Budget Travel Philippines | Living Asia Backpacking Guide | Tours Tourism Reviews Pictures: Potipot Island in Candelaria Zambales

Potipot Island in Candelaria Zambales

A small island reachable by a short boatride from the beach of Candelaria town in Zambales was visited by Tutubi twice alredy. You can walk around the whole island in about 30 minutes and enjoy the are pinkish sand of the small island, more like an islet.

picture of Potipot Island taken from Wikimapia's "eye in the sky" with Uacon river also in view

Potipot is 5-10 minutes away by banca from the beach and resorts:

Beach Resorts near Potipot Island:

Dawal Beach Resort
Sun Bloom Resort +63.916.543.9709
Isla Vista Resort
Milagrosa Candelaria Beach
Puerto del Mar Beach

Boat to Potipot Island costs PhP400 for 6-8 persons but always depend on your negotiation skills

Entrance Fee to Potipot Island: PhP20 for adults less for kids. Overnight camping
costs more like Php100 per head.

Where to eat:
Floating Restaurant in Brgy. Uacon

UPDATED: June 2, 2008

Labels: Central Luzon, Hotels and Resorts, Islands, Resorts, Zambales

posted by backpacking philippines @ 10:19 PM,

22 Comments:

At Dec 15, 2008 4:31:00 AM, Anonymous said...: www.puertodelmarbeachresort.com
At Feb 3, 2009 9:24:00 PM, Pepper said...: How do I get to Sun Bloom resort via public transpo? We will just ride a bus from Manila.

I heard we'll have to get off where Dawal is and just walk going to Sun Bloom. Is that true?

Thanks!
At Feb 3, 2009 9:36:00 PM, backpacking philippines said...: pepper, the resorts there are just beside each other, you won't get lost. How to get to Potipot Island? board a bus to Zambales (e.g. Victory Liner) preferably going to Sta. Cruz that will pass by Candelaria. alight at Dawal Resort and walk to your destination resort. to get to the island, you need to gire a boat to take you there for about 10 minutes
At Feb 19, 2009 4:39:00 AM, Pepper said...: Thank you very much for the info! =)
At Mar 2, 2009 10:54:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Just wanted to help Ate Mercy from Sun Bloom and the tourists who want to go to Potipot.

http://sunbloomresort.multiply.com
At Mar 6, 2009 1:03:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Hello, help naman please, we are planning on staying at Dawal Resort and we were wondering where can we eat outside Dawal, kasi mahirap magluto lagi and I'm sure pricey sa Dawal. Saan yung floating restaurant and estimated price of food there? Thanks!
At Mar 6, 2009 8:32:00 PM, backpacking philippines said...: anonymous, ride a trike to get to the resto...no idea on updated prices though but it's a bit cheaper than manila as always
At Mar 12, 2009 9:37:00 PM, Anonymous said...: ate ilan po ang total area ng putipot island? need lang po sa project namin> thanx po!!
At Mar 13, 2009 9:34:00 PM, Anonymous said...: When we went to Sun Bloom Resort last 28 Feb 2009, we asked about the floating resto. According to Ate Mercy's caretaker, Kuya Allan, the floating resto is no longer there. Nasira daw sa typhoon last rainy season. I'm not sure if ginagawa un floating resto ngayon.
At Mar 19, 2009 5:18:00 AM, Katrina J. said...: can anyone give a rough estimate as to how much money one person would need?
At Mar 19, 2009 10:27:00 PM, backpacking philippines said...: katrina, lots of details missing in your question here. boats rides to potipot are not that expensive (depends on your negotiation skills) since it's very near the beach and boatmen can leave you there and fetch you later.
At Apr 1, 2009 5:37:00 AM, Anonymous said...: is there any transient houses aroud the area?
At Apr 1, 2009 9:04:00 PM, backpacking philippines said...: anonymous, not that i know of. probably homestays as the area is getting popular
At May 6, 2009 7:13:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Last weekend (2-3 May 2009), we went back to Potipot (and of course, we stayed in Sun Bloom). There were a few things we noticed:

1. There were a lot more trash compared to the last time we went there. [To the tourists, kindly bring your own trash bag and throw your trash bag when you get back to your resort].

2. People were so amazed to see live sea stars (a.k.a. starfishes) that they were taking them from their habitat and putting them under the sun to dry. [Please don't take those creatures home. They're meant to stay in the sea. If you keep taking sea stars, Potipot eventually would have none.]

3. People were stepping on the live corals. [Please don't step on the live corals, fishes live there and they lay their eggs there. If you keep stepping on them, they will eventually die. No corals = no fishes]

4. A lot of people were planning to catch the fishes swimming in the shallow waters. [Please don't try to catch them. Let Potipot keep those fishes.]

5. If people are feeding the fishes, please don't swim where the fishes are. You can check them out underwater but please don't swim right through the fishes. You're disturbing them.

To the owner of the island (if you're reading this), kindly do something about these. We're paying Php50 (day tour) or Php100 (overnight) to be on your island. You can put posters/tarps on the island to remind people what not to do. You can impose rules like these. You can even ask the rangers to penalize tourists who do these horrible things.
At May 6, 2009 8:22:00 AM, backpacking philippines said...: anonymous, thank you for the update and warnings. appreciate it. the hisland has become an expensive place. i heard it's owner of potipot island is a general or government official
At Feb 23, 2010 10:16:00 AM, Anonymous said...: we're planning to go there sometime soon, is it ok to just put up tents instead of renting a hotel room? does the island have facilities like CR and tables? Are they for rent (tables chairs) and if so, how much?
At Feb 23, 2010 2:57:00 PM, backpacking philippines said...: anonymous, there's an "entrance fee" of P100 (updated information supplied by an officemate of mine who went there recently). Cottages and CR/toilets also available. No info on tables rental rates but yes, they can be rented.
At Mar 21, 2010 9:04:00 PM, happysole said...: hello,do u have an idea as to how it is in the island during holy week? do you think it would be crowded? what are the feedbacks from the boatmen?
At Apr 24, 2010 10:48:00 AM, Anonymous said...: pano po papuntang POTIPOT from Baguio? thanks..
At May 11, 2010 4:20:00 AM, FERLyn said...: I'll be there this weekend. i just hope na di pa polluted yung island.
At May 28, 2010 9:36:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I just went there yesterday so here is the update:

You want to got to Potipot via Commute? Ride a VIctory Liner bus at Caloocan and Sampaloc branch only!!!! as in only kasi doon lang yung biyahe!!! anyway ride a bus going to Sta. Cruz via Iba. Tell the conductor or driver to drop you at Dawal Resort or whatever resort you opt to go.

OK food? at Dawal they open their restaurant around 6 AM. Napa aga kasi kami around 5 AM mas mura daw food sa Isla Vista Resort thou may mga asong gala na tambay doon around 5 dogs na humabol sa amin so no choice Dawal kami kumain. Food cost ? around Php 99.00 filipino breakfast na tapsilog , longsilog etc with a choice of hot choco, coffee/ cold ice tea/ cold juice. Then ala carte viand cost Php. 160 above. Rice cost Php. 20.00

Okay if you go to the Island and you plan to overnight be sure to bring 4 bottles or more of COLD drinking water. I f you an bring ice. BETTER! btw that 4 bottles (1 litre) : for two people - I don't know about you pero ganun sa amin
kasi nakaka dehydrate talaga. Also SUN BLOCK!! HATS!! and things like: cards, goggles, books, mini fan (battery powered), lots of food, flash lights, garbage bag, tent if you like and pale pang igib sa poso hindi pa kasi maayos water system sa Island so walang water sa shower room.

Boat rent : Php. 400/ maximum of 6 people (balikan na yan/roundtrip)

Entrance fee sa Island: Php. 300 for overnight

(they don't sell food, drinks sa Island only cigarette for Php. 60.00 a whole pack)

that's all I can share.

Madumi ba Island? hmmm slight so please be responsible with your own trash may mga blue garbage drums naman. For us we clean our spot muna before we set the tent.

ANd so kung uuwi na kayo via commute just wait sa highway may dadaaan dun mga Caloocan bus or Sampaloc bus (Ordinary and Aircon). Huwag na kayo pa uto sa mga tricycle driver na malapit lang terminal sa Sta. Cruz... well malapit nga pero one way or another dadaan yun bus sa harap ng labasan hehehe sayang pamasahe niyo papunta terminal eh that cost Php.150 - tricycle -

Ang difference ng mag intay ka at sumugod sa terminal ay simple lang -- pag nag pa uto ka bawas budget mo ^_^ .

DOn't!!! ride the mini bus!!! more than 7 hours biyahe mo noon.
At May 29, 2010 4:07:00 PM, backpacking philippines said...: anonymous, thanks for the detailed update. comments like yours are most welcome.