Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Mindoro
Within a few hours of Manila, yet worlds away, Mindoro remains undeveloped
even by Philippine provincial standards. Much of the island is wild and
rugged, with some near-impenetrable hinterlands and an often desolate
coastline of wide bays and isolated fishing villages. The island, seventh largest
in the archipelago, is divided lengthways into two provinces, Mindoro
Occidental and Mindoro Oriental; the latter is the more developed and
visited. Most travellers head this way only for the beaches, scuba diving and
nightlife around the picturesque town of Puerto Galera on Mindoro Oriental's
northern coast, a short ferry trip across the Isla Verde Passage from Batangas,
but there is much more to Mindoro than this. Few people, Filipinos included,
realize that the island is home to several areas of outstanding natural beauty,
all protected to some degree by local or international decree.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
MINDORO
Batangas City to Calapan and Abra de Ilog
Montenegro Lines ( W montenegrolines.com.ph) runs hourly
ferries to Calapan (P240), 44km southeast of Galera, and
Abra de Ilog (3 daily; P260), 30km west. Fast Cat ( W fastcat
.com.ph) also runs between Batangas and Calapan (1am,
6am, 3pm & 8pm; P190) in just 1hr 30min.
Batangas City to San José Montenegro Lines also
operates ferries to San José (Mon, Wed & Fri 6pm; P726).
Roxas to Caticlan (for Boracay) Roxas is a key link on
the Strong Nautical Highway route to Boracay, and there
are regular ferries departing for Caticlan (4hr). Starlite
Ferries runs twice daily ( T 043 723 9965; 9pm & 11pm,
returning noon & 4pm; P420), while Montenegro Lines
( W montenegrolines.com.ph) has five daily boats (usually
4am, 10am, 4pm, 8pm & midnight; P460).
San José to Taytay and Cuyo Montenegro also links San
José with Taytay in Palawan (P1065) and the tiny island of
Cuyo (P498) - call to confirm times.
BY PLANE
San José airport , in the south of Mindoro Occidental, is
served by 1 daily flight (55min) from Manila with Cebu
Pacific. There is no airport serving Puerto Galera.
BY BOAT
Manila to Puerto Galera A good way to reach Puerto
Galera and Sabang from Manila is to buy a combined bus-
boat ticket with Si-Kat (daily 8.30am; arrive Sabang 12.15pm
and Muelle pier 1pm; T 02 708 9628, W sikatferrybus.com;
P700); the bus departs from their o ce at City State Tower,
1315 Mabini St, Ermita.
Batangas City to Puerto Galera and Balatero The
main ferry port for departures to Puerto Galera's Muelle
pier is Batangas City (see p.120). There are frequent
departures (daily 6.30am-5pm) from Batangas to Muelle
pier (P230), Sabang (P230) and White Beach (P270) on
large outriggers, easy to find on arrival at Batangas Port
Terminal 3; companies running them include Father and
Son Shipping Line (FSL; T 043 287 3047, W puertogalera
ferry.net). A chartered outrigger will cost at least P4000
one way. All passengers must also pay the terminal fee
(P30), and those disembarking at Puerto Galera an
Environmental User Fee (P50), before boarding. In addition,
Montenegro Lines ( W montenegrolines.com.ph) operates
a car ferry from Batangas City to Balatero, 3km west of
Puerto Galera (daily 7am & noon; 2hr; passengers P170).
BY BUS
Manila to San José Dimple Star Transport ( T 02 517
9677) runs two direct bus routes to Mindoro from Manila (3
daily) from Ali Mall in Cubao and Pasay to San José, both via
Batangas port (10hr). From here some buses take the ferry
between Batangas and Abra de Ilog before continuing on
to San José via Sablayan, while other buses take the ferry
between Batangas and Calapan and then continue on to
Puerto Galera orientation p.242
Diving in Puerto Galera p.244
Day-trips around Puerto Galera p.245
The Mangyan p.250
 
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