though most tourists go to SUBIC for leisure, the city of olongapo prides itself with its own attractions and that includes its numerous beaches. Just outside the perimeter of SUBIC about 15minute drive is the picturesque barrio barretto and baloy beach. it is lined with many resorts catering to different budgets and levels of comforts.
As Olongapo is well known for its sleazy reputations, it becomes more evident here in barrio barretto with the presence of its many nightlife entertainment establishments. but that shouldnt discourage you from taking a second look at olongapo. The city offers the nearest and most convenient beaches closest to metro manila. its merely three hours drive via NLEX and SCTEX and there are regular bus schedules available in many terminals in metro manila going to olongapo. Take the blue jeepney when you get off the bus in olongapo. It passes directly barrio barretto.
You would be surprised by the attractions of barrio baretto and baloy beach. It has become home to many former US servicemen who owns restaurants and other businesses in the city. Trip advisory has a listings of all the cool restaurants in the area, plus sports bars too. Food is affordable and varied compared to other places in metro manila and those popular resort towns south of metro manila frequented by local filipinos.
During the day time, its beaches come alive with activities offering water sports, boat trips, scuba diving, etc. Olongapo's biggest mall is a mere 15minute away from baloy beach and barrio baretto. And the famous water themed park, Ocean Adventure and Subic Safari are 45minutes from the area. Your hotel can arrange your transportation needs or you can ask locals how to do this cheaply.
People often dismiss olongapo as having dirty beaches. Well the presence of those huge shipping transporation vessels docked hundreds of meters away from shore give the impression that the water is reeking with oil, pollutants and greasy stuff. Well that couldnt be closer to the truth. During the rainy season, waves bring the garbage from other areas to the beaches but resort owners regularly clean their beach fronts and during pleasant weather, water on the beach is colored emerald green, and is good for swimming.
Its only recent that locals are beginning to discover this part of olongapo, foreigners have long been visitors of this part of olongapo espcially former US servicemen who were once stationed in clark and subic airbases. The openning of newer resorts and the upgrades done by the old ones have toughened the competition for businesses and thats good news for tourism in the area. Visitors will always try something new and they would keep coming back.
We chose By The Sea resort for its nice beachfront, the property is huge with plenty of open spaces and nooks to move around. It has its own restaurant, a swimming pool to do your short laps, a spa center and it really has a very relaxing vibe to it. Suzuki resort is also good, and so are the newer ones like Icove resort and Subic Grand Seas resort. All are recommendable for their family resort atmosphere and accomodations. By the sea resort has ample parking and theres a really cheap and wondeful P150 buffet just outside the resort.
Driftwood beach in barrio barretto is a surprise. Its the beach before the more " noisy " and popular baloy beach which is just minutes away from driftwood along the highway. Driftwood beach has a long shoreline but portions disappear during hightide while baloy beach has a much wider and more defined shoreline. As for my preference driftwood beach has a more "exclusive" feel to it. The resort owners are responsible about the cleanliness of the beach but during bad storm days, they really dont have the means to clean up such a big area.
Ayala Company's newest mall outside metro manila, Harbourview mall recently openned in the subic economic zone area, and nearby along magsaysay boulevard is the new SM olongapo. Both are modern malls frequented by locals and visitors for their shopping and entertainment needs. Its just one jeepney ride away from the bus terminals in downtown olongapo you can take the yellow jeep and just ask the driver for directions. Just remember the yellow jeepneys take you to SM olongapo and near the gate goint to SBMA and the blue jeeps take you to the barrio barretto and baloy beach.
In Barrio Barretto theres not a scarcity for some modern convenience as the place is dotted by many convenience stores, fruit stalls, bakeshops, beauty salons, laundry shops, etc and quaint restos that serve mexican food and the usual american favorites. The coffee shop is famous for its giant tacos. Playa Papagayo Inn has the best mexican food this side of town and with a fantastic view of the sea and zambales mountains this is a favorite among locals and food afficionados.
If you want long wide beaches, with more "commercial activity" on the beach choose baloy. If you want relative peace and quiet with less vendors stalking on you on the beach, ill choose driftwood beach. The resorts in barrio barretto look more decent and theres plenty of variety in terms of eating choices in the area.
Seriously many of the beaches in batangas are too "remote" and "expensive". In olongapo, you have the convenience of easily getting into the beaches, taking a stroll at the nearest mall or enjoy a world class theme park in subic. You are never far from an atm machine and the roads and time travelled to olongapo are much convenient for the traveller. You also get alot of nice hotels within subic itself that are not overpriced for what they are. Honestly there are many good cheap choices here, designed to make your beach holiday enjoyable and value for the money. But they dont allow swimming along the waterfront in subic. You need to go to Camayan resort which is closer to Ocean adventure if its swimming youre after. Baloy beach and driftwood beaches are generally swimmable. Go check the weather in advance before you plan your holiday, enjoy!
But if you have the patience of going to tagaytay and sitting on traffic for hours to reach your beach destination in batangas south of metro manila, i dont have to pull your arm to think otherwise. Enjoy! and feel free to leave your comments below.
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