Travel Guide Puerto Galera

Located at the tip of Mindoro's northeast coast, this seaside resort, known as the "Pearl of Mindoro", is easily accessible from Manila. Puerto Galera nestles at the head of an almost enclosed bay, a succession of coves and beaches. In fact, its bay regularly features on lists of the world's most beautiful bays. This indented coastline, bathed in clear waters, is home to coral gardens and exceptional marine fauna (moray eels, stingrays, barracudas, sea turtles, octopus and other small tropical fish). So, above all, it's a destination that attracts divers. Apart from the beaches, for the repose of the soul or land sports enthusiasts, there are other attractions on offer, such as forest walks on the lands of the Mangyan tribes. The surrounding mountains are ideal for trekking. It's a pity that the poorly controlled development of the area has led to a loss of charm for the site, which is now very built-up and crowded. But it remains an excellent destination for scuba diving.Oriental Mindoro is the province closest to the capital (130 km south of Manila). It lies 45 km south of Batangas, bordered to the north by the Passage and the island of Verde, and to the east by the Strait of Tablas. The province, 70% of which is rural, is surrounded by 38 islets and islands. Fishing and agriculture (rice, fruit and vegetables) are the traditional activities. There are six Mangyan tribes living in the highlands, belonging to various linguistic groups: iraya, alangan, tadyawan, buhid, hanunoo and tao-buhid. They produce beautiful handicrafts from natural materials. Calapan, the capital of Oriental Mindoro, offers no particular attractions for the traveller. Nearby Puerto Galera stands in stark contrast to its many activities and highly-developed tourist infrastructure. Mindoro Oriental offers white sandy beaches, coral reefs, magnificent waterfalls, rivers and forests.