Puerto Galera Trip 2019

Puerto Galera is a first class municipality of Oriental Mindoro (from Wikipedia). It can be reached within 1.5 to 2 hours from Batangas Port, by boat. Thus, it's one of the most popular places if you want to experience the complete package of partying at the beach, snorkeling, diving and island hopping.

From Batangas Port to Puerto Galera 

I was surprised at how transportation has improved from Batangas to Puerto Galera and vice versa. They now have bigger boats and published schedule (which varies depending on the weather condition). You can choose the port that is closest to your resort, either Balatero or Muelle and then, choose the ferry that you want to ride (I recommend the fast craft since travel time is 45 to 50 minutes only) and take note of its departure time. In our case, Balatero Port was closer to Tamaraw Beach Resort and then, the resort shuttle picked us up from Balatero. 

I was able to get this boat schedule (as of April 2019) which was very helpful in planning our trip: 

Batangas to Puerto Galera Boat Schedule 2019

Puerto Galera to Batangas Boat Schedule 2019

Boat Description and Travel Time

We rode the air conditioned Roro for P300/pax and terminal fee of P20/pax, which we paid on two separate counters. Take note that you have to secure the ferry tickets and then proceed to the other counter for the terminal fee payment. When you have both (ferry and terminal tickets), only then can you enter the passenger waiting area in Batangas Port. 

Tamaraw Beach Resort

inside the beachfront cottage

It was our second time to go to Tamaraw Beach Resort in Puerto Galera. A lot has changed since then like the new swimming pool, a restaurant by the pool, additional rooms and more organized activities. We would've tried out the new rooms, but we wanted to stay near the beach so, we reserved the beachfront cottage (P3000 per cottage, per night, max. of 2 persons). 

inside the beachfront cottage

pathway right outside our cottage

new rooms 

I liked how Tamaraw Beach Resort has improved its facilities except for the occasional brownouts so, cable signal tends to be cut-off, as well. As for the restaurant menu, I liked how you can choose from the dishes either seafood, chicken, pork or beef and it comes with rice and veggies. Each meal was priced at around P 275 to 400 per meal/pax. 

portion of the pool and restaurant

cabana outside our cottage

less crowded beach

On our second day, we booked for a snorkeling tour through Tamaraw Beach Resort's front desk. The staff instructed us to be in the resort lobby at 8:30am then, the shuttle took us to the boat for snorkeling. It was a great and relaxing experience because Puerto Galera has one of the richest underwater scenery --- very colorful corals and fishes, and the giant clams as well. After snorkeling the boatman took us to an island where we swam and hung out for a while. It was a half day tour so, we were able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon at Tamaraw Beach Resort. 

After sunset, we rode a tricycle (just outside the resort's lobby) going to White Beach for 100 pesos/one way trip. White Beach is where most people go for the night scene, food trip and souvenir shopping. 

Just sharing below some photos taken from White Beach:

sort of food park/food court

the crowd at White Beach

liempo bbq

grilled squid

In going home, we were assisted by Tamaraw Beach Resort's driver (forgot his name) to reserve tickets going to Batangas Port since he knew someone from the ticketing office (just one phone call away). 
On our way to Balatero Port, he drove and took us to the ticketing office to pay P 330/pax and catch the 11:30am trip (fast craft). He said that they are allowed to reserve tickets for the tourist/resort guests, but they don't gain any commission from it. 

Below is the building where the ticketing office was located.  This was such a great improvement --- having a centralized ticketing office. In the previous years, you can easily buy tickets from the boatmen roaming around White Beach. Kudos to Puerto Galera's Tourism Office.

Arriving at Balatero Port was another surprise because there's an air conditioned waiting area for passengers bound for Batangas Port. 

Too bad I wasn't able to take a picture of the fast craft, but it took us 45 minutes from Puerto Galera to Batangas. Our journey was pretty smooth and easy. I just hope they also get to assign seats as it gets chaotic once everyone is inside the vessel (trying to find the most comfortable place). 

Overall, I would say that it was another great and relaxing experience. 'Looking forward to my next Puerto Galera escapade!

It's a Sundate: Breakfast at Antonio's

So, we spent our Sunday morning at Breakfast at Antonio's along Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway, about 4km away from Taal Vista Hotel Tagaytay.

It was a cloudy and cold morning perfect for an early road trip. We love going up to Tagaytay early in the morning before it gets too crowded and traffic. We usually head to Bag of Beans for breakfast dates, but we wanted to try out this lovely restaurant, Breakfast at Antonio's.

We ordered Sauteed Corned Beef with rice, Sausage with rice, Classic Pancakes, brewed coffee, and hot chocolate. The price range was about 400 to 500++ pesos per meal except for the drinks priced at 120 to 180 pesos.

View of the entrance and pastry shop

Hot chocolate

Classic Pancakes with pineapple and a slice of banana

Sauteed corned beef

Sausage 

View of Taal

Signage 

The ambiance is great. The place is perfect for families, couples, barkadas, and even business meetings.

The food is filling but its nothing to rave about plus a bit pricey compared to Bag of Beans. Overall budget per person is about 500 to 700 pesos per head.

The staff is warm and polite. Even the limited parking space is organized. It's probably a long drive for those coming from Manila, but for us located near Nuvali area its about 30-45 minutes with less or no traffic.

Overall, I love the experience of dining at Breakfast at Antonio's. I would recommend it to friends who won't mind spending a bit and those who would like an intimate breakfast date. I'll probably be back when celebrating a special occasion.

Tagaytay Road Trip

View of Taal

It was just an ordinary Saturday when we drove to Tagaytay. It has long been planned but Voltaire, being a new driver did not have the guts back then. So, this is a significant achievement for him as he drove to Tagaytay.

Our original itinerary was just Bag of Beans and Taal Vista. So, we took off around 9am and headed on to our first destination to grab our early lunch at Bag of Beans. There were a lot of tourists by that time which was a blessing in disguise as we have to maintain the moderate speed.

It was generally a smooth sailing drive to Bag of Beans. At first, we felt like we were lost but thanks to google that we found it a few meters away from the busy commercial area. Parking to Bag of Beans was quite tricky though because we had to drive down and we thought of the problematic way up considering Voltaire's driving skills.

So, we parked the car and went inside the restaurant. It has changed a lot since the last time I visited the place. They had a buffet area already and a separate area for those ordering ala carte meals. It was cozier because the wooden furniture gave a homey ambiance. We ordered pasta meals and iced tea which were very filling. We also bought some goodies from the bakery. Vo got some raisin bread, and I bought a pack of Robusta ground coffee.

Front door of Bag of Beans

pasta meal from Bag of Beans

After the satisfying meal, we headed off to Taal Vista. It was indeed one of the prime hotels in the area. I couldn't say much about the place except that everything was EXCELLENT. The staff were really warm and accommodating. It has the perfect spot for viewing the beautiful Taal Volcano. The hotel itself was imposing modern and vintage elements altogether. The buffet meal was superb, but we also ordered snacks from TWG restaurant. It was a lovely experience to set foot at Taal Vista. We even spotted an ongoing wedding photoshoot. In the evening, they have an outdoor movie which I highly recommend to families. 

Taal Vista Hotel

clubhouse sandwich from TWG

TWG menu

wedding photoshoot at Taal Vista

View of Skyranch from Taal Vista

Skyranch was just a few meters away from Taal Vista, so we took a short walk to check out the amusement park. I would say there isn't so much. But the huge ferris wheel would definitely give you a good view of Taal.  It was really a place where kids and kid-At-heart would enjoy.

huge ferris wheel at Skyranch

Tomas the Train at Skyranch

horseback riding at Skyranch

If you need a breath of fresh air, Tagaytay is one of the most relaxing places. There are many restaurants and coffee shops that you can hang out either with your friends or families. I am genuinely grateful that we were able to drive back and forth safe and sound...'til our next adventure! 😄

Buri Beach: The Unusual Puerto Galera Escapade

I remember my first time in Puerto Galera was spent on the White Beach for a company summer outing a few years back. But, my longtime friend, Ate Rita has been bugging me that she wanted to go to Puerto Galera, too. I told myself that, if I go on a trip with Ate Rita, I don't like to go to the crowded White Beach anymore. So, I made a little research on the prime beach spots in Puerto Galera, and my quest led me to this elegant beach resort, Buri Beach Resort. 

Buri Beach Resort in Puerto Galera is indeed an ideal place for relaxation. We visited the site around December so, traveling by sea was quite wavy. Plus, the way to Buri Beach Resort was the unusual route. To get to Buri Beach, they say that you really have to pass through the waviest part of Batangas-Mindoro sea. It was the longest 2-hour boat ride of my life! From Batangas pier, we hopped down to Muelle pier and then from Muelle pier, a private boat was waiting for us to reach Buri Beach Resort. Alternatively, we booked our boat tickets through the Sicat Bus Transport which was connected with a hotel in Ermita, Manila (sorry I forgot the name of the hotel). They ferry hotel guests by a private bus and then, book the boat tickets for the group. So, we settled for this kind of arrangement just to make sure that we get to Muelle pier in time. Also, during that time we were unsure if there are boats bound to Muelle pier if we are going by ourselves. 

Surprisingly, the short boat ride from Muelle pier to the resort was very peaceful. The scenery also reminded me of Coron, Palawan. 

When you get to the resort, this very cozy pool will welcome you. The accommodations are uphill so, you have to climb several steps to reach the villas. You will feel very close to nature with green surroundings, and it is really an excellent place to retreat from your busy schedule.

We got the Garden Villa which was priced at Php 6000 to 7000 per night and suitable for 2 persons. It was the exclusivity and peaceful time that we were after and so, we did not mind paying for the amount. The Garden Villa is a two-story apartment-like accommodation. There is a veranda, and the big sliding door leads you to the bed. At the back, you will see the outdoor bathroom and stairs leading up the second floor, which can still accommodate 2 more persons but for an additional charge.

We decided to avail of the massage services, which was a bit pricey. Prices range from Php 450 to 1500, depending on the type of massage. We availed of the foot spa/massage as it was the cheapest just to try out what it was like. We were led to the spa area, and it was like a herbal treatment where leaves were applied to the legs.

spa area

view of the villas from the pool area

Buri Beach Resort can be considered really one of the best resorts in Puerto Galera. However, I didn't find anything unique in their restaurant. The ambiance was very nice but food was a bit expensive. Every meal would cost Php 200 per person and it was the usual dishes like roasted chicken, seafood, fish, barbecue, sisig and all the typical food you can think of. We didn't have much choice but to eat in the restaurant because bringing of food (from other establishments) is not allowed in the resort.

Restaurant

dinner

watermelon shake

This was one of the most expensive villas.

Overall, Buri Beach Resort is indeed a good weekend getaway to refresh your mind and body. It is an ideal place for friends, family, and couples. I loved it because it is far from the usual crowded Puerto Galera beach. This is the place where you get pure peace and relaxation at its finest. 

Weekend Getaway at Acuatico Beach Resort Batangas

I have been very blessed to travel in different places around the Philippines, more specifically the pristine white beaches. Traveling is even more exciting when it is shared with great people, to catch up and to simply have fun. This trip to Acuatico Beach Resort - Batangas, I must say, is one of the short-distance trips where we splurged a lot. It was a long-planned trip, so we had time to save up for it and enjoy our hard-earned money. 

Acuatico Beach Resort is one of the prime beach resorts in Laiya, Batangas. The moment we set foot in the place, we were able to say to ourselves that every penny we spent was truly worth it. 

                                                                                                                  

This is what will welcome you as you enter the lobby of Acuatico Beach Resort.

                                                                 

Laiya is quite tricky but to reach if you do not have a private transportation. In our case, we took the commute route. There were four of us who travelled from Manila and then, we hopped down at Lipa City. There was this bus and fx terminal just across Robinsons Mall Lipa City. Then, from there take the van going to Laiya. 

In our case we just added a few more bucks as the driver agreed to take us directly to Acuatico Beach Resort. I think we spent around Php 400 to 500 from Manila to Acuatico.

I don't have the full room details but, we got the Php 12,500 room (good for 4 persons). Yes, it was costly for an overnight stay but, as I've said you will just get the total value for your money and the well-deserved relaxation time. Acuatico Beach Resort will make you feel like you are in a really exclusive place, peaceful and employees were friendly. This is one corner of the room. It was like a two-story small house/villa. When you enter the door, it was like a mini lobby, area for drying clothes and  shared bathroom. Located on the second floor is the bedroom. There were 2 double beds, cable tv and air condition. The interior was minimalist and very dainty. You may also check out Acuatico's website for the accommodation details: http://www.acuaticoresort.com.ph/accommodation.php

I think this picturesque view of the pool and villas is the Acuatico Beach Resort trademark. Everything seemed so perfect, if it weren't for the rainy weather. 

the pool

the bar in the middle of the pool (at night)

the bar in the middle of the pool

the view from our villa

The next pictures will showcase the Acuatico Resort restaurant. Take note, everything is buffet. And every buffet meal costs Php 500 per person. They have ala carte meals for children, though. We actually thought it was way too costly but, once you taste the food they serve, you won't regret every single centavo you spent. There were a lot of food options, mostly are Filipino dishes. Desserts were very yummy! It was one of the things I really enjoyed. Excuse my bias for desserts. :) 

The Kare-Kare was exceptional. And they don't repeat the same dish over and over. So, you are guaranteed of an excellent quality, sumptuous meal. 

Overall, Acuatico Beach Resort can be quite far to be reached by public transportation. The room and food can be pricey but, I do not mind repeating it all over again that, you really get your money's worth. The exclusivity, class, luxury and treatment due to a king and queen are all part of this perfect weekend getaway. The resort is very ideal for family, friends and couples. If I had enough money to splurge, I'd stay here perhaps twice a year just to unwind and get a breath of fresh air. Two thumbs up for Acuatico Beach Resort!