Before we went to Bataan I had little money but I really wanted to hit the beach for an overnight trip. At first I was not confident in going for an overnight trip to Bataan with only 1,000 Pesos as budget. I went back to my notes, removed all the expensive tourist spots, tried to construct a new budget and itinerary for my trip to Bataan and that was when I realized that it was possible to go there with only 1,000 Pesos as budget. And with a lot of walking and by taking food from our houses we actually did it.
Below is the budget and itinerary I made for me to gain confidence on visiting Bataan with only 1,000 Pesos. I also modified it based on the data I collected when we were in Bataan.
No. of Pax: 2 pax
Budget: P1,000 per person
Duration: 2 days – 1 night
Estimated Start: Day 1 – 4:30 AM Assembly at Five Star Cubao
Estimated End: Day 2 – 05:00 AM Arrival at Cubao
Lodging: Camping at Stella Mariz Beach Resort in Bagac, Bataan
Points of Interest: Balanga Church, Dambana ng Kagitingan, Hiking down Mount Samat, Deathmarch km0 marker at Bagac, Philippine-Japanese Friendship Tower, Stella Mariz Beach Resort and Morong Pawikan Conservation Center
| Day 1 | |
| 0430 AM | Assembly at Five Star Cubao |
| 0500 AM | ETD to Balanga, Bataan via Bataan Transit Bus (P200/pax) |
| 0730 AM | ETA Balanga, Bataan; Walk to the karinderya on the side of UNTV |
| 0705 AM | Karinderya; Order Spicy Pork Sinigang and Rice (P35 Spicy Pork Sinigang, P10 Rice) |
| 0730 AM | Walk to Balanga Church |
| 0745 AM | ETA at Balanga Church; Go around |
| 0820 AM | Walk back to Balanga Transport Terminal |
| 0830 AM | ETA at Balanga Transport Terminal |
| 0840 AM | ETD to Diwa at Pilar, Bataan via Jeep (P17/pax) |
| 0905 AM | ETA Diwa jumpoff to Mount Samat; Hire tricycle to go to top of Mount Samat (P100/pax/one-way) |
| 0935 AM | ETA top of Mount Samat; (P20/pax entrance fee); Go to museum |
| 0950 AM | Hike up the stairs to Dambana ng Kagitingan |
| 1000 AM | ETA Base of Dambana ng Kagitingan; Rest and snacks |
| 1015 AM | Ride elevator to the top of Dambana ng Kagitingan (P10/pax) |
| 1025 AM | ETA at top of Dambana ng Kagitingan; Pictures and feel the wind |
| 1035 AM | Go down to the base of Dambana ng Kagitingan |
| 1040 AM | Break before the long walk down to Diwa jumpoff |
| 1050 AM | Start walking down to Diwa jumpoff |
| 1250 AM | Back at Diwa jumpoff; Wait for jeep/bus to Bagac; Possible to ride buses to SBMA too |
| 0100 AM | ETD to Bagac, Bataan; Tell the driver to drop you at the tricycles to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar |
| 0140 AM | Arrival at Bagac, Bataan; Late lunch at a karinderya |
| 0210 AM | Ride tricycle to Stella Mariz Beach Resort (P70/tricycle, 2pax/tricycle); Stopping by Deathmarch km0 marker and Philippine-Japanese Friendship Tower |
| 0240 AM | ETA Stella Mariz Beach Resort; P70/pax overnight entrance fee |
| Free time!!! | |
| 0600 AM | Setup camp |
| 0700 AM | Cook dinner |
| 0730 AM | Dinner |
| Day 2 | |
| 0700 AM | Wake up |
| 0730 AM | Breakfast |
| 0830 AM | Break Camp |
| 0900 AM | Start walk to National Road |
| 0920 AM | Arrival at National Road; Wait for bus going to SBMA |
| 0930 AM | ETD to Nagbalayong,Morong; Tell the driver to drop you at the intersection going to the Pawikan Sanctuary (*P30/pax) |
| 1000 AM | ETA Nagbalayong intersection; Walk to Pawikan Sanctuary |
| 1015 AM | ETA Pawikan Conservation Center; P20/pax entrance fee |
| 1100 AM | Walk back to National Road or until you get a tricycle |
| 1115 AM | ETD to Morong via tricycle (*P50/tricycle, 2pax/tricycle); Tell the tricycle driver to drop you at an eatery or karinderya |
| 1130 AM | ETA Morong; Lunch |
| 1200 NN | Walk back to National Road |
| 1220 PM | ETA National Road; Wait for bus going to SBMA |
| 1240 PM | ETD to SBMA via bus (P50/pax) |
| 0140 PM | ETA SBMA; Ride jeep going to Victory Liner Olongapo (P8/pax) |
| 0150 PM | ETA Victory Liner Olongapo; Get tickets to Cubao (P207/pax) |
| 0230 PM | ETD to Cubao via Victory Liner Bus |
| 0500 PM | ETA Cubao |
ETA – Estimated Time of Arrival
ETD – Estimated Time of Departure
* These are not actual prices but a computed price based on the information given by the Pawikan Sanctuary of Morong, Bataan.
Transportation
| 200.00 | Bus from Cubao to Balanga, Bataan | Day 1 |
| 17.00 | Jeep from Balanga Terminal to Diwa – Jumpoff point to Mount Samat | |
| 100.00 | Tricycle from Jumpoff at Diwa to Mount Samat (P100/pax) | |
| 25.00 | Jeep/Bus from Diwa to Balanga | |
| 35.00 | Tricycle from Balanga to Stella Mariz Beach Resort (P70/tricycle, 2 pax/tricycle) | |
| 40.00 | *Bus from the road at Stella Mariz Entrance to Nagbalayong, Morong | Day 2 |
| 25.00 | *Tricycle from Nagbalayong to Morong (P50/tricycle, 2pax/tricycle) | |
| 50.00 | Bus from Nagbalayong to Olongapo | |
| 8.00 | Jeep from Bus Terminal to Victory Liner Olongapo | |
| 207.00 | Bus from Victory Olongapo to Cubao | |
| 707.00 | Total Transportation |
Lodging
| 70.00 | Overnight Entrance Fee to Stella Mariz Beach Resort |
| 70.00 | Total Lodging |
Food
| 50.00 | Breakfast at a Karinderya in Balanga | Day 1 |
| 50.00 | Lunch at a Karinderya in Bagac | |
| 50.00 | Lunch at a Karinderya in Morong | Day 2 |
| 150.00 | Total Food |
Tours and Entrance Fees
| 20.00 | Entrance Fee to Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan | Day 1 |
| 10.00 | Elevator Fee to the top of Dambana ng Kagitingan | |
| 20.00 | Entrance Fee to Morong Pawikan Conservation Center | Day 2 |
| 50.00 | Total Tours and Entrance Fees |
Summary
| 707.00 | Transportation |
| 70.00 | Lodging |
| 150.00 | Food |
| 50.00 | Tours and Entrance Fees |
| 23.00 | Extra Money |
| 1,000.00 | Total Budget |
- Prices are in Philippine Peso
* These are not actual prices but a computed price based on the information given by the Pawikan Sanctuary of Morong, Bataan.
Group
- Tent
- Camping Stove
- Fuel for camping stove
- Cookset
- Food to be cooked
Personal
- Clothes good for 2 days and 1 night
- Swimming Clothes
- Towel
- Tissue
- Kikay Kit/Pogi Pack (Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, etc.)
- Mess kit (Small container, spoon and fork)
- Flashlight
- Personal Medication
- Umbrella
- Sunblock
- Camera
- Snacks for sharing
- Goggles
- Small bottle of water to be refilled once in a while
- You will be walking a lot with this itinerary so you can save money.
- You will also be taking food from your houses so you can save money.
- Refill your bottle of water in karinderyas to save money.
- Bring lots of snacks as it is assumed that you will be eating lunch not on the right time.
- Stella Mariz Beach Resort has faucets for water. You can use that water for cooking.
- Be careful when swimming in the beach in Stella Mariz. The waves there are strong.
- Best time to visit the Pawikan Sanctuary in Morong is from November to January as that is the time when there are a lot of sea turtles laying their eggs.
This post is part of my Bataan 1,000 Peso 2-Day Challenge, a series break from my 12 for 2012 Travel Project. I hope this travel guide helps you plan your visit to Bataan.
Follow my Bataan 1,000 Peso 2-Day Challenge
- How much did I spend on our overnight trip to Bataan
- Bataan 1,000 Peso Overnight Budget and Itinerary (Helpful)
- Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) in Mount Samat, Pilar, Bataan
- Stella Mariz Beach Resort in Bagac, Bataan
- How to get to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan
- Death March Km 00 Marker and Japan-Philippine Friendship Tower in Bagac, Bataan
- Church of Balanga, Bataan
- Pawikan Conservation Area of Bagac, Bataan
A travel blog by Josiah Sicad that aims to make Filipinos Travel Responsibly and observe the unique culture of the Philippines. 
Thank you for this. Will try this next month on my birthday — first trip alone. Thanks again!
Your blog is so inspiring.
Good choice of place for your first trip alone! Thanks Felice. Keep on travelling! Advance Happy Birthday!
Woah, I thought I was the only one considering a “traveling alone” on my birthday.
Thanks for this post. This will be my first time to travel alone. I hope I muster enough courage to do it.
You can do it! I hope you enjoy your first travel alone as I much as I did.
does the stella mariz beach resort still exist?
The last time I went there this June 2012 it did exist. Better call them to be sure. The number is provided in the post about Stella Mariz.
How to avail this? Please leave your contact details
Hi Anne, you can avail this by packing your bags, leaving your house and try to follow the itinerary but still having an open mind for surprises and misadventures that would come on your way. Happy Travels!
This second week of may 2013 before the election we have a Team Building in our Division,now i have an ideas to your post in trip to Bagac and Mt. Samat i will suggest this IT to my Officemates. Tnx a lot we will enjoy this trip….
You’re welcome Aldo. I hope your team will enjoy the trip to Bataan. ^_^