This is a must-see attraction for anyone in or near Manila. Take an early morning ferry ride (about an hour) and then, through the ferry company, join the tram tour of the island, which lasts much of the day, not returning to Manila until around 4:00 p.m. Corregidor served as the headquarters of the Allied Forces while the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and important battles were fought here and nearby during the latter part of WWII.A statue of Gen. Douglas MacArthur stands on the spot where he famously uttered, “I shall return.” Highlights include the ruins of the American barracks, bunkers, gun batteries, and infrastructure, as well as the memorials to the war dead (Filipino, American, and Japanese), the Malinta Tunnel, the lighthouse, and the Japanese cemetery. The tram has large umbrellas to use in case of rain. You can stay there and also do some kayaking, ziplining, and other outdoor activities.

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Famous WWII Pacific Battle Site

This is a must-see attraction for anyone in or near Manila. Take an early morning ferry ride (about an hour) and then, through the ferry company, join the tram tour of the island, which lasts much of the day, not returning to Manila until around 4:00 p.m. Corregidor served as the headquarters of the Allied Forces while the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and important battles were fought here and nearby during the latter part of WWII.A statue of Gen. Douglas MacArthur stands on the spot where he famously uttered, “I shall return.” Highlights include the ruins of the American barracks, bunkers, gun batteries, and infrastructure, as well as the memorials to the war dead (Filipino, American, and Japanese), the Malinta Tunnel, the lighthouse, and the Japanese cemetery. The tram has large umbrellas to use in case of rain. You can stay there and also do some kayaking, ziplining, and other outdoor activities.

The Rock - An Island Fortress

Corregidor Island sits by the entrance of the Manila Bay, about 50 kilometers away from Manila. During the Japanese invasion in World War II, Corregidor was the headquarters of the Allied Forces. A memorial now sits on the island fortress to remember the courageous Filipino and American men who defended our country. We could see the building ruins, the old barracks, and batteries. The big guns are one of my most favorite attractions there as you can go up close, touch them and imagine yourself back in the days. We also visited the underground tunnel which used to serve as the hospital. A 30-minute light and sound show is presented as we walked through the pitch-dark tunnel, and tells its history. It can feel a bit creepy but it was interesting. There is a tour provider which offers daily ferry service from Manila (Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex) to/from the island. It’s about an hour’s ride. As you arrive, you can hop on one of the trams as it brings you around the main attractions within the island. The tour includes lunch. If you wish to stay over night, which unfortunately we did not, there is a small inn called Corregidor Inn. This is helpful especially if you’d like to stay late and watch the sunset or experience the sunrise and explore the island at your pace by biking, hiking or kayaking.

Corregidor Ruins

Amidst the heat and humidity, I was in awe of the collapsed buildings that made up the former army base on Corregidor in the Philippines. Nothing was left of them except for its bare bones of walls made of concrete and steel reinforcing bars. Seeing those massive decaying buildings made it hard to believe that they were once filled with and used by many people. A tour of Corregidor gives participants a look at Filipino history and a glimpse at the devastation of war.

Corregidor - WWII Battle Site Now A Tourist Attraction

Spend an interesting and informative day on Corregidor Island, like this little photographer and his mom. It’s about an hour-long ferry ride from Manila.

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