Puerto Galera is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 21,925 people in 4,424 households. It is the northwesternmost municipality in Oriental Mindoro. Puerto Galera is only three and a half hours away from Manila first by bus to the port at Batangas City and then by boat. Tourists can also take the tourist service called the Sikat, from the City State Tower Hotel in Manila from the Batangas City port to Puerto Galera or Sabang Beach, Mindoro.

 

  

 

Puerto Galera, one of the oldest Spanish settlements in the Philippines, was founded in 1572, becoming the first provincial capital on Mindoro Island. It is situated on the northern peninsula of the island, approximately 160 km from Manila. As early as the 10th century, Chinese, Malay and Indonesian merchants were already doing business with local traders, and Puerto Galera is where the replenished their provisions.

Mindoro Island is separated from Luzon by the Verde Island Passage. Waters are flushed by the current of the South China Sea, resulting in strong currents of up to 6 knots. This makes the area well known for its spectacular, exhilarating drift dives. The Verde Island Passage is very deep so clear water is very common to the dive sites of Puerto Galera, along with a fantastic variety of underwater flora and fauna.

The diversity of hard and soft corals, along with hundreds of species of tropical fish life makes Puerto Galera one of the most popular dive destinations in the Philippines. The 5 km foreshore of world class dive sites is a protected area and marine sanctuary. Visibility varies from 10m/30ft to 30m/100ft, sometimes even better depending on water temperature, current strength and wind direction.

 

The best diving conditions are usually from April to September, as water temperature reaches 29 C, the seas are at their calmest and visibility is at its clearest. In December, water temperature can drop to as low as 22 C on the deeper dives due to thermo clines caused by upwelling of clear, cooler water. However, conditions remain good enough for year round diving.

 

Puerto Galera Location 

 

Location of Puerto Galera in PhilippinesPuerto Galera was discovered by the Spaniards in the early 16th century as a safe haven for their trade ships during storms and typhoons. A visit to the local Museum with it's impressive collection of artifacts located near the church in Puerto Galera will verify the rich culture and history of this island.

Puerto Galera is Y-shaped peninsula located on the northern shores of Mindoro Island, some 130 km south of Manila and 14 nautical miles from Batangas City. It is bounded on the north by Verde Island Passage, on the south by the Municipality of San Teodoro (Oriental Mindoro), and on the west by the Municipality of Abra de Ilog (Occidental Mindoro). It has total area of 254.47 sqm., divided into twelve coastal barangays and one mountain barangay. Administratively, it belongs to the province of Oriental Mindoro.

 

 

The only way to reach Puerto Galera is still via land-sea from Manila to Batangas to either Puerto Galera or Calapan City. The land-trip takes about 2 to 3 hours while the sea-trip from 1.5 to 2 hours. The most convenient way is to avail of a Si-kat bus-and-ferry package from Centerpoint Hotel (formerly Sundowner Hotel). The package offers passengers the convenience of having a "connecting" bus and ferry trip.

 

The fare is more expensive than in other buses (Php 350 one-way and Php 600 roundtrip/open-sted, but the coaches are more spacious and the trip is much shorter since there are no stopovers. Unfortunately, there's only one schedule per day for either way (see ferry schedule). More economical are the commercial buses of BLTB, JAM and TRITRAN. The former has a terminal in EDSA-Pasay City while the last two have theirs along Taft Avenue near corner Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia), also in Pasay City.

 

Schedules of these buses are quite erratic, but the earliest bus usually leaves at 6AM and every hour from then on (depending on the volume of passengers). Fare on these buses range from Php 80 to 100 depending on whether it is a regula or an air-con bus. At the Batangas City Pier, there is a wide selection of ferries going to Puerto Galera, depending on which port guests intend to enter.

 

(There are three main entry points to Puerto Galera by way of its port facilities: Muelle Pier, Balatero Pier, and Sabang Beach). Calapan City also serves as a gateway to the town via an all-weather road. The trip from Calapan to Puerto Galera takes about 2 to 3 hours depending on weather and road conditions.

 

 

Bansudani Festival (January 17-19; Bansud, Mindoro Oriental)
A thanksgiving ritual for bountiful harvest which coincides with the town fiesta. It features dances and cultural presentations by schools and barangay communities.

Feast of the Divine Savior (January 17 –19; Bansud, Mindoro Oriental)
Highlight is an agro-trade fair.

Feast of the Sacred Heart (February 14-15; Bansud, Mindoro Oriental)
Highlight is an agro-trade fair.

Banana Festival (March 18-19; Baco, Mindoro Oriental)
A celebration of the abundance of bananas. It features a banana cookfest and a "saba"-(type of banana)-inspired street dancing competition and beauty pageant. This coincides with the town fiesta in honor of St. Joseph.

Sulyog Festival (March 19; Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro)
A religious festival in honor of St. Joseph. It is celebrated by way of the Sulyog (Suli and Niyog) Festival through dances, flats, and cultural shows.

Bahag-hari Festival (April 24; Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro)
A colorful celebration highlighted by street dancing, a parade of colorful floats, and a different kind of Moriones Festival.

The Sabutan Festival and Mini- Trade Fair (April 25-29; Mabitac, Oriental Mindoro)
It showcases the different native products of the province, mainly from Sabutan.

Lechon Festival and Gabi ng Pakulo (June 24; Pola, Oriental Mindoro)
A religious festival in honor of St. John the Baptist, coupled with a festive social affair, usually, a banquet, preceded by a pagoda and the parade of lechon (roast pig). Its most interesting feature is the Gabi ng Pakulo, a combination of street dancing and all sorts of cultural entertainment, performed by different barangays on the streets of Pola.

Feast of St. John The Baptist / Lechon Festival (June 24; Pola, Oriental Mindoro)
At the Lechon Festival, or Parada ng Lechon, in local parlance, roast pigs or lechon garbed in creative costumes are paraded around the town to the accompaniment of gay chanting and "buhusan" – a customary practice during the San Juan Bautista feast, which involves water dousing. A selection of the best from among the lechon entries follows, along with a free-for-all banquet open to the townsfolk and visitors alike.

Biniray Festival (June 29; Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro)
A grand pagoda show as a way of thanksgiving for the blessings from the sea. Other highlights are street dancing, a parade of spectacular floats, and cultural presentations of schools and communities.

Pakapya-agtike Festival (July 25-27; Socorro, Oriental Mindoro)
This festivity features cultural shows, a parade of floats, and street dancing on the last day, showcasing agricultural bounty. Schools, barangays, and tribal communities participate. The festival is a thanksgiving offering to the town patron, the Holy Family.