Five Fingers coastline in Mariveles, Bataan
BATAAN, PHILIPPINES

Discover Bataan

A peninsula of history, coastline, mountains and communities just across Manila Bay.

THE PLACE

A Different Side of the Philippines

Bataan occupies the peninsula between Manila Bay and the South China Sea in Central Luzon. Its western coastline is marked by ridges, cliffs and headlands, while mountains rise across the interior of the province.

For visitors based in Manila, Bataan offers a change of scenery without requiring a journey to another major island. The province combines coastal landscapes, historical sites, local communities and areas of natural beauty within a relatively compact region.

It is a place where the past is very visible, but where everyday life and modern development continue around it.

Mariveles Bay and Five Fingers, Bataan
SOUTHERN BATAAN

Mariveles

Mariveles sits at the southern tip of the Bataan Peninsula, where the coastline opens towards Manila Bay and the waters around Corregidor.

The municipality has a long maritime history and remains an important working community as well as an area of tourism, industry and coastal activity.

For visitors, Mariveles is particularly interesting because the landscape changes quickly from town and working coastline to rugged mountains, coves and open water.

Five Fingers coastline and coves in Mariveles
THE COAST

Five Fingers

One of the most distinctive coastal landscapes in Mariveles is the area commonly known as Five Fingers.

A series of rocky headlands and sheltered coves creates a coastline that is best appreciated from the water. The changing shape of the peninsula gives the area its character, with different viewpoints appearing as the boat moves along the coast.

This is one of the places where the traditional Philippine bangka becomes more than transportation. Travelling by water allows visitors to experience the coastline from the same environment that has shaped coastal communities for generations.

HISTORY

A Place That Remembers

Bataan is closely associated with the history of the Second World War in the Philippines.

The Battle of Bataan was fought in 1942, and the surrender of Filipino and American forces was followed by the forced movement of prisoners that became known as the Bataan Death March.

Today, historical sites across the province continue to preserve and explain this part of Philippine history. Mount Samat National Shrine is one of the best-known memorial sites associated with the Battle of Bataan.

Mount Samat National Shrine in Bataan
Coastal conservation in Bagac, Bataan
WESTERN BATAAN

Bagac and the Western Coast

On the western side of the peninsula, Bagac offers another perspective on Bataan.

The municipality is known for its beaches, rugged terrain, agricultural areas and coastal environment. Its landscape also contains historical sites and places connected with the province's wartime history.

The western coast provides a useful contrast with Mariveles: different geography, different communities and a different relationship with the sea.

BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

Bataan Is a Living Place

01

Coastal Life

Fishing, boats and the sea remain part of everyday life in many coastal communities.

02

Nature

Mountains, forests, beaches, coves and marine environments give Bataan a remarkable variety of landscapes.

03

A Changing Province

Traditional communities and modern industry, infrastructure and tourism exist side by side across the province.

EXPLORE FURTHER

See Bataan from the Water

The coastline is only one part of the story. Explore the experiences that allow visitors to see more of Bataan.

Explore Experiences