Background
Puerto Galera is the northwesternmost municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It is located at the southwestern end of the Isla Verde Passage, about 130 kilometers (81 mi) south of Manila. This coastal town is well known among tourists for its numerous pocket beaches and many snorkeling and Scuba diving spots.
The area was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973 and has some of the most diverse coral reef diving in Asia. The marine environment has benefited in recent years from the influx of tourist dollars. This has seen a huge reduction in the number of fishermen in the area, as they gain higher revenue from tourists.
Puerto Galera is a listed by the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World, and is the only bay in the Philippines to be listed there.
Among the famous beaches in Puerto Galera are Sabang Beach and White Beach, which have an active nightlife with numerous bars and restaurants. Both beaches also have an array of first-class and economy-class accommodations.
Sabang beach is the main destination for foreign tourists, while White Beach remains popular with local travelers. Big La Laguna Beach and Small La Laguna Beach are considered part of Sabang with resorts lining the beaches. Big La Laguna Beach is popular for local swimmers and snorkelers. Since 2001 White beach has seen uncontrolled development. New restaurants and places to stay are rapidly encroaching on the beach itself and little remains of the once charming beach. Puerto Galera town is a pleasant but sleepy Philippine town with few attractions. It has a large central catholic church and a Pier area, with a selection of bistros and cafes.
Puerto Galera is the northwesternmost municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It is located at the southwestern end of the Isla Verde Passage, about 130 kilometers (81 mi) south of Manila. This coastal town is well known among tourists for its numerous pocket beaches and many snorkeling and Scuba diving spots.
The area was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973 and has some of the most diverse coral reef diving in Asia. The marine environment has benefited in recent years from the influx of tourist dollars. This has seen a huge reduction in the number of fishermen in the area, as they gain higher revenue from tourists.
Puerto Galera is a listed by the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World, and is the only bay in the Philippines to be listed there.
Among the famous beaches in Puerto Galera are Sabang Beach and White Beach, which have an active nightlife with numerous bars and restaurants. Both beaches also have an array of first-class and economy-class accommodations.
Sabang beach is the main destination for foreign tourists, while White Beach remains popular with local travelers. Big La Laguna Beach and Small La Laguna Beach are considered part of Sabang with resorts lining the beaches. Big La Laguna Beach is popular for local swimmers and snorkelers. Since 2001 White beach has seen uncontrolled development. New restaurants and places to stay are rapidly encroaching on the beach itself and little remains of the once charming beach. Puerto Galera town is a pleasant but sleepy Philippine town with few attractions. It has a large central catholic church and a Pier area, with a selection of bistros and cafes.
Behind the beaches are the huge and generally unexplored mountain ranges of central Mindoro. A particular local attraction is the nine hole golf course perched on the hillside above White Beach which commands spectacular views over Puerto Galera's natural harbor and the Verde Island Passage. Mangyan tribes are scattered over the mountain sides - some of the more remote tribes have virtually no contact with the outside world. Of the eight tribes on Mindoro, the Iraya are the largest. They are based in the Puerto Galera area.
Puerto Galera is among the top diving destination in the Philippines. Excellent diving is found less than 5 minutes from Sabang Beach. The diving generally focuses around the areas either side of Escarceo Point, which is famous for its current rips. Strong currents are a feature of the diving in Puerto Galera and it is good advice to employ the services of an experienced local guide or dive centre. There are more than thirty dive sites all within a 5-10 minute banca ride from Sabang Beach. Marine life is highly diverse. 180+ species of nudibranchs are found in the area and many species of fish can be seen. A variety of wrecks have been sunk over the years in addition to the one wreck of an engine of a WWII Japanese patrol boat.
Puerto Galera is also one of the main technical diving destinations in Asia. Technical Diving International - [TDI] has many dive centers in the area, offering the full range of TDI courses from Basic nitrox to advanced trimix.
(Reference: Wikepedia)
The Experience
I had been to Puerto Galera three times in my life. Puerto Galera is one of the most visited weekend getaway for the big city dwellers. From Manila, it can be reached within three hours by land (1.5-2 hours drive to the Port of Batangas) and sea (45-minute ferry ride).
The first ferry stop in Puerto Galera is the Muelle Pier where the Puerto Galera Yacht Club is based. This port is nearer to the Poblacion where most of the business establishments, market and banks are.
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The Puerto Galera Yatch Club.
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One of the activities in Puerto Galera is riding the Banana boat. Well, they are named after the fruit where they are shaped from.
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The Banana Boats at the shore of the White Beach, Puerto Galera.
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The Banana Boat is attached to a speedboat by a rope. It was my first time to ride this inflated rubber banana here at Puerto Galera.
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The Banana Boat in Action.
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We were asked if we want to have a regular ride or a ride with a twist. We chose the one with the twist - there was really a twist.
This is White Beach, this is where most of the tourists flock especially during summer. The blue sea looks great in the morning! And seeing a rainbow against the serene blue sea and sky was breathtaking!
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The Twist! Everyone Gets Thrown Away from the Banana Boat!
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Morning at the White Beach, Puerto Galera.
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I was able to catch one of the most beautiful sunsets I had ever seen here at Puerto Galera.
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Sunset at the White Beach, Puerto Galera.
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This was taken a minute before the sun finally disappeared of my sight.
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The Sun, Sky and Sea.
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Check my next post on how to create a Puerto Galera weekend getaway your way!
Nice Photos! We will be there on May with my barkada, and i'm actually looking for a reviews about tribal hotel,i bought on a group buying site Tribal Hills - Puerto Galera its a 62% Off.
ReplyDeleteThanks for appreciating the pictures. I hope you had a blast when you went to Puerto Galera!
ReplyDelete