Take a Tour of Historic Corregidor Island Philippines
If you’re interested in touring historical attractions on your Philippines vacation, plan to visit Corregidor Island. This small island is located in the province of Cavite, just south of Bataan province, Luzon.
Corregidor Island at the mouth of Manila Bay has long been valued as a natural fortress due to its unique “tadpole” shape, strategic location, and rocky landscape. It is named for its use as a Spanish registration site for ships entering Manila Bay in the 18th century. Following the Spanish-American War,
Corregidor Island became a U.S. military station, and it was used by General Douglas MacArthur as one of his major defense positions following the Japanese invasion of the Philippines.
Corregidor Island was the last outpost of organized resistance against the Japanese following the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942. Under the leadership of Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright, the invading Japanese were repelled for 27 days. On May 6, 1942, the Island was surrendered. U.S. forces regained Corregidor Island n 1945. Today Corregidor Island is a national shrine that commemorates the valiant battle fought here against the Japanese during World War II.
Corregidor consists of several different sections, each containing fascinating tourist attractions. The “head” of the island (or “topside”) contains the Pacific War Memorial, Eternal Flame, headquarters, barracks, and a lighthouse among other attractions. The “middleside” of the Island contains the campsite and some ruins. There is also a bird park and aviary located here. At the “bottomside” or tail end of Corregidor is General MacArthur Park, General Wainwright Park, and the San Jose Chapel.
A tour of the Malinta Tunnels is one of the highlights of a visit to Corregidor Island. The Malinta Tunnels functioned as a hospital, supply depot, and MacArthur’s headquarters. An audio-visual presentation available here details the events that occurred at the Island during World War II, including President Quezon and his family’s as well as General Douglas MacArthur’s departure from Corregidor by submarine.
Travelers visiting Corregidor Island from Manila can travel by ferry at the CCP Complex on Roxas Boulevard. Roxas Boulevard is a popular area for tourists interested in deluxe accommodations in Manila, and you can obtain terrific rates on accommodations here through HotelsCombined.com. You can arrange a guided tour of Corregidor Island, or plan your own expedition with guidance from staff members at your Manila hotel.
You might find these articles interesting too:
