“I hope the rain would stop”, that was my one desperate wish as me and my swimming buddies prepared for our most-awaited travel – Apo Reef. I don’t quite travel with a group so this trip better be good. My fellow beach junkies wanted to make this trip happen, rain or shine! Though there was a totally unexpected detour or should I say a sudden change of plan which eventually turned out to be good anyway. Due to the unforgiving weather, we stayed in Pandan Island, where we were supposedly be taking the boat ride from and where all the hopeful travelers to Apo reef meet. So my dreams of seeing the reef sharks would probably have to wait ‘till next summer.
Mindoro Occidental is less traveled and less developed than its neighbor to the east (Mindoro Oriental). And that’s what attracts me to explore this side of Mindoro. During the bus ride from Abra de Ilog to Sablayan, the first thing that popped in my mind was, wow it’s really green everywhere! The lush forests, the endangered Tamaraws (native buffalos) and the endless mountains along the way amaze me. When we reached the shores of Sablayan, the sea was like divided into two and the heavy rain seemingly turned half of it into brown, how fascinating!
The town of Sablayan has nature to offer as well - from waterfalls, rain forest to lake, but unfortunately we didn't have much time. Obviously there was a typhoon, that’s how unlucky we were. Coast guards wouldn't allow boat trips to Apo reef, so we agreed to spend two days in Pandan Island, which was not all that bad after all.
The town of Sablayan has nature to offer as well - from waterfalls, rain forest to lake, but unfortunately we didn't have much time. Obviously there was a typhoon, that’s how unlucky we were. Coast guards wouldn't allow boat trips to Apo reef, so we agreed to spend two days in Pandan Island, which was not all that bad after all.
However rainy, you’ll still notice the beauty of this picturesque privately-owned island. It has a long curving white sand beach, perfect when you want to spend some time alone walking along the shore. A low-key tropical paradise unknown to many, home of the seven green turtles – the island’s main attraction, which my swimming coach was lucky enough to spot one. Oh great, no camping allowed. We were all prepared for the Apo reef, so there was a budget issue to be resolved here. There were only deluxe cottages and some comfortable bungalows around the resort, which were too pricey for us lowly travelers. Our decision-making skills were put to test, so we ended up negotiating with the caretaker guy. We’ve got two budget rooms for the four of us plus unlimited food for dinner. We wanted to get what we paid for so we settled in and enjoyed whatever this island has to offer.
I’m not so into private resorts, but well this one is pretty laidback. Surprisingly no videoke singing around, which is a popular night activity in other beach resorts. We didn't let the bad weather spoil the fun, so we all plunged into the cold water. We did snorkeling and spotted some colorful fishes and bizarre-looking corals around. During low tide, the kingdom down there becomes amazingly visible. No need to put on your snorkeling gears this time. Just be careful in stepping on the corals though.
Our most-awaited buffet for dinner was served. The table was filled with fresh and tasty feasts, complete with seafood, veggies and fresh fruits. We made sure we got what we paid for, but unfortunately my eyes are bigger than my stomach. As much as I want to make the most out of this expensive buffet (by our standards that time) I couldn't devour that much food compared to my fellas. Nevertheless, I was satisfied with what I ate and ended up with a happy stomach. The night was filled with good food, fun and laughter. We enjoyed some card games and the company of new found friends.
On the third day, we rode the boat back to Sablayan, and the heavy downpour got to us before we had reached the shore. Despite the weather and all, we managed to have fun and see the beauty in everything. Overall, our Pandan Island trip was awesome and our experiences were truly memorable.
How to get there and back:
- Catch a ferry ride to Abra de Ilog, P260 for two-and-a-half hours. Prepare P30 for the terminal fee.
- Catch a ferry ride to Abra de Ilog, P260 for two-and-a-half hours. Prepare P30 for the terminal fee.
- Hop on to a RORO bus or the Dimple Star bus from Abra de ilog, P220 for another three hour bus ride.
- The 15 minute boat ride to Pandan Island can be arranged from the town of Sabalyan, P500 for 5 persons. Boat ride can also be arranged from the resort in Pandan Island to go back to Sablayan.
- If you’re running out of time and you want to skip the transfers, pay a little bit higher and catch the RORO bus back to Manila from the town of Sablayan (P800 - all in).
Photos by Ibra Isla and Lindsy Juarbal
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