Oriental Mindoro: Things to do in Puerto Galera

Just a few hours from Metro Manila, Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro is a favorite for weekend travelers looking for a beach close enough to the city; but one that offers many options to fit your ideal beach destination. Be it a party, food adventure, a cultural encounter, an underwater paradise or a deserted stretch of white sand, Puerto Galera has something to offer. Here are some things you could see and do in Puerto Galera:

1. Experience some of the most diverse coral reefs in the world
It seems that most foreigners visit Puerto Galera to dive. Sabang Beach is teeming with dive resorts. The beach itself is nothing really. But many stay in Sabang Beach because it is the jump-off point for the wonderful dive areas of the coast of Mindoro. Remember that the waters in between Batangas and Mindoro are said to be the center of the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world! You won't be disappointed when you choose Puerto Galera as your dive destination, definitely a diver's paradise!

2. Visit the many beaches
White Beach is of course the most popular. There are many places to stay, a lot of food options, and an active nightlife. So if you are looking for the party, then White Beach is the place. But since almost everyone is there, peace and quiet might be difficult to find. But don't fret, with over forty kilometers of coastline, Puerto Galera has other beach options.

We stayed at Aninuan Beach, a few minutes away from White Beach. But among the top five beaches are Bulabod, Aplayang Munti, Bayanan, Haligi Beach on Boquete Island, and Long Beach on San Antonio Island. Beach hopping tours are available at Minolo Port.

3. Meet the local Mangyan community
We got to visit the Talipanan Mangyan Village near Aninuan. They have a very active basket weaving venture and you can buy good quality baskets and other products, or have some made to order to your specifications. There is another Mangyan village further up the mountains in Baclayan where you can also arrange a cultural immersion.

4. Visit its many waterfalls
Tamaraw Falls is of course the most popular, being the most accessible. But if you're a fan of waterfalls, you can visit Tukuran, Aninuan and Talipanan Falls as well.

5. Drive up to the Ponderosa Golf Club
If you're a golfer, I'm sure you'll enjoy this one. But non-golfers will definitely enjoy the view of Puerto Galera Bay. And yes, they are constructing a zipline there as we speak.

6. Attend the music festivals
Mark your calendars for the Malasimbo Arts and Music Festival which happens early in the year. It's a chance to celebrate music, arts and nature in an outdoor natural amphitheater at the foot of Mount Malasimbo. Every Black Saturday, you can catch the Summer Music Festival to enjoy a night of reggae.

7. Go on a food adventure in Sabang Beach
Because of the many international tourists it caters to, Sabang Beach is host to many really great restaurants serving international cuisine. I definitely enjoyed dinner at Toko's in Atlantis Dive Resort. Aside from their really diverse menu, they have daily specials and serve really good pizza!

How to get to Puerto Galera
Please check out this detailed post on how to get to Puerto Galera (White Beach, Sabang and Muelle). It includes options for getting to Batangas Port and to Puerto Galera.

Oriental Mindoro: How to get to Puerto Galera (White Beach, Sabang & Muelle)

Manila Channel at the entrance of Puerto Galera Bay

Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, most known for White Beach and Sabang Beach, is quite close to Metro Manila. It has 42-kilometers of uneven coastline which will most definitely satisfy your preferences, be it a party beach or laid back quiet getaway.

There are several ways to reach Puerto Galera. By car, take the SLEX and STAR Tollway all the way to Batangas Port (about 2 hours). You can leave your vehicle in the open air parking facility (they call it Park and Ride which is the term the guards are familiar with), or you can take your vehicle to Mindoro via the RORO to Calapan City (although Calapan is still an hour away from Puerto Galera, about 51 kilometers). The Park and Ride costs Php155 for overnight parking and Php6 per hour in excess of 24 hours.

Yachts anchored in Puerto Galera Bay

Alternately, public buses go all the way to Batangas Port. So make sure to ask the bus if it's going all the way to Batangas Port before boarding. Outrigger boats for Puerto Galera (sorry, no airconditioned fast crafts servicing Puerto Galera) leave from Batangas Port Terminal 3.

View of White Beach in Puerto Galera

Note that there are various Puerto Galera destinations which include White Beach, Sabang and Muelle (which is the main port in the poblacion of Puerto Galera). There are also trips to Aninuan and Talipanan. So make sure you know where your resort is. I spent Php220 for a ticket to Muelle, Php30 for the terminal fee (which you pay for when you purchase your ticket), and Php50 for the environmental fee paid in another counter in the ticketing area. The boat trip takes between 1 to 2 hours.

Minolo Shippine Lines (MSL)
Boats leave Batangas Pier every 15 to 30 minutes from 6 a.m. (5 a.m. during Peak Season) to 5 p.m. Tickets to Muelle cost Php220, while tickets to White Beach cost Php275 one-way and Php500 round-trip. MSL leaves Muelle between 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and White Beach between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. (4 p.m. on holidays)
Tel. Nos. (043) 2873614 (MSL Office); (0917) 8392608, (0916) 6054887 for Batangas; (0915) 2044348 and (043) 2873608 for Muelle; (0916) 2074747, (0915) 4945323 for White Beach

Father and Son Lines (FSL)
Boats leave Batangas Pier every 15 to 30 minutes from 5 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. FSL has trips to Sabang, Muelle and White Beach. Ticket cost is Php230 for Sabang and Muelle; Php270 one-way and Php500 round-trip for White Beach. MSL leaves White Beach daily between 8 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. (7 a.m. on Monday, Sunday and Holidays; 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. during Sundays and holidays)
Tel. Nos. (0917) 3610772 or (0943) 3236992

Galerian Lines
Boats depart Batangas Pier between 5:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. White Beach fare is Php275 one-way and Php500 round-trip; Aninuan and Talipanan fare is Php325.
Tel. Nos. (0915) 3128647; (0916) 4427936; (0916) 2056110; (0922) 7676903; (0905) 3839079; (0916) 4446605

There are also passenger and RORO services to Calapan for those who want to bring their vehicles to Mindoro. Trips are also more frequent and are available 24/7. Remember that the trip to Calapan takes about 2 hours plus another hour by land from Calapan to Puerto Galera. Here are your options:

Montenegro Lines
Passenger and RORO ships from depart from Batangas Pier to Calapan and v.v. every two hours for 24 hours at even-numbered times. RORO fare is Php1536 for light vehicles, Php240 per person for regular fare, but they are currently on promo fare at Php192 per person. They have WiFi on board.
Tel. Nos. (043) 7238294 or (043) 7236980

Super Shuttle
Passenger and RORO ships depart Batangas Pier for Calapan at 5:15 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. and depart Calapan for Batangas at 1:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. RORO fare is Php1440 for light vehicles and Php192 per person.
Tel .No. (043) 7221655

Starlight Ferries
Passenger ships depart Batangas Pier for Calapan every two hours for 24 hours at odd-numbered times. Regular fare is Php180.
Tel. No. (043) 7239965

Note: Fares and schedules are accurate on the date of posting. Best to call the phone numbers above for confifmation of schedules and fares.

More from Puerto Galera soon! I'm here to judge for the De Galera Festival. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @ivanhenares.