| GETTING
THERE Unfortunately, the only way
to reach Puerto Galera is still via land-sea from Manila to Batangas to either
Puerto Galera or Calapan City. The land-trip takes about 2 to 3 hours while the
sea-trip from 1.5 to 2 hours. The
most convenient way is to avail of a Si-kat bus-and-ferry package from Centerpoint
Hotel (formerly Sundowner Hotel). the package offers passengers the convenience
of having a "connecting" bus and ferry trip. The fare is more expensive
than in other buses (Php 350 one-way and Php 600 roundtrip/open-sted, but the
coaches are more spacious and the trip is much shorter since there are no stopovers.
Unfortunately, there's only one schedule per day for either way (see ferry schedule). More
economical are the commercial buses of BLTB, JAM and TRITRAN. The former has a
terminal in EDSA-Pasay City while the last two have theirs along Taft Avenue near
corner Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia), also in Pasay City. Schedules of these buses
are quite erratic, but the earliest bus usually leaves at 6AM and every hour from
then on (depending on the volume of passengers). Fare on these buses range from
Php 80 to 100 depending on whether it is a regula or an air-con bus. At
the Batangas City Pier, there is a wide selection of ferries going to Puerto Galera,
depending on which port guests intend to enter. (There are three main entry points
to Puerto Galera by way of its port facilities: Muelle Pier, Balatero Pier, and
Sabang Beach). Calapan City also serves
as a gateway to the town via an all-weather road. The trip from Calapan to Puerto
Galera takes about 2 to 3 hours depending on weather and road conditions. | 