Provinces

Zambales Province

article-cover-photo-province-zambales
Written by Patrick

ABOUT

Zambales is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon. Its capital is the Municipality of Iba which is strategically located in the middle of the province. With a land area of 3,830.83 km2, Zambales is the second largest among the seven provinces of Central Luzon. The province is noted for its mangoes, which are abundant from January to April.

LOCATION

Zambales

Coordinates: 15°20′N 120°10′E

FAST FACTS

The following are a few useful and interesting details about this province.

Province:
Zambales
Location:
15°20′N 120°10′E | View Map
Year Founded:
1578
Capital:
Iba
Area:
3,645.83 km2 (1,407.66 sq mi)
Population:
649,700
Density:
160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Division:
Region:
Cities & Towns:
1 Independent city, 13 Towns (Municipalities)
Demonym(s):
Zambaleño/a
Elevation:
(Mount Tapulao) 2,037 m (6,683 ft)
Time Zone:
PST (UTC+8)
Zip Code:
2200–2213
Area code:
+63 -(047)-XXX-XXXX
Electricity:
Standard voltage is 220V.
Plug commonly used is Type A but Types B and C are used as well.
Bring A to B adapter(s).
Currency:
Philippine Peso (PHP)
Exchange Rate:
Approximately 1 USD = 50 PHP | click for exact exchange rate
Income Class:
Second Class
Religion(s):
Predominantly Roman Catholic
Language(s):
Tagalog, Ilocano, Sambal, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, English
Known For:
Sandy beaches and deep blue sea
Major Industries:
Agriculture (rice and corn), Fishing,Mining (nickel, gold, copper, and chromite),Tourism
Climate:
Tropical
Best Time to Visit:
End of Summer
Clothing:
Casual light clothing: shorts, t-shirt, sandals. Light jacket and pants at night, at higher elevations, and boating.
Airport(s):
None
Seaport(s):
Bus Terminal(s):
COMING SOON

CLIMATE

The climate in this province has two pronounced seasons: dry from October to June, and wet from July to September.

Best time to visit is every end of summer.

The most appropriate clothing for this province is casual light clothing: shorts, t-shirt, sandals. Light jacket and pants at night, at higher elevations, and boating.

READ MORE: Climate & Weather in the Philippines

CITIES & TOWNS

Zambales Province Map

The Zambales provinceis divided into 13 Municipalities and 1 Independent City:

  • Botolan
  • Cabangan
  • Candelaria
  • Castillejos
  • Iba
  • Masinloc
  • Olongapo
  • Palauig
  • San Antonio
  • San Felipe
  • San Marcelino
  • San Narciso
  • Santa Cruz
  • Subic
 

ISLANDS

There are 5 outlying islands surrounding the mainland of Zambales which are under the jurisdiction of the province.

  • Agat Island
  • Magalawa Island
  • Matalvis Island
  • San Salvador Island
  • Snake Island
 

POINTS OF INTEREST

The following is a list of points of interest relating to the Zambales province:

  • Anawangin Cove
  • Bagsit River
  • Botolan Wildlife Farm
  • Camara Island
  • Capones Island
  • Coto Waterfalls
  • Fort Paynauen
  • Holy Land
  • Inang Laya Monument
  • Inflatable Island Ph
  • Kitsie’s Crocodiles
  • Marikit Park
  • Mount Pinatubo
  • Mt. Cinco Picos
  • Mt. Tapulao
  • Mt. Balingkilat
  • Pamulaklakin River
  • Potipot Island
  • Pundaquit Falls
  • Ramon Magsaysay Ancestral House
  • Rosa Farms
  • San Augustin Church
  • San Salvador Island
  • Silanguin Cove
  • Talisayin Cove
  • The Hellships Memorial
  • Tomotogol Falls
  • Uacon Lake
 

If you plan to visit the Province of Zambales, you can use the following links or use the search box below to determine the best places to stay:

FESTIVALS

The following is a list of festivals celebrated in Zambales throughout the year:

  • Zambales Mango Festival (Iba) – April
  • Sibit-Sibit Summer Festival (Olongapo City) – 4th Week of April
  • Paynauen ‘Duyan’ Festival (Iba) – April 25-May 1
  • Domorokdok Festival (Botolan) – May 3-4
  • Olongapo Grand Mardi Gras (Olongapo City) – October 27-29
  • Subic Karakoa Festival (Subic Bay Freeport) – November

FAQs

The following are the most frequently asked questions about the Zambales province.

Where in the Philippines is Zambales located?
Zambales is located on Central Luzon.

Is Zambales a city or province?
Zambales is a province.

What is the Capital of Zambales?
The capital of Zambales is Iba.

What is Zambales famous or known for?
Zambales is famous or known for sandy beaches and deep blue sea.

How do I get to Zambales?
There are several ways to get to Zambales, the most common being from Manila:

  • Bus | 5 hours | $6-$8
  • Taxi | 3 hours | $88-$110
  • Drive | 3 hours | $16-$24

RESOURCE: Best Online Transportation Resource for the Philippines

How many islands are in Zambales?
There are 5 islands in the Zambales province.

What does Zambales mean?
Zambales came from the word zambal which refers to the native language spoken by the early Austronesian inhabitants of the place.

How Safe is Traveling in Zambales?
Zambales is generally safe for locals and tourists.

Is the climate in Zambales the same as the rest of the Philippines?
The climate in Zambales province is considered tropical. It is similar to most provinces of the Philippines.

To learn more about the various climate types in the Philippines, and for a Climate Map, click the link below…

READ MORE: Climate & Weather of the Philippines

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About the Author

Patrick

Patrick is an entrepreneur, digital nomad, explorer, and photographer. Patrick is always in search of fun and adventure. He is well travelled throughout the world, and although location independent, his home base is Phoenix, Arizona in the USA. Patrick loves island lifestyle which is no wonder why he is so interested in spending time in the Philippines with it’s over 7,000 islands. Patrick created this site to share his knowledge of and experiences in the Philippines with Filipinos as well as other foreigners.

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