Revisiting Potipot Island in Zambales

First visit to Potipot Island

I first visited Potipot Island in the late 1990s, back when the small island was yet to be developed and transformed into a major tourist attraction of the province of Zambales.

Potipot Island lies off the coast of Candelaria, Zambales, and is a part of Barangay Uacon.

Back then, there were only a handful of people, mostly locals, who know about Potipot. A distant relative told us about the island, which was said to be a favorite picnic spot for locals.

I distinctly remember that the island was not yet "commercialized" and that to get there, we had to find and bargain with a local fisherman hoping to hire his small banca to take us on a 15-minute trip to the island.

We secured the banca, a small, cramped motorized outrigger. The fisherman had to scout for a good place to dock his small boat. There were a few pitched tents when we landed. We brought along our supply of packed lunch and water.

A backpacker's paradise

Potipot Island back then was a backpacker's paradise. There were no lights, no electricity, no houses, and no comfort rooms. Coconut trees abound, as well as wild bushes. A few fruit trees are scattered along the beach with overhanging branches providing shade.

It was easy finding a good spot along the beach since only a handful of beachgoers were there. We swam in the crystal blue water and walked along the white sand beach, after pitching our tent.

Potipot Island is small but unique. One can actually walk and explore the whole island in about 20 minutes.

What is unique is that on one side of Potipot is a stretch of white sand beach, while the other side is "rocky," where corals and massive drift woods are often seen lining the shore, particularly during low tide. This rocky side of Potipot Island also provides a nice view of the sun at it sets on the horizon.

Return to Potipot Island

After almost 10 years, I was able to visit Potipot Island again.

By now, the island has been made into a full-pledged tourist destination, thanks to ample "exposure" from mainstream media, and most recently from the Internet, via numerous blogs.

From afar, the island is still a beauty to behold.

But the signs of commercialization are already there. A portion of the island has been made into a small dock, where colorful boats ferry local and foreign tourists.

Tourists

The traffic is brisk as boat after boat "unload" tourists to and from the mainland. According to locals, numerous hotels have sprouted around Candelaria town, and a day trip to Potipot Island has been a staple fare for hotel guests.

As soon as you land, somebody will approach you and ask for a 50-peso entrance fee per person for a day trip, or a 100-peso fee if you plan to stay overnight.

There is now a clearing at the center of the island, where a huge tree house and a few cottages stand. Potipot Island as well as the massive tree house are said to be owned by a prominent individual.

There is a comfort room for men and women and numerous nipa hut-type cottages along the beach that are for rent. There is a cooking area and a large grill that beachgoers can use. And if you happen to forget to bring some supplies, there is a sari-sari store nearby.

Finding a spot on the beach is now a bit of a struggle as numerous families and groups often had to compete for space.

The beach often buzzes with activity, as jet skis and ferry boats often whiz past.

Still a clean beach

Thankfully, the island local government seem to know the value of Potipot Island. Despite the onslaught of commercialization, caretakers are able to maintain the cleanliness of the beach.

One can only hope that Potipot Island retain its beauty for years to come and for more visitors to enjoy.

Getting to Potipot Island

Getting to Potipot Island is now easier than ever, thanks to the NLEX-SCTEX link that motorists can take. From Manila, you can travers NLEX all the way up to Sta. Ines, Pampanga, and take a right turn to SCTEX. From there, go straight to the last exit, which is Tipo Exit, which is already a part of Olongapo. Simply follow the road going to Candelaria town in Zambales and you are almost there.

Skimming Boracay’s waves in a paraw

Heavy commercialization and the continuous flow of tourists may make some frown on what Boracay has become.

But when it comes to water sports, Boracay is still the prime destination for snorkeling, diving, kite boarding, parasailing, and skim boarding.


For the more laidback type, nothing beats coral walking and of course, sailboating with a paraw, a native outrigger with huge colorful sails.

I was with my family on a long-awaited vacation in Boracay and after a few haggling with a local paraw operator we don our life jackets and got on board a blue and white paraw.

It was supposed to be an off peak season in Boracay a few months after the summer months. But it was ideal, as an overcast sky, and a frisky breeze powered the sailboat around the island.


To a jaded traveler, this seems not at all exciting.

But feeling the waves beneath you and the wind blowing the sailboat to skim at decent speeds is still exhilarating. An added bonus is seeing your kids experience the thrills and spills as the paraw sails catch the whistling wind.

You can feel the power of wind tugging the sailboat as we take a circular route to Boracay. The trip took less than 2 hours, although our captain, a seasoned paraw operator, said the trip could have taken longer if not for the wind.

At the onset, one can feel the turquoise seawater and the corals beneath one’s feet.

As the sailboat go further to the open sea, one can have a nice vista of the surrounding islands, the other sailboats and a lone fisherman with a quaint banca.

It was touristy, but it was an adventure.