ZAMBALES TRAVEL INFORMATION
Where to Stay in Zambales | Brief History | Zambales Descriptions
Historical and Cultural Attractions | Natural and Religious Attractions
Man-Made and Festivals Attractions | Special Interest Tours
BRIEF HISTORY
 The name of the province is derived from its earliest inhabitants, the Zambals, whom the Spanish found worshipping spirits called anitos. They were referred to as “Sambali,” from the Malay word samba, meaning “to worship.” The term was later Hisparicized to “Zambal.”
When Juan de Salcedo came to explore the area in 1572, he landed at Cape Bolinao, then a part of Zambales. The Spaniards drove a group of Chinese pirates off the coast of Bolinao thereby earning the good will of the natives.
Zambales was one of the earliest provinces created during the Spanish rule. As founded in the 16th century, it was composed of the area extending from Cape Bolinao in the north to Subic on the south. Due to their inaccessibility from the capital, seven towns in the northern portion of Zambales - from Bolinao to Infanta and including Alaminos - were later ceded to Pangasinan, forming that province’s western part.
Zambales is the home province of the seventh president of the Philippine Republic, Ramon Magsaysay, who hailed from Castillejos.
ZAMBALES DESCRIPTIONS
 Zambales has been gifted with the natural beauty of its surroundings. It has been touched by civilization yet has maintained its rustic glory and beauty. The Zambales coastline is most famous for its sandy beaches and deep blue sea teeming with coral reefs.
Zambales is perfectly suited for visitors seeking an authentic view of the Philippines without going too far from the national capital, Manila. It is located at the western part of Luzon, 210 kilometers or approximately a three-hour drive from Manila.
Geography
The province has a few lowlands along the narrow coast where the town centers are located. The northern part is basically swampy. Mountain ranges containing most mineral deposits as well as some volcanoes are found in the eastern portion.
Political Subdivision
Zambales has 13 towns and one city, with Iba as the provincial capital.
Population
Zambales has a population of 561,554.
Language/Dialect
Tagalog is the predominant dialect followed by Ilocano and Zambal. English is widely spoken.
Climate
There are two pronounced seasons: dry from November to April, and wet during the rest of the year.
Major Industries
Zambales is basically an agricultural province. The chief products are rice, corn, vegetables, and rootcrops. Major industries include farming, fishing, and mining. The Olongapo area, once the site of the biggest U.S. naval base in Asia, is fast developing into an industrial and tourism zone under the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
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HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS
Historical Attractions
Magsaysay Ancestral House (Castillejos)
The old house of the seventh hilippine President, Ramon Magsaysay.
Fort Paynawen (Botolan)
The fortress that was once the most formidable garrison in Central Luzon. Located in Brgy. Parel, its walls are on the bank of Bancal River.
Cultural Attractions
Botolan Resettlement Sites ( Botolan, Zambales)
A model resettlement village located in Brgys. Baquilan, Loob-bunga and Taugtug. Baquilan offers a hilltop view of the volcano's crater. It is populated by hundreds of Aeta families who were displaced from their native habitat during the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. An optional visit for tourists who would rather engage in social and cultural exchange with the natives.
Casa San Miguel (San Antonio, Zambales)
Set amidst a mango orchard in a town nestled between the mountains and the sea, Casa San Miguel Center for the Arts was built on the belief that art, in its various forms, can extend beyond its boundaries to create better quality of life to bring about communal, national and global change with Culture as the means to this end. The center is committed to the continued development and support of the Filipino artist and to the development of new artists and audiences for the next generation. Facilities include an artist's residence consisting of 7 bedrooms, a sunken terraced garden designed to offer visitors a meditative retreat while waiting for the beginning of a performance or enjoying a snack and a convenience store where books, postcards, community crafts, and souvenirs are available. The center is a popular venue for recitals and concerts.
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NATURAL AND RELIGIOUS TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS
Natural Attractions
Snake Island (Subic)
Offers complete recreational facilities, making it an ideal place of relaxation.
Balon Falls (Subic)
A perfect paradise for nature lovers, with crystal-clear water.
Hermana Mayor Island (Sta. Cruz)
An island in the middle of the sea popularly known as Ms. Universe Island.
Bucao River (Botolan, Zambales)
Now covered with lahar and volcanic materials, this serves as the trekking area towards the foot of Mt. Pinatubo when it is dry
Religious Attractions
 Grotto of Our Lady of Pardon (Olongapo)
Located in Barangay Mabayuan. Catholic devotees pray and pay homage to the Lady of Pardon in this sacred place.
Botolan Church (Botolan)
"Old Catholic church built in 1700 out of coral blocks.
Birthmarker of the Late President Ramon Magsaysay (Iba). The historical place of birth of the most beloved Philippine president on August 31,1907.”
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MAN-MADE AND FESTIVAL TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS
Man-Made Attractions
Rizal Triangle (Olongapo)
Dedicated to the lasting friendship between the American and Filipino nations. It sits right beside the City Hall where most of the city activities and programs are held.
Marikit Park (Olongapo)
Considered to be the main city park, where some of Olongapo’s big activities are staged. Features a playground for children, big shady trees, and an amphitheater-like section for big audiences.
Volunteers Park (Olongapo)
Situated adjacent to the main gate of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, this long, narrow park stretches along the Perimeter Road. It is dedicated to the 8,000 volunteers who established the foundation of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone under the leadership of founding Chairperson Richard J. Gordon.
Volunteers Wall (Olongapo)
Dedicated to the pioneers of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, it is made from granite slabs on which the names of the 8,000 volunteers are engraved.
Volunteers Monument (Children of the Sun Returning) (SBMA)
Located along Waterfront Road within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, it signifies the birth of a new Philippines.
Subic Bay Lighthouse (Subic, Zambales)
This structure stands on a small precipice along the northbound lane of the national highway. It commands a panoramic view of Olongapo City, Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Subic Bay.
Festivals
Caracol Boat (Subic; second Sunday of May)
Coincides with the barangay fiesta of Calapandayan, Subic. An image of the town patron, San Roque, is paraded at sea on a basing or big boat with banda.
Binabayani (November 30)
The Zambales version of the world-famous Ati-Atihan. It is a war dance between the Christians and Aetas that is performed on the feast day of San Andres, patron of the town of Masinloc. The townspeople believe that, by performing the Binabayani, they are assured of a bountiful harvest.
Dinamulag-Mango Festival (Iba; April)
A celebration that revolves around Zambales mangoes, considered as the sweetest mangoes in the Philippine archipelago.
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SPECIAL
INTEREST TOURS
Scuba Diving / Snorkeling San Salvador Island (Masinloc)
The abundance of marine resources has made the island famous as a scuba diver’s paradise in Central Luzon.
Scuba Diving / Snorkeling Subic Bay (Olongapo City)
Enjoy the fine beaches of the island amidst rare aquatic resources.
Scuba Diving / Snorkeling Silaguin Bay (San Antonio)
Endowed with abundant marine resources, it is one of five caves poised to be developed into a fish sanctuary.
Trekking Jungle Tour
An educational tour to the rainforest of Subic Bay Freeport with Aeta guides providing an outdoor orientation on basic mountaineering, fire building, trap making, wildlife identification, and other wilderness survival techniques. Tour Inclusions: guided tour of the JEST Forest Trails, rolling tour of Subic Bay Freeport, duty free shopping.
Trekking Mt. Pinatubo (San Marcelino)
Mt. Pinatubo, made famous by its catastrophic eruption in 1991, is now a source of travel and study for tourists and travelers visiting Central Luzon.
Trekking Mt. Mabanban (San Antonio)
An ideal setting for summer camping and mountaineering.
Trekking Sto. Nino Cave (Candelaria)
Carved out of a fissure on the earth’s crust, the cavern measures about 50 by 75 meters. At its central wall sits an altar with the images of the Holy Family.
Trekking Baloc-Baloc Cave (Sta. Cruz)
A brief but arduous trek through a rocky path leads to the magnificent spectacle of a waterfall right inside the cave.
Trekking Sagrada Familia Cave (Sta. Cruz)
Found along the cliffside of the Zambales mountain ranges, it is known for the mysterious formation resembling the image of the Holy Family that was caused by a continuous dripping from the apex of the cavern.
Surfing
Popular activity in Barangay La Paz at San Narciso. Surfboards and instructions are available.
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Where to Stay in Zambales | Brief History | Zambales Descriptions
Historical and Cultural Attractions | Natural and Religious Attractions
Man-Made and Festivals Attractions | Special Interest Tours
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