Corregidor Overnight Tour: Thrill-Seeking in this Historic Island

Corregidor Island is the perfect travel destination for those who love war history, anecdotes of survival, tales of allegiance, and a sprinkling of ghost stories.

Corregidor has always had an air of mystery, primarily because it had once been the site of a violent event. Add to that the fact that the island is deserted, save for a handful of hotel personnel who live here.

Even with the light of the day, the generally dark feeling that surround you is palpable. Nevertheless, a trip to Corregidor Island, is every thrill-seeker’s dream adventure.

History of Corregidor Island

The rocky Corregidor Island, also known as Fort Mills, with its strategic location at the mouth of Manila Bay has been used since the Spanish occupation as a registration site for ships entering Manila. During the American occupation, Corregidor was fortified as a military station — complete with intricate tunnel system and strong ammunition.

The island served as the primary defense fort of Manila when Japanese forces invaded the country. Today, only the ruins of the barracks and hospitals remain.

Corregidor Island is part of the province of Cavite although geographically, it is more proximate to the province of Bataan.

Our Corregidor Island Experience

It was funny though because this trip to Corregidor Island was actually one of Khris and I’s spur-of-the-moment out of town adventures. We booked the overnight tour through Sun Cruises immediately for the coming weekend.

All in all, it was a tour that we would always recommend. It was an easy tour, no itinerary-planning was needed because Sun Cruises will handle it. The tour guides are engaging and knowledgeable, and they also know how to crack jokes at the right moment.

By the way, if you want to avail of the ghost-hunting tour, you should avail of the overnight package because the day tour does not include it.

How to go to Corregidor Island

The only route going to the island was via a one-hour ferry ride from the CCP Complex. It was a smooth and comfortable journey because the weather was fine. Going back to Manila involved taking the same route.

Interesting things to see during the Corregidor tour

As soon as we were all settled in, our tour guide gave us an overview of the island’s geography — the Topside, Middle side, and Bottom side.

The section of Corregidor Island with the biggest land area is the Topside. This is the location of the Army headquarters, barracks, officers’ quarters, most of the artillery batteries, Pacific War Memorial, and an old Spanish lighthouse.

The Middle Side is where the officers’ quarters, barracks, hospital, quarters for non-commissioned officers, and schools are located. The hospital, reputed to be haunted, is a favorite site for ghost-hunting tours.

The Bottom Side is the lower part of the island that serves as the neck that connects the head and the tail of the island. The Malinta Tunnel, the last stronghold of the Philippine and American Military forces, is located here. This tunnel was originally intended as a bunker but it was eventually converted to a 1000-bed hospital.

We proceeded with our tour w hen our guide finished with the overview of the island’s geography. Depending on the tour package that you availed of, these are the landmarks that you may expect to see during your tour:

1. Statue of General Douglas MacArthur

The General Douglas MacArthur Park is located near Lorcha Dock; this is where General MacArthur set sail to Australia.

2. Japanese and American Tunnels

This was not a part of the stopover but out guide pointed to us examples of a Japanese and an American cave. She emphasized that the differences between the two are the sizes and the location. In terms of size, Japanese tunnels are was smaller as compared to those of the Americans’. Japanese tunnels are located along the coast while American tunnels are along cliffs.

3. Japanese Garden of Peace

We had our first stopover at the Japanese Garden of Peace. This place is dedicated to thousands of Japanese soldiers who perished during the war. Once a cemetery covered by dense undergrowth, it was eventually discovered because of the photo below, and the remains were exhumed, cremated, and repatriated to Japan.

Cleared of thick shrubs and subsequently landscaped, the Japanese Garden today features shrines and markers that serve as memorial for the Japanese soldiers formerly interred here. Interestingly, there is also a statue of a Japanese fertility deity located here.

There is also a small souvenir shop here at the Japanese Garden of Peace that also doubles as a mini museum where an old and worn out Japanese flag is displayed. Likewise showcased were old bills and photos taken during World War II.

4. Filipino Heroes Memorial

From the Japanese Garden, we proceeded to the Filipino Heroes Memorial. According to our guide, they do not bring Japanese guests here because of cultural sensitivity. The murals depict the atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers against Filipino men and women.

From the Filipino Heroes memorial, our guide announced that we would have a one-hour lunch break at Corregidor Inn before proceeding to the last leg of the day trip, which consisted of tours around the ruined soldiers’ quarters and batteries..

We had lunch buffet of salad, rice, meat, dessert, and drinks. The food was good and filling but nothing spectacular. Anyway, we went here for the adventure and not really for the food.

5. Middleside Barracks

The images of Corregidor Island that remained in my head are that of the ruined barracks. Honestly, this is the part of the tour that I was most excited to see. We made a short stop at the Middleside barracks for photo ops.

6. Corregidor Island’s Main Batteries

Of the three batteries, Battery Way is the smallest and features a barracks for storing ammunition. Meanwhile, Battery Hearn is the biggest as held the most importance among the three.

The last that we visited was Battery Grubbs. From here, the small La Monja Island is visible.

7. Mile-Long Barracks

We made a quick stopover at the Mile-Long Barracks, which was the longest garrison according to our guide.

8. Pacific War Memorial

From the batteries, we went to the Pacific War Memorial. Located here are the Pacific War Memorial Dome, ruins of Cine Corregidor, a museum containing artifacts from World War II, and the Eternal Flame of Freedom.

9. Spanish Lighthouse

The last stop for the day tour was at the highest peak of Corregidor Island where a Spanish Lighthouse stood.

We availed of an evening tour which consisted of a visit to a ruined hospital and the Malinta Tunnel. From the Spanish Lighthouse, the last stop of the day tour, our guide told us that we could take a rest and reassemble the lobby of the Corregidor Inn at around 6:00 PM.

On the appointed time, the evening tour participants gathered at the hotel lobby where a guide was waiting for us. We boarded our assigned tranvia and proceeded to our destination. Along the way, there are more ruins such as a school and a department store which used to sell imported goods. Keep your eyes also peeled for monkeys playing by the roadside.

10. “Ghost-hunting” at the hospital ruins

Our first stop was the hospital ruins for a ghost-hunting. People claim that the hospital is one of the most haunted places in the island. That may hold true as hospitals bear witness to numerous deaths and sufferings.

Anyway, we did not really summon spirits or made attempts to detect their presence. It was more of a story-telling session courtesy of our guide about the supposed ghosts haunting the place. Well, the hospital ruins was spooky alright but thankfully we did not see any otherworldly being floating about.

10. Malinta Tunnel

The peak of the evening tour is a walk inside the Malinta Tunnel, the last stronghold of the joint Philippine and American military forces before the Japanese takeover. Malinta Tunnel was named after linta (leeches) which workers found to be abundant inside the tunnel.

Our guide showed us around, mostly in dark corners, as well as old offices and equipment when the tunnel was converted to a hospital. Here, our guide told us more stories of sufferings and atrocities committed during World War II.

A visit to the tunnel usually included a light show and an audio-visual presentation but these were unavailable that evening because Malinta Tunnel was being renovated.

Corregidor Inn

We stayed at Corregidor Inn, the only hotel in the island. It’s a small hotel, old but well-kept. It had that old world appeal. There were not really much amenities, save for a small swimming pool beside it.

The room had a bed, an air-conditioning unit, and a bathroom — just the bare necessities to survive a night or two.

Other Travel Notes and Tips

Here are a few other things that you may also want to keep in mind with regard to the Corregidor Island tour:

1. Food in the hotel can be pricey so it’s best if can bring your own.
2. Wear comfortable clothes and footwear.
3. Bring first-aid kit as well as insect repellant.
4. Bring swimwear as there is a swimming pool beside Corregidor Inn. The beach is also open for swimmers but do not expect Boracay-like sand and water.
5. Souvenirs sold outside the hotel are least expensive.
6. The island is powered by generators so there is no television in the hotel rooms so as to minimize power consumption.
7. There is a small chapel near the hotel.
8. Bring enough cash with you.

How to book a Corregidor Island Tour

Interested individuals may book a Corregidor tour through the following:

Reservations Office
21/F, Times Plaza Bldg., Ermita, Manila
Tel: (632) 8465–8840
Mobile: 0998–9683256
E-mail:[email protected]

Sales Office
21/F, Times Plaza Bldg., Ermita, Manila
Tel. Nos. (632) 8465–8836 to 37
Mobile: 0998–9683013, 0998–9683015
E-mail:[email protected]

Corregidor Inn
Corregidor Island, Cavite
Mobile: 0998–968–3100
E-mail:[email protected]

How to go to Sun Cruises port

Option 1: From North via Roxas Boulevard (Luneta)

1. From Taft Avenue, turn right to Quirino Avenue
2. Turn left to Roxas Boulevard
3. When you reach CCP, turn right to Pedro Bukaneg Street
4. Turn right to Maria Guerrero Street Parking area

Option 2: Form South via Roxas Boulevard

1. From Baclaran, head straight to Roxas Boulevarad
2. When you reach CCP, turn left to Pedro Bukaneg Street
3. Turn right to Maria Guerrero Street Parking area

Option 3: Public Transportation

A. From South

- Ride LRT 1 from Baclaran going to Vito Cruz Station
— Cross the street going to Pablo Ocampo Street (Rizal Stadium)
— Ride an Orange Jeep going to Folk Arts Theater/ Coconut Palace
— Walk going to Paseo Palisoc Street (Parking Area)B. From North
— Ride LRT 1 from Balintawak or Monumento going to Vito Cruz Station
— Walk going to Pablo Ocampo Street (Rizal Stadium)
— Ride an Orange Jeep going to Folk Arts Theater/ Coconut Palace
— Walk going to Paseo Palisoc Street (Parking Area)

Also read: Intramuros: a walk back into the Philippines’ colonial past (updated travel guide)

Originally published at https://www.ivankhristravels.com.