Holy Week 2014: Puerto Galera (Part 2)

For our second day in Galera, we went to Muelle Pier early in the morning to have our tickets confirmed for the 1:45 pm ferry ride. We were supposed to go back to the resort after that and just lounge but Kuya Aries offered to take us to a more non-touristy spot.

Virgin Mary Beach and Mangrove Forest

He took us first to Virgin Mary Beach. True enough, there are less people in Virgin Mary Beach than in White Beach and the water is so much clearer. The beach is named as such because of the Virgin Mary statue located at the top of a rock formation on that beach. The rock formation also serves as a border between a private beach (where you could swim for a small fee) and a public beach (free for all).

Here we are with the Virgin Mary statue at the background

Climbing at the rock formation to get near the statue could be quite perilous as the rocks are a bit sharp so be careful with your steps and bring some sensible footwear.

Here's the private beach part

And here's the free for all side

As you can see, there's definitely a lot less people here than in White Beach so if you're the type who wants a quiet, non-touristy spot then Virgin Mary Beach is a must-see. It doesn't have the fine grain sand that White Beach has though but more like smooth corals and pebbles. 

Here we are testing the waters

We weren't planning on swimming but because the water was clear and really inviting, we just went with it and took an impromptu dip.

Look how clear the water is

You could also opt to rent a kayak and snorkeling equipment at a nearby store or just buy drinks and food.

rock formation and statue

Here we are surveying the area after our dip. Notice the kayak at the background.

Virgin Mary Beach panorama

After Virgin Mary Beach, Kuya Aries took us to another Puerto Galera spot which is but a few minutes ride from where we are.

Isn't it lovely?

While our trip to Virgin Mary Beach and the mangrove forest was totally unplanned, we were thankful that it happened or we wouldn't have experience this side of Puerto Galera. We were told that there are several destinations in Galera that is far from the party place vibe that Galera is known for. Another thing we learned from this is that it's always best to ask the locals because they know where the good spots are. For the whole morning trip, we only paid Php 200 to Kuya Aries which was really surprising considering that he not only drove us to our destinations but acted as our tour guide and photographer as well (tips are very much welcomed though).

After our quick trip at the mangrove forest, we headed back to Badladz Beach Resort for our brunch and to freshen up so we won't be late for our boat ride. We were again greeted by the friendly staff who prepared our orders while we showered and did some last minute packing.

For our last meal in Puerto Galera, we decided to try Badladz' Mexican cooking. We ordered their bestselling Chicken Burrito (Php 340) and Beef Quesadilla (Php 195) and then we had Mango Split (I think it was around Php 150) for dessert.

Chicken Burrito

Beef Quesadilla

Mango Split

I'm not a big fan of beans so the burrito wasn't exactly a favorite of mine although my friends enjoyed it. I did love the quesadilla though. It was really cheesy which I like in Mexican food. I just wish there was more onions and tomatoes in it because that is how I'd probably make it but it is delicious the way it already is.

obligatory post-brunch selfie with one of the Badladz staff in the background

Leaving Puerto Galera

As I have mentioned in my previous post, ferry rides have schedules and the last trip from Muelle Pier to Batangas Pier is at 3:30 pm. We confirmed our tickets for the 1:45 pm slot and good thing we arrived just in time because we were the last passenger to board (yikes!). Make sure to have Php 10 with you for the terminal fee.

A little friendly reminder: If you're going to take the ferry on an afternoon, be sure to have a fan and a bottle of water with you because it could be extra hot during the ride.

When in Batangas Pier already, you can find buses going to Cubao, Buendia-Taft and other destinations, in front of Terminal 3.

While our Holy Week trip to Puerto Galera has been full of unplanned and unforeseen events, we still had fun and we were lucky enough that we have experienced its more tranquil side. In fact,  I want to go back there again someday so I could visit the other spots Kuya Aries has been talking about like Tamaraw Falls and I am most definitely staying again at Badladz. I'll still probably visit White Beach if only to see the fire dancers and knock back a few drinks.