Bataan 2018 Part 1

Another last minute trip, we thought of going someplace near to spend Holy Week. I really wanted to go to Antipolo, there's this nature resort I would love to just spend breathing all the fresh air in but the prices are too exorbitant for a one night stay. So there we ended up going to Bataan.

The most popular means of going there is by land. But I don't want to spend my hours at the bus so we just booked a ferry instead.

Booking the ferry is quite easy. You just have to login here. It's safe (I think) and was able to book 3 tickets to and fro. Make sure that you time your travels because weekend trip back is only 8 AM and 3 PM. Did I mention it's half the price when walk in? As of writing it's 450 vs 799. Why won't you even book online with that price?

+ 1Bataan Ferry +

The port in Manila cannot be anymore convenient. It's just at the MOA Complex near Vikings. You just have to sign in (don't forget your print outs and IDs of all passengers) and wait till they call for board. There's an ample space for waiting both in and out of the building but would really get congested when there's too many group tours. Be aware also that there are two desks there, one is for Caliraya.

Interior of the ferry is decent. I didn't get to try the toilet though. I know that the travel time is not that long but I hoped the chairs where more plush and all have cup holders but the spacing in between seats is fine. Enough to bring in a bit of luggage (I know it's not allowed but I've seen other people bring strollers!!) Time of departure was a bit late. 

When we arrived at the Orion port, we were ushered to a bus that would take us to the city proper (this is free). I chose Jollibee as our stop because it's nearest to our hotel. While there is an abundance of tricycles in Bataan (seems to be the transportation of choice) locations to points of interests are kms apart. Based on what I gather from the bus conductor, going back we need to take a bus to Moriones and get off at the light house (I honestly didn't get to see what it looks like) and a tricycle to the port itself.

Before we start touring we left our bags at the hotel. Tricycle rates usually rate 30PHP so be ready with smaller bills. Longer trips could be 100 per person. It's also convenient that the bus that will take us to our first destination is also just a tricycle away. 

+ Las Casas de Azucar + 

The trip is an hour away but give ample to time in how long before the bus leaves and when the tricycle you get takes you there. The road leading to where Las Casas is is just a long highway so you wouldn't (if you're like me) scared of taking it. 

Based on the google maps the bus should take us near the dirt road that leads to Las Casas. However that is not the case. There are two entrance points that will get you nearer the location just from the bus alone but both is not feasible. The first one (which the maps I was looking at was pointing to) is where you won't ever get near. The bus would not really do a right turn as hoped and would only do a U Turn. The next one would be a small alley way that the bus would let you off but that entrance would not allow visitors to come in as well. Your best bet is to get off the Friendship marker (you will never miss it) and get a tricycle there instead.

Our driver charged us 150 but have discreetly pocketed my 10 peso change. I was waiting for him to return it to me but have left after getting my number for the ride back. We didn't get him again and just let the people from Las Casas phone us one.

The full price of the day tour gets you the ff:

1. Welcome drinks (get it before leaving at Casa New Manila)
2. Heritage Tour (with cold wet towel after)
3. Calesa Ride
4. Hotel de Oriente Access
5. Dining Credit (500 PHP worth of dining credits on any of the restaurants in Las Casas)
6. River Cruise

After the welcome drinks we took a jeep (free to go around) to take us to Casa Lubao. This is where the Heritage Tour will start. Be aware of the time when they are going to schedule it. Ours was just a few minutes away for the next one so we only had to wait a small bit.

When you do the tour make sure that you have brought your own umbrella or even some water bottles to cool off. You will be walking around in and out old houses as well that needs your shoes removed so try to get here with the easiest ones to slip on and off on.

If it's your first time to go, maybe try to do the tour because of the history that you would never get just by roaming on your own. The tour ended with the tour guide handing us our wet towels.

We are now terribly thirsty and hungry that we didn't went around looking for our best options on where to eat and simply went to the nearest restaurant: Casa Onisan.


Price: 2500 per person

+ Casa Unisan +

Casa Unisan was a previous house that was converted to one of the restaurants in Las Casas. The restaurant is Filipino themed so we are sure that we could get rice meals.

Since there are three of us we get a 1500PHP credit of meal. We eventually ended up paying overboard due to the desserts and shakes we added. We got plain rice, Lechon Carajay and and Pinakbet Bagnet, leche flans, gabi ice cream and varying shakes. I remembered enjoying our meal very much.

This would be odd but hear me out. I have forgotten to bring my powerbank so it's a relief that we are seated next to outlets! We asked and we were allowed to use them. We were able to fully charge our phones while we're there. Yay!

After our meal we tried all the transportation available that are free to use: calesa, jeep and the tram like vehicle we used to get back to Casa New Manila (this is where guests are welcomed). We also finished all that is included in what we paid for. Out of everything, the River Cruise is my most favorite because there's a section there that you could not see if you aren't on a boat. A small canal is built for houses that are exclusive to guests and one selling point is that you get to use boats to get to them! I hoped it was a longer ride. It felt like we're in a different place.