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THE ISLAND AT A GLIMPSE
Puerto Galera is a soothing vision of shimmering seas
surrounded by lush mountains. It is considered one of the
most beautiful and developed beach resort community in the
country. Starting from "backyard tourism" wherein local
residents accept local and foreign tourist as stay-in guest,
Puerto Galera tourism has flourished. In the course of
time, several hotels, resorts, inns and restaurants have
mushroomed within the area. Upon arrival,
visitors board any of the waiting bancas (outrigger boat)
that ferry passengers across the surrounding waters and into
the various resorts dotting the coastline. Jeepneys to the
inland hamlets of Sabang, Small and Big La Laguna, White
Beach and Talipanan Point likewise traverse hilly,
tree-lined routes that offer a sweeping view of the island’s
less aquatic, but equally tropical side.
There are a thousand things one can do here.
Landlubbers can pitch tents, light bonfires, play volleyball,
toss a Frisbee, go beach-hopping, watch the sunset, gaze at the
stars, hike, go rock climbing, carom off on a motorcycle,
discover Oriental Mindoro’s other tourist spots or simply live
it up. The PG chapter of the Hash House Harriers – a
club that started 50 years ago in Kuala Lumpur and which was
introduced to the Philippines in the early 90’s – regularly
holds "runs": rowdy drinking sprees that have participants
following two trails, one of which leads no where. When a runner
follows the wrong track, he has to go back, downing bottles of
beer in the process. What follows is a night of revelry no doubt
spurred by the free flowing booze.
But water is certainly the main attraction of the island.
Crystal clear and shimmering especially during the hot summer
months, the sea framing PG is ideal for swimming,
sailing, surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving. In fact one
doesn’t have to go by boat to get to a dive site. Within a
kilometer from the coast, schools of Moorish idols, trumpet
fish, frog fish, lion fish and leaf fish weave in and out of
thriving corals and sea anemones while species of starfish –
from the speckled red-and-white to the neon-blue Pacific-rest on
the sandy floor.
diving philippines
Gradually sloping beaches – with the terrain ranging from
powder white sand to grainy dark sand to smooth stones to
rough coral rubble – comprise a large chunk of the island’s
25,247 hectares. And while the department of tourism’s last
count pegs the number of resorts at 63, pockets of isolated
and virtually "resort-less" coves and beaches are tucked
between massive rock formations. Then, as now water was what
shaped the island. As early as the 10th century, Chinese,
Indonesians and Malay merchants were already doing business
with locals in what is now known as Mindoro, the tiny strip
of land which the Chinese called "Mai" and which lay
directly in the Asia-Pacific trade route. In route to Manila
in 1570, a Spanish expedition led by Martin de Goiti and
Juan de Salcedo stumbled upon the resource-rich island and
christened the entire province Mindoro after the harbor at
Minolo. Mindoro was later divided into the provinces of
Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.
At the height of the raids mounted by Moro pirates in the 17th
century. Mindoro was a defensive bastion, with fortresses in the
nearby towns of Calapan and Mamburao. PG, the
northernmost strip so named because it served as a port for
Spanish galleys, became the capital. Here, the Spanish found
safe anchorage and put up dock-repair facilities for the
galleons that plied the Manila-Acapulco route. The island’s
generally calm waters, however, belied a tumultuous streak, and
once in a while giant waves would crush galleons and marauding
vessels. Coins, jars, lamps, swords and other artifacts salvaged
from shipwrecks and sunken vessels are displayed at the
Poblacion Museum and at Capt’n Greggs in Sabang, lending credence
to the island’s colorful history.
diving philippines
Today, foreigners continue to be part of the island. They
have been flocking since the late 70’s making it one of the
country’s foremost tourist destinations. Many, for whom the lure
of the tropics proved too strong, have stayed on triggering a
real-estate boom in the process and growing expatriate
community.
Outside of minor glitches, PG is a tropical paradise
that is both rustic and thriving. By day it echoes with the soft
breeze and the pounding waves. At night, it comes to life with
heady laughter and the clink of wine and glasses, only to segue
once again to the barest whisper of the elements. |
White Beach Puerto Galera
Summer Packages
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Tourist Information:
Going to PG? White Beach?
CHAT WITH
OUR
REPRESENTATIVE NOW!
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HOLIDAY GROUP PACKAGES |
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Group Outing
Packages - Min. of 6 |
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TIPID OVERNIGHT
PACKAGE |
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SUMMER BARKADA
PACKAGE |
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GRAND BARKADA PACKAGE |
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COMPANY OUTING
PACKAGE |
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SABANG OUTING PACKAGE |
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CAR-VAN-COASTER-BUS |
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Manila-Batangas
Pier-Vice Versa |
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TOUR
PACKAGES |
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Tamaraw Falls Tour
Package |
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Tamaraw Falls-Tukuran
Tour Package |
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Coral Garden Tour
Package |
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Sailing Tour Package |
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MAPS |
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Map
of Puerto Galera |
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Map of
Mindoro |
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Map of White Beach |
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HOW TO GET
HERE? |
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Puerto
Galera is easily reachable from Manila in several hours with
many options including private transfer, tourist coach, public
bus and even seaplane. The easiest way to get here is by
packaged trans-portation. Just contact us to arrange
pickup from your location and we take care of all your
transport needs all the way to PG. Another option is
tourist coach which is
cheaper than private transfer but almost as hassle free. There
are two main operators, one being
<<<Read More>>>
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MUST-SEE
LIST |
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Originally a fishing village, PG by the Muelle Bay
is Mindoro’s tourist center. It is the starting point to all
the interesting sites in the vicinity. Within the town, which
has about 6,000 inhabitants, all shopping or any other
business can be done on foot. A stroll from the center to
Balete Beach
<<<Read More>>> |
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THE
UNDERWATER WORLD |
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People
first started coming to the island to dive over fifteen
years ago. At first, they had to carry their own equipment,
including the compressor and tanks. Now this island paradise
is a diver’s destination, a competitive area with twenty seven
dive shops within a short distance to each other. PG is a year-round diving destination, unlike other areas
in the Philippines.
<<<Read More>>> |
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SABANG:
Tourist Center |
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Sabang is the most popular tourist center
in PG especially among foreign
tourist. Nearly 80% of foreigners who come to the island opt to stay and stray
there.
Almost all of the 10
Best Resorts are situated in Sabang and almost all the Dive
Centers are in the area as the best dive sites are within
minutes away.
Visit Sabang, not doing
so might not complete your PG experience. To
book a room now, click HERE. |
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Weather
near Puerto Galera
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