Puerto Galera is located on the northern shores
of Mindoro Island about 130 km south of the capital 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). The
area of Puerto Galera is divided in thirteen barangays and administratively
it belongs to the province of Oriental Mindoro. Puerto Galera is
a town made up of costal villages and it is considered to have
one of the best natural harbors in the Philippines and one of the
most beautiful in the World. In early times it served as a refugee
for Spanish Galleons in time of stormy weather, and thus Puerto
Galera means Port of Galleons in Spanish.
Puerto Galera has a population of about 21,000, and hereof a great
number are young people aged from 0 to 25. Puerto Galera has a rough
landscape. The land is mountainous and is intersected by many rivers
and streams. Three mountains rise above Puerto Galera. Mt. Alinbayan,
Mt. Malasimbo and Mt. Talipanan reaching peak heights of 1,400 meters
above sea level.
Puerto Galera has a tropical climate with high humidity. From March
to June the weather is hot and dry with temperatures above 30 degrees
celsius. From July to October it occassionally happens that a typhoon
passes the Island bringing some rainfall, but after a short rainfall
the weather is usually very nice with hot temperatures for about
2-3 weeks. From November to February the weather is cool and dry
with temperatures of about 27-28 degrees celsius.
Mermaid
Resort is located centrally in Sabang Beach only a short jeepney
ride away from the city of Puerto Galera. Sabang Beach is well-known
for its easy access to a large number of exciting dive sites as well
as for its exotic and lively nightlife. Sabang Beach represents
a unique experience for the visitor in the sense that the area is
a combination of a local Philippine community and a recreational
area for tourists. This means that the visitor will not feel like
staying in an isolated reserve - but more like a part of a local
community.
Puerto Galera is a 3-4 hours trip away from Manila. The land-trip
from Manila to Batangas takes about 2 hours and the sea-trip
from Batangas to Puerto Galera, Sabang Beach 1 hour.
Buses leave from Manila going to Batangas every hour, and at Batangas
Pier there are a wide selection of ferries and bangka boats going
to Puerto Galera, Balatero Pier and Sabang Beach. It is also possible
to hire a private van from Manila to Batangas. |