Potipot Island is beautiful, however, I don’t think beauty is enough to make me want to go back to this place soon much less recommend it to my friends (unless they’re hardcore campers and adventure seekers). Why?
1. When they say that Potipot Island is “unspoiled by over-commercialization” I think what they really mean is “there has been no effort to develop this place.”
2. Rude caretakers would ask for your money as soon as you reach the island, these caretakers don’t even have uniforms or anything to signify that they’re authorized to take your money.
3. The island is generally dirty, no one was around to clean the garbage. (I’m sorry for assuming that since they charge a fee that part of that fee would go to the island’s maintenance.)
4. The beach is full of sharp rocks and seaweeds. I wouldn’t dare go into the water without my slippers on. A person from the group camping next to us got a large cut on his foot and I handed a sanitary napkin over to them to stop the bleeding. (Ganun kalaki yung sugat guys, di kaya ng band-aid.)
5. The food in the area was blah a.k.a. no food porn. Also, the only thing they sell on the island are overpriced tahos and pinipig ice cream.
Potipot Island would be perfect for persons / groups who own tents, can cook their own food over a fire (which they built), can stitch deep cuts, and those who don’t need electricity / decent restrooms but as for me, take me somewhere beautiful but more developed / civilized / clean a.k.a. Bohol, Boracay or Ilocos. And sorry for bitchin’.
I didn’t spot any weird Koreans in the place but I found her.
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Ahahaha! Oh noes, I was supposed to buy this Potipot deal in CashCash/Ensogo. Not sure. Yikes.
If you’re up for an adventure why not? Hee hee.
Experienced the same thing with the caretakers, ang babastos!
Baka di sila na-train ng basic hospitality or something? Like batiin muna ng “Good morning” o “Welcome to Potipot Island” yung mga dumadating bago manghingi ng bayad?
Why are they asking for fees? Is this a private island? And how much are they asking for?
Apparently it is a private island, Php100 per head for a daytrip, Php300 per head if you’re gonna stay overnight.
awww. i am even planning to visit the island once i come back to the philippines. Hahaha!
go back to ilocos, i have a friend who can give you a affordable and good accomodation. hahaha! promotion, sorry – atufflife.blogspot.com. check his blog.
I LOOOOOOVEEEEE YOUR HEADER!
Thanks M! Checking out his blog now. When are you coming back here?
Ang ganda ng mga piktyurs!
I’ve been to a similar island (Anawangin) and it also has no electricity, drinking water, decent restroom, cell phone signal, food store. It’s the ultimate DIY camping experience, pero i was able to enjoy it naman.
Yun nga lang puro sharp rocks din, i don’t like the beach at all.
Potipot caretakers suck haha. At ang mahal yata ng entrance fee! >:(
It’s a beautiful island, and kung wala siyang bayad wala akong reklamo kung ang peg niya ay ‘be one with the wild.’ Parang nakaka-tanga naman yung nagbayad ka a.k.a. commercial venture ito pero don’t expect anything.
.. if that’s the case you cannot call it paradise! :p
Maaaring isa siya sa pinakamagandang island sa Pinas pero sayang lang yung ganda niya kung di naaalagaan ng maayos.
First of all nice new lay-out
And thank you for this honest post. I’ve heard only nice things about this island so great to read a different opinion about it. I am currently on a trip to Siquijor and similarly, everyone’s been raving about the beauty of this island. Well sorry but it ain’t so pretty for me. I wish I can create a blog where I can only write what’s nasty in the places that I visit hehe!
Let’s make that blog, let’s bash places and blogs that are deceiving! HAHAHA. I guess that’s the awesome thing when you’re not being paid to write something, you can say whatever you wanna say.
That sucks! I was planning on going pa naman. And it’s weird that the caretakers are rude. Usually sa out-of-town trips super babait ng mga locals. Caramoan na lang kami hmp.
Booo balak pa naman namin pumunta diyan. Saka weird, usually super bait ng locals sa out of town trips namin. Sa Ilocos, I slipped and cut my foot din sa Kapurpurawan rock, they have a first aid kit and ginamot nila yung paa ko. When I asked kung may bayad sabi sakin: Meron po, invite your friends to Ilocos.
BTW! New layout!! I like <3 Pwede ko ba gayahin yung travel badges sa sidebar mo?
Frustration ko yang Kapurpurawan! Last year we spent a week in Ilocos and di namin siya napuntahan! Oh well, another reason to go back to Ilocos no? It’s awesome to hear that they are very accommodating towards tourists, sarap bumalik sa lugar pag ganun.
Go lang nang go sa travel badges sa sidebar!
Thanks for the warning. It’s definitely not for me then. Makes me wonder if Anawangin and Nagsasa are the same since they’re also in Zambales. Anyway, I love your photos!
I’ve also read good things about Anawangin (first time to hear about Nagsasa though) pero if they’re as beautiful as Potipot but with more awesome caretakers who actually take care of the place then panalo yun!
“unspoiled by over-commercialization” I think what they really mean is “there has been no effort to develop this place.” – hehehe nice one
take me somewhere beautiful… – can include Palawan in the list?
PS – Ayla, I like the new look of your blog, it looks more of a travel blog now
I’ve never been to Palawan, I only included the places that I’ve blogged about before. HIHIHI. Thank you Maf! (though it’s not exclusively a travel blog)
How odd that they would charge you for that. Sana naman mapunta yung fee sa pagpa-palinis or pag-maintain man lang. How sad that the “caretakers” are rude. Still, you managed to get some great pictures
LOL at the woman in pucha (fuchsia) early 2000 JLo outfit!
Truleh. Wala namang issue na magbayad as long as mukhang sulit ang binayad mo.
I would like to recommend Calaguas Island but it is far from being developed (no resorts, you set up your own tent) so maybe you won’t like it. OK naman ang Potipot but I guess after visiting Calaguas di na kami ganung kadaling maimpress. Haha.
Magkano naman ang fee sa Calaguas Island? Di naman issue kung walang resorts as long as reasonable yung rates for the place. Di ko lang talaga na-gets yung bayad sa Potipot Island.
Thank you for your post. Let me reply in kind re Nagsasa, which I have been to but not Anawangin. Unfortunately, it was part of a training climb for AMCI mountaineers, which means they schedule it in the rainy season and the trainees focus on skills tests, so there wasn’t much opportunity to appreciate Nagsasa. We went through a picturesque mountain-trail (trees, meadows, black rocks, tall grass, creeks, rivers) and ended up at the beach, which is a dirty white color with normal texture. There are a couple of CRs that is really just a toilet bowl without the tank and a hose with intermittent water. There is a poso and water is pretty clear. There are really no accommodations apart from spartan tables by the beach (we all slept in tents). It was quite picturesque even if the weather was gloomy. They charge a nominal tent fee, and the sari sari store sells beer, softdrinks, and snacks. We brought our own food so I don’t know if the community could cook for you. Non-mountaineering groups get to Nagsasa via pumpboat (bangka). For good photos try searching AMCI or Alman Quiboquibo, who takes very good photos. Cheers – Anton Mauricio
Hi Anton, I guess you’d fall into the ‘hardcore campers and adventure seekers’ kind.
I went with my family with two little siblings and like Chris Lao, we were not informed that this may not be the best beach for kids. (And boo us for not doing our research beforehand.) They have huts in Potipot Island which they rent out for about a thousand bucks (or more) per day but all were taken when we got there. I’ll check out the names / photos that you’ve suggested. Cheers!
Aray. Naimagine ko yung malaking cut na tinapalan ng sanitary napkin. Hahhaa. At ang mahal ng entrance fee ha. Kaloka.
Actually pangalawang sanitary napkin na yung binigay ko kasi puno na yung nasa paa niya and he was asking kung meron pang extra sanitary napkin yung mga kasama niya, very nakisabat na lang ako na ako meron.
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There goes my plan to go to Potipot. Naku hindi pa naman ako fun ng beach na ma sea weeds. Feeling ko kasi hihilahin nila ko every moment.
Lovette! HAHAHA. Na mas praning ka sa weeds kesa sa rocks!
Thank you for the info. Just saw some pictures (posted in FB) of my cousin who is now supposed to be “enjoying” Potipot Island, and another cousin commented he would like to go there and to Anawangin Cove also. I’m thinking of going to these places also come my vacation this end of May (I’m an OFW here in Singapore by the way) but I may have to forego it and look for another place instead… Any recommendations for a beach resort? I prefer a place not frequented by a lot of people, but not to the extent that there are even no decent toilets or basic amenities like Potipot. I’m from Pampanga pala….
And nice pictures pala. Napa-WHAT THE!!! lang ako dun sa picture of those kids standing by the rocky beach (sobrang mabato naman ata), I don’t think i’d let my kids bathe in there, hehehe.
Thank you and more power to your blog……
Hi Ryan, my siblings were standing on the breakwater so hindi naman ganun kalalaki yung bato.
I highly recommend the Bohol Beach Club, we went there February of this year and we felt like we owned the place! Masarap din ang pagkain and sobrang okay ng amenities (and sobrang daming duyan by the beach). Madami ding magagawa sa Bohol aside from going to the beach and I’m sure your kids will enjoy it.
You may check out my post about the Bohol Beach Club here http://saylala.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/this-is-not-a-postcard/ and my other posts about Bohol here http://saylala.wordpress.com/category/travel/bohol/
Cheers!
Wow, thanks a lot for your reply. Never thought that you’ll have time to answer this fast. I’ll check out the link you provided…..
No problem, have a happy vacation!
Ate, pano po pumunta dyan? Teehee/ And all in all magkano lahat? 100 entrance fee pag daytime. Magbabanca po ba papunta dyan? How much?
Hi, I’m not sure how to commute going here if that’s what you’re asking pero yes, kailangan mag-rent ng boat to get to the island. 500 PHP ata ang round trip nila, babalikan kayo sa hapon.
Hola!! Mayroon po ba dyang Hotel na ma22loyan or restaurant na makakainan??
Hi Angel, walang hotels or restaurants on Potipot Island itself pero meron naman around the area.
Hi there,
Your photos captured the beauty of Potipot as I remembered it to be … minus the entrance fee and the crowd. My family had our OHANA (how we “immortalized” our road-trips) moments years ago when our kids were younger. And one such adventure was our major road trip from San Antonio to Sta. Cruz, Zambales, and a day’s trip to Lucap for the Hundred Islands. It was a meaningful and quiet escapade sans the crowd; thus, my heart sunk when you captured in essence that it is not a “cool” place to go back to anymore.
Thank you, though, for your honesty … it is most commendable.
Hi April, Potipot Island back then must’ve been like paradise! It was still very beautiful when we went there pero andami na ngang tao, andami na naka-discover sa beauty niya sana lang there were efforts made to still make every visitors’ experience memorable.
Hi! nice blog. I’ve been to Calaguas island in Camarines Norte. Sand is so fine.no entrance fee. the fee that you’re going to pay is for their tables, i mean nipa hut with tables on it. its just 75 pesos for daytour and overnight is 150pesos. Just dont expect much as this is a virgin island. Clean, people are so nice and they even do “mag-igib”, because for shower, de-poso siya and yung restrooms ang tabing is just a curtain.so do not expect much. pwede mag tent dun, just bring your own. boat ride is 2 hours from Paracale fishport. all in all, Calaguas Island is comparable to Boracay Island, less folks, less noise. Here you can truly enjoy your quiet moment with your partner or your family..
hope this info help you a bit. ^_^
Thanks for the tip!
Are there any islands where you don’t have to pay to stay there overnight? I mean 300 pisos is too much, especially if as you said they don’t use the money for maintenance.
Hello, as stated in the previous comments there are some islands that charge less than Potipot. Are you looking into going here specifically? Or any island would do? We have 7,107 islands so you won’t run out of choices. :]
no, just any island would do
I loved the 100 Island National Park near Alaminos 
we stayed overnight in a tent, actually, I just slept on the beach in my sleeping bag. There weren’t many people around, which was the best part of it 
Have you been to Bohol? My favorite beach so far is in Panglao Island. http://saylala.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/this-is-not-a-postcard/
No, haven’t been there, but seems that’s where the paradise is!!! definitely will go there next time I’m on the islands:) Thanks!
kaloka nman yong rude yong local na naghihingi ng bayad ;( may friend nga akong nagsabi maganda daw yong potipot island… been to anawangin & nagsasa itong january lang… nagsasa po kami nag overnight.. ang bait ng caretaker dun+tour guide na accommodating
wala ding kuryente dun & signal.. buti nalang full moon datym, nkapag night swimming padin at nagkataon super calm nung water… malinis din kaya kahit may bayad man na minimal lang nman… kaya sulit na sulit… <3 it
i agree to her…ganun nga dun sa potipot…but aside fro overpriced pinipig and taos they also have buko ..but no where to eat anything on the island…
maganda cgro mgstay kau sa dawal resort then just visit the island in the morning. malapit lang naman ung dawal sa island ganon ginawa namin. & me murang fud sa resto ng dawal & ok nmn lasa..
heheheh… kakagaling lang namin sa Potipot kahapon… nagSide Trip kami kasi pumunta kami ng Infanta, so bago bumalik ng pampanga dumaan na rin kami sa Island. Agree ako sa iyo Ayla… yan din ang mga comments ko sa husband ko kahapon. ehheheh.. nakakapanghinayang lang na di name-maintain ung isla. Kung e-dedevelop nila iyon sarap sana balik-balikan… Newei, masaya naman kahit paano kasi nkatawad kami sa naglalako ng Taho dun sa island… hahaha…