Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
biodiversity of its thickly jungled slopes. To the east of Puerto Galera, near the port of
Calapan
, is
Mount Halcon
- at 2587m, Mindoro's tallest peak and a di
cult climb even
for experienced mountaineers. The south of the island is less populated than the north,
with few tourists making it as far as
Roxas
on the southeast coast unless they're taking
a ferry to Caticlan (for Boracay).
5
Puerto Galera
One of the country's most popular resorts,
PUERTO GALERA
(meaning “Port of the
Galleons”) boasts some of the most diverse coral reef diving in Asia and gorgeous,
bone-white beaches, as a result of which the whole area is often mobbed during
national holidays. Arriving by ferry is a memorable experience, the boat slipping gently
through aquamarine waters past a series of headlands fringed with haloes of sand and
coconut trees. Brilliant white yachts lie at anchor in the innermost bay and in the
background looms the brooding hulk of Mount Malasimbo, invariably crowned with
a ring of cumulus cloud.
Founded by the Spanish in 1574, the town was once an important port and served
as Mindoro's capital until 1837, when Calapan assumed the role. Today it's a natural
choice for escaping Manileños, so book ahead if you're planning to visit during
Easter and summer weekends. There's also plenty on offer in addition to diving,
including excellent snorkelling, trekking into the mountains and beach- and
island-hopping by bangka.
Poblacion (Puerto Galera town)
Poblacion
, Puerto Galera town itself, occupies a marvellous location, overlooking
Muelle Bay on one side and with green hills behind it, and you could sit for hours over
a cool drink at one of the sleepy little cafés right on the waterfront at Muelle Pier
watching the bangkas phut-phut back and forth. The town has various souvenir shops,
general stores and a handful of modest places to stay, but despite its beautiful views and
appealingly sleepy tropical ambience, there are no compelling reasons to base yourself
here and most tourists move straight on to the beaches and dive resorts.
Excavation Museum
Nautical Hwy at P Concepcion St • Daily 8-11.30am & 1.30-5pm • Free (donation suggested)
Located near the town hall and within the grounds of the Immaculate Concepcion
Church, the
Excavation Museum
contains a small but intriguing collection of items
excavated from gravesites and underwater wrecks in the region - some items date back
to 200 BC. Highlights include fragments of ancient Chinese porcelain and Siamese
pottery, as well as Ming dynasty burial jars.
Batangas City
Batangas City
ACCOMMODATION
Blue Crystal Beach Resort
Coco Aroma
Coco Beach Island Resort
Kalaw Place
Lenly's Cottages
Luca's
Escarceo
Point
Lighthouse
9
3
1
6
2
10
Marco Vincent Dive Resort
Mountain Beach Resort
Summer Connection
Sunset at Aninuan
Beach Resort
Tamaraw Beach Resort
5
11
4
8
7
Verde Island
Passage
Medio
Sabang
Sinandigan
Point
Sinandigan
Boquete
Sinandigan
Cove
White
Beach
Minolo
Bay
Muelle
Bay
Balatero
Pier
Coral
Cove
Palangán
Markoe Cove
Talipanan
Beach
Aninuan
Beach
Puerto
Galera
N
Tanawin
Bay
Palangán Beach
Mindoro
EATING & DRINKING
Coca Aroma
Varadero Bay
1
0
1
PUERTO GALERA AREA
kilometre
Python Cave, Tamaraw Falls, Calapan, Roxas & San José
