If you are looking for a great waterside experience near to Manila then Masasa Beach is an ‘easy to reach’ weekend destination that is a great place to unwind from the rigorous of city living. The beach is located at Tingloy, Batangas which is only around a three to four hours of travel time from Manila, including the boat ride going to the island itself if you are coming from Cubao.  Aside from the pristine beach there, it is also a strain on your budget and is one of the reasons that this place has already become a favorite with fellow backpackers.

 

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Walk on the  rice side 😉

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How to get there?

  • From Cubao, ride a bus going to Batangas Grand Terminal.
  • Upon arrival at Batangas Grand Terminal, ride a jeepney going to Mabini. ( Anilao port will be the last stop for the jeepney)
  • At Anilao port, wait for public passenger boats to arrive. Usual time of the first trip is at 10:00 AM. However, boats depart as early as 7 AM as long as the boats are filled with enough passengers. The boat ride takes around 45minutes.
  • At Tingloy port, ride a tricycle going to Masasa Beach. The tricycle will drop you off at the nearest point going to the beach. Thus, you will need to walk for at least 15-20 minutes to arrive at Masasa Beach shoreline

Activities:

Swimming
Snorkeling
Hiking (Magasawang Bato)
Camping
Stargazing

What to expect?

  • There are not enough shady trees to shelter visitors from the scorching heat of the sun. This is a public beach and could be a lot better kept.

 

 

 

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Looking down Masasa Beach!

Where to stay?

Bring your own tent. Otherwise, you can either rent a tent there for 150 pesos good for your whole stay or rent a space at Nanay Rosie’s Kubo that is good for sharing for 200pesos per pax. Additionally, on the food front, if you don’t have any or are simply too lazy to cook, you can ask Nanay Rosie to knock you up some grub, for a fee of course. Her place is located at the rightmost part of the beach. Contact No. 09196864368.

Things to Bring:

  • Drinking water at least 4liters
  • Flashlights
  • Powerbanks/Chargers
  • Toiletries
  • Trash bags
  • Sleeping bag/Tent (Optional)
  • Snorkeling gears (Optional)
  • Cookware/Kitchen Utensils (Optional)
  • Extra clothes
  • Extra money
  • Personal Medicines/First Aid Kit

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Rice fields, Mountains and Masasa Beach 🙂

Tips/5cents:

  1. When you arrive at Anilao Port, you can buy the things that you might need to take with you to the island. You can have breakfast at the port and buy any takeout food for your lunch when you are on the island.
  2. Freshen up for free! There is a public washing area on the island (actually it is just a well!) However, if you are too shy to take a bath in an open area, you can opt for a private bathroom for 25pesos.
  3. Respect other campers especially late at night. Avoid shouting and talking too loud, not everyone wants to share in your life!
  4. Save the planet – be a responsible human and help the local community and our beautiful planet by disposing of all your rubbish and waste correctly. This will mean taking your rubbish away with you and NOT leaving it just dropped on the ground!
  5. You can keep expenses lower if you are in a bigger group (economy of scale).
  6. If you have more time you can hike (you must pay for a guide) the famous (and strenuous) Magasawang Bato, which is gigantic rock formation of that, once conquered, offers a bird’s eye view of the island. If you have any money left over, you can also go island hopping within the Maricaban Islands perhaps including a visit to Sombrero Island.
  7. Tingloy to Anilao Boat Schedule: 6:00AM, 7:00AM, 8:00AM and 9:00AM (last trip). If you missed the last trip, you can charter a boat going back to Anilao port for Php. 2500.

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Great things come in small packages 😉

Our Itinerary:

DAY 1:
4:00 AM: ETD – Cubao (Jam Liner)
7:00 AM: ETA – Batangas City Grand Terminal; ETD – Batangas City Grand Terminal
8:00 AM: ETA – Anilao Port; Buy goods from the wet market.
8:30 AM: ETD – Anilao Port
9:00 AM: ETA – Tingloy; Free time
10:30 AM: Trekking to Masasa Beach
11:30 AM: Preparation (Tent pitching, dinner preparation)
12:00 Noon: Lunch
12:30 PM: Freetime
7:00 PM: Dinner
9:00 PM: Socials/Beach Bumming
10:00 PM: Lights off (LOL :p)

DAY 2:
7:00 AM: Lights on; Pack-up
8:00 AM: Trekking to Masasa
8:20 AM: ETD – Masasa
8:30 AM: ETA – Tingloy; Free time
9:00 AM: ETD – Tingloy
10:00 AM: ETA – Anilao Port; ETD – Anilao Port
11 AM: ETA – Batangas City Grand Terminal; ETD – Batangas City Grand Terminal
1:00 PM: ETA – Cubao

Summary of Expenses:

Cubao-Batangas Grand Terminal 165
Batangas Grand Terminal- Cubao 152
Jeep Terminal to Port RT (37/way) 74
Anilao Port-Tingloy RT (65/way) 130
** there are boats that go directly to Masasa beach oceanfront for 80pesos but there is no definite schedule for these boats.
Tricycle (60 per way good for 4) 30
Total Fare 551
Environmental Fee 30
Food 324
Pasalubong 75
Charge/Soap 47
Snorkeling 100
Grand total 1,127

A big bunch of thanks to Mark (@gelorabago) who worked with me on this article and really gotta tell you guys who live in Manila, get your bucket and spade and go visit this place!

FOLLOW OUR BUDGET FRIENDLY ADVENTURES THRU:
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34 Comments

  1. Hi. I just want to ask, wala bang updates kung pwedeng mag-hire ng boat kung gabi na makakarating sa Anilao? inflexible kasi yung schedule naman since susunod lang kami sa peers namin who’ll be satying sa Masasa overnight. Thanks

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  6. Pingback: Kwebang Lampas and Puting Buhangin Beach Travel Guide – BYAJAYRO

  7. thanks for the info. I just want to ask is it possible or convenient for us to travel Masasa beach in just 1 day? it mean i want to make a day tour to Masasa instead of 2 days as ur itinerary.
    Hope to hear ur thought on this. Thanks

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. pwede namn po day tour lang tho kaya hindi kami nagday-tour before was wala ng public boat na umaalis kapag hapon. puros private lang medyo mahal siya for us that time so di na namin kinuha. pero pwede namnaghire ng private boat kung madami kayo tas itour na nila kayo sa mga places around the area for a day 🙂

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  8. Hi… confusing lang kasi may nagsasabi samin na sa Talaga Port kami sumakay ng boat pero may nagsasabi din na sa anilao port.. pareho po ba na may papuntang Tingloy everyday? thanks sir 🙂

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    1. It’s always an issue po pati nung pumunta kami medyo madumi siya dahil sa mga campers and tourist na di marunong magtapon sa right place tho di naman lahat ng part tsaka nagco-collect na daw sila ng environmental fee so hope ginagamit na nila yung money para sa maintenance ng beach. Pero yung water is very clear namn as in We saw turtles pa nga nong nag snorkelling kami 🙂

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  15. Been this place last year and yeah this place is beautiful but mejo may kalat sa gilid gikid cguro dhl s mga dti ng nagpupunta but all in all napakaganda. We stayed there for 3 days and 2 nights. My mga sea urchins din ktkot haha ihian nyo nlang yng paa nyo pag naapakan nyo cla.

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    1. agree madumi nga siya. siguro they should ban na yung pagset ng bonfire kung saan saan kasi di na malinis yung buhangin. tho nice namn yung experience 🙂 dun ako nakakita ng turtle for the first time hahahaha

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    1. hi po 🙂 CALABARZON po ang sign board na sakyan niyo na bus para mas mabilia then Baba kayo sa BATANGAS GRAND TERMINAL:) sasabihin namn po ng conductor if nasa terminal na kayo 🙂

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  17. I’m planning to go here someday to freedive. Is this a good place to do so? Is there a coral reef near the beach and if there is one, how deep it is? Great article by the way. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. hi there! yes you can definitely free dive here and the coral reefs are just few meters away fron the beach 🙂 we saw turtles when we snorkled and they were not that deep 🙂

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