Encenada Beach Front

Situated on the northern peninsula of Mindoro island, approximately 160km from Manila, Puerto Galera (Port of Galleon) was an excellent port for Spanish Galleons seeking refuge from heavy storms and typhoons. Now that the Galleon days are over, the island become a world class diving spot and a perfect get away for anyone who shows interest in outdoor activities. Trekking high up over the sea-front hills shows vistas of sandy cove after sandy cove fading into the horizon.

But the greatest attraction of this island cannot be seen from here. More than twenty world-class dive sites await those willing to put their heads under water, and the nationalities of the diving instructors reflect the main visitors; Americans, Europeans and Australians tend to dominate the diving stations around Puerto Galera. The cost of vacationing and diving is as good as it gets and beginners can qualify inexpensively on a three-day course. The scuba diving season in Puerto Galera is year-round, and going under water can be a good way to escape any rain.

Diving in Puerto Galera

The Trip

It was early morning of Thursday when I left Manila to catch up with the first trip to Puerto Galera via Batangas Port. It has been always in my plan to travel during evening for long trips and early morning for short trips, practically to avoid the traffic in the metropolis. Upon reaching White Beach, it took me fifteen minutes to reach New Encenada Beach Resort, located at Sitio Pandangan, the resort offers a different Puerto Galera experience, no beach vendors, no roving masseurs, only turquoise waters nestled in the famous encenada cove.

Unspoiled and uncrowded, Endcenada Beach Resort is the place to get away from it all. The beach here, arguably the best in Puerto Galera, is almost one hectare of nice designed cottages, dive shop, restaurant, souvenir shop and beach volleyball court. Encenada means a protected place; true to its name, the beach itself is a complete island destination where you can be treated like a god.

On the second day, I met Joey, the jolly and gay all around majordomo of the resort, he brought me to the poblacion by a fifteen-minute walk by the seashore. The resort staff’s are all nice, a living proof of the famous Filipino hospitality. The place is more of a garden and the beach is just another unusual surprise. Imagine a sunrise in a beautiful veranda, surrounded by various species of palm trees and colorful flora that gives a vista of a beautiful and exotic hideaways, truly; stumbling upon this beach was serendipity at its finest. Now tell me, who needs the Caribbean?

The New Encenada Beach Resort may not be a five-star resort but its ambiance is more of a home, giving you the feel of being in Boracay a couple of decades ago. No noisy night bars, no internet but mobile phone connections are excellent. During night, the overlooking veranda type of restaurant offers not so expensive freshly cooked local foods. There are 42 rooms available, composed of ten nipa hut and thirty-two concrete cottages located in the main building. For underwater explorers, there is an in-house dive shop with professional dive instructors to guide you to the coral gardens just of shore and in the marine reserve of Varadero Bay. If you like island hopping you can hire a motorized banca and explore the nearby beaches or you may walk along the beach to reach the town center for gift shops, internet cafes and a couple of restaurants.

On my third day, I met Christina Fuentebella, the charming owner of the resort. She managed the resort for almost fifteen years in partnership with an Australian lawyer. She prepared me a jigger of “Mindoro Sling”, their in-house specialty mixed drink, thus heaven begins. Live acoustic bands are performing in the restaurant every Friday and Saturday night, singing romantic love songs and reggae, a la Jamaica nights. On my last evening I’m beginning to love the place like a home, walking around the shore alone sounds lonely with the crystalline night sky like a trespassing constellation. The stars are thick upon my head. I’ve spent the entire trip by myself, it’s all about resting like you never did before, and the serene coolness that comes with being alone but not lonely has settled into my body. I’ve stopped listening and observing my mobile phone, and even though I’m wandering in completely different environment, I feel no danger. Still, if I were part of a honeymooner couple right now, I’d head right off this secret cove and sneak onto the beach to re-create another travel tale, this time more romantic. Oh well, next time.

Getting There

More economical are the commercial buses of BLTB, JAM and TRITRAN. Bus terminals can be found in Cubao, and in Buendia in Pasay City. Schedules of these buses are quite erratic, but the earliest bus usually leaves at 6AM and every hour from then on (depending on the volume of passengers). Fare on these buses range from Php 80 to 100 depending on whether it is a regular or an air-con bus.

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).

Where to Stay
http://www.encenada-resort.com
http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com

Melo Villareal is Filipino Backpacker, PhotoJournalist, Netrepreneur and an SEO Blogger. He authors Philippines Travel Blog – helping you discover the 7,107 Philippine Paradise Islands and Earn Money Online – giving tips on how to monetize your blog.

Among the famous beaches in Puerto Galera are Sabang Beach and White Beach, which have an active nightlife with numerous bars and restaurants. Both beaches also have an array of first-class and economy-class accommodations.

Sabang beach is the main destination for foreign tourists, while White Beach remains popular with local travelers. Since 2001 White beach has seen uncontrolled development. New restaurants and places to stay are rapidly encroaching on the beach itself and little remains of the once charming beach. Puerto Galera town is a pleasant but sleepy Philippine town with few attractions. It has a large central catholic church and a Pier area, with a selection of bistros and cafes.

Behind the beaches are the huge and generally unexplored mountain ranges of central Mindoro. A particular local attraction is the nine hole golf course perched on the hillside above White Beach which commands spectacular views over Puerto Galera’s natural harbor and the Verde Island Passage. Mangyan tribes are scattered over the mountains sides – some of the more remote tribes have no contact with the outside world. Of the eight tribes on Mindoro, the Iraya are the largest. They are based in the Puerto Galera area.

Puerto Galera has become the top diving destination in the Philippines. Excellent diving is found less than 5 minutes from the Sabang area. The diving generally focuses around the areas either side of Escarceo Point which is famous for its current rips. Strong currents are a feature of the diving in Puerto Galera and it is good advice to employ the services of an experienced local guide or dive centre. There are upwards of thirty dive sites all within a 5-10 minute banca ride from Sabang Beach. Marine life is highly diverse. 180+ species of nudibranchs are found in the area and most species of fish can be seen A variety of wrecks have been sunk over the years in addition to the one genuine wreck of an engine of a WWII Japanese patrol boat.

Puerto Galera is also one of the main [technical diving]destinations in Asia. Technical Diving International – [TDI] has many dive centers in the area, offering the full range of TDI courses from Basic [nitrox] to advanced [trimix].