It has somehow become a tradition for me and my college friends to have an "annual" summer escapade. It started in Laiya, Batangas way back year 2011 - our graduation year. Then headed to Puerto Galera in the summer of 2012. Ilocos for the summer of 2013. This year, 2014, Candelaria, Zambales was our latest destination.

We were actually invited by my friend's relative to their house where there was a local Zambales wedding. We arrived early in the morning at around 7:00AM. After some rest, we headed to the virgin beach where we just chilled out and enjoyed the morning sea breeze. It's astounding how this place is still undeveloped and good job to the local community government for being able to preserve this beauty.

Then going back, we feasted on freshly fetched crabs, shrimps and ripe mangoes. Amazing how big the crabs and shrimps were! And actually so yummy when cooked! Ahhh, province life. Sometimes I really do wish that I live near a beach.

Dawal Beach Resort

Later that night after the wedding, we opted to check in at Dawal Beach Resort. The resort was pretty big and decent for a short stay. There's a restaurant, a sports bar and a swimming pool. Their beach front was also good and clean wherein you can have a view of the Potipot Island from afar.

However, I do not highly recommend this resort due to bad customer service. During our stay, there were power fluctuations that cause the water supply to halt. The staff was ignoring our complaints at first and my friend needed to rant first before they recognized us. Then it took more than an hour to be fixed.

Potipot Island

Anyhow, on our second day, we rented a small pump boat from Dawal to Potipot Island. It only took around 6-8 minutes. We contracted the boatmen to fetch us the next morning 'cause we planned to camp overnight.

Potipot Island does not have any developed resorts to stay neither electricity available. So if you are planning to have an overnight stay there, you should be prepared with all the stuff you need most especially food and water. Our group actually went first to the Sta. Cruz market to buy our needs, including some disposable utensils, blanket, a small ice cooler, etc.

Take note that there is an entrance fee at 100php for day trippers and 300php for overnight campers. It was literally a convenient, little island wherein you can walk around the isle for less than an hour.

Now, time for setting up the camp! There are tent rentals on the island that costs 500php for a tent good for 4 pax and 300php for a tent good for 2pax. Some tips on choosing a perfect camping spot:

For our food, we grilled pork and fish for dinner. The good news is that there are grilling stations at the center of the island along where the water pump is.

Potipot Island is unexpectedly so beautiful. The pristine waters and fine white sand could really make it as the "Little Boracay of the North". At night time, it would be completely dark except for the flicker of lights coming from the few campers staying overnight. I discouraged my group building a bonfire though, as I know that it ruins the fairness of the sand.

It was Mother's day when we visited Potipot so we made this little gesture for our Moms!

Look at how clear the water is

Night time at Potipot. Thanks to the camera's flash! :)

How to Get to Potipot Island

From Manila, one should catch a bus to Sta. Cruz, Zambales. Victory Liner is the most known and secured public transportation that offers trips to Zambales. They have quite a number of terminals around the metro so check their website for locations and schedules. It's much better to reserve a ticker days before the trip, especially during peak season.

Due to the peak season, there were no longer available seats to Sta. Cruz, Zambales for our desired time. As an option, we took a bus to Iba instead. Then got off at Iba proper where we waited for buses going to Sta. Cruz.

The jump off point is Uangco where you can take a tricycle to some locals offering boat rides to Potipot Island. The trip is approximately 5-6 hours from Manila.

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Camping is indeed fun. But please do remember to pick up all your trash before leaving.

Aside from the very famous Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers and Panglao Island in Bohol, there are still a lot of must-see attractions in the graceful land of Bohol. (See my previous post here.)

Ancient Roman Catholic Churches (Baclayon Church and Loboc Church)

Considered to be the oldest church in the Philippines, Baclayon Church is among the hundred-year old churches built during the Spanish colonization. It is built from coral stones and cemented by egg white in 1727. Alongside it is a convent and a small museum that has some ancient liturgical materials and images preserved.

One mystery that the Baclayon church holds is the face of Padre Pio miraculously imprinted on the side foundation of the church. I was pretty amazed when I snapped a picture of it. His face was really there!

Padre Pio or Saint Pio is a friar, priest born May 25, 1887. Considered to have lived a holy life despite of poor health. Ever since the imprint was discovered, Baclayon Church has become a distinct town for Padre Pio devotees.

Old building in Loboc

Unfortunately, after the devastating magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Bohol last October 2013, some of the old churches and facade including Baclayon and Loboc church were immensely damaged and destroyed. But they still remain as major tourist attractions in the Bohol province.

Butterfly Garden

Located at Bilar, Bohol, Butterfly Garden houses hundreds of beautiful butterflies. There are breeding areas and some exhibits about a butterfly life cycle and its kind.

A butterfly feeding on a sponge

There are also some photo ops where you can pretend that you have wings!

Loboc River Cruise

A local version of a floating restaurant, only in the Philippines. Here, you will experience a buffet meal while touring along the scenery of Loboc River. The food is of course consists of native Filipino cuisines at an affordable price. Once can surely have his appetite with the enriching and relaxing greenery of the surroundings. At some point during the tour, there will be local people performing native music for free. What a cool experience!

Blood Compact Shrine (Sandugo)

Blood compact is an aged-old ritual in the Philippines intended to seal treaty or friendship. The most famous sandugo that ever happened in the country is in Bohol where the first international treaty between the Spaniards and Filipinos happened. Nowadays, the landmark has become a tourist spot in the province where a monument, with bronze statues of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Rajah Sikatuna and some other witnesses, depicts the famed tradition.

Bamboo Hanging Bridge

A 40-meter fun attraction crossing the Sipatan river and is constructed mainly of bamboos and rope. I was quite scared to cross the bridge, but surprisingly, it was sturdy enough to carry a number of tourists. Across the bridge are souvenir shops.

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Bohol is really an awesome place to see with a lot of things to do and appreciate. The locals are very friendly and helpful. Just like what we always say, it's more fun in the Philippines!

A disclaimer: Some of the photos are taken by my friends :)

During my elementary days, whenever my teacher asks for an example of a burol, we instantly think of Chocolate Hills in Bohol. I always see it on my History books, tagged as one of the major tourist attractions in the Philippines. Lucky enough, last year I had the chance to finally meet this well-known tourist spot in Bohol.

Bohol is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, with Tagbilaran City as its capital. Considered as the 10th largest province in my country with 75 surrounding islets.

How to get to Bohol

From Manila, it will only take less than an hour plane ride to Tagbilaran City. CebuPacific and AirAsia have the cheapest flights flying to and from Bohol. The other option is to take a ferry boat from Cebu. The trip takes around 2 hours, which costs 500php one way.

Chocolate Hills

Chocolate Hills is basically a terrain of bizarrely formed hills, comprised of more than a thousand individual grass-covered hills. It is called as such because they look like bulks of giant chocolate during summer season.

Albeit the pretty hard rain that showered when we took our visit, Chocolate Hills still left us in awe. One has to climb a high set of stairs to reach the top viewing point where tourists pose and do funny perspective shots with the hills in the background. Some poses like they're sitting or touching the top of the hill.

Tarsiers

Apart from the Chocolate Hills that made Bohol a major tourist spot, it is also home to the cute little endemic Philippine tarsier - a very peculiar small mammal. I was actually surprised to how small it is. They are like the size of my fist, some are even smaller! On the other hand, the dwarfish their body is, the enormous their eyes are. It was like their gonna fall from their head. They are really so cute and adorable.

Tarsiers are nocturnal animals. During our tour, we were warned not to make too much noise and camera flashes are not allowed. The reason for this is because tarsiers tend to commit suicide when exposed to stress and activities. The good thing is that they are well kept at the Philippine Tarsier Conservation Center in Loboc, Bohol.

Panglao Island

If you are on an island, then you would definitely think of beaches, right? Then Bohol won't fail you on this part! Bohol is gifted with white sandy beaches and seas abundant with fishes and creatures.

Panglao Island is the most visited and developed island in Bohol. You can go snorkeling or island hopping. I had fun playing in the white powdery sand and smooth sea floor. I was stunned at how the shore widens during low tide which means broader sand to play with!

We rented a banca that took us to the snorkeling spot and virgin island. There is nothing much to do at the virgin island, but just to relax and swim. There are buko juices for sale and even sea urchins! It was my first time eating such which tasted mostly like an oyster.

Powdery white sand

Other places to visit..

You may think that was enough, but there is still a lot of must see places in Bohol like the hundred year-old churches, butterfly conservation center, blood compact shrine and souvenir shops! Truly a major destination in the Philippines.

See my part 2 post here for the other attractions in Bohol!

A disclaimer: Some of the photos are taken by my friends :)