Beautiful Bay: Puerto Galera
Above: View in Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera was one of the oldest religious missionary settlements in the Philippines. This was discovered by the Spanish in 1575 and was declared the Capital Province of Mindoro Island until 1837 when Calapan took the place as Provincial Capital. However, artifacts prove that multicultural nations have existed even before the Spaniards have arrived. Chinese records proved trade offs between Chinese people and Mangyan people for gold, shells, birds, corals and so on.
The name Puerto Galera was speculated to have been named after one of the Spanish Ships that was based in the area in the colonization’s early years. Galera meaning “prau” or “parao” and some say it means “The Port of Galleons”. Over the years the Galera port had served as a safe place for galleon through typhoons and tropical storm and more so often during the months of May towards November.
In 2004, the bay of Puerto Galera had caught the eye of the world that it had been voted as member if the UNESCO, The Club of The Most Beautiful Bays in the World. As you sail in the inner bays of Puerto Galera it is impossible to not be swept away. You can come from either west of Manila or North of Batangas.
Activities in Puerto Galera
Sailing
Aside from the boat you would need to ride going to the island, ride some more with in the mangronve-line of the inner bays of Puerto Galera. It’s a nature tripping where you’ll witness the scenic views of tropical marine or go Island hopping.
Scuba Diving
Have the option to scuba dive in Puerto Galera’s fascinating experience of rich marine life. Where in turn you’ll see for yourself Puerto Galera’s very own coral species –anacropora puertogalerae—that can only be found in the area and nowhere else in the world.
Kayaking
There no better way than a environmentally friendly sea-kayak to let you experience and appreciate Puerto Galera’s 42 kilometer shoreline that signifies the place itself. Kayaks are available in yacht club, and guides are also available for your knowledge about kayaking.
Windsurfing
Boquet Beach is a windsurfing school that can get you on board, have you windsurfing in a day’s time and have you racing in a week.
Snorkeling
If you plan up earlier you can actually join the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) that surveys on sea grasses, eco-surveys and shallow corals. Witness the clam beds that will leave you in excitement good enough that you might consider Scuba Diving lessons as hobby.
Ponderosa Golf Club lies as one that provides the most pleasant scenic views of the place. It can be one of the most memorable and 9 hole golf course you’ll even encounter and being up the mountains might challenge your game all the more. If you don’t intent to bring your own golf club, they provide some for rent.
Reptile Zoo
While up the Golf Course there’s a Paradise Reptile Zoo nearby where you’ll see snakes, lizards and crocodiles of different kinds. The said place is becoming know in the World for its reptile breeding programmes that support in giving life to endangered species of the whole of Asia.
