Puerto Gallera - How to get there?

Two years ago, my brother-in-law invited us to go swimming in Puerto Galera. That was my first time to visit the island.

Its really fun remembering the chicken “inasal” and beef barbeque I cooked. The aroma attracted some foreigners and one of them dared to approach us because he really wanted to try how delicious was the smell from the smoke coming from where I cook.

To those of you who has not been to Puerto Galera yet, it is a Y-shaped island located in 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.

coast is 42 km. long, consisting of irregular shorelines rimmed with dazzling white beaches, coconut plantations, and delightful scenery. At the eastern side of the coast, crescents of white beaches are interspersed with limestone cliffs and escarpments that are penetrated by inland bays and coves. These numerous coves and water channels support a rich marine life, forming “non-reef coral communities”. Whereas, its tube-like harbor with two natural entrances provide home to dozens of ships seeking safe anchorage.

Unfortunately, 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.

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.

Wish we could visit this island again and hopefully the Depatment of Tourism can do some development on the island as well as its government agency that manages the Batangas City port so that it will attract more tourists to keep coming back.