Are you considering Hiking to Baclayan Puerto Galera?
Puerto Galera is a small coastal town on the island of Mindoro. Coastal towns line the edges of the island, but in the interior, there are mountains, rivers, and cliffs that reach the sky.
On Saturday, we took a break from scuba diving to go up instead of down. Joined by a Mangyan guide (more on Mangyan’s in a moment), a group of us walked deep into the jungle.
Hiking to Baclayan Puerto Galera
We left Badladz Beach Resort at 9:30 am. In less than 10 minutes, we were walking steeply uphill, hiking to Baclayan Puerto Galera. In less than 30 minutes, we were high above Puerto Galera and could see for miles in every direction. But unfortunately, we weren’t even halfway.
We continued climbing. I peeled off my shirt before it became soaked in sweat. We took regular breaks to catch our breaths and admire the view. For the first hour, we followed an old road. More than 40 years ago, a missionary had built a house in the jungle. But he had died long ago, so the road was in danger of being swallowed up by vines and plants.
Eventually, the road faded and the path continued, joining another path. We continue UP, sweating and panting our way forwards.
After two hours of hiking to Baclayan Puerto Galera, we arrived. A Mangyan village is situated in the foothills around Puerto Galera.
Mangyan Village in Puerto Galera
The Mangyan’s are the indigenous people that live in and around the island of Mindoro. There are eight tribes, each with its own tribal name, language, and customs.
When we arrived in Baclayan, we saw very few people. It was during the middle of the day, so they were either inside sleeping or in the jungle working.
Our guide took us to a freshwater swimming pool. The Puerto Galera water supply comes from a spring near Baclayan. The same springs that fuel the water supply also fills the swimming pool, making the water cold and refreshing. We ate a small meal together, then the Mangyan’s brought us a bundle of coconuts.
If you haven’t tried fresh coconut, you’re missing out! Inside, there is coconut water, a delicious liquid with a cocktail of digestive benefits. Once you’ve drank the coconut water, you can scrape out the coconut flesh and eat it, also with potent digestive benefits.
From the pool, we trekked to the top of the area. We stopped for a short rest, taking time to enjoy the view and take photos.
Going Down the Mountains in Puerto Galera
Then we began the long descent down the mountain.
Walking up was hard, but walking down was its own ballgame. Going downhill puts constant stress on your ankles and knees. Fortunately, we made it down to the bottom with no mishaps. We even stopped by a sacred cave known as the “Python Cave”.
When you come to Puerto Galera, you should take a break from diving and go trekking. We had a blast. I’m looking forward to the next time I can go back up the mountain!
Need more ideas? Check out the Puerto Galera activities.
More info – Baclayan Cultural Experience.
Cheers,
Sean
