Puerto Galera Encanto Falls Trekking

Most visitors to Puerto Galera never leave the beach. Those who do discover that Mindoro's interior holds a different kind of beauty — lush rainforest, rushing streams, and waterfalls fed by the island's mountainous spine. Encanto Falls, located in the barangay interior behind Puerto Galera town, is the most rewarding waterfall trek in Oriental Mindoro: a 30-metre single-drop cascade plunging into a deep emerald pool surrounded by tree ferns and wild ginger.

The trail begins at the edge of Puerto Galera's coconut plantation zone and climbs steadily through secondary forest into primary rainforest, following a river valley. Your guide — drawn from the local Mangyan indigenous community that has lived in these mountains for centuries — knows every root and stream crossing by heart and can identify the forest's trees, birds, and medicinal plants along the way. The Mangyan have traditionally used the forest trails around Encanto Falls for generations, and their involvement in the tour directly supports community livelihood.

The falls themselves are reached after approximately 1.5 hours of walking. The plunge pool is deep enough for swimming and bracingly cold — a perfect reward after the jungle trek. Some adventurous visitors climb the slippery rocks beside the falls to reach a small secondary cascade above; your guide can assist. The return trip is faster on the downhill and takes about 1 hour. Wear good closed-toe footwear, bring a dry bag for valuables, and expect to get wet crossing the river several times. This is one of the most authentic inland experiences in the Mindoro tourism circuit.