Puerto Galera

This coastal town is well known among tourists for its numerous pocket beaches and many snorkeling and Scuba diving spots. The area was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1973 and has some of the most diverse coral reef diving in Asia. The marine environment has benefited in recent years from tourists due to the reduction in the numbers of fishermen in the area, as they gain higher revenue from tourism.

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 mountain sides - some of the more remote tribes have virtually 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.