BITUIN COVE, NASUGBU: travel guide & budget travel plan

This budget travel guide and sample travel plan cover only Bituin Cove and a bit bit of Loren Island and Calayo Beach. For a lot more destinations in Nasugbu, read this instead: Nasugbu Batangas travel Guide.

“It’s somewhere here,” my friend said in a tone that I could not make out whether he was telling or asking. His index finger dropped on an area between Hamilo coast and Punta Fuego before lifting it again and pointing at another spot. “Or here.”

Locating Bituin Cove on a map can be confusing. There’s not much information online. A week before the road trip, we were planning our Batangas route when we hit a road block: Where is Bituin Cove? We discovered later on that it is a lot more frequently known to locals as Angara Cove, named after the late senator Edgardo Angara. Google Maps agrees.

Hva er dekket i denne guiden?

UNDERSTANDING BITUIN COVE
HOW TO get TO BITUIN COVE FROM MANILAVia Public Transportation
Via private Vehicle

BITUIN COVE RATES
THINGS TO DO AT BITUIN COVE
BITUIN COVE DAY excursion vs OVERNIGHT STAY
WHERE TO STAYSearch for more: Nasugbu Resorts

SAMPLE BITUIN COVE ITINERARIES
OTHER tips FOR THE poor TRAVELER
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSAre bonfires enabled at Bituin Cove?
Are there shower rooms or restrooms at Bituin Cove?
Are there restaurants at Bituin Cove?
Is cooking enabled at Bituin Cove?
Where can we park our cars?

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UNDERSTANDING BITUIN COVE

Nasugbu looks like a torn treasure map with its jagged edges hiding different precious gems waiting to be discovered. These troves of natural wonders are the lots of coves fringing its coast. some of these gems are easy to reach, while the others are guarded by the private exclusive villages and clubs such as Tali beach Subdivision, Punta Fuego, Hamilo Coast, Kawayan Cove, and Canyon Cove.

Bituin Cove, popularly known locally as Angara Cove, is located in Nasugbu. We’re just not sure if it’s within the territory of Brgy. Calayo or Brgy. Papaya. According to our boatmen, it is had by senator Angara, hence the name. Although privately owned, people can still access it for a very little fee. The sand is not actually white (somewhere between light brown and beige), nor is it fine (combination of coarse sand and pebbles).

Photo by Vins Carlos
The shore is lined with trees and the underwater scene is never lacking. There’s a manmade breakwater, the remnants of what used to be a helipad, and a rundown dock or diving platform. besides one or two small stalls, an open cottage, a rusty container van, and a basic white rest house, there’s nothing for lodging but the ground to pitch your tent. This is slowly becoming popular among those who like the outdoors and roughing it out by camping.

HOW TO get TO BITUIN COVE FROM MANILA

Coming from Manila, travel time is three to four hours, depending upon traffic conditions.

Bituin Cove. photo by Vins Carlos.
Via Public Transportation

Take a bus bound for Nasugbu, Batangas. You can either take DLTBCo in Buendia or BSC in Pasay. The fare is around P160.

From Nasugbu Bus terminal at the town proper, you can take the jeepney or tricycle to Barangay Calayo, which is the normal jump-off point to Bituin Cove and other nearby attractions. If you opt to hire a tricycle, prepare to shed P300. The fare is reasonable, given the distance of Calayo from the town proper. If you are a big group, hiring a jeepney is the best option. The travel time is about 45 minutes.

Once you have arrived, you have the option to stay at Calayo beach and just do a day excursion or spend the night at Bituin Cove. Either way, you will have to lease a boat to go there. Bituin Cove is just 20 minutes away from Calayo Beach. The boat rental rate starts at P1500 (12 pax).

Another jump off point is Barangay Papaya, but it is farther from the town proper.

Via private Vehicle

You can take one of these routes: South Luzon Expressway, Cavitex, or Emilio Aguinaldo Highway.

SLEX. Take Santa Rosa exit or Greenfield City exit and continue driving along Santa Rosa-Tagaytay road to Tagaytay-Nasugbu Road. once you’ve reached the Batangas-Cavite Boundary, take the ideal side of the fork leading to Nasugbu.

Emilio Aguinaldo Highway. You will pass through Imus, Dasmarinas, and Silang before you reach the Batangas-Cavite Boundary. You will know which road to take when you’ve reached the fork; the road leading to Nasugbu has an arc that says “Welcome to Nasugbu”.

Cavitex. continue driving to Antero Soriano Highway, passing through Kawit, Tanza, Naic, and Ternate. You will be passing through Mt. Palay Palay national Park and Kaibiang Tunnel. The Nasugbu-Ternate highway will lead you to Barangay papaya and finally, Barangay Calayo.

BITUIN COVE RATES

Entrance Fee: P50 (increased from P25)

Camping Fee: P100

Tent Rental: P300

Open Cottage Rental: P300

Calayo/Papaya beach environmental Fee: P20 (jump-off point)

Calayo beach parking Fee: around P50 (day); around P100 (overnight)

Island Hopping Rate: Starts at P1500 (good for 12 pax)

Note: aside from Bituin Cove, the travel plan may include Loren Island (or Pulo Island) or Kayraang Cove. It really depends upon you. Ask the boatmen if they can accommodate your request. additional fee applies. You can add P500.

For island hopping, you may contact the boatman that toured us around. He was very friendly. He also accommodated all our requests.

Kuya Marvin
Contact Number: 09482543131
Capacity: up to 12pax
Rates: P1500 for Pulo Island, additional P500 for Bituin Cove and Kayraang Cove

THINGS TO DO AT BITUIN COVE

Photo by Vins Carlos

Swimming, snorkeling or complimentary diving. Bituin Cove’s underwater scenery surpasses its beachscape. Frolic in the amazingly calm water of Bituin Cove. The still water is the result of the manmade breakwater protecting the cove from strong waves. Prepare your snorkeling gear and appreciate the vibrant corals and marine life; dive further if you are into freediving to get a closer look.

Trekking. You may do a bit trekking to see the view of the sea, the mainland, or other nearby islands/islets.

Camping. Make the most of the cove by spending your night here by roughing it out. Go stargazing when the sky is clear.

Øyhopping. visit other nearby islands like Pulo Island (also called Loren Island) or other coves like Kayraang Cove.

Play and relax. You can bring your own volleyball and play with your friends or other weekend warriors. Play the guitar and sing your hearts out.

Photo Opportunities. There are areas that can serve as a best backdrop for your OOTDs, selfies, groufies, etc. You can pretend to be one of the characters in The walking Dead while posing in front of the rusting container van or feel like a survivor contestant posing against the ruins of the helipad or the dock (or a diving platform). Hahaha. let your imagination run wild.

By the way, here’s a photo of Loren Island, one of the nearby islands.

Loren Island

BITUIN COVE DAY excursion vs OVERNIGHT STAY

If you are pressed for time, you can do a day excursion and still take pleasure in Bituin Cove (and other nearby attractions too). You can visit it as part of an island hopping tour. You just need to start early to maximize your trip and your time. After your island hopping activity, you can either go back directly to Manila or spend the night in one of the resorts lining Calayo Beach.

For those who want to take pleasure in their visit thoroughly and don’t want a rushed trip, you may pitch your tent and spend the night there. You can do a bit trekking to enjoy the sunset and the sunrise from a viewpoint.

WHERE TO STAY

There are no rooms to lease at Bituin Cove. There are open cottages that you can rent, but there are only two of them so just assume that they’re occupied.

Roughing it out is THE thing here. find a good spot to pitch your tent and you have your lodging for the night.

But if camping is not your thing, you can stay in one of the resorts in Nasugbu. here are some of the choices.

Canyon Cove hotel and Spa. Wawa. check rates & Availability.

Pico Sands Hotel. Brgy. Papaya. check rates & Availability.

The Mediterranean House. Brgy. Kaylaway. check rates & Availability.

Calayo green Terraces. Calayo Beach. Inquire here.

Forest Cove beach House. Natipuan. Can accommodate up to 16 pax. check rates & Availability.

Hillcrest house at Tali Beach. Can accommodate up to 9 pax. check rates & Availability.

Search for more: Nasugbu Resorts

SAMPLE BITUIN COVE ITINERARIES

Here are two sample itineraries with the budget breakdown. Both itineraries assume that you are a party of eight, splitting the cost and that you will be bringing your own food. note that these are just sample itineraries. Make the needed adjustment according to your needs and preferences.

05:00 am – Bus to Nasugbu, P160
08:30 am – Public Market stop to get food, P100
09:00 am – Tricycle to Barangay Calayo, P75 (P300/4pax)
09:45 am – Pay Calayo beach environmental fee, P20
10:00 am – Arrival at Calayo Beach
10:30 am – start of Island Hopping, P250 (P2000/8pax)
11:00 am – Loren Island Stop, P25 (entrance fee)
12:00 am – Bituin Cove, P50 (entrance fee)
12:30 nn – Lunch
01:30 pm – Swim, snorkel, explore
04:00 pm – pack up, back to Calayo Beach
04:30 pm – Tricycle to Nasugbu town proper, P75 (P300/4pax)
05:15 pm – travel back to Manila, P160

Following this travel plan will set you back around P950 (USD18, EUR16, SGD25).

You can still minimize the cost of both itineraries if your group is composed of a lot more than eight (8) people. If you bring your own car, you can do a Tagaytay side trip before heading back to Manila.

OTHER tips FOR THE poor TRAVELER

Leave nothing but footprints. practice proper garbage disposal. Ta søpla di med deg. VÆR SÅ SNILL.

Bring your own. spend your money wisely by bringing your own tent, snorkel gear, food and drinks, volleyball, etc.

Follow the rules and regulations. Leave no trash, no bonfires near the beach area, no grilling near the beach, and no loud music and shouting from 10 PM to 7 AM.

Water for washing. There’s a well not too far from the beach area. You can use the water for washing and rinsing.

Ankomme tidlig. You will get to choose the best location to pitch your tent.

Bring sun protection. It can be a cap, hat, scarf, shades, coral-friendly sunscreen lotion (those without oxybenzone, benzophenone, and parabens).

Bring insect-repellent lotion. avoid those pesky mosquitoes and insects by bringing eco-friendly insect-repellent lotion.

Don’t step on the corals. The cove has an fantastic underwater scenery; you can appreciate, but keep your distance to avoid damaging the corals.

If you are planning to explore other places in Nasugbu, see a lot more in-depth travel guide here:

✅ NASUGBU BATANGAS ON A budget 2018: travel guide & Itineraries

OFTE STILTE SPØRSMÅL

Are bonfires enabled at Bituin Cove?

No. open fires are not enabled at the cove.

Are there shower rooms or restrooms at Bituin Cove?

Yes, there are, but they are very basic and not in the neatest condition.

Are there restaurants at Bituin Cove?

Ingen. but there is a small sari-sari store at the beach selling cooked rice, noodles, and some silog dishes.

Is cooking enabled at Bituin Cove?

Yes, but bring your own butane stove. open fires are not allowed.

Where can we park our cars?

There are lots of parking areas in Barangay Calayo, one of the jump off points.

Parking fee is P50 for day trip and P100 for overnight.

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