Oriental Mindoro, Administrative province on Mindoro island, Philippines
Oriental Mindoro is an administrative province covering the eastern portion of Mindoro island in the Philippines, with coastal lowlands giving way to forested mountain ranges. The landscape ranges from black sand beaches and mangrove forests along the shore to cloud forests at higher elevations, with central mountain ridges separating the province from its western neighbor.
The eastern half of Mindoro became a separate province in 1950 through national legislation, after being administered together with the western portion under a single government. During the American colonial period, the area formed part of a larger administrative district that included several islands.
The name Mindoro derives from Spanish colonial miners who called the island a mine of gold, though little precious metal was ever extracted. In the highland communities, visitors can observe syllabic writing on bamboo strips, a practice maintained for centuries by local groups who preserve their linguistic traditions.
Visitors reach the province by taking ferries from Manila to Calapan, which operate multiple times daily and take around two hours. Roads in the interior pass through mountain terrain with steep grades, so a vehicle suitable for rough conditions is helpful when traveling beyond the main routes.
The waters off the coast sit within the Coral Triangle and host an exceptionally high number of marine species in a compact area. Fishermen from coastal villages use traditional outrigger boats to harvest their daily catches in these species-rich waters.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
