Funny how I sometimes feel that I need a vacation from this 'vacation' I'm already having. So when
Tim and
Baff decided to organize a short beach trip in Zambales over the weekend, I never hesitated.
We decided to head over to
Potipot island which is accessible via Candelaria, Zambales. From there, it's just a five-minute boat ride to one of the 'steadiest' beaches I have ever been to.
Potipot island is a small, circular island roughly the size of a large outdoor park. The entire circumference of the island is covered in white sand and you can have a leisurely walk around it in just around 20 minutes. Aside from the nipa huts, tables, and little public toilets, there is nothing man-made on the island. No bars, no restaurants, not even the masahista manangs. Just you, your stuff, and the island. You can stay there for the night if you bring your own tent, otherwise, people stay at the resorts in Candelaria.

We were able to visit the island twice and both times were as relaxing and perfectly suited to getting that weekend break everybody needs. There were a few other people there, mostly young barkadas, campers, and some families (no foreigners!). Most of us stayed on just one side of the island where the beach quality is good and not as rocky as the other side. It, however, never felt crowded. In fact, while walking around the island, it will come to a point when you'll genuinely feel that you're absolutely alone. All I could hear were my footsteps on the sand and the sound of the water as it touches the shore. All I could see were gently swaying trees and an empty beach. Only a few things get better than that.
Words escape me as to how to properly describe how perfect Potipot island is for a weekend getaway. Then again, maybe that's exactly it:
perfect.
TRAVEL TIPSGetting thereThe drive to
Candelaria, Zambales took us five hours in total which included short stops along the way for some coffee. Leaving Manila at 4:00am required it. Once you reach Subic via NLEX-SCTEx, it's just a short and very scenic two-hour drive to Candelaria. Buses pass through this road as well.
AccommodationWe stayed at
Sun Bloom Resort in Candelaria which is a simple, quaint little resort with nice rooms equipped with your basic needs: beds, aircon, toilet. All clean. They don't provide towels or room service but for the Php1,200 rate for a room good for 4 people, it's a great deal. They do serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner upon request although you're free to bring your own meals to cook if you wish. The caretaker,
Ate Mercy, is very nice and accommodating and it really gives the place the feeling of living in a large house. Very homey and unpretentious. We'd definitely go back here.
BudgetOver-all, our trip cost us just Php2,400. Overnight stay for three people. This already includes gas expenses, toll, resort fees, boat fees, island entrance fee, and the indecent amount of liempo we ordered while we were there. If you want to save up even more, you can bring your own food to cook or even just camp at Potipot island itself.
TriviaApparently, nobody knows who owns Potipot island. It's privately owned but the people in the resort don't exactly know who owns it now. They said it was purchased around last year by a new owner who is said to be a politician. I asked the island caretaker who owns it and he only gave me a name like 'Ate Eva' or something like that. The boatmen, though, told me it is General Ebdane.
The owner of Sun Bloom Resort is actually from Antipolo. She visited Potipot island 13 years ago and stayed at the neighboring Dawal Beach resort. She loved the area so much that she bought the land where Sun Bloom is now located. Panalo.
Complete photos can be found on my
Multiply.