The essence of Puro Island’s charm stems from the unspoiled character that it has retained and there is little electricity on the island with the lighting provided mainly by old fashioned kerosene lamps.
Puro Island is the epitome of peace and quiet in a natural paradise without much tourist infrastructure and a small selection of amenities. It sits only one mile from Tablas and is rich in a fertile environment with the local waters teeming with marine life.
The stretch of sea between Puro Island and Guinbirayan is shallow and subject to intertidal fluctuations, meaning that it is possible to walk between the two places at low tide. The beaches are clean and devoid of tourists with the sea especially fun for snorkeling.
The massive tides can lead to tricky swimming thanks to the trapped fish, shells and sea grass that gather close to shore until the next tide takes them back out to sea. Sea urchins can also be a problem, so if you want to avoid a nasty needle in your foot, wear beach shoes or rubber booties.
Getting There & Away
From Batangas, head for Odiongan on a journey that takes 8 hours by bus. From here, take a jeepney and boat mix to Guinbirayan or drive yourself. Manila has an international airport from where you can get a flight to Tablas with a journey time of an hour then make your way via jeepney and boat to Puro Island. From Tablas you can get a banca boat from the town of Guinbirayan that takes 15 to 20 minutes.