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6 Beaches in Southern Luzon That Won’t Hurt Your Wallet
These affordable beaches are just a few hours’ drive and pesos away.
By: Patricia Marie Prado | March 01, 2021
Due to changing quarantine measures, the activities, destination/s, store/s, establishment/s featured in this article might be temporarily prohibited or closed under the latest government policies. LGUs might also implement health protocols and travel requirements. Please get in touch with the establishment/s before visiting. Stay safe!
Image: Pansacola Beach Resort - Cagbalete Island Facebook Page
Hitting the beach is a no-brainer this summer. But if you’re concerned about time and money, set those excuses aside. May it be an adventurous camping experience or a luxurious relaxation that you’re after, a few hours’ drive and some little money are all you need.
Yoorekka rounded up six beaches in South Luzon that are easy to reach and will not hurt your wallet. Grab your hats and sunscreens and check out these beach resorts in the south.
1. Cagbalete Island
Location: Mauban, Quezon
Travel Time: 4-5 hours
Discover a different side of Quezon Province in Cagbalete Island.
Image: Pansacola Beach Resort
If you are a Batangas and Zambales frequenter, chances are you haven’t heard about Cagbalete Island yet. Located in Quezon Province, Cagbalete Island is a paradise worthy of the long travel. The beach is still secluded and not many establishments are in the area so you are assured of a peaceful summer. Once you hit the beach, you will be greeted with fine white sand, cerulean waters, and a teeming marine life.
From Manila, you can catch a direct bus going to Mauban, Quezon. Drop by Mauban Public Market and ask where Mauban Port is, ride an outrigger boat and you’ll find yourself transported to Cagbalete Island. Because Cagbalete Island doesn’t have many establishments yet, you might need to bring your own food or advise your hotel to prepare meals for you for a hassle free stay. Camping is also allowed in the area, all you need to do is pay a small fee to the resort owners.
As of February 2021, Cagbalete Island is still closed to tourists.
2. Masasa Beach
Location: Tingloy, Batangas
Travel Time: 4 hours
Love Batangas? Try Masasa Beach this weekend!
Image: Gone for the Weekend
Batangas beach resorts will always be a beach bum’s favorite, but ditch Anilao and Nasugbu this summer and head over to Masasa Beach. Masasa Beach is a beauty yet to be discovered by many tourists so you are promised with silence and seclusion. It is perfect for beach bummers as well as adventurous campers as there are few accommodations in the area. A little heads up because electricity in the area is quite unpredictable too, but the lush greeneries, clear waters, rock formations, and fine white beach make it all worth it.
To reach Masasa, ride any Batangas-bound bus and ask to be dropped off at Batangas City Grand Terminal. From there, ride a jeepney towards Anilao Port and ride the passenger boat to Tingloy. Once you arrive on the island, you can ride a tricycle towards Masasa. Travelers need to be extra early because once you miss the passenger boat in the morning, you’ll need to hire a boat on your own. Food is also scarce on the island so you’ll have to bring your own.
As of January 2021, Masasa Beach is still closed.
3. Lukang Beach
Location: Pagbilao, Quezon
Travel Time: 4 ½ - 5 hours
Disconnect for a while and experience nature at Lukang Beach.
Image: Pinoy Beachineer
Another camping gem is Lukang Beach in Pagbilao, Quezon. This island is yet to be discovered by many, and the best time to visit is now! There are no accommodations in the area so camping equipment and bringing your own supplies are necessary. Believe it or not, Lukang Beach is also covered in fine white sand, and the waters are perfectly blue and shallow that makes it a great swimming and snorkeling area. You can also check out the nearby Mag-asawang Bato for some added adventure.
Lukang Beach is quite far but very much doable. Just hail a bus headed to Lucena and get off at the Lucena Grand Terminal. Once you reach the terminal, ride a jeepney headed to Pagbilao Town Proper and get off at Binahaan Crossing. Ride a tricycle and ask to be dropped off at Barangay Ibabang Polo where you can ask the boatmen to take you to the island.
As of February 2021, Lukang Beach is still closed.
4. Ivory Beach
Location: Calatagan, Batangas
Travel Time: 3 ½ hours – 4 hours
No need to travel far to see sand bars! Ivory Beach already has one.
Image: Brian Franco
Ivory Beach located in Calatagan, Batangas, is another great option for budget travelers. Ivory Beach is another underdeveloped beach allowing campers to stay overnight and bring their own food with a minimal fee. The area is covered with trees to give you shade in the morning, and the waters are warm and shallow, perfect for families with children. The sand is creamy but expect to see some stones and corals along the way. There’s also a nearby sandbar that you can visit and take pictures with.
To get to Ivory Beach, ply any buses headed to Calatagan, Batangas from Coastal Mall Terminal. Ask to be dropped off at Calatagan Terminal and from there you can hire a tricycle to bring you to Ivory Beach. There are no accommodations in the area but there are caretakers willing to assist you. Electricity is also unpredictable so bring your own flashlight.
As of February 2021, Ivory Beach is still closed.
5. Dampalitan Island
Location: Padre Burgos, Quezon
Travel Time: 4 ½ hours
Skip the crowded Borawan Island and head straight to Dampalitan.
Image: Quezonian Memes
You may have heard of Dampalitan Island before because it’s usually associated with Borawan Island, a more popular spot in Quezon. But if you want to avoid the crowd, skip Borawan altogether and go straight to Dampalitan. Like most of the beaches on this list, Dampalitan is also underdeveloped, giving travelers the freedom to set up their own camp and bring their own food. Enjoy the powdery white sand and a play of blue and green water in the morning. At night, set up a bonfire with your friends and share stories over some drinks!
To reach Dampalitan, ride a bus going to Lucena City and get off at Lucena Grand Terminal. Hail another bus going to Unisan and ask to be dropped off at QCRB Bank in Padre Burgos. Take a tricycle going to Aplaya and from there you can hire outrigger boats to bring you to Dampalitan. You’ll have the option to either rent a hut if you want a comfortable stay or a tent if you’re feeling more adventurous. Water is also available in the area that you can buy per gallon or drum.
6. Laiya Beach
Location: Laiya, San Juan, Batangas
Travel Time: 3 ½ hours
Not much of a camper? Laiya Beach is the closest paradise for you!
Image: Philippines’ Best
Last on our list is Laiya Beach in San Juan, Batangas. If you prefer a more developed beach and camping is really not your thing, Laiya is one of the closest paradises you could visit. Laiya is a long stretch of white sand and plenty of accommodations in the area are available from a cheap hostel to a more luxurious stay. Water activities are also aplenty, from banana boat rides to snorkeling, so you won’t be bored and will have a summer to remember.
Laiya Beach is also easy to reach. Just ride a bus going to Batangas and get off at the town of San Juan. From there you can take a jeepney going to Laiya. Because there are plenty of establishments in the area, you don’t need to worry about food or supplies. Just bring your friends and family with you.
Don’t worry about your budget because these six places are easy to reach and are easy on the wallet. Visit them now before they get crowded.
This article was originally published in Yoorekka on March 29, 2017.
About Patricia Marie Prado
Patricia came from the field of business and accounting but is now pursuing her dreams of being a writer. She is a self-confessed introvert and is passionate about reading, travelling, writing, movies, coffee and God. When she's not writing, she loves discovering new coffee shops/cafe and doing TV-series marathons.
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for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although
careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not
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