HISTORY OF PUERTO GALERA

Puerto Galera, a coastal town in Mindoro, has been a bustling trading hub since the 10th century, thanks to its prime location along key trade routes connecting the Near East, India, Indo-China, China, and Southeast Asia. Muelle Bay, known as one of Asia’s safest natural harbors, served as a vital docking and repair station for ships navigating these waters. By the 16th century, nearby Minolo had become a thriving marketplace, where Chinese merchants bartered glazed porcelain for local treasures like gold, jade, and forest products.  

When the Spanish arrived in the 17th century, they were captivated by Muelle Bay’s stunning scenery and named the area Puerto de Galleon (Port of Galleon), which was later shortened to Puerto Galera. Under Spanish rule, the town became the provincial capital. To protect against frequent Moro raids, the Spanish built watchtowers and stationed battleships, including the Cañonero Mariveles, which tragically sank in 1879. They also constructed a rice granary, but a fire in the late 18th century reduced it to ruins—leaving behind carbonized grains that can still be found along Muelle Bay today. 

WHAT MAKES PUERTO GALERA WORTH VISITING?