Ultimate Guide to Sabang
Google Maps Link - IMOL recommended hotels, bars, restaurants and points of interest.
Sabang Beach IMOL RANKINGS
Difficulty Level 3/10
GFE Level 7/10
Concerns: Public ferry terminal is a hot mess, boredom factor for some guys, catching feelings from a go-go dancer.
Why we go there: Tropical sleepy beach town with a viable red light district. Off the current monger radar - no one knows about this place!
Getting Here
Sabang beach is a small coastal village near Puerto Galera, a municipality in the province (island) of Oriental Mindoro.
MNL Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will be the arrival point for most of you guys as it has the most international flight options. Getting over to Oriental Mindoro requires ground transport down to the Batangas Pier and then a ferry over to the island. There isn’t an airport on the island.
The most affordable way to reach Sabang is using the public bus to reach the ferry terminal in Batangas. Then purchasing a ticket on one of the large ferries into Puerto Galera. We are not even going to list instructions on how to do this.
We listed the difficulty rating for Sabang at 3 due to the transportation nightmare commonly known as the Batangas Pier. The facility itself isn’t the problem, in fact it is brand new. The knuckleheads milling about in the parking lot are the issue. They will do anything to trick you into a “tip me bro” type situation. Luckily we have a solution - Private boat service
Contact HAP AND GO The “small” boat dock is located at the Berberabe Port about 1hr 50 minutes from Manila. Boats leave twice per day - ask for current schedule.
Intel
There are two Sabang’s in the Philippines. Sabang Palawan and Sabang Oriental Mindoro. We are focused on Sabang / Puerto Galera / Oriental Mindoro. Don’t mistake the two when booking hotels!
Sabang Beach is a small village, everything is walking distance. They have a large 7/11, liquor store, lots of Sari Sari (convenience) stores and a ton of dive shops.
Scooters are available to rent in town. We always use Ian +63 953 947 7445
Trikes are available in town for short rides or you can book island tours with them. - Always ask the girls at Sly Dogs or the other bars to help you book tours, you will get better pricing.
Pro Tip: Puerto Galera is located about 5km from Sabang. It used to be the most popular spot on the island, it is now a ghost town. Do not stay in Puerto Galera
Lodging
We highly advise staying in Sabang Beach proper. Don’t get tempted with Puerto Galera and the surrounding areas. You'll spend 90 percent of your time in Sabang Beach so its better to set base camp here and then explore the rest of the island during the day.
Big Apple Dive Resort which is located back in the alley/red light district features a really good bar with a pool table, pretty waitresses and excellent food. The resort also has a nice swimming pool adjacent to the bar and a full service dive shop. What it doesn't have is WIFI in all of the rooms... Check connection speed before accepting a room.
Dream Hotel is a newer hotel and the rooms are close to perfect - in our opinion. Fast wifi, cold air-conditioning, mini fridge, safe and television with movie channels. No swimming pool but there is Club Erotica its entrance is in the hotel lobby … pictured below
Agoda has a bunch of other listings, just make sure you verify location (close to the waterfront) and read the latest reviews.
Beach combing, snorkeling, scuba, zip lines, waterfalls and afternoon swims are what keeps us busy during the day but what's a guy to do at night?
Believe it or not, Sabang Beach actually has a small but viable Red Light district. Located in the alley directly behind the waterfront (entry next door to Sly Dogs)
The Sabang red light district is small but vibrant. It offers several go-go bars, pubs and even live music venues Club Erotica, Sky, and SugarKiss to name a few.
You'll need to do some recon to figure out which club has the best lineup. Most clubs bring the girls in from other islands and areas like Manila on contracts. Thus the ever changing rotation. Game plan your evening just like Angeles City. Sabang is popular with the Korean guys so if you find a pretty girl whom you are vibing with it would be wise to bar fine her early or risk losing her to an overzealous Korean guy who won't fuck around with buying lady drinks.
Watch your bar tab inside these establishments - especially if you wander into CocoLips - they are known to have billing “mistakes”
Bar fines range between 4k pesos and 6k pesos depending on the club and the girl. Note: the bar fine is paid directly to the bar and is an all-inclusive long time fee. The bar then splits proceeds with the girl. That said, please tip accordingly.
You can also find freelance girls hanging out on the waterfront during the evening hours. Usually all it takes is a smile and they’ll do all of the work.
*** It should also be noted that most of the waitresses, bartenders and hotel workers in Sabang are more than willing to hang out. Be polite, chat them up and then invite them for drinks later. As always, personal hygiene, politeness and respect go a long ways with the ladies in Asia. Play your cards right and you just might end up with an island girlfriend.
Excursions:
Located on top of the mountain this spot is worth checking out even if you have no intention of hooking onto the zip line. Incredible views, cool winds and cold beer available in the parking lot.
Easy thirty minute scooter ride from Sabang. These falls are absolutely beautiful. Pay the 50 pesos and walk down to the base of the falls where the pools are. You can swim and lounge at the foot of the waterfalls!
San Antonio Island
Contract one of the local boatman to bring you over here. Long Beach, Coral Gardens for snorkeling. Bring some beer and make a day out of it!
Puerto Galera
Except for Fridays and Saturdays this beautiful beachside community is an absolute ghost town. Walk along the board walk and post up at one of the restaurants or bars and enjoy the views.
Hype Genesis party boat. Review pending but it looks fantastic.
The most popular activity in Sabang is Scuba Diving, second most is mongering. Diving enthusiasts from all over Asia flock to Sabang for the clear vibrant waters and the inexpensive dives / instruction fees. Typical rate for a single dive with equipment is just 1,200 pesos. Nitrox is readily available for an additional fee.
Most dives in Sabang are relatively shallow, usually less than 25 meters making it the perfect destination for those looking to refresh skills or continue their diving education via advanced classes such as rescue diver and divemaster.
Good snorkeling can be found right in Sabang Beach by walking to the end of the promenade and exploring the water in front of Out of the Blue Resort.
The best snorkeling, swimming and beach combing can be found by renting a private boat. For as little as 2,000 pesos you can contract a local boat to take you to Long Beach for a few hours. It's the beach featured in the beginning of our Ultimate Guide video. You'll find expediters standing near the trike stand ( middle of the promenade) who can assist with renting boats, scooters and taxis. We use our buddy Jason to hook us up with boat trips +63 975-460-0709Never accept the first bid, negotiate.
Scooters can be rented in Sabang Beach for 300-500 pesos per day depending on the bike. Contact Ian at +63 953-947-7445 for all of your rental needs. He offers good bikes and a very good service. Renting a scooter for a few days will open up the rest of Oriental Mindoro including White Beach in Puerto Galera, Tamaraw Falls, the overlook and zip line at Ponderosa and all of the scenic stops in between.
The Philippine government just finished a major road improvement project on the island. The result, newly paved and widened roads making the journey to these spots relatively easy, even for novice riders.
Sabang is a chill island destination where you can unwind both during the day and in the evening. We would put it into the same category as Koh Chang Thailand. No crowds, beautiful beaches, margaritas on the beach type vibe yet viable entertainment options at night.
The term “offloading” refers to the denial of departure by immigration authorities to a Filipino traveler who fails to meet the requirements set by the government.