An Enigmatic Sunset at Pandan Island, Sablayan, Mindoro Occ. (courtesy of RGSalonga)
The island was ‘discovered’ and the resort established in 1986 by a French adventurer, this tropical island retreat has been voted time and again as one of the top resorts in the Philippines, not in terms of luxury but for it’s quality of life and it’s personalized atmosphere.
Pandan Island is for people who wants to spend time to tropical surroundings and commune with nature . A perfect place to relax, reflect and unload the stressors of the city-life . This is where you are woken up by the singing of colorful birds, where there is only a palm trees between you and the sea, where you may even meet a sea turtle (pawikan) before having your breakfast . But this is no place for those who are looking for hotel comforts like air-conditioning, cable TV, wi-fi, etc. But who needs it, when you are surrounded by natural beauty where you can do a lot of things under the sun.
However it has a restaurant, a beach bar, billiard table and a dive center. The resort consists of 16 clean rooms and bungalows which are all built from native materials.
The Beautiful & Captivating White Sand Beach
Cottage for rent in the Island. It’s lighting during the evening is powered by solar energy.
How to Get There
By Air
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro is the gateway to Sablayan by air. Airphil Express, Cebu Pacific and Zest Air have regular flights to San Jose from Manila, travel time takes 45 minutes. From San Jose airport, take a short ride by tricycle to bus terminal, then hop to a bus going to Sablayan, fare is a little over P100.00, for a travel time of two-and-a-half to three hours. There are also air-conditioned vans that can be rented from the airport although it costs higher at P3500.00 and up.
By Land/Sea
From Sampaloc, Manila, there are air-conditioned Dimple Star Buses that go to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro passing in Sablayan, fare to Sablayan is P800.00 inclusive of the ferry and terminal fee in Batangas Port, last trip is 8PM from Sampaloc.
From Cubao, Jam liner and DLTB buses or other buses going to Batangas pier.
For budget travelers, the cheapest way to get to Sablayan from Manila by land and sea is to go to Batangas Port for P167.00 fare (as of February 2012 , cheaper on DLTB buses at P133 ) for a travel time of two-and-a-half to three hours, then catch a ferry to Abra de Ilog at P260.00 plus P30.00 terminal fee (as of February 2012), a two to two-and-a-half hours boat ride, and hop on to a Roro Bus or a Dimple Star Bus from Abra de Ilog at P220.00 (as of February 2012) for another three hours ride by bus. If there are still available bus from Batangas Port better arranged your seats from there as the buses are usually get filled even before reaching Abra de Ilog. Alternatively there are vans from Abra de Ilog to Sablayan though rare, charging at least P250.00 per passenger.
Montenegro and Besta are the ferry operators in Batangas Port to Abra de Ilog. Please verify the schedule if you are taking a ferry, their sites are not updated, you may call Montenegro at (043)723-6980 / (043)723-8294 or the Port of Batangas hotline at (043)7238243.
Upon arrival to Sablayan town proper, take a tricycle going to the municipal tourism office, you need to register there. A minimal fee will be charge. Then you can ask them to arrange a ferry boat going to Pandan Is. that charge Php 200/head(it is only about 30 minute ride). After arrival you will be charge with Php 250 for entrance fee if you don’t intend to spend the night. For those who want to have an overnight stay (or so), the cottages and bungalows are available that ranges from Php 700 to Php 3,000/night.