Until very recently, Masasa Beach was a concealed gem, stashed away from the watchful eye of weekend warriors from Manila. But something this precious is hard to keep secret. As soon as word got out, tourists came in droves, rattling what used to be a dormant town.

Masasa Beach is arguably the best beach in Tingloy, the only municipality in Batangas that is not on mainland Luzon. Its main island is the fish-shaped Maricaban, off the tip of Calumpang Peninsula separating Balayan Bay from Batangas Bay.

The truth is, the sand here isn’t as pearly white as what you would expect in Boracay or Palawan, but what Masasa Beach lacks in the brightness of its sand it makes up for in the vibrance of waves. Its crystal clear, shallow waters give off a beautiful turquoise shimmer, something that will catch your attention even from a great distance.

How to Get to Masasa Beach

If you’re taking public transportation, here’s what you should do:

1. Take the bus going to Batangas City. Alight at the Grand Terminal.

• There are terminals in EDSA-Kamias and Cubao in Quezon City, LRT-Buendia and Taft in Pasay City. Fare: P165 from Cubao, P157 from LRT-Buendia, P127 from Alabang.
• Try to leave in the early morning to dodge the traffic.
• If you choose a bus with a CALABARZON sign, travel time will be much shorter because it will bypass several towns and cities (Lipa, Tanauan, Malvar, etc.). Travel time is less than 2 hours. Otherwise, it can take as long as 3 hours.
• Fare is P120-P180 depending on your point of origin and route.

2. Ride a jeepney to Talaga Port or Anilao Port. 

• Anilao Port (aka Mabini Multi-purpose Port) is used from the start of amihan season, sometime in December, until the end of Philippine summer, sometime in June. When habagat season kicks in, they move it to Talaga Port in Brgy. Talaga. There is no fixed date because it depends on the conditions of the waves and currents. But you may call the Mabini Tourism Office to be sure: (043) 410 0607.
• Travel time: 40 minutes. Fare: PhP 37.

From here, you have three options depending on whether you’re on you’re travel plan.

3a. If you’re spending a night in Tingloy, catch the public boat.

• Option 1: Catch the boat to Tingloy Port. This is the cheapest option because the fare is only P80. Travel time: 45 minutes – 1 hour. At the port, rent a tricycle to your homestay or to the start of the hiking trail to Masasa Beach.
• Option 2: Go straight to Masasa Beach. There are public boats that go directly to Masasa Beach, but they are fewer and even more unpredictable. Fare: P100.
• Note: The last public boat back to the mainland at Tingloy Port leaves at 2:30pm. But you can also rent a private boat at Masasa Beach, which will set you back P3000 (or P2500 if you haggle). There are also other boats that ferry passengers back to the mainland at smaller docks, but we can’t hold of any official schedule. But they sometimes pick up passengers at Masasa Beach at around 12nn on weekends.

3b. If you’re on a day tour, rent a boat.

• The usual rate is P4500 per boat. Pretty steep! But this can accommodate up to 10 passengers. If you’re a group, this is something to consider. You can haggle too.
• You can ask the boatman to make a stop at Sombrero Island because it’s along the way. Sombrero Island entrance fee is P200 ($4). Some boatmen will ask for additional P500 ($10) for it.

Where to Stay Near Masasa Beach

There are no resorts in Masasa Beach itself. For the longest time, camping was the most popular choice for weekenders. However, starting March 2017, overnight camping is no longer permitted. You may still pitch a tent, but you must leave by 7pm, according to reports.

Masasa Beach

The local government is encouraging visitors to opt with homestay instead. Here are other options.

• Homestay. There are many available, but the one I have tried was the home of Councilor Florencio Mandanas in Poblacion.
  P150 per person.
  Contact no: +639053078654 / +639178414715
• CianyBlanc Inn. Also in Poblacion. (I haven’t tried this but the details are below.)
  PhP 700 per room.
  Contact no.: +63 905 451 6664
• Maricaban Island Resort
  Contact no: +63 917 894 6742

Because Masasa Beach can be visited on an island hopping day tour from Anilao, many travelers choose to just spend the night in the mainland, where plenty of resorts are located. Here are some of the best-rated resorts in Anilao.