The best thing about living in an archipelago is that you never really run out of beaches. They're pretty abundant and one lifetime isn't enough to see all of them. That and they come in many forms too. The powder white sands are no doubt a tourist favorite but for some reason I like the ones where black and white sands meet. They look so magical to me. But Virgin Island in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro serves up a different charm and one that satisfied me nonetheless.
I've always preferred beaches that are more untouched than commercialized. I don't do parties (introvert tendencies) and the more serene a place is, the more I love it. I guess it's also safe to say that I don't do crowds that much unless the environment allows for conversation or the company's perfect. *I'm making myself look so boring. LOL.* Speaking of sand (as mentioned earlier), Virgin Island has small white pebbles instead of fine sand. They're huge and round enough though so they don't really hurt and feel like those massage slippers instead. Do I even make any sense?
Unlike
White Beach, there are barely any establishments in the area save for a small
sari-sari store or street vendors that pass by near the entrance. It's almost but not completely untouched. I'm assuming this is the reason for its moniker. The entrance fee (for beach maintenance and public restrooms) is at ₱10.00 per person which is so cheap it's unbelievable. There are a few huts for rent too at ₱200.00 for the entire day but you're free to spread some mats on the sand for zero pesos. Other activities in the area include kayaking (₱250/two hours), snorkeling (₱50/day) and of course swimming.
Virgin Island is the 3rd stop in our Puerto Galera land tour. It took us several minutes to get to it from the
Mangrove Conservation and Ecotourism Area so we decided to spend the most time at the beach for lunch and siesta. We bought food from the local stores and cooked them at the Airbnb we rented (
more about that here) to save up on costs and also because we didn't want to waste time looking for a place to eat. I'd like to think it was the perfect decision since the next stop (Tamaraw Falls) allowed us to bathe in fresh cool water and to wash off the salt in our hair. That and they have better comfort rooms there. On hindsight, we didn't really worry about getting a shower post-swimming since we rented a jeepney for the entire day and planned on washing up back at the unit.
It was the first time I tried using the GoPro underwater and I am, in millenial terms, "shookt" at how clear the water is. Adding a still of our "finger hearts" snap just for laughs. Salt water is too painful that I just can't open my eyes. Nope, not even for you oppa. Haha!
If I were to choose between Puerto Galera's
White Beach and Virgin Island, I'd definitely pick the latter. How about you? Do you like commercialized beaches or do you prefer untouched ones better? PS: Here's a vlog if you want to see more about this trip.
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