Tuesday, November 12, 2019

DIVE INTO SUMMER FUN!



PUERTO GALERA

     Even before the colonial era, Puerto Galera has always been a busy port area because it is a good natural shelter for ships and boats. In 1570, the Spaniards arrived in Batangas and later crossed the Verde Island Passage to this coastal settlement. They named it Puerto Galera or Port of Galleons. Puerto Galera was dubbed as the "One of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World" and is situated in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. Puerto Galera’s most popular beach. 

WHERE TO STAY IN PUERTO GALERA

Puerto Galera’s jagged coastline is hemmed by over a dozen fair-sand-filled coves. Of all these beaches, these three are the most ideal places to stay for tourists:
  • White Beach. Puerto Galera’s most popular beach. This is Galera’s answer to Boracay’s White Beach. (And yep, they bear the same name.) This is where most of the tourism action happens. You’ll find a wide array of lodging and dining options here. Nightlife is also here.                                                      Image result for puerto galera blog"

  • Aninuan Beach. Located just next to White Beach but this is much more tamed and quiet. This is a good place to stay if you’re after a more relaxing stay but want easy access to White Beach.                                                      Image result for aninuan beach"

    • Sabang Beach. A little bit detached from the first two coves, but it also harbors lots of accommodations. This is a great base for divers because of the number of dive resorts.    

            Image result for sabang beach puerto galera"Image result for sabang beach puerto galera"

      MANGYAN VILLAGE

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       If you want some heritage experience in Puerto Galera you can experience doing baskets with the help of the Mangyans in what they called the Mangyan Village where they produces high quality crafts and many more.
      Mangyans are obviously shy so you need to be cautious when  taking pictures and you need to respect them for that.





      HOW TO GET AROUND PUERTO GALERA

      BY TRICYCLE

      The jeepney is the cheapest mode of transportation in Puerto Galera. However, as in any other place in the country, jeepneys follow a fixed route and tentative schedules. If you want better control of your time, the tricycle is better.
      For short distances, most tricycle drivers charge P150-200 per ride (good for 3 pax). If you’re a group, that’s fine, but it’s a pain on the pockets if you’re traveling solo. A friend said that this is the tourist rate and that it is much lower for locals. I don’t know what the local rate is. However, for budgeting purposes, you can assume that it’s P200 per trip so you won’t go under.
      You can also charter a tricycle to take you on a tour and see inland attractions like Tamaraw Falls, Virgin Beach, Mangyan Village, Infinity Farm and others for P800 (good for 3 pax).

      BY MOTORCYCLE

      If you have a driver’s license and you know how to drive a motorcycle, you can rent one and explore the town freely on your own. Rates vary depending on the type of motorcycle and the shop, but the standard rate is P400 per day.
      If you choose to travel on two wheels, take extra care. Always wear a helmet even if many of the locals you see don’t.

      BY BOAT


      To get to some islands and other coves, chartering a boat is the way to go. Here are the boat rates for trips from Muelle Port as of May 2019. A boat can usually accommodate up to 6 pax.

      DAY RATES
      • Sandbar: P200 one-way, P400 round trip
      • Buri Beach: P200 one-way, P400 round trip
      • San Antonio: P230 one-way, P460 round trip
      • Fridays: P250 one-way, P500 round trip
      • Coco Beach: P250 one-way, P500 round trip
      • Big La Laguna: P300 one-way, P600 round trip
      • Small La Laguna: P350 one-way, P700 round trip
      • Coral Garden: P400 one-way, P800 round trip
      • Sabang Beach: P400 one-way, P800 round trip
      • Long Beach: P500 one-way, P1000 round trip
      • Haligi Beach: P500 one-way, P1000 round trip
      • Bayanan Beach: P500 one-way, P1000 round trip
      • Tamaraw Beach: P700 one-way, P1400 round trip
      • White Beach: P1000 one-way, P2000 round trip
      • Talipanan Beach: P1200 one-way, P2400 round trip
      You can also ask the boatman to tour you around. You may choose three destinations and they will show you around for around P2000.
      NIGHT RATES:
      Night rates are double the prices listed above.

      THINGS TO DO IN PUERTO GALERA

      ISLAND HOPPING TOUR

      Most island hopping tours will take you to the following attractions:
      • Haligi Beach
      • Bayanan Beach
      • Sandbar (sometimes replaced by Maniknik Beach)
      • Coral Garden (snorkeling site)
      You can also replace a site with another. Check out the list of beaches in the previous section above (HOW TO GET AROUND: BY BOAT) and pick 3 from that list.

      The boat tour costs P1800-P2000 per boat, good for 6-8 passengers. An additional P200 fee is collected per person for the smaller paddle boat that will take you to the snorkeling site.
      If you want to make the most of your trip, you may visit the following sites:
      • San Antonio Island’s underwater cave
      • Giant clams site
      • Coral garden
      Prepare to pay an extra P600 per person to see all three additional attractions.

      LAND TOUR

      Another way to explore Puerto Galera is by joining a tricycle tour, which will take you to some natural attractions that are easily accessible by land. A tricycle tour usually makes a stop at the following:
      • Tamaraw Falls
      • Virgin Beach
      • Mangyan Village
      You will also be stopping at some lookout spots along the way.
      The tour costs P800 per tricycle, maximum of 3 passengers. The price excludes entrance fees and other fees per site including the following:
      • Tamaraw Falls swimming area fee: P30 per person
      • Umbrella kiosk rental fee: P140
      • Barbeque grill rental fee: P50
      • Table rental fee: P30
      • Tamaraw Falls table rental and cooking fee: P150 per table
      • Virgin Beach entrance fee: P30 per person
      If tricycle is not your preferred mode of transportation, you may also charter a multi-cab or jeepney for P2000+ per vehicle. This will allow you to see other attractions including:
      • Lantuyan Water Curtain
      • Infinity Farm
      • Turukan Falls
      • Hanging Bridge
      Additional fees may apply.


      DIVING COURSES

      Puerto Galera’s coast is lapped by the waves of the Verde Island Passage, which is described by a 2007 Smithsonian Institute study as the “center of the center” of the world’s marine biodiversity citing the high concentration of marine species.
      Home to over 40 established dive sites, it is one of the top diving destinations in the country. If you haven’t tried scuba diving before, Puerto Galera is also an ideal place to discover your love for the deep. There’s a lot of dive shops and resorts here and rates vary. But Fun Dives start at P1500 per dive. You can also find PADI introductory courses for around P3500 (1-2 hours, 1 dive).

      WHITE BEACH AND NIGHTLIFE

      Photo by Pycan Leynes
      White Beach is Puerto Galera’s answer to Boracay. It is the most popular stretch of sand in the area and the most commercialized. You’ll find plenty of activities to enjoy here even at night. On weekends and holidays, there’s no running short of bars, booze, live bands, and fire dancers.

      WATER SPORTS

      If you want an adrenaline rush, try some of these water rides. Best enjoyed as part of a group. Here are the rates:
      • Unicorn: P2,500, good for 10 pax
      • King Cobra: P2,500, good for 10 pax
      • Flying Saucer: P2,000, good for 6 pax
      • Fly Fish: P1,500, goof for 3 pax
      • Jetski: P2,000 per 15 minutes

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