody got drunk though. The first day was a blast! When I looked into everyone's faces, I can tell they were all having fun.










When we woke up the next day, we waited for the fisherman that is said to sometimes drop by the area to offer their catch to campers. Truthfully enough, they arrived.






We hurriedly walked to the knee high waters since they can't dock closer to the shore. We were busy checking out their catch, with Eileen haggling the price of the fish very well. We're also able to get a freebie (2 pcs of fish) free. Being a restaurant manager, maybe that's her forte and we just couldn't thank enough that she's there, lol!






The guys cleaned what we bought and prepared the grill while us, girls, prepared the stir-fry vegetables. That's a very sumptuous combination for lunch that everybody got to enjoy. After resting, we settled to go and check out the said "mini waterfalls" at the mountains on the opposite end of the cove.




We walked further, noticing more of Nagsasa's charm. There was a part where the sea water flows into a basin where fresh and salt water meets. The beauty is almost enchanting. With the mountains on the background and agoho trees (pine like trees) everywhere, you'd really tell yourself that the Philippines is a very beautiful country.




We needed a guide to bring us to the "mini waterfalls". We met the locals (Aetas) on our way and had a bit of chat with them. They were drinking gin without chasers and some of the guys were invited to drink and I think it's Kuya Dave that obliged.




We were given a guide and was asked to pay minimum of Php50 but at the end, we decided to give him Php150 anyway. I have to tell you though, I'm not impressed with the mini waterfall at all, the catch basin is almost dry and there's almost no water flowing into it. I felt like it was a waste of time. What I got to enjoy though is the view from the higher grounds of the mountain. You get a nice view of the cove from there.






When the night time came, I had the worst migraine of my life. I took 2 pain relieving capsules yet it didn't work its purpose. As everybody's having fun eating marshmallows and drinking around a bonfire, I was confined inside my tent, trying to sleep and hoping resting would take the pain away. I could hear the loud laughters outside since they were playing charades and I so wish that I'd feel even a little better so I could join them. Unluckily for me, they already called the night a quits but my head was still pounding very hard. :(




I slept so late and woke up a little later than usual. Breakfast was already being served. :) After breakfast, I headed to the beach. I didn't know how to swim or just float when we went to Nagsasa so I told myself, I'll never go home unless I learn how to just even float. I don't know if it's Nikko's patience or my determination to learn that paid off, but I eventually learned how to float before we headed home. I just told myself while in the waters, I don't care if a lot of water goes into my ears (which happened to me when I was a kid), or if I swallow water or if I drown.. I just want to do it and be done with it. So that's one thing that I'll always remember about Nagsasa Cove besides its pristine waters and beauty, that's where I learned how to conquer my fear and learned ow to float.




Lunch time and our boats arrived to take us back to Pundaquit. There's this feel that almost everybody didn't want to leave yet, but since we have to, what can we do? haha! In the seas going back, the water was really rough! Boats are swaying wildly and I know our boats might be toppled anytime. The comfort came from knowing that our boatmen are skillful enough and we were all wearing life jackets. Thank God since we arrived in Pundaquit and in Manila all safe and sound - tired but happy for the time spent together in a place that's almost a paradise.

And oh, we only spent Php2000 for two nights and three days, another proof that cheap can be wonderful. ^_^