Finally, Nagsasa

I’ve been wanting to visit Nagsasa Cove, ever since I first saw it in Erick Dantoc‘s now defunct Wanderboy blog in 2009. Several plans have been made and scrapped since then, but it was only last Saturday that I finally managed to go there.

Taking a cue from Chyng and Reda, who both contracted the services of Mang Johnny (mobile numbers +639202224687, +639275743315, or message him on Facebook), I quickly fired off a series of text messages, inquiring about his rates and the things he can provide for us. I’m not an outdoorsy person, so I only camp when I know there’s someone else doing the grunt work for me. We were lucky because Mang Johnny basically did everything: from providing the boat that would take us from San Miguel to Anawangin, Nagsasa and Capones island, buy ingredients from the local market and cook it at the camp site, provide and pitch tents for us. He even let us take a shower in their house when we got back to San Miguel, so we can wash off the salt from our body before heading back to Manila.

So did Nagsasa live up to my expectations? It certainly did. Though it’s quite secluded, tourists are now flocking to the coves, which meant finding empty bottles of beer at the beach, lines at the communal toilet, and noisy neighbors when you’re being lola and trying to get some sleep before midnight. Still, it was very pretty. It was serene and swimming there was much nicer than in Anawangin and Capones. I can see myself returning there, although probably not on a weekend.

Nagsasa 2013