Mariveles
Introduction
Mariveles is a municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. It is the most populous town in Bataan, so expect a busy, lived-in feel rather than a quiet resort town.
Before you go
Before you go, it helps to know what kind of place Mariveles is. Sitting at the rugged southern tip of the Bataan peninsula, it is an old settlement that predates the province around it, once a Spanish military district that also took in Ternate and Maragondon across the Corregidor Strait in Cavite. Along with Corregidor Island, that district guarded the approach to Manila Bay. In World War II, Mariveles was the final stronghold of Allied forces in the Battle of Bataan, and it was one of the two starting points of the Bataan Death March, the other being Bagac. Rebuilt after the war, it grew around industry: fuel processing terminals and the Freeport Area of Bataan. That industrial character shapes the town today, so set your expectations accordingly. The eastern and southern shores are dotted with factories and drab commercial and residential buildings, while the western coastline facing the South China Sea keeps its rugged landscapes, beaches and secluded resorts. Because of the refineries and loading terminals for gas and petroleum, the highways can be swarmed by rows of fuel tankers, so keep clear of them and never light a fire or even a cigarette in unsafe areas. Lowland areas are also prone to flooding during the rainy season, so plan around the wet months and choose where you base yourself with that in mind.Getting there
Mariveles sits at the southern end of the Roman Superhighway (Route 301), the main artery through eastern Bataan, and both that road and the Bagac-Mariveles Road from western Bataan merge in the downtown area at the head of Mariveles Bay. If you are coming from the west, join the Bagac-Mariveles Road via the junction off Governor J.J. Linao Highway at Bagac.
- By bus from Metro Manila: Genesis and Victory Liner run daily trips. The Genesis terminal is on Lakandula Street at the corner of National Road in Poblacion.
- By minibus: services connect Mariveles with the provincial capital, Balanga; the trip takes up to an hour.
Getting around
There is no rail, metro, or tram network in Mariveles, and no airport, so all arrivals and local trips are made by road or by water. Buses are the main way to reach the municipality from outside the province: Genesis and Victory Liner both run daily trips from Metro Manila, and the Genesis terminal sits in the Poblacion at the corner of Lakandula Street and the National Road, a useful landmark for arriving and departing. If you are coming by air you will pass through Metro Manila first, then continue overland via the North Luzon Expressway, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, and Roman Highway, or by ferry on the Mariveles to Manila route. For shorter hops within Bataan, minibuses connect Mariveles with the provincial capital, Balanga, a trip of up to an hour.
Once you are in town, the tricycle is the main form of transportation between barangays and the default choice for any trip outside the center. Downtown Mariveles, at the head of Mariveles Bay, is where the main roads merge and where the bus terminal and municipal landmarks are concentrated, so walking works for short errands within that core. Beyond downtown the municipality spreads across a large area of pastureland and forest, and the distances between the center and outlying barangays can be considerable, so plan on arranging a tricycle or another vehicle rather than assuming you can walk from one end of Mariveles to the other. Aim to arrive at the downtown area at the head of the bay, where you can pick up a tricycle for the final leg to your accommodation.
Where to stay
For a beachfront stay, Camaya Coast spreads across Sitio Wain in Biaan as a large luxury beach resort complex. Villa Carmen Pools and Beach sits along the Cabcaben-Town Site Road in Mountain View, and it can also arrange tours to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in Morong and to Corregidor Island. Inland and closer to the freeport, Casa Veles Hotel is in the Commercial Area on 8th Avenue within the Freeport Area of Bataan. Further out, Mount Tarak Guesthouse and Restaurant is on Kamaya Point Road in Alas-asin, pairing rooms with a place to eat.Food & drink
For a meal, head to Alas-asin, where several options cluster near the junction with the Roman Superhighway. JJRA Food Hub on Camia Street serves straightforward fare, while Romalaine Seafood Restaurant along the highway specialises in seafood. In San Isidro, Felicitas Steak House on the Bagac-Mariveles Road is the place for steak, and Yamgyupsal Korean Grill House on Bantayan Street offers Korean grilled meats. For coffee or a drink, Cafe Industriya sits in the Commercial Area on 8th Avenue within the Freeport Area of Bataan, part of the Casa Veles Hotel complex.What to see and do
Start your visit in Poblacion, where several of Mariveles's landmarks sit close together. On Avenue of the Philippines, between Jollibee and McDonald's and directly beside the Mariveles Public Library, you'll find the Zero Kilometer Death March Marker, the point from which the Bataan Death March began on its 102 km route. Similar white, pyramidal markers trace that route along Governor J.J. Linao Highway and the Bataan National Road toward Dinalupihan and the Pampanga boundary. Nearby on Padre Gomez Street stands Mariveles Church, the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine and the town's main Roman Catholic church. Also in Poblacion, inside the grounds of the Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital on MMW Main Road, are the ruins of the Lazareto de Mariveles, a Spanish-era quarantine station. Round off a day in town with a stroll along Roman Boulevard Baywalk Park, a seaside promenade on Mariveles Bay. For something more active, head to Ipag for the Mariveles Five Fingers, a series of five upland coves lined up beside one another where Manila Bay meets the South China Sea, at the southernmost tip of the Bataan peninsula. The coves are used for hiking, cliff jumping, swimming and diving. Inland, Mariveles Volcano is a dormant volcano with a wide caldera forming the southern part of Bataan; its multiple peaks and ridges, including Mount Tarak, draw climbers and hikers.Three days in Mariveles
Day one: Arrive in Mariveles, on the Bataan peninsula, and get your bearings along Mariveles Bay. The town sits at the tip of Bataan, facing Corregidor Island across the Corregidor Strait, with Manila Bay beyond. Take a walk down Lakandula Street and along the National Road to see the lowland town centre, then follow Mariveles Road toward the Freeport Area. If you have time before dark, head to the waterfront for views across the water toward Cavite and Corregidor.
Day two: Give the day to the history of the area. Mariveles is where the Bataan Death March began in World War II, after the Battle of Bataan, and the route ran through Bagac and on toward Ternate and Maragondon in Cavite. Corregidor Island lies just offshore, across the strait, and can be seen from the coast. The town was rebuilt after the war, and the Freeport Area now occupies part of the landscape. Use the Roman Superhighway or the Linao Highway to reach other points in Bataan if you want to follow the route further.
Day three: Slow down and take in the surroundings. The South China Sea lies to the west, and the lowland setting around Mariveles Bay makes for easy walking. If you are heading back to Metro Manila, buses such as Genesis and Victory Liner serve the route, and the Roman Superhighway connects the peninsula to the capital. Spend your last hours along the bay before you leave.