Oriental Mindoro | The Serene Beach Of Talipanan

When Filipinos hear of Puerto Galera, the first thing that pops into their mind is the picture of an over-crowded white beach. Being easily accessible with quite affordable accommodations on top of the party atmosphere, the place is popular to college students and young professionals looking for a weekend getaway. 

Unknown to many however, there is one place here where peace-seeking travellers can find a relaxed and tranquil serenity. Away from the noise and the havoc Puerta Galera is known for, one can appreciate its lush waters better at the lesser known beach of Talipanan.

More than ever, Talipanan beach can be really quiet during off-season. With only 5 resorts, it is absolutely a catch for a tourist looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Of the few places we could spend the night in, we chose to stay at the Bamboo House Beach Lodge and Restaurant.

Arriving early at the area, we were taken aback by the utmost serenity of the place. It was summer season yet the beach was devoid of tourists and other people. We could only hear the crashing of the waves and the gentle whishing of the ocean breeze. 

Our lunch had to wait as we chilled out by the beachside taking pleasure on the whiff of crystal clear sea water. We started to put the stress of our daily life in Manila behind. It was indeed a great place to unwind.

After the sumptuous lunch, we braced ourselves for the adventure that lied ahead.

First off, we went snorkelling at the Coral Garden. Subjected to an unorthodox way of showcasing sea life, I somehow didn’t like being dragged by a small boat to the fish sanctuaries. Nevertheless, the beauty of the place was still overwhelming that the pain felt by my knees began to subside.

After taking photos of the sand bar, we decided to go back to our resort but as we were on our way, our group stumbled upon a stretch of secluded virgin beach. We politely asked the boatman if we could stay there for a while and fortunately, he obliged cheerfully.

Being toppled by meter high waves, the Pacific Ocean beach of Dingalan suddenly came to mind. It was in fact astounding and as an added bonus, the place was once again free of other tourists.

As we returned to Talipanan, we were given a parting gift by the skies as it exhibited a scenic view of the sun approximating the horizon. It was a magnificent end to an incredible day.

Back at the resort, we humbly requested that we partake our dinner outside the restaurant where we would be serenaded by the symphony of humming crickets and the ocean waves. They graciously agreed, quickly moving the table and other utensils to a hut near the beach; it was an exquisite phase to start a peaceful and quiet night.

After the invigorating dinner, we loafed at the beach front for a while. We gazed at the stars while sharing stories from our past endeavors. It was a very comfortable place to bond such that we were almost lulled to complete slumber.

After hours of bonding in the sand, we finally surrendered to our beds, ready to recharge our bodies after a day at the open seas.

At the first sight of the sun, we decided to swim at the resort’s beach front. We swam for hours and enjoyed the tranquil almost empty beach. We savoured the moment until it was time to check-out. The weekend tour was closing to its end.

We all went home having the “bitin feeling”. Two days at the island was definitely a short time to explore the whole place but at least we still had plenty of good reasons to come back to that serene piece of land. 

Nonetheless, we were so pleased to be given time to take away the stress from our daily upbeat life. It was a welcome respite after months of captivity from the city of Manila. After being battered and bruised by the never ending tapestry of people and events at the metro, Talipanan beach is definitely the place where we can have relaxation and tranquillity almost at its finest.

Group Itinerary

day 1

03:30 - Meet up at Cubao Jam Liner

04:00 - Departure to Batangas Pier

07:00 - Arrival at Batangas Pier

07:15 - Departure to White Beach

09:30 - Arrival at White Beach / Take trycycle to Talipanan

10:00 - Arrival at Talipanan Beach

11:00 - Lunch

13:00 - Island Hopping (coral garden / sandbar / secluded beach)

17:00 - Return to resort

19:00 - Dinner

21:00 - Lights out

day 2

07:00 - Breakfast

08:00 - Swimming / Beach bumming

12:00 - Checkout resort

12:30 - Arrival at White Beach / Lunch

13:30 - Departure to Batangas Pier

15:30 - Arrival at Batangas Pier / Board bus to Manila

18:30 - Arrival at Manila

** Sometimes there are boats that go straight to Talipanan.

How to get to Talipanan Beach

Board a Batangas Pier bound bus. The travel takes about 3 hours. Upon arrival at Batangas Pier, purchase ferry tikcets to Talipanan Beach / White Beach. Ferry usually takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

If drop off is at White Beach, take tricycle to Talipanan Beach.

For ferry schedule, you can checkout this site:

http://puertogaleraferry.net/trips.html

Bamboo House Beach Resort:

http://www.bamboohousebeach.com/index.htm