Corregidor Island "A glimpse to the World War II" - Corregidor Island, Cavite

Corregidor is shaped like a tadpole, it is also known as “The Rock”.  It is a small rocky island in the Philippines about 48 kilometers west of Manila which is strategically located at the entrance of Manila Bay. This island served as the fortress, stands as a memorial for the courage, valor, and heroism of its Filipino and American defenders who bravely held their ground against the overwhelming number of invading Japanese forces during World War II. 

I’ve been in this island two times but still I am always amazed with this island and its history, a glimpse of the bravery of our forefathers.

There is only one way to visit and explore Corregidor Island that is through Sun Cruises. This company offers day tour and overnight accommodation. There is a hotel in the island. Actually too many activities that tourist can enjoy namely:

All-Terrain Vehicle RentalsRide one of our several off-road four-wheel all-terrain vehicles and explore the island with more adventure and fun!

Biking (Bring your own bike)
A newly-introduced activity in the Island. It gives the biking enthusiast the opportunity to conquer the well-paved biking trails and get a glimpse of the Island's scenic and historic spots.

Corregidor Adventure
Live and learn about the great outdoors in a specialized team building program that can be tailor-made to suit your needs. Grab your compass, check your map, and be ready to hack through vines or to drop down into mysterious tunnels in search of clues that will lead you to winning the adventure challenge.

Kayak Rentals
Enjoy Kayak rentals in the South Beach of Corregidor Island. We offer great kayaking opportunities for either day trips or extended tours.

Light & Sound Show at the Malinta Tunnel
The Light & Sound Show at the Malinta Tunnel, which is about half an hour long, is an optional part of the Day Tour and costs Php 150.00 per person. The Light & Sound Show is a must-see for first time visitors.

Easy Hike
Hike through rediscovered trails to forests and hillsides and discover landmarks of ruins. Follow the trail of pink cadena de amor with a sweeping view of Manila bay reaching the island's tail.

Sunset Experience
Catch the lovely sunset at Battery Grubb's, one of the disappearing guns perched on a hill overlooking the magnificent Peninsula.

Sunrise Viewing
Brave the chilly mornings in Corregidor as we drive you to the island's tailside to catch the sunrise.

Night Lateral Visit
This is done inside the tunnel's unexplored side. A 1,000-bed hospital area during World War II. A walking tour of the tunnel's unexplored side.

Island Roundabout
Circle the island on sturdy outrigger boats and view the neighboring isles, La Monja, Caballo (Fort Drum), and the scenic coast of Mariveles. Then stop over at the perfect fishing spots nearby for enjoyable day sport fishing.
Hiking
Hike along the woodland trails of Corregidor on a wondrous adventure game. Grab your compass, check your map, and be ready to hack through vines or to drop down into mysterious tunnels in search of clues that will lead you to winning the adventure challenge.

The Camp Adventure
Live and learn about the great outdoors in a specialized camp training program designed to enhance your knowledge and skills about nature. With jungle survival and exploration instructors, you will learn to respect and develop the confidence to survive in a world of trees and bushes, manmade underground caverns and exotic creatures.

Bird Watching
Bird watchers have spotted species of birds at Corregidor island such as White-Collared Kingfishers, Zebra Dove, Blue Rock, Asian Glossy Starlings, Eurasian Tree Sparrows, Black-naped Orioles and just recently, Philippine Cockatoos have been spotted flying over the grassy area near the Eternal Flame.

Bird watching has now been added as a worthwhile activity in the island. Commune with nature and be one to spot what could be migratory or resident birds of the island.

Rock Balancing
Corregidor, also known as the "Rock" boasts of unique rocks called "bloodstones". These rocks have been aptly called so because they are white in color with nice splatters of red. Rock balancing is an ephemeral art (short-lived art masterpieces) which has recently been introduced in the island. This is a nature activity which aims to boost eco-tourism and build awareness on nature conservancy. Rock balancing is often linked to photography and landscape art.

Zipline
The 40-foot high 655-foot long free-fall cable ride stretches from the Corregidor Inn all the way to the South Beach. 

 Source: Sun Cruise

We arrived 15 minutes before 7:00 am. Whew it’s good they still accepted us, because they said 30 minutes before the cut off time passengers wouldn’t be allowed. Watching the tall buildings of Manila getting smaller as we sail on and slowly the sight of the greener island appears. It was relaxing sailing for more than an hour.

We were greeted with warm smiles and guided us to the tram. It is the replica of the tram that was used before in the island. Guests can choose among the English and Japanese speaking tour guides. Japanese guests have their own tour guides and the story of the events during the World War II is more focused on the heroism of the Japanese soldiers. The tour started right away no much ado. Along the way there are monkey sightings.

We chose the English speaking tour guide. Mostly the establishments are ruins, but still can be seen how mighty this fortress was, equipped with weaponry to stand against the battle. The remnants of the war are very visible. I am amazed how the American engineering was. They developed the island into unimaginable camp. The island’s story is about the might and fall and the rising once more.

The day tour included the buffet lunch in the only hotel in the island, the Corregidor Inn. The food served was nice, few choices but enough to fill and energize our tired body. You should bring enough water for you to dehydrate to the duration that you are in the island. The goods in there are a bit expensive. 

The tour is time bound that’s why we had to be quick in scrutinizing the things that captured our attention. Some of the guests included in our tour were old ones; most of them just stay inside the tram.

Before 3:00 pm the tour ended. A glimpse to the history of courage and bravery.  Thank you for reminding us how our forefathers were. A lesson to treasure and learn, be used as a guide, as we face the challenges of today and tomorrow.