Breathtaking Isla Verde, Batangas

April 13, 2016 Travel

Every time I was on a ferry to Mindoro, I thought about visiting Isla Verde.

Isla Verde is situated between the islands of Luzon and Mindoro.  It is along the Verde Island Passage, one of the busiest sea lanes in the Philippines. 

Verde Island Passage is also one of the country's marine reserves, considered as the center of the world's coral triangle. It has the highest concentration of biodiversity in a given area.


So, when I found friends who didn't have any plans last weekend, I invited them to explore Isla Verde with me.  We packed for an overnight stay; shopped for two days worth of food and drinks; and researched as much as we can online.

We had an awful start though. We decided to arrange for a private boat to bring us to Isla Verde. We wanted to have more time to enjoy the island and not wait for the public or passenger boats, which leaves Tabangao Aplaya in Batangas City at 9:00 AM.  Our meet-up time was 6:00 AM but the boat was late.  That was not the issue, though.  It was when some of the residents tried to prevent us from loading our things and boarding the boat.  They were citing different issues, when obviously, it was only because it was affecting their business.

After a few negotiations, we were allowed to leave, and we left there all negative vibes.  Although, it seemed the sea agreed with the residents because it was a rough sail to Isla Verde.

Anyway, we arrived safe and to the warm welcome of Tita Jo of Isla Verde Tropical Verde Resort.


At first, I was disappointed because I was expecting a white sand beach resort, but as soon as I settled into our little Kubo or hut and enjoyed the laid back feel of the resort, the feeling of disappointment faded away.

Isla Verde Tropical Verde Resort is a small resort with traditional kubos. It has a cafe, which they operate, I guess, during peak seasons.  Comfort room is common.  They also have a dining and cooking area using firewoods for guests. Camping is also allowed.

We requested Tita Jo to arrange for us a boat so that we could see the rest of the island, which she gladly did.  We spent the rest of our afternoon hopping from one beach to another.

The island's coastline ranges from rough rock formations to cream colored sandy beaches. From the name itself, Verde Island is covered with verdant greens.



Since we only had an afternoon to explore, we decided on two stops only. 

This was our first stop.


From afar, we already couldn't contain our excitement as soon as that sandbar became visible. 

This is part of San Andres, and it is one of Isla Verde's most beautiful spots.  The sand, like most parts of Isla Verde, is not fine.  It is mostly crushed corals. But, who cares? The sandbar (or crushed coral bar) is beautiful as it is. 


This part of the island faces Batangas, and I suspect that is where the trashes came from.   Anyway, there were only a few and place still looked pristine. 

We left after less than an hour and moved to our next stop - San Agapito. Again, we were awed. 

There are two resorts here.  The first, Sawang, is a popular stop among Puerto Galera Divers.  They have daybeds, huts, and tables.


Look at that clear water surrounding the resort.



The other resort is Surface Interval, and it is equally beautiful.  It also mostly caters to divers.  They have huts, hammocks and a grotto that overlooks the resort.



On our way back to the resort, we also caught a glimpse of the popular Isla Verde Resort. The sand looked fine and white from afar.


That night, we had bonfire by the beach.  The resort has a mound for a bonfire and Tita Jo made sure our bonfire stayed lit while we had our drinks.  We also enjoyed the company of countless stars. 

We spent the following morning snorkeling in front of our resort.





We left lunch time. We were worried about the waves, but thankfully, it was a calmer sea.  We also didn't have any hassle when we returned to Tabangao Aplaya. In fact, they were welcoming.  They even offered water for wash-up. 

Overall, it was a wonderful weekend. 

I wish we stayed longer to enjoy more the company of Tita Joe, to see up close Verde Island Resort, and to swim and stay longer in San Agapito. 

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6 comments

  1. Hello there! Nice review! May I know who's your contact on the private boat going to Isla Verde?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! Sorry for late reply. The private boat was arranged by the resort, Isla Verde Tropical Verde Resort. http://islaverderesort.com

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