port of galleons

Me in the other side of Puerto Galera

I will never dare to go to a very, very far place on my own because I get sick during long journeys, but who could resist the beautiful paradise called "puerto galera" or port of galleons?  My uncle who works abroad  arrived in the Philippines in the summer of 2005 and decided to go swimming with his friends in Puerto Galera. My older female cousin  (ate Chuckie) wants to tag along so uncle offered us to join them. Ofcourse, I said yes, I will never pass on the chance to see this place even if I do not know how to swim. Getting to Puerto Galera involves a long travel, we had to meet my uncle's friends in Alabang Terminal and from there we had to go to Batangas Port. From the port, we had to ride a boat to get to Puerto Galera. Riding the bus was easy, it was riding the boat that made me sick. One of my embarassing moments happen that time because I could not help but puke on my ate Chuckie's bag because I was so dizzy.  Good thing, I was still young then  so I had the best excuse. When we arrived in the accomodation, I was itching to see the white sand and the blue sea. True enough, it was magnificent. I have never seen a lovely beach with beautiful people. It was very busy as expected but I still recognized a couple of celebrities - Wilma Doesnt and K Brosas. There are a lot of activities to engaged with. Some are swimming, while others are sunbathing. Some prefer to drink while others prefer to eat. There are those who wants to play volleyball and there are some who rides the banana boat. The choice is yours! As for me, it was enough to spend quality time with my uncle and my cousin and  enjoy the scenery of the fartherst place I have been to date, the beautiful port called puerto galera.

Source: youtube/user/claytonwest

Want to know more about Puerto Galera?  Read on...

Much like the province of Oriental Mindoro to which it belongs, Puerto Galera is very rich in history. Literally meaning "Port of Galleons," it became popular among seafarers during the prosperous years of the galleon trade beginning on the 10th century. Owing to its excellent natural harbor - which until now is considered one of the most beautiful and safest in the world - Puerto Galera became a regular stopover for merchant vessels sailing along the important trade routes of the Near East, Indian coast, Indo-Chinese coast, China, Philippines, Sumatra, and Java.

 Source: http://www.puerto-galera-resorts.com/Brief_History_of_Puerto_Galera.php

Puerto Galera is a soothing vision of shimmering seas surrounded by lush mountains. It is considered one of the most beautiful and developed beach resort community in the country. Starting from "backyard tourism" wherein local residents accept local and foreign tourist as stay-in guest, the island’s tourism has flourished. In the course of time, several hotels, resorts, inns and restaurants have mushroomed within the area.

Banana Boat at White Beach	Romantic Getaway at Tukuran River

There are a thousand things one can do here. Landlubbers can pitch tents, light bonfires, play volleyball, toss a Frisbee, go beach-hopping, watch the sunset, gaze at the stars, hike, go rock climbing, carom off on a motorcycle, discover Oriental Mindoro’s other tourist spots or simply live it up.

But water is certainly the main attraction of the island. Crystal clear and shimmering especially during the hot summer months, the sea framing Puerto Galera is ideal for swimming, sailing, surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving. In fact one doesn’t have to go by boat to get to a dive site. Within a kilometer from the coast, schools of Moorish idols, trumpet fish, frog fish, lion fish and leaf fish weave in and out of thriving corals and sea anemones while species of starfish – from the speckled red-and-white to the neon-blue Pacific – rest on the sandy floor.

High Season at White Beach, Puerto Galera	A Castle Resort at Sabang, Puerto Galera

Gradually sloping beaches – with the terrain ranging from powder white sand to grainy dark sand to smooth stones to rough coral rubble – comprise a large chunk of the island’s 25 thousand hectares. And while the Department of Tourism’s last count pegs the number of resorts at 115, pockets of isolated and virtually resortless coves and beaches are tucked between massive rock formations.

Outside of minor glitches, Puerto Galera is a tropical paradise that is both rustic and thriving. By day it echoes with the soft breeze and the pounding waves. At night, it comes to life with heady laughter and the clink of wine and glasses, only to segue once again to the barest whisper of the elements.

Source: text and images by puertogalera.org