Mariveles, Bataan

A Coastal Town At The End Of The Peninsula

Mariveles sits at the southern tip of the Bataan Peninsula, surrounded by rugged mountains, coastal scenery and the waters of Manila Bay. It’s in Bataan, in Central Luzon, about a three to four hour drive from Manila. It’s an interesting part of Bataan, although my first impression of the town itself was a little underwhelming.

I visited in February 2019 during a day-long road trip from Angeles City. After exploring Mount Samat National Shrine and Dansulan Falls, I continued south towards Mariveles before returning north along Bataan’s western coastline.

My original plan was to explore the famous Five Fingers Cove, although things didn’t quite work out that way!

Best Time To Visit Mariveles

The best time to visit Mariveles is December to March, when the weather is generally drier and more suitable for coastal sightseeing, boat trips and exploring the surrounding countryside.

June to November brings the southwest monsoon, with heavier rainfall, rougher seas and a greater chance of boat trips being cancelled.

If you’re planning to visit Five Fingers Cove, I’d recommend travelling between December and April, when conditions are generally more favourable. Always check the marine weather forecast before arranging a boat trip.

One thing worth mentioning is that Mariveles holds its Liberation Day celebrations during February, with various community activities and festivities. These can attract additional visitors and potentially affect traffic around town, which it did for me.

Exploring Mariveles

Driving Through The Town

My first impression of Mariveles wasn’t particularly memorable. It felt like a typical busy provincial town, with narrow streets, plenty of traffic and some industrial activity.

I hadn’t really intended to spend much time in the town centre, although I ended up driving straight through it while trying to find my way towards the coast.

Looking back, I may have arrived during the town’s February celebrations, which could explain some of the congestion. Whatever the reason, it wasn’t the most enjoyable part of my road trip.

The surrounding landscape, however, was a different story. Mariveles is surrounded by rugged mountains and some impressive coastal scenery, which becomes more apparent as you leave the built-up areas.

Puerto Aplaya Beach

One of my stops was Puerto Aplaya, a small public beach and fishing area along the coast. The beach itself wasn’t too bad. The sand was similar to what you’d find around Olongapo and Bagac, although slightly darker, with more of a brownish colour.

What really stood out was the number of fishing boats scattered along the beach. A couple of boats can add some character to a coastal photograph, although when you’ve got what looks like two dozen of them, it’s a different story!

It was clearly more of a working fishing community than a tourist beach. I spent a little time walking around and checking out the surroundings, although I didn’t stay particularly long.

My Unsuccessful Attempt To Visit Five Fingers Cove

The main reason I’d headed towards Puerto Aplaya was that I thought it might provide access to Five Fingers Cove, one of the better-known natural attractions around Mariveles.

I’d even spotted a colourful mural advertising Five Fingers, which made me think I was heading in the right direction. I asked one of the locals whether I could drive there, only to be told that I’d need to take a boat.

At the time, I wasn’t entirely sure whether that meant I had to catch a boat from that particular location or whether there was another road route available.

By then, the day was getting on, and I still had a fair bit of driving ahead of me. Rather than spend more time figuring things out, I decided to give it a miss and continue my road trip.

For anyone planning to visit, Five Fingers is a series of spectacular coastal coves featuring rugged cliffs, rock formations, secluded beaches and opportunities for swimming and snorkelling.

Boat tours are the usual way to explore the coves, and it’s worth arranging one in advance rather than simply turning up and hoping for the best.

It’s somewhere I’d be interested in returning to explore properly.

How To Get To Mariveles

Mariveles is located at the southern end of Bataan, approximately 160 kilometres by road from Manila.

From Manila: Take NLEX towards Pampanga, connect to the Bataan road network through Dinalupihan, and continue south along the Roman Superhighway towards Mariveles. Allow approximately 3 to 4 hours by private vehicle, depending on traffic.

From Clark or Angeles City: Travel towards Dinalupihan before continuing south through Bataan. Allow approximately 2 to 3 hours by car, depending on your starting point and road conditions.

By public transport: Bataan Transit and Genesis Transport operate bus services connecting Metro Manila and Mariveles. Allow approximately 4 to 6 hours, depending on the service and traffic. Check current departure points and schedules before travelling.

If you’re planning to explore the coastline or visit several attractions around Bataan, having your own vehicle makes things considerably easier.

Good To Know Before You Go

• Mariveles is a busy industrial and coastal town, not primarily a beach resort.
• Arrange Five Fingers Cove boat tours in advance and check sea conditions.
• February celebrations may bring additional traffic and activity around the town centre.
• Allow extra travelling time if combining Mariveles with other Bataan attractions.
• The surrounding mountains and coastline offer more appeal than the town centre itself.

Dezza’s Tip

Mariveles wasn’t the highlight of my Bataan road trip, although I think that had more to do with my expectations than anything else.

I’d gone there hoping to explore Five Fingers Cove, and when that didn’t work out, there wasn’t much else that particularly grabbed my attention.

My advice would be to visit Mariveles with a specific activity in mind, particularly a boat tour of Five Fingers, rather than simply turning up and expecting to find plenty of attractions around town.

The surrounding coastal scenery is certainly worth exploring, and I’d be happy to return one day with a proper plan.

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