Day Trip: Corregidor Island tour

The Island of Corregidor

Corregidor, also called the Rock, is a rocky, tadpole-shaped island located at the mouth of Manila Bay. Fort Mills, as it was called by the Americans, is the largest of the four fortified islands forming the harbor defense of Manila Bay. The other three islands that make up the defense are: Caballo, or Fort Hughes; El Fraile, or Fort Drum; and Carabao, or Fort Frank.

Round the bend, Corregidor Island

Corregidor derived its name from the word corregir, meaning to correct. During the Spanish times, it served as a checkpoint for marine vessels trying to enter Manila Bay. It is also because of its strategic location that the Americans decided to put up defense installations on the island. Heavily armed with artillery, it was the last Allied base to fall and served as the last stand of the Filipino and American soldiers during the World War II Japanese occupation of our country. Famous for its role in the Second World War, the island is now a major tourist spot for both foreigners and locals.

Scale relief map of Corregidor Island

The Corregidor Experience

I have been wanting to visit Corregidor Island, so I grabbed the opportunity when I saw a Sun Cruises Corregidor day tour deal on one of the group buying sites online. I got the deal for only Php1,100 per person and it includes roundtrip ferry transfers, shrine and entrance fees, guided island tour and buffet lunch. Regular rates, cruise schedules, tour itineraries, hotel and list of other activities on the island can be found on their website listed below.

Sun Cruises ferry

Since virtually all people touring the island is courtesy of Sun Cruises, I won't be spoiling the fun of tourist guides and just leave it up to them to take you through the colorful history of Corregidor Island (they make a better job of it anyway). I'll just share with you an overview and some pictures of the sights and stops the island has to offer and hope this will be enough to make you want to personally experience touring Corregidor.

Tranvia #5

After disembarking from our Sun Cruises ferry ride, we immediately boarded the tranvia bus assigned to us. Our first stop: the Malinta Tunnel. Being first timers, we took the optional Malinta Tunnel light and sound show entitled “Malinta Experience”. This part of the tour is optional so tourists who choose to take this have to pay Php150 on site.

Malinta Tunnel entrance

Malinta Tunnel Layout

Malinta Tunnel marker

Malinta Tunnel show

the "Malinta Experience"

Itinerary on going around the island varies, depending on your tranvia. It was done so as to minimize people traffic in each stop and evenly spread tourists around the island. In our case, we visited Filipino Heroes Memorial first before having an early buffet lunch at Corregidor Inn's restaurant, La Playa. After our lunch we then proceeded to the other stops. Because Corregidor is divided into island sectors, I'll just base the picture arrangement according to their location and not in order of our tour itinerary.