Beating the Summer Heat at Calatagan’s Manuel Uy Beach

Much of the Philippines is currently feeling the effects of an unusually hot dry season with heat indexes in some areas reaching an alarming 53°C. The latter figure is classified as extremely dangerous and could result in heat stroke for some people. (Four people had already died from heat stroke in Pili, Camarines Sur recently.) As a result, we had to think twice about going to a beach in Calatagan, Batangas to accompany a nephew here on a short vacation from his work overseas.

A careful review of weather predictions for Calatagan revealed a hot Tuesday but with a heat index that was at least below dangerous levels. That was enough reassurance to make us proceed with our planned visit to Manuel Uy Beach and a nearby island and sandbar.

We had visited Manuel Uy Beach in October of last year when the weather was cooler. It was a sunny morning when we arrived back then but the habagat or Southwest Monsoon winds had a cooling effect. On our latest visit we were pleasantly surprised that even with the hot/very hot season in full swing and with the trees along the beach unable to offer a good shade, the sun was not scorching hot. We were able to get a nice swim without getting sunburned although a generous application of sunblock helped.

Morning low tide at Manuel Uy Beach in October 2023

Second to fourth photos: Morning high tide at Manuel Uy Beach on our latest visit, late April 2024.

During another visit to Calatagan earlier this year, a boatman mentioned that the tides reverse themselves beginning April. During the winter (amihan or Northeast Monsoon season here) it was low tide in the morning until the afternoon but during the dry season that reverses to high tide in the morning to afternoon. That became apparent when we noticed how deeper the waters were just off the beach. Not a lot of the cream-colored sand was exposed but the deeper crystal-clear waters produced a stunning panorama in various hues of aqua and turquoise.

Despite its deeper level, Manuel Uy Beach’s waters are still shallow enough to make it a safe family destination. We explored the northern part of the beach which is adjacent to the more upscale Stilts Calatagan Resort. This is also the part where the island-hopping boats are stationed and where a new bridge had been erected over a stream that empties into the sea. At this estuary there were some magnificent views we had missed during our first visit here.

A stroll at this segment of the beach also revealed several tents that had already been set-up, possibly by people who planned on staying well into the next day – the Labor Day holiday. Although Calatagan used to be known as a beach camping destination in previous years, more upscale resorts have opened in later years. Two other beaches – Burot Beach and Ivory Beach – were the more popular camping sites years ago but are now closed to the public. That left Manuel Uy as the go-to camping destination in the area.

The views at this beach were probably a notch higher than the ones we have witnessed in October but we were looking for something more. Manuel Uy Beach has a station where motorized outrigger boats were waiting to take us to a sandbar and island just 15 minutes away. We were soon off into the blue waters of the Verde Island Passage for another island-hopping venture. On our next post…