Thing to do in Puerto Galera

Puerto Galera Activities

Children’s Activities

While Puerto Galera doesn't have many facilities that explicitly cater for children, there are plenty of natural attractions and landmarks that excite younger and older children alike. Sea turtles nest on some of the sand beaches, and there are numerous places to swim and enjoy water sports. What's more, many nearby attractions have nice picnicking facilities, making them perfect for day-long family outings.

Alibatan Island
This tiny island located offshore from Bacunagan Points was once used for bombing drills by the US military, earning it the nickname 'Target Island'. Today it's a much more peaceful place where children are drawn by the opportunity to watch sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. During the turtles' breeding season, tour guides organise regular daytrips to Alibatan Island, where tourists are invited to watch the endangered species from a respectable distance. Even if there are no turtles on the day you visit, you're likely to find plenty of turtle tracks across the sand.

Panning for Gold
There's a thriving subculture of treasure hunters around Puerto Galeria—most of whom comb the seafloor for sunken merchant ships. However, there’s a different opportunity to find treasure on the island of Dulanga, where trace amounts of gold can be found. Children love the excitement of sifting through sand and silt in the hopes of recovering a little bit of this treasure. Hotel staff at Dulanga can get make arrangements so that you can join the local gold rush.

Tamaraw Falls
Situated just a few miles outside of Puerto Galera, Tamaraw Falls is a series of cascades culminating in a 460-foot plunge into a nice manmade pool where children can swim. There is also a challenging hiking trail that tracks along the river as it descends through the mountain. A modest entrance fee allows access to a picturesque picnic area, making Tamaraw Falls an ideal daytrip destination for those staying in Puerto Galera. Travelling onwards a few more miles along the road to Calapan you'll find a pleasant sand beach as well as the heritage fishing village of Villa Flor.

Cultural Activities

While the UNESCO-protected marine habitat is the primary tourist draw card to Puerto Galera, there is a well-established international flavour in the region that predates the Spanish colonial period. The promise of undiscovered, wrecked merchant ships offshore helps to fuel speculation about sunken treasure. Archaeological excavations have uncovered a wealth of artefacts left by former Chinese merchants. Meanwhile, most of the well-known architecture was built by Spanish colonists.

Baluarte Watchtower

Situated in the village of Lumang Bayan, this tower was constructed on a hill overlooking an old harbour and the surrounding bay. It stands as a testimony to the constant threat of piracy that plagued these waters well before the colonial period. Merchant ships hailing from China and later from Spain and the rest of Europe were constantly on their guard against seafaring criminals, and the watchtower was built out of concern for invading bands of Muslim marauders.

Cross at Muelle

In November 1879, the Canonero Mariveles Battleship was sunk in the Manila Channel off the coast of Puerto Galera. Regionally, this was a key event during the Spanish American War, and a marble cross was erected in honour of the victory. Today, this is one of Puerto Galera's primary historic attractions, and can be found via a five-minute walk from the city centre.

Excavation Museum

This museum is found on the same site as the Puerto Galera Catholic Church. Sitting in a separate building from the church itself, the museum houses relics taken from excavations throughout the region. Most of the artefacts are items such as swords, jars, lamps and Chinese porcelain that date back several centuries to pre-colonial days. A great deal of these priceless items were taken from sunken merchant vessels found off the coast, lending credence to stories that sunken treasure still awaits expeditious divers today.

Kuta Fortress

This fortress is a holdover from the earliest period of Spanish colonisation. Built by the Jesuits, this is the oldest Spanish fortress in the country. Many of the Jesuit-built structures were later renovated or outright demolished and reconstructed by the Augustinian Recollects who arrived later in the colonial period. This particular fortress, however, remains largely unchanged by the Recollects, offering a unique glimpse into early Jesuit influence in the region. Onsite are a colonial cannon and an ancient Spanish boat.

Mangyan Settlement

The Mangyans are the original inhabitants of Mindoro Island, and their culture is a virtually unbroken lineage that has spanned several millennia in this region. There is archaeological evidence that this tribe once occupied the coastal regions around Puerto Galera, though the colonial presence and the foreign diseases that accompanied them drove the Mangyan people to the interior highlands where they're found today. Counts suggest as many as 80,000 Mangyan live in the province, and some of their villages are accessible to tourists. Keep in mind that it's essential to travel with a guide well-versed in Mangyan language and culture, as this elusive demographic does not always take kindly to outside disturbances.

Muelle Bay

Muelle Bay has long been the gateway into the region for international merchants and other foreign visitors. In modern times, it has paled next to Sabang and the surrounding beaches, which are now outfitted to receive ferries of tourists directly from Luzon. However, this is the historical heart of Puerto Galera and much of Mindoro, meaning a number of historic buildings and epigraphs referring visitors back to the colonial period are on display in this area. Both Muelle Cross and the black rice display board are found at the pier.

Villa Flor

Villa Flor is a quiet village off the main tourist circuit and serves as a clear window into local island culture. Due to its relative proximity to Tamaraw Falls, many visitors roll these two destinations into a single daytrip from Puerto Galera. Above all, Villa Flor is a fishing village, as showcased in any number of quaint restaurants where today's fare was swimming hours earlier. There is a quiet stretch of sandy beach in town where tourists can enjoy a quiet alternative to the bustling beaches of Sabang and White Beach.

Dining & Shopping

Shopping in Puerto Galera runs the typical gamut of beach and vacation-related fare. The interior hill tribes sometimes come to the coastal areas to set up stalls where they sell their handmade products to tourists. Hawkers on the beach sell anything from snacks to jewellery. Regardless of where you shop in Puerto Galera, there's a heavy emphasis on local and privately-owned enterprise, without much in the way of mainstream department stores.

With all of these private vendors at work in Puerto Galera, cash becomes an important commodity for shoppers. Foreign currency can be traded for pesos in any of the busiest tourist districts—particularly around Sabang and La Laguna beaches. Consumers are also expected to haggle over prices. Filipinos usually try for a nominal discount of about of 10 per cent. Prices in touristy areas are typically marked up, and vendors are less likely to come down on the price.

The most popular items for sale around Puerto Galera are souvenir items such as t-shirts, beach attire and miscellaneous memorabilia. Fresh produce can be found in local marketplaces. The markets of Sabang are a good place to start shopping, where locals and tourists alike frequent vendors in this area.

Jewellery is a nice item to pick up in Puerto Galera. In particular, black pearls are popular with tourists. These come strung on bracelets and necklaces; and while they usually fetch premium prices, they remain well worth the cost.

Bars, restaurants and laid-back eateries abound in the touristy coastal regions around Puerto Galera. The highest concentration of eateries is found around Sabang Beach, branching out to the La Laguna beaches and Muelle Pier. Moving into the surrounding countryside, all of the coastal towns and villages have restaurants and food stalls of their own.

Restaurants around Puerto Galera

capitalise on the abundant ocean views and tropical climates. Open air bars and restaurants lie within walking distance of the coast, with many opening up onto the beach itself. For a refreshing under-the-sun dessert, try some halo-halo (literally 'mix-mix'), a medley of milk, shaved ice, sweet boiled beans and fruit.

For the most authentic dining experience, be sure to visit a turo-turo ('point-point') while travelling in Puerto Galera. These cafeteria-style eateries feature local cuisine at its best, and often at its most affordable. Simply approach the glass case, browse what's available and point to your selection. You can choose your dinner based on what you see, rather than by its local name or a menu description.

Outdoor Activities

Puerto Galera's pristine natural environment is ideal for a range of outdoor activities including trekking to Mangyan tribe villages, kayaking over sea and river, and exploring the diverse underwater ecosystems that span the coastline. Water sports are well catered for around the resorts. If you prefer a less intense way to enjoy nature, there are plenty of pleasant hiking trails, waterfalls and picnic areas.

Diving

Scuba diving is the number one attraction of Puerto Galera, drawing divers from all over the world. There aren't as many WWII wreck sites here as in other parts of the Philippines, though the ancient sunken galleon ships off the coast continually draw treasure hunters hoping to strike it rich. The variety of marine life is also impressive, with studies conducted in the 1980s finding the world's highest diversity of marine life here in the coral reefs of Puerto Galera. Sabang has the greatest concentration of facilities, and the more than 30 diving sites here are backed by plenty of instructional courses suited to all skill levels.

Jungle Trekking

Trekking through the mountains of Mindoro with a competent guide is one of the best ways to explore the hinterland. Travel agents regularly organise treks into remote Mangyan villages where tourists can meet Puerto Galera's original inhabitants. Aside from scaling mountains, enjoying panoramic views and relaxing near waterfalls, there is also opportunity to view wildlife while trekking. The most exciting specimen is the endangered tamaraw, an elusive buffalo that roams freely throughout the mountains that back Puerto Galera. The best guides know exactly where these impressive animals graze, and consistently bring tourists within camera-range.

kayaking

Opportunities for kayaking around Puerto Galera range from sea-kayaking excursions to trips along the Alag River. Taking a one or two-person kayak out to sea is a great way to explore some of the more remote beaches as well as the nearby islets that lay just out of reach. River kayaking packages are easily arranged with local tour guides. Tourists are usually dropped off upriver and then picked up at the delta where the Alag spills into the sea. These pre-planned packages accommodate a range of difficulty levels and can be tailored to passengers' preferences. Lunch is also included on longer trips.