Full-Day Tour in Corregidor and Bataan War Memorial from Manila
Description
Corregidor Island and the Bataan Death March Memorial Sites are must-see destinations due to their profound historical significance and the powerful stories they tell about World War II in the Philippines. Historical Significance: World War II History: Corregidor Island played a crucial role during World War II as a strategic military base in Manila Bay. It was the site of intense battles between American and Filipino forces and Japanese troops. The island is home to well-preserved military fortifications, including bunkers, gun batteries, and ruins that offer insight into the island’s wartime history. The memorial sites commemorate the harrowing Bataan Death March of 1942, where thousands of Filipino and American prisoners of war were forcibly marched by the Japanese military. The Malinta Tunnel is once again open for exploration. Built by the American military in the early 1900s, the tunnel served as a bomb-proof shelter, command headquarters, and hospital during World War II.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Bataan is a province on the Philippine island of Luzon Region III. Its capital is Balanga. Shipwrecks and coral reefs dot the waters of Subic Bay, off its northwest coast. Farther south, marine turtles are hatched at the Pawikan Conservation Center. A towering memorial cross and a shrine commemorating WWII’s Battle of Bataan crown Mount Samat in central Bataan. On the east coast, birdlife thrives in the Balanga City Wetland and Nature Park. A 3 hour travel time from Manila is a worthy visit to this town which has full of history.
A guided historical tram tour on the small island of Corregidor. Visiting war memorial sites, learning its rich history, and paying tribute to the heroes.
Standing solemnly on Corregidor’s peak is the white-marbled saucer-shaped Pacific War Memorial. Built in 1968 by the US Government for 1.23 million dollars (other sources reported it to be at 3 million dollars), it was dedicated to the Filipino and American forces that fought in the Pacific during the Second World War. A sculpture depicting a wounded Filipino fighter being aided by an American soldier is installed at the memorial’s entrance, symbolizing the friendship between the two nations.
This massive edifice was built in 1915 to house the 60th Coast Artillery anti-aircraft regiment, the US Regular Army, the 91st Coast Artillery and the Philippine Scouts. Composed of two three-story buildings, its design was based on our country’s tropical climate; high ceiling, large openings and perimeter galleries for ventilation. The windows were interestingly made of capiz (mother of pearl) sliding panels like those found on Spanish Colonial era houses in the country. All that can be seen now are the slowly deteriorating skeletons of the barracks after it was bombed by the invading Japanese forces in December 1941.
Battery Way is armed with four 12-inch mortar carriages capable of firing highly explosive shells as far as 8.3 miles or 13.35 km in any direction. Each mortar required a crew of at least 14 men to load and fire the shells. The mortars could be lifted to a trajectory between 45 to 70 degrees, which made them ideal for targeting enemies entrenched in higher ground in Bataan. The battery was named after Second Lt. Henry Way of the 4th U.S. Artillery, who died in service in the Philippines in 1900.
The memorial shrine complex was built to honor and remember the gallantry of Filipino and American soldiers who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. The Memorial Cross is a towering structure at the highest point of Mount Samat, 555 m (1,821 ft) above sea level.
The museum was built as a tribute to our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in 1942. It showcases tragic moments of the war, especially the horrendous Bataan Death March where thousands of Filipino and American soldiers died.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please find the signboard under your name in your hotel lobby upon pick up
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travel time from Manila to Bataan is 3 hours via Van
- Boat travel time from Mariveles Bataan to Corregidor Island is at 20 minutes
- This is a NON REFUNDABLE BOOKING POLICY
- Pack lunch menu to choose: Pork Adobo, Chicken Afritad, Fried Chicken, mixed vegetables salad, BLT sandwich, Club House sandwich, & chicken sandwich
- pick up time is at 4am or 5am depends on the time availability of the tour in the island
- Please be advised that Mt. Samat is closed every Monday and on holidays. If the site is closed at the time of your visit, it will be replaced with alternative memorial sites. Access to Mt. Samat is not guaranteed. Thank you for your understanding.
Reviews(21)
We learned all about Corregidor and the Bataan Death March, much more than our US history books taught us.
Thank you so much!
I highly recommend this tour to all those desiring to obtain a better and deeper understanding of the historical significance of Corregidor and Bataan in WW II military history. The driver, Arvin picked me up exactly on time at my hotel and did a superb job navigating the intense Manila traffic to arrive safely at the beginning and end of the tour. My tour guide, Eduardo Gurion, did an outstanding job explaining the history, background, and details of all the sites we visited around Corregidor and Bataan. In detail he explained key decisions made by American and Japanese senior military officers; their strategies, tactics, and rationale. Eduardo is a walking encyclopedia on the WW II history of Corregidor and Bataan and made this tour informative and interesting. Names, numbers, quotes, history, and details were at his fingertips and expertly communicated. I took over a hundred pictures. Thanks Eduardo and Arvin for a tremendous tour. Well done.
Thank you so much!
Fantastic coverage of Bataan and Corregidor in WWII. The guide was extremely knowledgeable. Amazing and in-depth experience.
Thank you so much!
My husband and I took a one day private tour of Bataan and Corregidor in January 2026. We highly recommend this tour as our tour guide, William, was everything we could have hoped for. He was so knowledgeable and had so much information and stories. He was really genuine and it was a very real experience. as we laughed and shared stories. Thank you also to Leila who made all the arrangements for us via email prior to the trip. The booking process was hassle free even though we were communicating from overseas. For any interested in WWII history, I highly recommend this tour.
Thank you so much!
Corregidor is a beautiful island and Bataan a bustling city embedded in history. Our guide William is a passionate historian who personally learned from WWII veterans. I hope these places are preserved with derserved investment.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughtful review! We’re truly glad you appreciated the beauty and deep historical significance of Corregidor and Bataan. We are happy that Guide’s passion resonated with you. Thank you for traveling with us and for valuing the stories that shaped our history. We hope to welcome you again on another meaningful journey.
Outstanding trip. Having visited sites in Europe (Normandy, Battle of the Bulge) and the Pacific (Nagasaki, Okinawa, etc), this is the most impressive and most underrated tour of all WWII sites I have seen. Highly encourage more to visit Corregidor.
Thank you so much Tim!
3 of us booked the Bataan and Corregidor Full day tour at US$400 per person and found out only on the tour that the major attractions in Bataan and Corregidor are closed until further notice… the Cross which you can go up with a panoramic view of Manila and Subic Bay at Mount Samat as well as the most famous Malinta Tunnel on the Island. There were no indications on Viator on their website or booking page, we felt we were being taken advantage of and informed of the situation, which with Viator supposed to be a reputable tour company, totally disappointed…
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We truly understand your disappointment and appreciate you taking the time to express your concerns. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the closure of Malinta Tunnel, which remains closed until further notice due to government restrictions beyond the control of tour operators. Unfortunately, there is currently no confirmed timeline for its reopening. Regarding Mt. Samat (Shrine of Valor), please note that the site is regularly closed every Monday and on local holidays, which may affect access depending on the tour date. These closures are imposed by site authorities. We regret that this information was not clearly reflected on the booking platform at the time of reservation. We are actively working to ensure that all site updates and advisories are communicated more clearly to our partners and booking channels to avoid similar situations in the future. We value your feedback and will use this experience to improve transparency and guest communication.
Yesterday, December 27, three of us booked the Corregidor - Bataan Peninsula tour through Viator which was expensive at $400+ per person. The transport pick up for the 2.5 hour tour to the Bataan Tour area was right on time leaving at 5AM from Manila. Our tour guide William Pamuyo was picked up on the way and he was excellent. William had great knowledge and understanding of the conflict areas we had booked to see. He is articulate and very personable and would definitely retain his services again. The unfortunate and certainly disappointing aspect of this relative expensive tour is the fact that two (2) of the main attractions are closed and there was no indication of that on the Viator website. Had this been highlighted, we would not have taken the tour. The main sight to see on Corregidor Island is the Malinta Tunnel, an engineering feat and of spectacular size not to mention where MacArthur had his headquarters. We did not learn this fact until on the Island and well into the tour. Those responsible have no idea when it will be reopened by the government. Our trolley transport could not even drive in front of the entrance. Shame on Viator for not telling their clients this. In addition, at Mt. Samat, the huge cross, built in honor of all who served and died on Bataan, is closed until 2027. In the past, one could access the cross and walk on the arms to see the surrounding scenery including Subic Bay and Clark Airfield. Again, surprised at Viator, being a professional company, did not highlight this fact. Now the information provided by William and seeing the batteries, staff quarters and barracks of the men and women stationed on Corregidor was interesting but that wasn’t the main attraction. Would we have booked with Viator had we know the Malinta Tunnel and Cross was closed … no. Go in two years and all may be reopened.
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We’re glad to hear that your pick-up was on time and that your guide provided an excellent tour experience. We truly appreciate your kind words about his knowledge, professionalism, and personable approach, and we will be sure to share this with him. We understand your disappointment regarding the closure of Malinta Tunnel and the restricted access at Mt. Samat (Shrine of Valor). These closures are government-imposed and unfortunately beyond our control. We agree that advance awareness of such closures is important, and we continue coordinating with our partners and booking platforms to improve transparency and communication. We will make sure that all information provided is updated. We appreciate your honest feedback and hope that once these sites are fully reopened, you may consider returning for a more complete experience. Thank you again, and we wish you safe travels.
very long but very informative - I have come away from this with a much greater understanding if when and what occurred . I have come away with a much greater appreciation of what that generation went through.
Thank you so much! 🙏
Bernie, our driver and William, our tour guide, well let us just say they are top of the line in terms of service, knowledge and skill. My husband and I could not have asked for a better duo to make our tour of Bataan/Correigidor as safe, informative, and interesting as it would ever get. It was such a thrill to walk through Malinta Tunnel in Correigidor with just two flashlights to light our way. In Bata-an, it was crazy to find that the Zero Marker of the infamous Death March was located inside a school campus that is sandwiched between a Mcdonald and a Jollibee. As they say "Only in the Philippines". Tsk, tsk tsk. It is hoped that the government move now to fix the Correigidor Hotel which is still currently in a dilapidated state, and also move the Zero Marker of the Death March in Bata-an somewhere more respectable. There should be a Bata-an Death March Museum per se not scattered artifacts all over the place. Sad. The tour is highly recommended with again--hope that many more people would urge the Philippine Government to make memories of the sacrifices made in Bata-an and Correigidor great again! Okay?
Thank you so much!
