Zambales has become tha place tah be for those who would like to go to nearby beaches, that are much more peaceful than Batangas, namely Anawangin, Nagsasa, Magalawa, Capones, Potipot. For this post, let's focus on Potipot Island.
I've been to Potipot Island twice in a span of two years. Our first visit was back in Holy Week 2010 and since we were with our lolo at that time, we could only do a day trip instead of camping there for the night.
Going to Potipot during the Lent Season is something that I won't recommend. Why? Not just because of inflation but also because you may not be able to enjoy/see the place that well because of the sheer number of tourists. But mind you, unlike other islands, Potipot can be visited not only in the summer but also during other months, as relayed by my some of my friends who have been there in January, November, October, etc.
This post will give you two ways to visit Potipot. I will first tell you about my overnight camping trip in the island with my most favorite boys & girls. We went there last April 14-15, 2012 and had set a budget of P1,500/head.
Day 0
Friday
We met at Jollibee Philcoa around past 1AM. We've been informed that driving to Potipot would take us 4-5 hours when we do it in the wee hours of morning. Originally, we planned to leave at 12MN but being the latecomers that we were, we left around 1:30-2AM ish already.
Day 1
Saturday
Funny thing is I had a bad stomach on our way there. We had to do two to three restroom breaks just for me (bongga haha!). We reached Candelaria around 7AM already. We passed by Dawal Resort, where we were supposed to go for the boat, first since we still had to go to the market to buy some food. The market place that we went to was a 15-minute drive after Candelaria.
By 8AM, we were already going inside this small street towards Dawal Resort. Some boatmen may stop you and convince you to do business with them. But you have to park your car at their house and take a tricycle or walk back to Dawal for the boat. We declined since we wanted to look for Ate Minda.
Ate Minda lives in front of Dawal Resort. She has a huge parking area for your car and she will also arrange the boat to Potipot (budget later). Boat capacity is usually up to 6 pax only. So we had to rent another boat for our stuff.
Bed of white sand will greet you when you get to Potipot. You pay the camping fee and hurry to get a good camping spot. This was our spot back then. The only thing about Potipot that was kinda negative for me is that it didn't have that much shade compared to Anawangin, which had so many trees. So even if we set our tents underneath a tree, the scorching sun made it difficult for us to go inside our tents.
There are some cottages or huts in the island but we choose to sleep in our tents. Make sure you have your portable stoves or cooksets, utensils, food, water, ice, booze already before you step on the island since there is no sari-sari store there. The area we chose was the only available area that had shade.
The next step is to eat! Grabe yung gutom namin diyan so before anything else, we had to cook. This is what I really like about camping. Even those who are so used to dining out, buying food, or asking a househelp to cook for them will be roughing outdoors -- only if they are willing to cooperate ah. Siyempre hindi natin maaalis ang mga hindi inakalang ganito pala ang camping so mega sa pag-iinarte at mga ayaw magsikilos.
Lato or aroarosep or seaweeds or ararapapa, as our sosyal friend, Mox, would call it haha!
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| In this picture, the area for grilling is just right behind us. I told you, this is already one of the most perfect places in the island. |
After eating, it was time for us to RELAX and officially become beach bums!!! And of course, photo shoots will not be left out!
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| Tinupad ko ang pangarap ni Sas na makapag-duyan. Hesitant siya at first dahil baka di raw siya kayanin pero ayan na! |
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| With two of my favorite girls, Trixie and B-an. |
Oha, ansabeh?
B-an
Nighttime was a bit more tricky. Unlike Anawangin, caretakers of Potipot didn't provide light for its guests/campers. Good thing we brought a number of lamps, lights, candles, etc. Even if it took us some time to prepare dinner as it was already dark, we had fun eating our pusit, fish, etc.
I'm not sure why but we were allowed to make a bonfire; a friend told me when I came back that bonfires weren't allowed in Potipot, well, like Christopher Lao, I wasn't informed. To make sure we didn't ruin the sand, we dug a very deep hole before we put the twigs. Since we didn't have much twigs, our fire lasted for a good 10-15 minutes.
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| Here's my friend, Mox. |
Day 2
Sunday
Being a morning person (well, only during out-of-town trips), I was already up to catch the sunrise -- one thing I learned from my friends (Dana, Dinno, taas ang kamay!). I woke Marv and the others up and the girls decided to have another photo op session (poor Marv hehe). Before the trip, B-an, Trixie, and I decided that we will bring our royal blue bikinis since we each had a pair. So we changed into our blue bikinis and looked for a spot.
Potipot is just a small island that you can go around it for 15-20 minutes. We reached the huge tree. Tourists know that one should never leave Potipot without taking a picture with the big tree. And boy, super ganda nito!!!
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| With the whole gang |
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| Marv should take credit for this haha. Battery died after this picture so Trixie got the last shot. |
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| Mox and iX |
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| B-an and Sas |
At ito na nga ang nangyari after kumain at magligpit...
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| Kulit ni Sas haha! |
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| Yes, pang-cover photo sa FB. Gasgas na eh baket ba? |
We sent a text message to Ate Minda and her bangkeros to pick us up at 4PM; almost forgetting that we had to work the next day hehe. There was a queue while waiting for our boat back so we took the time to take more photos.
Expenses
Tips and Things to Bring
Canned goods
Cup noodles
Can opener
Knife
Plastic container - which you can use as alternative to plates and also to store leftover food
Kaldero / Kawali / Cooksets
Portable stove
Butane
Hammock (if you have)
Sandok
Utensils - try bring reusable ones instead of plastic spoons and forks for less trash
Garbage bags
Jugs - to minimize usage of plastic / styro cups
Ice chest (optional)
Rope / Straw - serve as clothesline
Tarp (if you have) - something to sit on or to place under your tent to keep you dry if ever it rains
Mosquito repellant
Flashlights / LED lights / Headlamps
Tabo / Timba (if you want) - easier when washing dishes though they have a tabo there
Lighter / Matches
Sunblock / Tanning oil
Drybag
Tent
Sleeping bag
Other Option
For those who aren't into camping, day trips are also possible! The first time that we went there was during the Holy Week. We were with our lolo at that time kaya hindi pwede ang camping, hindi dahil hindi senior citizen-friendly ang Potipot pero kundi dahil gusto ni lolo mag-aircon hehe. Bongga.
So a simpler way was to drive to Candelaria, pay for a boat and then tell the bangkero what time they should pick you up. Pay for the environmental fee rate which was PhP 100/pax at that time and then find a place. Bring snacks and booze kasi nga walang suking tindahan na pwedeng pagbilhan. That easy. So here are the pictures.
During that time, since Holy Week and we just decided to go out-of-town the night before, siyempre puno na ang mga resorts in Candelaria. Luckily, we found one sa Sta. Cruz, Zambales. Next town after Candelaria. The resort was Seasun Resort. It wasn't finished yet at that time so we got a good deal. Its swimming pool was still under construction so imagine na lang na magmamahal na siya kapag ayos na siya.
Since it was not in Candelaria, Potipot Island was about 30-45 minutes away from our resort. The ride was quite bumpy since bigger waves ang sumalubong sa amin pero we had our lifejackets naman noon.
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| Lolo and his peace sign hehe |
Resorts near Potipot
Sun Bloom Resort
Dawal Beach Resort
Beach House ni Dok
Alta Nina Resort
Potipot Gateway Resort
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