Oriental Mindoro Province, Philippines

By James Barcelona

Tourist Attractions

Puerto Galera

Puerto Galera. The foremost asset of Oriental Mindoro, Puerto Galera is blessed with one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbors. Known as the Pearl of Mindoro, it is world-famous for splendid beaches, coral reefs, and exquisite dive sites for new and experienced divers alike. There are shallow coral gardens, interesting rock formations, and colorful species to watch, like crabs, shrimps, sea anemones, moray, and trumpet fishes.

Mt. Halcon

Mt. Halcon. Towering 8,488 feet above sea level, Mt. Halcon is the country's third highest peak. It is a favourite destination for nature tripping and mountain climbing. Mt. Halcon is located in Baco. It is accessible in two hours, by taking a jeepney to Baco, the jump-off point.

Tamaraw Falls

Tamaraw Falls. The 423-foot waterfalls, situated alongside the road, is actually a series of asymmetrical falls, leading to the grand one, dropping to a frothy waterbed below. The cascading waterfalls is a great attraction to passers-by. Tamaraw Falls is located in Barangay Villaflor, Puerto Galera. It can be reached in two hours by taking a jeepney bound for Barangay Villaflor from Puerto Galera, or Calapan. 

Beaches Resort

Beaches. In nature-blessed Oriental Mindoro, you can choose your own beach among the many that abound, from fawn beige to powdery white. To name a notable few, there are the beaches of Sabang, Suqui, Banilad, Bongol, La Laguna, Small La Laguna, Talipanan, Melco, Punta Guarda, and White Sand, drawing local and foreign water enthusiasts alike with majestic sites ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

Beach Resort

Oriental Mindoro, located about 140 km southwest of Manila, is a province of the Philippines located in the island of Mindoro under the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. It is composed of 14 municipalities, with one city, Calapan City serving as the provincial capital. The province is touted as the country’s emerging eco-tourism destination. Most of the endemic species in the Philippines are found in the Verde Island Passage between Mindoro and the main island of Luzon.

The western portion of the province is mountainous or rugged, while hills and flood plains are widely distributed in the eastern portion. Lake Naujan, the fifth largest lake in the country with an area of approximately 8,125 hectares of open water, is located in the northeastern part of the province. 

Oriental Mindoro’s rich and arable land is suitable for agriculture. It is producing large quantities of rice, corn, coconut, vegetables and fruits like calamansi, banana, rambutan, marang, lanzones and durian. For that, Oriental Mindoro is known as the Rice Granary of Southern Tagalog and it is still the Banana King and Calamansi King of the region. 

Oriental Mindoro is the most populous province in the region. The province is largely rural, with 70% of the population engaged in agriculture and fishing, with only 30% living in urban areas. Tagalong is the language widely spoken in the province. Other languages spoken are Ilocano and Cebuano. Mangyans are also the indigenous people of the province and their dialects are Arayan, Alagnan, Buhid, Hanunoo and Tadyawan. Oriental Mindoro has no distinct wet or dry season but experiences maximum rainfall during the months of June to October. 

Oriental Mindoro evokes images of a genuine tropical paradise with its white sand, crystal clear water, lush green forests covering majestic mountains and splendid waterfalls. Puerto Galera is known for its lovely white sand beaches and its exquisite dive sites with a biodiversity of marine life in and around the coral reefs. The province is also perfect for bird watching activities of local and migratory species, and is home to mammals like the Tamaraw, an endemic straight-horned water buffalo. 

Mountain climbing, trekking, camping, caving, bird watching, island exploration, adventure trips, windsurfing, scuba diving, scuba macro photography, snorkeling, keelboat and dinghy sailing are among the exciting recreational activities possible in the province. With its largely unspoiled natural beauty, Oriental Mindoro has much to offer in terms of tourism and other economic opportunities.