5 Best Things to Do in ORIENTAL MINDORO

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Looking for a place to travel and visit? Are you itching for the beach vibe? Yearning for an exotic place for a nightlife? Or are your soles ready for the next big hike? Yes! Travel is so exciting and fun! BUT... you're worried that you'll never find a place that has it all; or worse, it might be too far and too expensive.

WORRY NO MORE for Oriental Mindoro is just six to eight hours away from Metro Manila! From Private Transporation to buses to Ro-Ro's, Oriental Mindoro is very accessible. It is a favorite for most weekend travelers who desires for the beach that's close enough to the city, of course with the right amenities for the ideal beach destination: 1) Food Adventure; 2) Parties and Nightlife; 3) A Cultural Impact; and 4) Nature Experience, whether it's a waterfall or a mountain. Oriental Mindoro surely has what you seek for!

Here are five places and activities that any thrill-seeking, adventurous kind of tourist can explore and indulge in while in Oriental Mindoro:

1. MT. MALASIMBO: Trekking and Hiking

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Mt. Malasimbo is located in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. The days required for this activity are 1-2 days and hours to Summit is 4-5 hours. According to pinoymountaineer.com, the Puerto Galera Mountain Trail cuts along these mountains, making it the most exciting climb in Puerto Galera. The hike to this amazing and thrilling place is best when accompanied with a beach trip, and traditionally, it is seen as a destination in itself.

Malasimbo has a dome-shaped summit, which is another sight to see. The trails go steep initially and beyond the watersource; otherwise there are no major obstacles in the climb.

When reaching the summit, Puerto Galera coast and Verde Island can be seen as a whole. Also, Batangas' mountains and southern coastlines can be seen whilst on top.

And unlike other descents from other mountains, going down from Malasimbo is quite a breeze! Puerto Galera's beach and nightlife awaits!

2. GO BEACH HOPPING!

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There are so many beaches to choose from: Sabang Beach, White Beach, Aninuan Beach, Bulabod, Aplayang Munti, Bayanan, Haligi Beach on Boquete Island, and Long Beach on San Antonio Island. Where can we even start?!

The Sabang beach is teeming with dive resorts, and it is tourists' favorite for it serves as a jump-off point from the numerous dive areas along the coast of Mindoro. White beach is the most popular--many accommodations and restaurants, and a teeming and active nightlife. There are so many beaches to choose from, you won't even know where to start! Good thing there are available beach hopping tours around the area. They are available at Minolo Port.

3. TAMARAW FALLS: Fall in Love with Nature

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There are plenty of natural landscapes in Oriental Mindoro. The most popular waterfall, being that it is the most accessible, is Tamaraw Falls. It is located in Barangay Villaflor, Puerto Galera. It is covered with lush green plants which adds an aura of freshness and naturalness to the area.

Taking pictures along the bridge is for free, although there are other amenities besides that. There are man-made pools below the bridge where the water from the falls cascades on. The pools are not as developed and is divided into 3-4 layers of different water levels. The water is also tinted greenish due to the moss, but as sources say, it is very refreshing to swim in these pools. The entrance fee is at 30php for adults. There are cottages (140 php) and tables (30php) that are also available for rental. (Geejay Geologo, March 2014)

If you'd like, you could also visit Tukuran, Aninuan and Talipanan Falls as well. They are also some beautiful recommended waterfalls found in the area.

4. MALASIMBO ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL: Let's Party!

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The Malasimbo Arts and Music Festival is a DOT-certified yearly event held at the foot of Mt. Malasimbo, Puerto Galera. It's a celebration of music, arts, and of nature in the outdoor natural ampitheater in the area. It is held every Black Saturday and offers a night or nights of reggae music.

Malasimbo has gained popularity since the first installment back in 2011. It also reached full capacity a year later in 2012, boasting a mountaintop with 3,000 people who are having fun and are unified by good vibes and party spirits.

Many festival-goers says: "It is life changing!"

The festival plans to promote adventure, ecotourism and harmony, in the music of amazing local and international music acts.

5. MT. HALCON: Trekking, Hiking, and Shopping

Mt Halcon is 2505 m in height and is considered by many to be the most challenging big peak in the Philippines. It stands over Calapan from the west. Authorities frequently close access into the mountain because of environmental concerns, but it was open at the time of research.

There is also a shop nearby called the Apâk Outdoor Shop. The owner of the small shop is a member of the Mt. Halcon Mountaineering Association and can give you tips in trekking along the mountain.

The basic things that you’ll need are 1) to secure a tourist guide; and 2) get a permit from the municipal office in Baco, the next town north from Calapan. Mt. Halcon might be the biggest adventure and challenge for thrill-seeking tourists, but it's always better to come prepared than to regret not having to later.




REFERENCES:

• Henares, I. (2012, June 07). Oriental Mindoro: Things to do in Puerto Galera. [Blog Post] Retrieved from: http://www.ivanhenares.com/2012/06/oriental-mindoro-things-to-do-in-puerto.html
• Geologo, G. (2014, March 10). Tamaraw Falls and Virgin Island of Oriental Mindoro. [Blog Post] Retrieved from: http://geejaytravellog.blogspot.com/2014/03/tamaraw-falls-and-virgin-island-beach-oriental-mindoro.html
• InterAksyon.com. (2012, December 18). Now on Sale: Tickets to Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival 2013 in Puerto Galera. [Online News] Retrieved from: http://www.interaksyon.com/lifestyle/now-on-sale-tickets-to-malasimbo-music-and-arts-festival-2013-in-puerto-galera
• PinoyMountaineer. (2007, November 1). Mt. Malasimbo (1,168+). [Blog Post]. Retrieved from: http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/11/mt-malasimbo-1168.html
• http://www.philippinetraveler.com/mindoro-philippines.html
• http://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/mindoro/activities?abv=current
• http://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/mindoro/activities/hiking-trekking/mt-halcon/item-a-1449565-id?abv=simple
• http://www.wowmindoro.com