Just 1 Hour: New Ferry Service from Manila to Bataan

Last weekend, my friends and I spent two days familiarizing ourselves with Mariveles, Bataan specifically exploring Five Fingers Though it wasn’t my first time in the province, I am glad that going to this sleeping tourism giant is now made easier through the recent launch of a ferry service from Manila to Bataan. This new fast ferry boat service is being operated by 1Bataan Integrated Transport System. Riders are transported from the Esplanade Seaside Terminal in Pasay City (Mall of Asia Arena Complex) to Port Capinpin in Orion, Bataan.

Aside from this, the usual travel time is significantly cut from three to four hours by land to just about an hour from Manila. Bataan can now be explored over the weekend without the hassles of land travel. There is also a free shuttle service from Orion Port to several drop-off points along Roman Superhighway, from the town of Dinalupihan in the north and in the Freeport Area (FAB) in Mariveles in the south.

We were at the terminal as early as 5:00 AM to avoid the queue. Valid IDs are required upon checking-in. After which, a boarding pass in the form of sticker were issued to us with a designated seat number. Our boat departed at 6:30 AM and arrived in Bataan exactly after an hour. We can already feel the power of summer at this time of the day but the shuttle vans made our transfer comfortable as they appeared to be new and running in good condition. The terminal was just under an hour from our hotel.

Fees & Schedule

Information from 1Bataan Facebook Page

Getting to Bataan this way may be more expensive than riding a bus. Bus to Bataan costs around Php 300. But the convenience brought about by this new travel option would foreshadow the difference in the fare amount. Read: No traffic jam and shortened travel time. Current fare costs Php 450 (promo rate until March 31 only) while walk-in rate is at Php 799 starting March 15, 2018.

The interior of the ferry was clean, spacious and comfortable. There was air-conditioning, plush seats with seat belts and televisions for entertainment. Free Wi-Fi is also available. Safety guidelines are shown in the mounted televisions prior to travel. After that, a movie is played.

Where is the Ferry Terminal?
The ferry terminal is located within the Mall of Asia Arena Complex, just beside MOA concert grounds. You may refer to the map below for easier reference. If you are going here by Grab or Uber, you can key in Esplanade Seaside Terminal in the locator.