Bataan Peninsula Travel Guide
The Bataan Peninsula is situated in Luzon, Philippines, and is an extension of the Zambales Mountains. The peninsula shelters Manila Bay from the South China Sea and the region is mainly covered in mountains, hills and jungles that are great for hiking.
The region is full of stark rocky formations and the peninsula is home to Mount Natib and the Mariveles Mountains, which are famous as the location of the marker for the WWII Bataan Death March. Bataan province is located here and it is home to a group of protected islands.
The Bataan Peninsula is steeped in a rich history and it was the scene of a cruel incident during WWII involving the Japanese troops, who, after months of resistance from the US and Filipino forces, took the surrendering soldiers to camps where they were tortured and abused for years.
The stark landscape was the reason for the US forces seeking cover there but backup never arrived and they were led on what is now known as the Death March.
In more recent times the area has flourished due to oil trading and is the site of many oil refineries, hundreds of monuments and a shipyard. There is a national landmark at the peak of Mount Samat that stands in honour of the men and women who lost their lives during the war.
Getting There & Away
Getting to the peninsula is a 4-hour bus journey from Manila and the service runs about four times a week. The nearest international airport is in Manila and there are also ferries running to and from the capital that take an hour to Olongapo. From here it is a bus trip of 2 hours to the peninsula.