Pandan Island Resort

 If you are looking for an “off the beaten path” beach resort in Mindoro, then Pandan Island Resort is such a place. Although it doesn’t have the usual amenities other resorts have like flowing water and continuous electricity, its pristine environment more than made up for it. More than the white sand and lying on the hammock while enjoying the salty breeze, staying in the island means communing with nature. For instance, how many beach resorts in the Philippines give you the privilege of swimming with sea turtles by just snorkeling?

If you get tired of swimming with sea turtles, then you can proceed to viewing the beautiful corals and various sea creatures in their Mother Nature created coral garden. And if snorkeling wasn’t enough for you, the resort also has its own Scuba diving school and dive shop. And you are just ninety minutes away from Apo Reef, the second largest coral reef in the world and the largest in the Philippines. So it’s a perfect place for one who wants to learn how to dive and for those who are already into diving. 

But even if you are not into diving and just looking for a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life, Pandan Island is a good getaway destination and an affordable one too. You can go kayaking and exploring the island’s immediate environs. And even if you are not a diver, you can still enjoy the magnificence  of Apo  Reef by arranging a side trip to Apo Reef Natural Park or Apo Island, the island is perfect for photography enthusiasts and  snorkeling.  

Getting there

 
Pandan Island is in the town of Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental. 

There are three ways of getting into Pandan Island from Manila:

1. You can fly directly by sea plane, obviously the most convenient yet the most expensive because you need to hire one, it will cost you about 700 $ for three passengers for just one way.  

Please visit http://www.seaplane-philippines.com/ for more information. 

2. You can fly to San Jose, Mindoro Occidental using the commercial airlines Zest Air, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airlines. From San Jose you can take a bus to Sablayan approximately a three hours trip, ordinary buses usually leaves every hour. There are also air-conditioned buses from San Jose to Manila via Abra de Ilog, if these buses are not fully booked which oftentimes the case depending on the season; they also drop passengers to Sablayan for a fare of about 140 pesos per passenger. From the town proper take a tricycle to the breakwater, from there you can hire a flatboat to Pandan Island for about 100 pesos. 

3. If you want to see the countryside of Mindoro Occidental or you are on a tight budget then you can travel by land to Sablayan via Abra de Ilog aboard an air-conditioned bus. Dimple Star Transport is one of such buses; they have terminals in Cubao, Sampaloc, Pasay, Santolan and Alabang. The fare from one of these terminals to Sablayan is about 800 pesos per passenger.(see the entry Dimple Star Transport for more information)  From the town proper take a tricycle to the breakwater, from there you can hire a flatboat to Pandan Island for about 100 pesos.

The best time of the year to visit Pandan Island is from December to May during the dry season. But that time of the year is also a peak season for the resort, be sure to make reservations first because they have limited accommodations. 

Please visit their website: http://www.pandan.com/ for more information.