Kinda Roughing It: Crystal Beach, Zambales

Last time the fiancé and I were in Zambales, we were sort of flashpacking. This time around, we came back to actually sleep in a tent, albeit glamp style, in Crystal Beach.

Now Crystal Beach isn’t a secret destination. Nor is this a “camping hacks” kind of post because though I was a girl scout for my entire basic education, I still like traveling with certain comforts. Take this, maybe, as a glamping hack kind thing—because even girl scouts don’t like roughing it all the time.

The Digs

We stayed at a premium tent where we had our own “porch” with a hammock, mattress, bedding, and toiletries. This will set you back 1895 php per night which is inclusive of the tent rental (1000 php a night/3 pax) beach entrance, and buffet breakfast (895 php/head).

There were a couple of campsites and some campsites had tents equipped with their own lighting and electric fan. No idea how much it would cost but it looked pretty cool. You could also pitch your own tent and probably pay just the entrance fee.

There were some folks that only set up their hammocks which I thought was pretty cool.

However, our original plan was to book our accommodations at the Jungle hostel. Their stilted kubos were equipped with electricity and were situated amidst a canopy of greenery which provided a much needed shade from the summer sun. The best thing about it is that it’s only a couple of steps from the shore.

It was fully booked when we went but I certainly want to come back to try this on surf season.

They had common showers and toilets for your business. It was fairly clean although since we went during the long weekend, there was always a line to the cubicles. If you’re like me, you could shower at their open showers. I always preferred this option wherever I go because it’s a lot easier. I could just change inside my tent anyway.

Oh, yes there is parking.

Food Situation

Crystal Beach had a restaurant that offered typical resort fare. A meal might set you back 200 php which is pretty reasonable. We, however, opted to eat at the food stalls outside the resort. Called the Bamboo Food Strip, the short stretch had food stalls selling food turo-turo style and some more “commercialized” fare like tacos, chicken wings, and pizza.

Don’t expect too much from these places though—certainly not the place for your hipster taste buds. But food is cheap and decent. And at night, they had isaw stands grilling all sorts of offal for cheap. I kind of want to keep it like this to keep its country charm tbh.

We also packed some food from home for some semblance of “camping.” We brought with us cooked Hungarian sausges and hard-boiled eggs for anytime we would feel a bit hungry and some chips for drinking and hanging out at night.

The buffet breakfast is served at the restaurant. Selections include typical Pinoy fare like corned beef, tapa, pandesal, a sort of salad bar, and other bread choices. Think a typical breakfast at your lola’s home in the province sans the sentimentality.

Points of Interest / Some Hacks

We also brought with us a fully-juiced power bank so we needn’t charge our gadgets at the restaurant or the lobby. We also brought along a led battery light source (a freebie from some event Paul went to) for when we read or changed clothes at night. The campsites did have light sources in the evening but mainly so you wouldn’t stumble onto anything while finding your way back to your tent in the dark.

It was also pretty cool at night. We just opened the tent “windows” on either end a tad to let the air pass-through. Although in the morning and afternoons, we hung around the porch instead.

In the evening, there were two events when we were there. At one area, there was an acoustic performer, beach mats set up, and a mobile bar. It was the perfect place to chill under the stars with beers and our “from home” snacks.

At the beach front, there was a DJ and a dance party set up. I probably needn’t say this but we opted to spend the evening with the acoustic performer.

Crystal Beach is also a good place to surf. Unfortunately, it wasn’t surf season when we went so Paul went for a swim while I mostly lounged by the shore while reading a book. There are a lot of picturesque spots all over the property for your IG-worthy shots too.

Last Words

One thing I noticed during our trip was that there were many trash bins all around the area. And not just any kind of trash bin but segregated ones. So if you do opt to take the trip to Crystal Beach, make sure to travel responsibly and throw your trash in the proper bins.

There was one morning, I had to swim over to where I saw an empty bag of chips floating around a bunch of people at the beach. I picked it up deliberately and walked over to the nearest trash bin (there was one by some tables near the shore, literally within eyeshot of the said people) and threw it there.

I don’t mean to be a snob about it and they probably weren’t the ones who left it there but they could have just as easily thrown it away properly than leave it there floating. Don’t let me get started on displacing starfish!

My point is, we don’t all have to be eco fanatics or something but we could all do our part—disposing one’s trash properly is a simple and effective way to help our home.

So let’s all travel responsibly, folks! As they say, leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but memories.