Beach Camping at Playa La Caleta in Matikis, Morong Bataan | Postcard From Nowhere
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- The original plan was to see if we could go car camping at another beachside location. We heard Playa La Caleta in Morong, Bataan is now made accessible off-road so we called in advance to book a stay and we specifically asked whether the beach was directly accessible via car and if it was permissible to park our vehicles and camp in them.
The reply was resounding yes and so off we went.
It was a 3-hour drive (We were just cruising at an average of 60kph. Yes, It’s a Delica thing) from Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City to Subic via SCTEX and exited via the Subic Morong Gate to get to the Playa La Caleta beach resort. (Although looking back, I think the travel time would have been much shorter if we have taken the Dinalupihan STEX exit instead).
Waiting for us by the highway was our guide. Apparently, the off-road trail leading down the mountain and onto the beach can only accommodate one-way traffic. The guide would radio in our arrival and coordinate with the guys at the other end of the trail to bar anyone from making their way up as we started our descent.
Our guide went ahead of us. We were expecting a rough dirt road but were surprised to find that wasn’t the case. The trail was paved with two cemented strips for tire traction through its entire length. It took us about 20 minutes to get to the bottom. Partly because of the many stops we had to make along the way to take in the beautiful scenery.
When we finally got to the bottom, a spacious parking lot greeted us, and were surprised to see the many changes that has overtook the place.
We have been here a few times before, back when it was still known simply as Matikis beach by the locals and infamously as Jalosjos Island. So named, after a certain Government official from Zamboanga del Norte purportedly fled here to evade arrest and so the rumor goes.
Back in the day, you’d need to take on a boat ride to get to Matikis beach. There were no man-made facilities available. No electricity, No shower, No Toilets, No coverage signal……nothing. It was just you and Nature and whatever creature comforts and supplies you brought with you.
Nowadays it’s packed with amenities you’d expect to find in any modern beach resort. A fully stocked resto-bar, A picturesque freshwater pool, Convenience Store, Shower facilities, Toilets, Guest villas, Beachside cabanas, sunbathing couch chair, and parasol. A far cry from the wild and untamed patch of tropical shoreline we once knew and loved.
It is always a bitter-sweet moment to realize that the modern world has finally caught up with a place where time once stood still. Sweet cause of the modern comforts and amenities it offers. Bitter as you quickly realize that place you once knew is relinquished to being just a memory.
While looking for a path to bring us further down by the shoreline ….. we soon realized that something in our initial conversation with the resort staff may have been lost in translation somewhere. The very reason why we endeavored to reach this place….to go car camping by the shore....was starting to look doubtful. There was no path big enough for our rigs to get down.
Apparently, when we asked whether the beach was directly accessible by vehicles ...The Yes they gave only meant up to the parking lot and not the shoreline (which was still a good 100 yards or so away)
Determined not to ruin the trip with trivial details, we brushed the matter aside and started to offload all the stuff we will be needing to set up camp by the shore.
It’s a good thing we always have several “Go-bags” pre-packed in the van and ready for any contingencies.
One such bag is a 60L hiking backpack containing everything we need to set up a temporary shelter which includes a Coleman 2 man dome tent, 2 sleep bags, 1 canvas footprint, 1 earth pad, and a roll of biodegradable-disposable garbage bags.
All the other stuff like cooking and dining utensils are all kept in sealed plastic crates.
Although we have planned to sleep and set up camp by our vehicles. Having pre-packed equipment made it easy for us to shift gears and adapt to the situation.
Our designated campsite was about 150 yards from the parking lot. You can request for porters to carry your stuff for you or haul everything by yourself. We chose the latter.
We had such a blast, we ended staying for 3 days camped out in our tents.
In fact, we intend to return but this time…we plan to sleep in the Delica at the parking lot. Something we should have done looking back. Because as it turned out, it was way breezier at night at the parking lot than it was by the shoreline. Maybe because the parking lot was up in the hills and situated by the mouth of a river funneling cool air into the area.
At any rate, I will stop talking now and let the video speak for itself.
Enjoy!
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Sir kaya po ba sedan?
may corkage po ba pag nagdala ng satiling foods?
around what month po kayo nagpunta neto?
Hello po pano po pag pauwi wala po ba kasalubong since makitid ang daan?
may mga guide po na nagmamanage ng mga paakyat or pababa 😉
pwede mag set up ng tent jan?
Na tandaan ko yan island na yan dati binabangka lang yan wala pa daan dyan,80s 90s yun nka check in kmi sa montemar nun tapos mg babangka kmi papunta dyan ,dyan narin kmi mgluluto ng lunch...
Tama po, dati binabangka namin ang papunta dito at walang facilities, walang kuryente. Ngayon po full service resort na po sya.
Hello. Thanks for this video! Ask ko lang if may fee nung nanghuli kayo ng shrimps and baby crabs nila?
hello thank you for dropping by. wala naman bayad it’s just a small rocky river sa gitna so you’re free to do what ever
Panalo po ba ang place? Pwedeng katabi ang van pag mag camping? Salamat
Maganda po ang lugar, at sarap po'ng mag shore fishing.. daming isda! Kaso hindi po pwedeng ibaba and van sa mismong beach, wala pong dadaanan ang sasakyan. Pero pwede naman mag car camping sa may parking lot po nila, if gusto nyo mag camp tabi ng van.
hola, looks yummy those Shrimps!! puede pala butane stove dyan? ah inquired ksi kmi and they said it’s not allowed ☹️
At the time this video was taken, we were allowed to use our butane stoves. They have stone grills also available on-site for guests to use.
Hello. Nice video! If we choose to camp with the car, magkano po babayaran? and also, gaano po kalayo ang beach to the parking area? thank you!
Car camping po is within the parking area lang kasi hindi makaka baba sa beachfront mismo. I’d say around 50-100 meters from Parking to Beachfront. Thank you for dropping by 👋🏻
Hi, kakayanin po ba ng Innova ang daanan papasok sa resort parking?
hello po! yes kayang kaya ng Innova :)
@@PostcardFromNowhere Great! Thank you for the response. Have a nice day :-)
Hi! magkno po babayaran pag sariling tent dala at gagamitin, overnight stay po? Thnaks
at the time when this video was made we were charged 500/tent po (using own tent) it may be different now. it’s best to contact them po via their facebook page. thank you for dropping by.
how much they charge you for bringing some food?
At the time this video was taken, they didn't charge us for corkage. But, I have been hearing from friends just recently that they have decided to start charging corkage for food brought in the resort.
Hi! I just wanna ask po if you paid an extra 500 for the entrance fee then another 500 po for your own tent?
hello Ms. Lyra, at the time this video was made, we only paid 500 per tent po but it could be different now. you might want to check with them through their facebook page. thank you
how much did they charge you for 3 days overnight? thanks in advance
It's P500/head. It is still best to get in touch with them directly via their facebook page as the rates may change. Also, the people manning the checkpoints in the area will require you to produce proof of booking to let you pass if you mention Playa La Caleta to be your destination in Morong.
Here is their Facebook Page:
facebook.com/playalacaletabataan
@@PostcardFromNowhere thank you for the feedback
thanks for this vid! btw, mga ilang kilometers po yung masikip na kalsada? :D
Thank you for dropping by! around 7-10mins slow traverse lang po 😊
@@PostcardFromNowhere thanks again!
@@PostcardFromNowhere hi again! follow up question lang po hehe. kamusta po ang mobile signals sa resort? :D
May i have an idea hm will it cost an overnight stay here may contact numbers ba?
For car camping, we were charged P500/tent per night. But that may have changed. It is best to inquire directly via Facebook.
Visit Playa La Caleta on Facebook:
facebook.com/playalacaletabataan
Yung 500 php sakanila tent? Or entrance fee lang babayraan pag sariling tent gagamitin/dadalhin? Thanks
nung kami po sariling tent ang gamit namin dun sa 500/tent na fee