My parents, James, Jack, Michelle, Jeanne, and I went to Corregidor Island. For those who are not into history, Corregidor aka The Rock, is an island on the mouth of Manila Bay. From this strategic location, it controls access to one of the best natural harbors in the world. Little wonder why the Spanish, the Americans, and even the Japanese fortified and garrisoned it. But it was the fierce fighting there between the Americans and Japanese during World War II when it earned its legendary status.
Corregidor is actually one of the more easily accessible tourist spots. A ferry goes there from a terminal at the CCP Complex every day 8AM and back again at 3:45PM. There’s a day trip and an overnight trip.
Activities for the day trip includes a guided tour on board small tour buses made to look somewhat like pre-war trams, across the island’s many monuments and gun batteries. There’s also an optional Malinta Tunnel light and sound show. Malinta Tunnel is actually not just a tunnel but the access point to a sprawling complex of tunnels which was the headquarters of the US and Filipino defenders during World War II. Although you only get to see the main tunnel for the show, since you’re already there, might as well go for it.
For those staying overnight, you can stay at the Corregidor Inn or camp out at the camping area. We stayed at the Inn which is quite small. It has a distinct feel: quaint, pre-war, antiquated, haunted even. Five-stars it is not, but it’s reasonably clean, reasonably well-maintained, reasonably priced, and most importantly, the staff is excellent.
There are other activities such as a night tour of Malinta Tunnel complex, hiking, biking, fishing, ziplining, swimming at the hotel pool or on the waters of Manila Bay (if you’re willing to risk the mutation of your progeny), and even rock balancing (if you’re really bored).
But the best thing is the solitude and closeness to nature of the island. There are no permanent settlements or residents. The only motorized vehicles are the touring trams and one or two hotel service vehicle. Once the day tourists are gone, especially on the off-peak days, you are pretty much alone with the staff and a handful of hotel guests. Considering the closeness to Metro Manila, that’s remarkable.
