Masasa Beach (Tingloy, Batangas): DIY Guide + Itinerary

Masasa Beach in Tingloy, Batangas, is one of those places catapulted to sudden popularity thanks to social media. I remember how it had gone from a “secret” beach to one of the most visited beaches in Batangas in a span of weeks.

There are reasons why Masasa Beach is a popular getaway. It’s near Manila, it’s affordable, and it has a fine-sand blue-water beach that is notch better than the regular beaches in Batangas. Here’s our experience in Masasa Beach plus a travel guide and Masasa Beach itinerary for the weekend!

Our experience in Masasa Beach

Hali and I came here to join a group getaway with his mom and colleagues. We came here on a weekend in May, which as we know is the middle of summer aka it’s crowded everywhere, so I had already prepared for the best and the worst.

Our accommodation

What you have to know about Masasa Beach is that it’s just a small part of Tingloy Island. There are many lodgings in the island, so you can within stay walking distance of Masasa Beach or somewhere a little further.

We were booked in a transient house called Ate Merly’s at the far end of the island. It’s about 30 minutes walk away from Masasa Beach. The transient house is very basic — it has fan rooms with bunk beds and communal bathrooms. There are cottages outside where you can enjoy your meal, take a nap, or enjoy a quiet siesta in the afternoon.

Here are the things I liked about our place:

• It’s less crowded compared to accommodations near Masasa Beach.
• It’s windy especially in the afternoon. There are hammocks where you can take a nap.
• The beach has clear water. Also there are breakwaters placed so you can stay in relaxed spots.
• It’s near a coral garden. Again, the water is so clear that you can clearly see the corals and fishes even several feet deep. Some of the pawikans (sea turtles) also visit this area. You can also swim past the lagoon where there are more guaranteed sightings of the turtles.
• It’s the perfect place to chill and bond.

At first, I was dismayed with our location since it was far from Masasa Beach. Instead of the fine-sand beachfront, we had one with pebbles and crushed corals. However, I changed my mind when we took a boat to Masasa Beach and I saw the crowd in there. There were so many people that it looked like a rally. It reminded me of the time we went to see the sunrise in Kiltepan and there were hundred others with us.

Although I felt like I missed checking out some local restaurants and shops, I was glad that we ended up in that part of Tingloy Island.

Island hopping in Masasa Beach

As said above, just across our beachfront we had easy access to a wide snorkeling area where we could see various corals, fishes, and the occasional visiting sea turtles. Still, I wanted to see more so we signed up on an island hopping tour.

Our first stop during island hopping is Sombrero Island. We bought bread for fish feeding. There was a lot of corals here and schools of colorful fishes staying in the area for the feed.

The fish feeding activity was fun, but it was honestly frustrating because we were not allowed to go in the water without a lifevest and mine was too big so that it was practically half-choking me. I explained this to our boatman but he insisted we keep it on, so I simply got back to the boat prematurely.

Our next stop is called the Sepoc Cave, if I’m not mistaken. We didn’t linger there because there were too many people and there wasn’t anything to do anyway.

Our last stop was Masasa Beach. There was an activity which involved us going down the water with our snorkels and holding on to a rope while our boatman revved the boat forward, so we could snorkel along the way to see turtles.

Hali didn’t bring his personal snorkel set, so I lent him mine. Our boat had snorkel sets for guest use anyway. While I was rummaging for something I could use, our boatman told me I only needed the mask and I could leave the snorkel in the boat. As you can imagine, what happened is that I almost drowned. There may be something wrong with our boatman. On the positive side, we got to see turtles.

Finally, after snorkeling/free-drowning, our boat reached Masasa Beach. I finally saw the whitish-sand, blue beach that was making the rounds on the internet. As said above, there were so many people in Masasa Beach during that time. No doubt that it’s beautiful, but it’s probably better visited during off-peak season.

The mishaps aside, I enjoyed our island hopping tour.

My thoughts about Masasa Beach

I can see why a lot of people flock to Tingloy Island. Although there aren’t any comfortable resorts here, it’s filled with natural beauty including its underwater scene.

As expected, Masasa Beach was crowded as we visited on the peak of summer. It was only in the morning after our island hopping tour that the crowd in Masasa Beach died down a little and we were able to take better photos of it. I would consider going here again, but perhaps during its off-peak months.

About Masasa Beach (Batangas)

Masasa Beach is an affordable beach getaway in Tingloy, Batangas. It’s ideal for barkadas and even families.

How to get to Masasa Beach

• From Manila, ride a bus to Batangas Grand Terminal (2 hours, about P160-180).
• From Batangas Grand Terminal, ride a jeep to either Anilao Port or Talaga Port (40 minutes, P40). Anilao Port is usually used during the amihan season (December to June), while Talaga Port is used during the habagat sesason.
• From the selected port, ride a boat either directly to Masasa Beach (P80 per person) or Tingloy Port (P100 per person).

I suggest going to Tingloy Port because there are more boats going this route and travel time is shorter due to less stopovers. From either port, you still need to ride a tricycle to Masasa Beach (P20-25 per person). As for us, we rode a boat to Ate Merly’s which is located 30-40 minutes away from Masasa Beach.

If you’re in a large group, you can also charter a private boat for P4500, good for 10 people.

Boat schedule:

First trip at 9AM and last trip at 3-5PM.

During summer or peak season, boats leave as early as 7AM. You may have to wait for a while to get a slot.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Masasa Beach is during the summer months (March to May). For the rest of the year, the island may experience rough sea conditions which can lead to difficulties during boat transfers and island hopping.

Things to know before you go

Here are some things you should know about before visiting Masasa Beach.

• Masasa Beach gets really crowded during the summer and holidays. If you’re visiting during these times, it’s best to go on weekdays.
• There is a market in Talaga Port where you can buy ingredients and fruits. As there are limited stores and eateries in the island, it’s best to bring everything you can before getting on the boat to Tingloy Island.
• Lodgings often allow guests to use cooking area for free. Some ask for a minimal fee (P150 or so).
• Electricity runs from 12noon to 12 midnight.
• Mobile signal is weak and intermittent.

Things to do in Masasa Beach

1. Beach bum in the main beach

On sunny days, the water in Masasa Beach gets a nice turquoise blue. It’s the main beach in the island, but you can find other small pockets of sand as you walk along the length of the island.

2. Swim in the Lagoon

The lagoon is a favorite photo-op spot especially during high tide. It’s basically a small pocket of sand enclosed by rocks.

3. Snorkel

Tingloy Island is near the Isla Verde Passage, which is a rich marine biodiversity spot. As such, there are snorkeling areas here where you can see healthy corals and fishes. The great thing about this is you don’t have to go on a boat to snorkel — just start from the beachfront and make your way to the lagoon. You may also spot sea turtles along the way.

4. Island hopping

Island hopping stops include Oscar Beach, Tawil Point, Sepoc Point, Lagoon, and Sombrero Island.

It’s best to start island hopping in the morning at 6 or 7AM. You can also island hop in the afternoon but expect the waves to be rougher.

5. Trek to Mag-asawang Bato

Mag-asawang Bato is a rock formation located in a nearby hill. The trek to the peak takes 1 hour.

6. Astro-photography

There are minimal lights in Tingloy Island, so it’s a great spot for astro-photography.

7. Others

Cliff jump at Tawil Point.

Where to stay in Masasa Beach

The local government encourages visitors to stay in homestays or transient inns. Most of these offer basic rooms or cottages.

You can also bring your own tent for camping. Take note that camping near Masasa Beach is not allowed; you need to find designated pitching areas.

• Ate Merly’s. This is where we stayed. Accommodations include rooms and tents. There is also a volleyball area outside. It has a pebbly beachfront but the water is clear and it’s close to a snorkeling area. It’s near the lagoon, but about 30 minutes away from Masasa Beach on foot. You can also ride a boat to get there faster. Contact: 0905 309 2434 / 0939 459 9641
• Nana Rosie’s. At about 2 minutes away, Nana Rosie’s is the nearest resort to Masasa Beach. Accommodation includes cottages, private rooms, and tents. Contact: 0919 686 4368 / 0995 986 3780
• Mama Nady’s. Located near Masasa Beach, with a perfect view of the beachfront. Accommodations include rooms and tents. Contact: 0919 290 3703 / 0956 182 0733 / 0916 302 0762
• Tita Precy’s. Tita Precy’s is the nearest resort to the lagoon. This is one of the most suggested homestays in Masasa Beach. Contact: 0949 836 3279 / 0915 663 7669

For easy booking, you can also book the following via Agoda:

• Sea Lover’s Place – Book discounted rooms here
• Tres Marias Transient House – Book discounted rooms here

Masasa Beach Itinerary (2 Days)

Here’s a sample overnight Masasa Beach itinerary. You can use it as a rough guide when you visit here!

Day 1	4AM – 6AM Manila to Batangas Grand City Terminal 6AM – 7AM Batangas Grand City Terminal to Anilao Port 7AM – 8AM Anilao Port to Tingloy Port (Tingloy Island) 8:15AM – 8:30AM Walk/ride tricycle to Masasa Beach 8:30AM ETA accommodation 8:30AM onwards – Free time (beach bum, island hop, etc)
Day 2	6:30AM Breakfast 7:30AM – 11AM Island hopping 11AM – 12noon Wash up and pack up 1PM Tingloy Port back to mainland 2PM – 5PM Travel back to Manila

Budget and expenses

Here are the current rates (Updated as of 2020):

Fees	Environmental fee: P30 per person
Accommodation	These are the usual rates: Tent rental: P200 Tent pitching fee: P150-200 per person Rooms: P400/500 for a couple room/ P3000 for a group room (good up to 10 people)
Activity	Island hopping: P1500 (good for 3-5 people) Mag-asawang Bato guide fee: P500 (good for 1-5 people)

For a group of 4, a safe budget would be P2000 per person for an overnight stay.

Has this travel guide on Masasa Beach in Tingloy, Batangas, been helpful to you? If you have any questions or comments, let us know in the comment section below!

What to read next:

Visiting Batangas soon? Read these essential travel guides!

• Best Batangas tourist spots
• Best Batangas beaches
• Batangas delicacies you need to try
• Best Batangas beach resorts

Here are other beach destinations in Batangas we’d been to:

• Papaya Island (Nasugbu)
• Bituin Cove (Nasugbu)

Other related articles:

• Best Beaches Near Manila (2-3 Hours Away)