Orion Hotels

Orion in the province of Bataan is an underrated location to travel to. This seaside municipality is known for being excelling in the agricultural industry, but it’s slowly becoming the starting point of many adventures in Batan.

How to Go

By boat/ferry

From Manila, take the Manila-Bataan Ferry Boat traveling Orion. This just takes one hour. Get on the ferry at Seaside Terminal MOA beside Vikings and alight at Port Capinpin, Orion, Bataan.

By land transportation

If you’re driving from Manila, take the North Luzon Expressway and either turn right at the San Fernando toll exit. Proceed to Jose Abad Santos Ave all the way to Lubao, Pampanga and Dinalupihan, Bataan. Take the road leading to Roman Super Highway on the left all the way to Balanga, Bataan. It might take around 2-3 hours to travel there.

If traveling by bus, take either Genesis (Pasay or Avenida) or Bataan Transit (Avenida or Cubao). Travel time by bus is about 3 hours, depending on the number of stops.

Getting Around

The main mode of transportation would be mini-buses and jeepneys going in and out of Orion.

Tourist Attractions

Orion is home to the Saint Michael Parish Church, a 19th-century church. It replaced a previous church when an earthquake destroyed it. As well, Orion is where poet Francisco Balagtas lived and died. In his honor, a garden, aptly called “Hardin ni Balagtas,” was built to pay tribute to his contributions to Filipino literature.

Top Things to Do

While Orion in itself does not have many things to do, it is the closest place to be in when you want to explore the rest of Bataan. One of the best activities to do is to go beach-hopping in nearby municipalities, such as Balanga and Bagac. Just in the outskirts of Orion is the famed Mount Samat Cross, built to remember Filipinos and Americans who died during the Second World War.

Where to Eat

Orion has a small number of restaurants that serve delicious meals. The Food Project is a hip and quirky restaurant that serves comfort food – from nachos to Filipino favorites, all less than PhP100.00. If you have the flair for more burgers, be sure to visit Kenyo Brgr for a bite (or more) of their 100% flame grilled pure beef burger.

Nightlife

Orion has several bars and late-night restaurants that offer comfort food.

Where to Stay

There are very few hotels in Orion, all of which are less than PhP2,500/night. Budget travelers may choose to sleep at Enriquez Pension House at less than PhP2,000/night, while others who want a more comfortable stay can sleep at V and G suites for less than PhP2,500/night.

Travel Tips

• Bring cash as many of Orion’s establishments do not accept major credit cards
• There are few ATMs and are far in between, so if you’re coming from Manila, be sure to deposit before arriving at Orion
• People can generally understand and speak in English, so getting around Orion won’t be difficult.