Bagac, On The West Coast Of Bataan

Bagac sits on the western coast of Bataan, facing the South China Sea. It is about a three hour drive from Manila, so it works as a day trip, or as a Saturday night away that gets you home on Sunday without taking any time off work. The beaches here are quiet and mostly used by locals, and I did not see any other foreigners on my visits.

Quinawan Beach

Quinawan Beach is a quiet beach, and when I visited there was nobody else there, not even other tourists. It is spelled Q U I N A W A N, in case you are searching for it on the map.

Getting There

Getting to Quinawan is part of the adventure. The roads were rough, and rocky in places, and I was worried about the car on the way back. That is also the reason it is so empty. If you want somewhere secluded to get away from everything, this fits the bill.

On The Beach

It is a nice beach, though I would not quite call it white sand. There are cottages you can rent for the day. When I was there it was 700 pesos for a cottage plus 50 pesos per person, so for a group of half a dozen or so it works out to about 1,000 pesos for the day. Even out here in the middle of nowhere, they have a karaoke machine. Bring a picnic and a few beers, and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Looc Beach

Further along the coast is Looc Beach, a long stretch of sand shared by a few resorts, maybe three or four in total. Some of it is a little rocky, but up the other end it is very fine, virtually white sand. Every resort along here has huts and cottages you can hire for the day, so you can set yourself up on the sand and relax. There is accommodation too, so you could come up on a Saturday and drive back on the Sunday.

The Locals

It never ceases to amaze me how friendly people are in the Philippines. I was walking along the beach when a group of Filipinos invited me over to join them. We had mussels, pork, fish and plenty of Red Horse, and we did a few rounds of tagay. It was a great afternoon, and I had only just met them. That happens to me on a regular basis in this country.

Dezza’s Tip

Take your time on the road in to Quinawan, and bring your own food and drinks. Prices can change, so check the cottage rates when you arrive. Bring a bit of cash for a day cottage, and do not be shy if someone invites you over for a beer.

Where Is Bagac, Bataan?