Sa Tignoan Beach - Real, Quezon

   Pure white sand, teal sea water, coconut trees along the shore, golden sunset view; one might say these are the qualities of a perfect tropical beach. But in a quiet town of Real in Quezon lies an extraordinary beach which is not defined by those qualities mentioned earlier.

   Golden brown sand full of rocks, huge waves and rip currents; Tignoan beach might be the opposite of what a perfect tropical beach is. But for surfing enthusiasts, whether the beginners or the experienced ones, this beach is one of the best practice grounds that they can go to.

Tignoan Beach

   Just more than three hours away from Manila, Real has one of the nearest surfing spot a city kid would like to go to paddle out and ride the waves.

   I once tried traveling with my motorcycle and it only took me three hours to reach Real from Pasig City driving through the city of Antipolo, the towns of Teresa, Morong, Tanay and Pililia in Rizal, then passed through the zigzag road in Mabitac Laguna until I reached the town of Siniloan. From there I took a left turn at a junction with a very recognizable Red Horse monument at the center. And in a few minutes of driving through another zigzag road in Famy, I reached the town of Real.

   This time, our group head on to Real using public transportation. We went to Legarda, Manila where vans and buses (Reymond Transit) with Manila-Infanta routes are stationed. We chose to ride the van because we thought we could get to Real much faster than riding a bus.
  
   After three and a half hours, we reached our destination. Just a few meters past the Tignoan Bridge, a camping site can be seen along the beach beside the river, The Pacific Recreational Kamp also known as the PaRK.

   As we enter the gates of the PaRK, we saw a board with the list of amenities and their rates.

Entrance Fee

• Adult - P35 (day) / P50 (overnight)
• Kids - P20 (day) / P35 (overnight)

Open Huts

• Medium (10 pax) - P400 (day) / P700 (overnight)
• Large (20 pax) - P700 (day / P1,000 (overnight)

Tent Pitching

• Small (1-2 pax) - P50
• Medium (3-4 pax) - P100
• Large (more than 5 pax) - P150

Tent  Rental

• P300 - 2-3 pax dome tent
• P500 - Full fly dome tent

Inside the PaRK

   Mr. Teody Villaflor, the person in charge on the resort warmly welcomed us and briefed us on some do's and dont's on the camping grounds and the beach. As we pitch our tent and unpack our luggage, I felt the good vibes of the whole area. Tall trees around the camp provide shade against the sun. Happy kids play around the camping grounds and some foreign visitors enjoying the nice tropical weather. But the thing that surely cannot be unseen on this very relaxing camp are the surfboards. Surfboards on the left, surfboards on the right, on the rack, carried on top of the head, along the side, its literally everywhere.

   During surfing season, Tignoan beach has strong waves perfect for beginners and advanced surfers. The beach across the river mouth is where most of the surfers go. The beach along the PaRK's gate is very rocky. We enjoyed swimming along the waves, we also saw a bunch of people who enjoyed kite flying.

   The river mouth beside the park offers a different kind of vibe. The fresh cool water from the river looks enticing and its strong current makes me want to dip in and let it push my body towards the sea. The PaRK also offers white water rafting or rubber tubing activities for 300.00 pesos. Surely you'll never get bored with all the salt and fresh water activities this place can offer.

   At the camping area, grilling stations and kitchen sinks are free to use. Clean shower rooms and comfort rooms are also available. A small sari-sari store at the entrance gate sells some basic needs such as toiletries, drinks and snacks. Tricycle drivers usually wait there at the store. These tricycles can get you to other tourist destinations in Real, to its town proper and to a small market nearby where you can buy fresh seafood.

   As the day passed by, we enjoyed swimming, playing and laughing our hearts out at the park's camping grounds. We enjoyed our drinks during the night. We also noticed other campers having their own gathering on their spot. Friendly surfers and visitors passed by our tents and greeted us from time to time. The gates at the PaRK were closed during midnights and some park personnel roam around the camping grounds so we felt safe and secured inside.

   We woke up early the next morning to witness a magnificent view of the sunrise at the beach. We're all in awe as we witness the sun rise above the horizon. Surely, seeing this picturesque scene is a great way to start the day.

Sunrise in Real, Quezon

   One thing that I really regret not doing during our stay in the PaRK is surfing. Next time for sure, I will definitely return then ride the waves and paddle out.

   Pure white sand, teal sea water, coconut trees along the shore, golden sunset view; forget about it and you surely would appreciate what other exciting things Tignoan beach has to offer.

   You may contact the PaRK at 0920-924-6102 and look for Mr. Teody Villaflor. During our stay in Real, we also managed to check out Balagbag Falls and Nonok Falls.

Killed Bills

This covers up our whole Real, Quezon Trip
(Tignoan Beach, Balagbag Falls and Nonok Falls)

200.00 - Van fare from Manila to Real
50.00 - The PaRK Entrance fee (overnight)
70.00 - Cottage (700 for 10 persons)
30.00 - Tent pitching fee (300 for 10 persons [2 tents])
30.00 - Roundtrip Tricycle fare (The PaRK - Balagbag Falls)
20.00 - Balagbag Falls Entrance fee
50.00 - Roundtrip Tricycle fare (The PaRK - Nonok Falls)
20.00 - Nonok Falls Entrance fee
400.00 - Food and Beverage budget per head
200.00 - Van fare from Real to Manila

Php 1070.00 - TOTAL

* Thanks to Macky Soliman and Christie Estampador for sharing some photos :)