You probably heard of Liwliwa in Zambales but never really had the chance to visit it. If you want to stay away from the mainstream beaches of Zambales, then the calming waves at Liwliwa Beach should be your next destination!
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Liwliwa at a Glance
Liwliwa Beach is once a small fishing village in Barangay Sto. Niño in San Felipe, Zambales is now a thriving tourist destination in the province. It has approximately two kilometers of shoreline with gray sand beach and teeming with beach agoho trees.
How to Get to Liwliwa from Metro Manila
Having a private car is the most convenient way to get to Liwliwa especially when you plan to stay as part of your family gathering. Liwliwa and your choice of the resort are probably searchable thru Waze and Google Maps, but in case you opt to commute, there are buses in Manila, Cubao in particular to hop in.
Where to Stay In Liwliwa
Liwliwa is a booming tourist destination and it has several accommodations from cheap hotels and resorts, and campsite to a more exclusive guesthouse. We had ours at Gasera de Liwliwa, an instagrammable beach resort with teepee huts and glass villas surrounded by huge agoho trees or aroo in local name. It is located in Sitio Liwliwa, Barangay Sto Niño, San Felipe, Zambales.
The resort check-in time is at 2PM and check out schedule at 12NN the following day with secured parking for a couple of cars. Parking spaces are available near the main gate going to this area of Liwliwa beach with 24 hours security personnel on duty.
Since we are a big group, we stayed on their tipi huts, couple nipa hut and kingke villa ranging from Php2,500 to Php3,500 but we recommend having their villas with more space and room. They were not available when we booked ours due to peak season. We visited Liwliwa in May 2022 during the peak of summer so make sure to book in advance to secure your reservation.
All of the accommodations above are fully air-conditioned with access to common CR, kitchen utensils, grills (bring your charcoal), and free use of the gas stove. Bringing of food and alcoholic drinks is allowed with no corkage fee. And, the resort is pet-friendly!
Other services in the resort include rental of videoke, ATV and surfboard. They also have live music at night for a more enjoyable dinner and stay!
Swimming at the Beach
For beach lovers, you will love to roam, chill and swim on Liwliwa’s two-kilometer shoreline. Liwliwa has an extensive sandy gray beach with bluish-green water. If you are planning to stay overnight, make sure to book your stay near the beach for accessibility especially when accompanied by elderlies and kids.
ATV Ride
With the long shoreline and nearby lahar trail, an ATV ride is a must for adventure seekers. ATV rental is around Php1,000 for a one-hour ride.
Surfing
Liwliwa is a great spot for surfing and there are several restaurants and hotels offering surfing lessons and rentals. The range is from Php250 to Php300 per hour.
Sunrise and Sunset at the Beach
The best time to stay at the beach is before sunrise and sunset if you are looking for a more dramatic beach vibe. It is also the perfect time if you want to avoid tan lines as the weather is a bit colder.
Beach Camping
Along the beach, there are campsites for tourists looking for cheaper accommodation. Tents are available for rental depending on the number of guests. Just a reminder that it could be humid during the daytime, especially in the afternoon.
Eat and Chill
Family gatherings and beach goers will love to eat and relax after a long swim. There is no better way to do it than to cook, grill, and relax! You may bring in your favorite food and go chargrilling and have a boodle fight if you wish to. And before the night ends, have a couple of beers while enjoying the music background and chitchatting with friends and family.
While Liwliwa is carving its identity from a small fishing village to a now one of the hottest beach destinations in Zambales, tourists are encouraged to be responsible guests by following the reminders in and outside the beach/resorts and help preserve the beauty of the place with all its flora and fauna to support the local tourism.
