How to get to Puerto Galera? If you’re planning to visit this beach destination in Mindoro, read on for our detailed guide.
One thing to keep in mind is that Puerto Galera has two main ports: Balatero and Puerto Galera (Muelle). Public boats now only dock at the former, while Muelle is used exclusively by private boats. There used to be bangkas to Sabang, White Beach and Talipanan, but because they were somewhat unstable (and, let’s be honest, dangerous), those services have stopped operating.
Unless you’re coming from another part of Mindoro Island (such as the fabulous Apo Reef), Marinduque or Tablas, you’ll usually travel to Puerto Galera from Manila. That’s why we recommend reading our guide How to get to Manila.
How to get to Puerto Galera by private transportation
Once you’re in Manila, if you’re in a real hurry to get to Puerto Galera, you can book a private transfer with companies such as Hap & Go or Mindoro Sprinter and reach Puerto Galera in just 3 hours. However, keep in mind that prices are very high, so this option is only worthwhile if you’re traveling in a group. Many resorts arrange private transfers.
Another company offering an almost door-to-door service is Si-Kat. It runs a fairly comfortable bus-and-ferry transfer from the Ermita neighborhood at 8:00 a.m. and drops you off in Puerto Galera at 12:30 p.m. A one-way ticket costs 1,500 pesos per person.
Of course, the cheapest alternative is to travel to Puerto Galera by public transportation.
How to get to Puerto Galera by public transportation
Here’s how to get to Puerto Galera on a budget:
1. Take a taxi or Grab (the Philippines’ version of Uber and the best option in Manila) to the JAM Liner Buendia terminal. If you’re at the airport or in Makati, it shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes (although this depends on traffic). If you need to spend the night in the city, stay in one of these 2 areas. You’ll find recommendations in Where to stay in Manila. There is another terminal in Cubao, but it is farther from Batangas and, if there is heavy traffic, the journey will take much longer.
2. Take a bus to Batangas: buses run frequently between 1:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. The best-known operator is JAM Transit, but you can also take a bus run by Ceres or DLTB. If you have a choice, look for a bus displaying both a CALABARZON sign and a Batangas Pier sign. This means it will take the expressway and the journey should take around 2 hours instead of up to 4. Get off at the final stop, Batangas Pier, not in Batangas City itself. The ticket costs around 250 pesos. Bear in mind that the earlier you leave (between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m.), the less traffic you’ll encounter. Getting up early is worth it.
3. Walk to the port: the bus will drop you off in an open lot right next to the port.
4. Buy your boat tickets to Puerto Galera: go straight to the official ticket counters and ignore anyone who approaches you saying you should buy the tickets from them because the boat is about to leave. They will either overcharge you or simply scam you. Prices are around 600-700 pesos, depending on the boat and the class you choose.
You can choose between fast craft and RO-RO ferries. Fast craft services to Balatero Port are comfortable and take about an hour. The RO-RO ferries to Balatero take a couple of hours, but they are a good option if you’re traveling with a car or motorcycle. You can check the schedules and book on 12go, but as a general guide, departures run from around 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
5. Pay the Batangas terminal fee: 30 pesos.
6. Enjoy the boat ride: bear in mind that, if you’re prone to seasickness, it may be a good idea to take motion sickness medication, as the crossing can be quite rough. It’s also worth bringing something warm because of the air conditioning.
7. Pay the Puerto Galera environmental fee: 120 pesos.
8. Take a jeepney or tricycle to your hotel. To save money, look for a jeepney, as it will be cheaper. If you want a private tricycle, negotiate the price. From Balatero to White Beach, you can expect to pay around 150-200 pesos for a private tricycle. A jeepney to Sabang costs 30 pesos, while a tricycle costs 200-250 pesos.
If you want to reach Puerto Galera on the same day you fly into Manila, your flight should land before 12:00 noon. This will give you enough time to make your way to Batangas without rushing and board one of the last boats to Puerto Galera.
If you land later, one way to cut down on travel time is to take a taxi directly from Manila (including the airport) to Batangas. Expect to pay around 4,000-4,500 pesos.
How to get to Puerto Galera from other parts of the Philippines
If you’re elsewhere in the Philippines, you can fly to Manila or take a ferry to Batangas. Batangas is home to one of the country’s main ports and one of the gateways to the island of Luzon.
Getting to Puerto Galera from Romblon or Tablas
You may also be traveling to Puerto Galera from Tablas or Romblon. In this case, the best option is to take a ferry from Odiongan (Tablas) to Roxas and then travel overland to Puerto Galera (via Calapan).
Getting to Puerto Galera from Apo Reef
Are you in Sablayan because you’ve been diving at Apo Reef? If so, you’ll need to take a bus to Abra de Ilog (6-7 hours) and, once there, take a boat to Puerto Galera (2.5-3 hours). There is only one boat a day, so you may have to spend the night in Abra de Ilog or take an overnight bus.
Getting to Puerto Galera from Marinduque
You may also be traveling from the nearby island of Marinduque. Small bangkas leave from here for the port of Pinamalayan and, once there, you’ll need to use a combination of overland transportation options to reach Puerto Galera.
We hope this article on how to get to Puerto Galera has helped you work out how to get there. Remember that you’ll find lots more information in Things to do in Puerto Galera.
If you have any questions or you’re traveling from elsewhere in the Philippines and want to know how to get to Puerto Galera, leave us a comment and we’ll be happy to help.
