Mindoro is one of the largest islands in the Philippines, split into two provinces, Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro, just a short hop south of Manila across the Verde Island Passage. It’s part of the MIMAROPA region, and its biggest draw by far is Puerto Galera, a coastal town on the northern tip of Oriental Mindoro that’s built a reputation as one of the best diving destinations in the Philippines, alongside white sand beaches and a laid-back, less-crowded feel than Boracay or El Nido.
Mindoro is also home to the tamaraw, a small, critically endangered wild buffalo found nowhere else on Earth, native to the island’s mountainous interior around Mounts Iglit-Baco.
Explore Puerto Galera below, the main event for most visitors to Mindoro.
