Tag Archives: White sand beach

Puerto Galera: The Frugal Man’s Boracay

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White sand beach? Crystal clear waters? Great nightlife?

There are at least a dozen different things one can do in Puerto Galera, or Gale, as the locals call their beautiful paradise of a home. From pitching tents, lighting bonfires, playing beach volleyball & Frisbees, watching the sunset, gazing at the stars, climbing cliffs, driving bikes around the area, the list could go on when discovering Oriental Mindoro’s Gale.

However, the water is still the main attraction of Gale, Crystal clear water shimmering under the sun. Puerto Galera’s landscape is very ideal for swimming, sailing, surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. In fact, there is no need to ride a boat to a diving site. Within a kilometer from the coast, schools of Moorish idols are already thriving in the shallow reefs of Gale.

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  1. Where is Puerto Galera situated?

Gale is located on the northern shore of the island of Mindoro, 130km south of Manila, and 14 nautical miles away from Batangas Pier. You can reach Gale by land transport to Batangas pier and then by sea ferry to the paradise.

 

  1. How long is the travel time?

From Metro Manila to Batangas pier usually takes two to three hours depending on the traffic flow. The fastest route is by Skyway, South Luzon Expressway, then Calabarzon highway all the way to Batangas pier. Lastly, the ferry boat ride takes one hour to one and a half.

 

  1. How much does public transportation cost?

Gale is close in proximity to Manila, making it the cheap alternative of Boracay. A four-hour bus ride and ferry travel worth less than 500php (one-way), one way to get to White Beach is by taking a bus with a signage of “Batangas Pier via Calabarzon” near the LRT Gil Puyat station in Pasay City. The fare for an aircon bus is less than 200php and it will take you to Batangas Pier, where you should alight and would find Puerto Galera bound ferries. Pick a ferry that could take you directly to White Beach with a 250pho fare.

 

  1. What time does the ferry leave for Puerto Galera?

The first ferry trip to Puerto Galera departs at around 7:30 AM. Thereafter, a ferry leaves every hour until 5:00 PM which is normally the last trip to Puerto Galera.

 

  1. Where should I stay, Sabang or White Beach?

Sabang and White Beach are the flagships of Puerto Galera to par with nearby island’s beaches. Although there is this understatement that tourists prefer Sabang beach while locals go to White Beach. Perhaps the reason behind is that Sabang is swarmed by a number of high-class resorts, offering best dive education in the country, and dive sites are literally a stone’s throw away. Nightlife in Sabang is also different from White’s, somehow it is akin to the old Ermita, the former red light district of Metro Manila.

One comparison is that Sabang Beach is for the young and adventurous, meanwhile, White Beach is for families, for the carefree individuals who enjoy casual activities under the sun.

White Beach (Brgy San Isidro) is the most popular of Puerto Galera’s 32 beaches, especially among Filipino tourists. Come summer, from March to May. The beaches are filled with people, relaxing, walking to and fro, sunbathing, playing volleyball, riding jet skis and banana boats. At dawn, people sit at the beach to witness one of the best sunsets in the country. At night, more people come out to enjoy meals at beachfront restaurants. There are several open-air bars with drag queen dancers and serving Puerto Galera’s trademark concoction, “Mindoro Sling”. There are also many tattoo shops and souvenir shops along White Beach.

 

  1. How do I find places to stay at in Puerto Galera?

Perhaps one of the reservations of many travel bugs is about accommodations, but rest assured eGetinnz has everyone’s back, providing flexible options for travelers. eGetexperience Puerto Galera today and let us help you leap around the world.