5 Things to Do in Puerto Galera Beach + Itinerary and Resorts

Last Updated on: 7th August 2024, 04:16 am

Puerto Galera is a popular tourist destination in Mindoro, Philippines, known for its stunning beaches and diving spots. Because of its abundant marine biodiversity, it has been designated a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve. Aside from its beaches, Puerto Galera is also famous for the fun-filled activities you can do here. Here are 5 Things to Do in Puerto Galera Beach + Itinerary and Resorts to make the most of your trip.

5 Things to Do in Puerto Galera

1. Go Island Hopping

A trip to Puerto Galera won’t be complete without an island-hopping experience. The typical island-hopping tour covers three to four islands, including Bucana Beach (also known as Little Boracay), Long Beach, Heart Beach, and Haligi Beach. The standard rate for this tour is ₱1,800 ($33) for up to six people, with an additional charge of ₱300 ($4) per extra person. Note that island-hopping tours in Puerto Galera are decentralized, leading to varying prices.

Besides the classic island-hopping tour, you can opt for a combined tour that includes island hopping and snorkeling for approximately ₱1,800 – ₱2,000 ($33) for up to 6-8 people. This option lets you fully enjoy the beaches and marine life of Puerto Galera. Some of the snorkeling attractions include Coral Garden and Giant Water Clams.

Image Source: Asia Divers and Verde View Villas

Many island-hopping tours also include lunch at one of the islands. If you book the tour through your hotel or a local tour agency, check if lunch is included in the package.

You could take the island hopping tour through your hotel/resort since they have contacts with tour agencies that can arrange it.

2. Scuba Diving

Puerto Galera is known for its diverse marine life. Over 300 coral species and 60% of the world’s known shorefish species are found in the nearby Verde Island Passage, which is why it’s one of the best diving spots in the Philippines.

Some of the premier dive sites in Puerto Galera include:

• The Wall in Verde Island: A striking drop-off with large sponges, sea fans, and vibrant soft and hard corals. Divers may encounter manta rays, eagle rays, barracudas, and large schools of fish.
• Manila Channel: An excellent muck diving location featuring a sandy bottom, hard coral patches, and two walls adorned with sponges and corals. It is inhabited by various macro critters such as mantis shrimp, nudibranchs, eels, and crabs.
• Boatyard: Another top muck diving site where divers can spot frogfish, seahorses, ghost pipefish, cuttlefish, and nudibranchs.
• Coral Cove: Renowned for its pygmy seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, and occasional thresher shark sightings.

There are numerous dive resorts and centers in Puerto Galera that offer scuba diving experiences. Here are some of them:

• Atlantis Dive Resort

Official Website: https://www.bluewaterdivetravel.com/atlantis-puerto-galera-dive-resort

• Asia Divers

Official Website: https://asiadivers.com/dive-resort-philippines/diveshop/

• Action Divers

Official Website: https://www.actiondivers.com/dive-puerto-galera.html

Puerto Galera has a year-round diving season, though the best months to dive are from April to September.

3. Stroll Along White Beach

White Beach is the most popular destination in Puerto Galera because of its fine white sand, clear blue waters, and vibrant atmosphere. It’s quite similar to Boracay because many resorts, bars, and shops are near the beach.

Aside from strolling, we also had a great time swimming here because of its clear emerald waters. There’s also a huge sand castle where you can take pictures with your barkada or family, which costs 50 Php.

4. Go on a food trip and night bar hopping

Aside from its beach, another highlight of White Beach is its beachfront restaurants, open-air bars with live entertainment, and vibrant nightlife. Our resort was located near Terminal BBQ, Ribs, Subs & More, a restaurant right in front of the beach that serves affordable meals.

Terminal BBQ Restaurant Interior and Food

What I like about White Beach are its many budget-friendly restaurants that truly satisfy our cravings. There are also street vendors that sell scramble, a popular Filipino frozen dessert made with shaved ice, milk, and various toppings.

Budget Restaurant with an ocean view

The vibrant nightlife here is another reason many tourists visit Puerto Galera. Many bars here offer live entertainment and an open karaoke, where tourists can sing. After taking our dinner, we went to Delgado’s Jam House Resto Bar to try their famous Mindoro Sling, a tropical, fruit-forward drink made with a blend of gold rum, mango nectar, orange juice, lemon juice, and Sprite or soda water.

The Famous Mindoro Sling. A must-try!

White Beach at night

5. Try their watersports

Try Puerto Galera’s watersports to add some adrenaline rush to your vacation. We tried the UFO water ride, and it was a thrilling experience! The ride lasts 15 minutes and costs 1,500 for our group of 5. The 15 minutes were worth it, and there were many times that I almost slipped! That’s how thrilling it was, and I’m so glad we tried it!

There are a lot of other water sports and activities to try, including:

• Kayaking
• Jet Skiing
• Banana Boat rides
• Sailing
• Windsurfing
• Waterskiing
• Speedboat tours

Many resorts and activity providers, such as Badladz Beach & Dive Resort and Extreme Sports Philippines, offer rentals and tours for these activities.

Side Trip:

If you have a car, you should not miss out on these side trip locations in Oriental Mindoro. We had our own vehicle going to Puerto Galera, and we went to these places after our Puerto Galera trip.

See Also: Best Places to Visit in South Luzon

Tamaraw Falls

Distance: 26-min drive from Puerto Galera

This majestic waterfall is located along the highway in Barangay Villaflor and is a common stopover for visitors traveling to Puerto Galera. Entrance is free; however, if you want to swim, there is a small fee to access the mini-resort and swimming pools at the base of the falls. The resort provides amenities such as cottages, tables, and a restaurant.

Infinity Farm Resort, Baco Oriental Mindoro

Distance: 1 hour drive from Puerto Galera

Infinity Farm is located in Mangangan, Baco, Oriental Mindoro, and is easily accessible from Puerto Galera. We went here after our stopover in Tamaraw Falls, and honestly, it’s one of the best spring resorts I’ve been to. It was a weekday, so there were only a few tourists when we arrived.

This huge farm boasts a series of small waterfalls and a clear, flowing river. Tourists can stroll along well-paved boardwalks and relax in riverside cottages. We rented a table and had a boodle fight good for 5 pax, which cost 2,999.

The resort opens at 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM and is closed every Tuesday. To know their entrance and table rates, visit their official website here

Puerto Galera Itinerary:

Here’s our 4-day itinerary at Puerto Galera, which you can follow.

Note: We brought our own vehicle during our stay at Puerto Galera, and we went there via Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. If you don’t have a car, you can follow this helpful itinerary by The Pinay Solo Backpacker here

First Day:

• 3:00 AM- Departure from Batangas Pier riding a FastCat Ferry / Roro
• 5:30 AM – ETA Calapan Port, Mindoro
• 6:00 – 7:00 AM – Breakfast at Calapan
• 9:00 AM – Stop-over at Tamaraw Falls
• 11:00 AM – ETA White Beach, Puerto Galera
• 11:00 – 12:00 PM – Strolling/ Shopping at souvenir shops along white beach
• 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Lunch
• 2:00 PM – Hotel Check-in
• 5:00 PM – Swimming at the beach
• 8:00 PM – Dinner
• 9:00 PM – Bar Hopping
• 11:00 PM – Back to hotel

Second Day:

• 8:00 AM – Breakfast at the hotel
• 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Swimming at White Beach
• 11:30 AM – Watersport activity (UFO)
• 12:00 PM – Lunch
• 1:00 – 4:00 PM – Back at the hotel to rest
• 5:00 PM – Strolling at white beach/food trip
• 8:00 PM – Dinner
• 9:00 – Bar Hopping
• 10:00 PM – Back to hotel.

Third Day:

• 7:00 AM – Breakfast
• 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Swimming at the beach and hotel pool
• 11:00 AM – Hotel check out
• 12:30 PM – ETA Infinity Farm Resort, Baco Mindoro
• 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – Lunch
• 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM – Swimming at Infinity Farm
• 6:00 PM – ETA Calapan and Check in at Airbnb homestay

Last Day:

• 9:00 AM- Breakfast at Airbnb homestay
• 11:00 AM – Checkout at Airbnb homestay
• 12:00 PM – Lunch at Xentro Mall Calapan
• 3:00 PM – Departure from Port of Capalan
• 5:00 PM – ETA Batangas Port

Puerto Galera Resorts and Hotels:

The Mangyan Grand Hotel

📍Location: Bakawan Road White Beach, Puerto Galera, 5203 Oriental Mindoro

The Mangyan Grand Hotel Highlights: Walking distance to the beach, Beside Terminal BBQ Restaurant and Cafe Marco, With a Swimming Pool and Free Breakfast

We stayed here for 3 days and 2 nights, and their Premium Quad Room is quite spacious for a group of 5. Our room has a balcony with a view of the pool and is complete with towels and toiletries.

• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/themangyangrandhotel
• Agoda Link: https://www.agoda.com/the-mang-yan-grand-hotel-by-cocotel/hotel/puerto-galera-ph.html

You can check other Resorts and Hotels located in White Beach here: https://www.agoda.com/white-beach/maps/puerto-galera-ph.html?cid=1844104

Amami Beach Resort 

📍Location: Talipanan, Puerto Galera, Philippines

Amami Beach Resort Highlights: Private beach, 5-min drive from White Beach, 10 min ride away from Balatero Port, and 20 min ride away from Muelle Port.

If you want a more relaxing and quiet ambiance, Amami Beach Resort is the right place for you. It is located in Talipanan Beach, an isolated part of Puerto Galera.

• Facebook Page: https://web.facebook.com/amamibeachresort/?_rdc=1&_rdr
• Agoda Link: https://www.agoda.com/amami-beach-resort/hotel/puerto-galera-ph.html

Here are other Puerto Galera Resorts located near Talipanan Beach: https://www.traveloka.com/en-ph/hotel/philippines/area/talipanan-beach-30014539

Lalaguna Villas Puerto Galera

📍Location: Small Lalaguna Beach, Sabang, Puerto Galera

La Laguna Villas Highlights: PADI 5 Star Dive Resort, Private Villas, High-end amenities, Near Sabang Town Proper.

If you want to go scuba diving, this resort has its own dive center with highly experienced divemasters. In addition, their private villas feature spectacular ocean views, from economical studios to their VIP multi-bedroom Penthouse apartments.

• Official Website: https://lalagunavillas.com
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lalagunavillas/
• Agoda Link: https://www.agoda.com/lalaguna-villas-luxury-dive-resort-spa/hotel/puerto-galera-ph.html

Check out other Puerto Galera Resorts and Hotels located in Sabang Beach here

How to get to Puerto Galera:

By Public Transportation

1. Ride a bus to Batangas Pier:
   • Depart from terminals in Cubao, Buendia, or PITX. To know their trip schedules, check it out here
   • Fare: 200-300 pesos.
   • Duration: 2-3 hours.
2. From Batangas Pier, take a ferry to Puerto Galera:
   • Purchase a ticket at Batangas Pier. You can also have an online ticket reservation here
   • Destinations: Balatero Port (near White Beach) or Muelle Port (near Sabang).
   • Fare: around 300 pesos.
   • Pay a 30 peso terminal fee at Batangas Pier.
   • Duration: 55-100 minutes, depending on the vessel.

Via Calapan

If you miss the last ferry from Batangas to Puerto Galera, take a ferry to Calapan instead. Ferries to Calapan run almost hourly, 24/7. From Calapan Pier, hire a van to Puerto Galera, approximately an 80-minute journey. Vans cost 3000 pesos one-way, which can accommodate up to 12 passengers.

You can also do this if you have a private car; we did this during our trip to Puerto Galera. Along the way, you can visit Tamaraw Falls and go picture taking there.

BY Private Car

The most convenient way, especially if you plan to go on side trips aside from Puerto Galera. From Manila, take the SLEX road- travel time takes around 2 hours. Map Direction Here

Once you arrive at Batangas Port, Proceed to the RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) terminal. Ensure you have a photocopy of your car’s OR-CR. Board the RoRo ferry with your car; the trip to Puerto Galera’s Balatero Port takes about 2 hours. Upon arrival at Balatero Port, drive your car off the ferry and continue to your destination in Puerto Galera, just a few kilometers away. An SUV RoRo trip costs around ₱1,500, including the driver’s ticket. Check the RoRo schedule in advance, as ferries can sometimes be canceled or delayed.

So that’s it for this Puerto Galera Guide! If you have additional suggestions, let me know in the comment section below 🙂

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