Batanes. The Land of High Winds, the Island of Stones, and the Ireland of the Philippines – a few of many aliases not only depicting its surreal beauty, but also the lifestyle and culture of the Ivatan people. Geographically located at the northern tip of the Philippines  and just a few miles away from Taiwan, it embraces strong winds and undersea currents both from the Pacific and South China sea. It is comprised of three primary islands namely Batan, Sabtang, and Itbayat. Moreover, it is the only municipality in the Philippines declared to be a protected landscape and seascape as a whole – likely because of the abundance of flora and fauna in both sea and land.

Batan Island is the major island of Batanes where it’s capital, Basco, is located. It is also the primary entry point to all major islands in Batanes mainly because of the population and the existence of a fairly-sized airport. Popularly known for it’s green pastures and lush green Marlboro hills, the beautiful cliffside landscapes, and picturesque lighthouses, Batan Island welcomes you to a new horizon of seeing things. Batanes will always break your heart, so be prepared for the pain when you leave it 🙂

HOW TO GET THERE

As of this writing, the only commercial entry point to Batanes is thru plane rides. Most cargo ships only deliver supplies and imports from mainland Luzon and is reserved for special purposes like infrastructure and other government projects. To give you more detail, the other two islands of Itbayat and Sabtang could only be reached thru Basco, so you could probably decide here what tours and itinerary you would want to pursue. Sabtang (1 hr boat ride) is located south of Batan and Itbayat (4 hr boat ride/20min plane ride) is located way up north.

From Manila

• It only takes you one plane ride (1.5hrs) from Manila to Basco Batanes. Popular airlines that offer these trips are PAL, Sky Jet, and Wakay Air.
• From Basco airport, you could either take a trike ride, walk, or wait for your accommodation contact to fetch you to your hotel. It’s a very small town and won’t take you a day to put into memory.
  • If you prefer to stay on other islands like Itbayat or Sabtang, you could take a ferry to these islands preferably early the next day as currents would be very strong (especially if you opt to choose Itbayat)

From Tuguegarao Airport

• Being a part of region 2, Batanes could also be reached via small chartered planes and a few commercial planes from Tuguegarao. Sky Pasada is the most popular airline from here.

From Binalonan Airport

• Sky Pasada air lines also have trips to Batanes from Binalonan. This option is suited if you don’t wan’t to embrace the traffic at NAIA.

THE BUDGET

Air fare is probably the most expensive item you would consider (unless you wait for a promo). The next thing would be food which I would discuss in detail the succeeding sections. For reference, below are the common tours and services with their corresponding prices. Though if you have lots of free time and a little sporty, you could probably just rent a bike and run all the tours!

• North Batan Tour: 1500php per person (vehicle will depend on your number)
• South Batan Tour: 2000php per person
• Sabtang Tour: 2000php per person

Common Inclusions for tours

• Land Transport A/C Van for tours and transfers
• 4D/3N (North + South Batan and Sabtang)
• 3D/2N (North + South Batan and Sabtang)
• 3D/2N (North + South Batan ONLY)
• Tour Guide Services
• All Lunch during Tours
• All Government Fees and Permits
• Round-Trip Boat Rides (Sabtang Island Only)
• Refreshments

Individual Rates

• Bike Rental: 25php per hour, 250php for 24hours
• Basco to San Vicente Port/Ivana Port: 17php each (via jeepney) 440php up to 2 pax (via tricycle)
• Batan to Sabtang Island: 100php (via boat)
• Sabtang Day Tour (via trike): 800php up to 2 pax
• Sabtang Overnight Tour: additional 400php up to 2 pax
• Lighthouse entrance: 50php each

WHERE TO STAY AND WHOM TO CALL

Being the primary island and point of origin for all Batanes tours, there are several accommodations at Batan Island – specifically at Basco. Depending on your budget and preferred type of stay, hotels and home stays are available all around. You could even camp out on the grasslands. Accommodations, tour guides, tour packages, are all available once you land the plane at Basco. The Department of Tourism has accredited several home stays and guides which are all displayed on the information desk. Prices and miscellaneous fees are all included so you won’t need to worry about budgeting.

But if you ask our recommendation, I would gladly refer you to “Savatan Home Stay”. The home stay is more like a mini-hotel (with air conditioning and own bathroom) with a shared dining area. It is very spacious and a room would fit up to 4 people. The owners are very helpful, in which you could even borrow their bikes for your trips. Ivatan people are very kind and generous that it makes you wonder, why don’t we do it everywhere in the Philippines? And when you need a guide, they could find you one as well or you could contact our recommended guide as well. I have placed their contacts below. Call them anytime and feel how warm the Ivatan people really are. And if those contacts don’t work, feel free to message the blogger or send a message and I would be willing to call them on their personal numbers as well. 🙂

• Savatan Home Stay
  • SMART: +639399063063 | +639399063022
  • GLOBE: +639485006903
  • Email (last resort as Internet in Batanes is still broken as of this writing): savatanhomestay@yahoo.com | mavendelfin@yahoo.com)
• Batanes Guide (Batan, Sabtang, Itbayat)
  • Kuya Manny: +639471522873

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Don’t be surprised if food prices in Batanes are high. Every meat you eat comes from their own cattle (cows, carabaos, goat). And if that’s not enough, note that these do not eat feeds or processed material making them naturally healthy to eat! You eat what’s available and what’s present for the season. They mostly import rice from the mainland and everything else they provide for themselves! The Ivatan people have this self-sustaining culture thru camaradery and bayanihan, so they could live here even without money.
• Another noteworthy reminder for those who have a little trouble in the sea; traveling from Batan Island to either Sabtang or Itbayat would require you to travel on the rough seas with meter high waves and turbulent winds. Though you have the best boatmen aboard to help you across, be ready for a thrilling ride ahead!
• There are now 2 ATM’s available at Basco (LandBank and PNB). But be wary that there is a high chance of it to be offline especially during the rainy seasons so it’s always best to bring extra cash.
• The Internet is not a stable form of communication at Batanes. They recently have no Internet as of this writing (connection destroyed last September 2015). The main communication would be your mobile phones. So if you are booking or making any reservations or requests, it’s best to text/call them rather than sending them an unreliable email.

TOURING BATAN ISLAND

Touring Batanes won’t happen overnight. Batan Island alone will take you a day or two (North and South Batan), and you probably would just scrape it’s surface. The best thing to do after you take the tours is to rent a bike and rediscover more of it’s hidden beauty. Eat the local “Lunis” (pork adobo preserved the Ivatan way), “Vunis” (can be compared to Laing), flying-fish cuisines, and all their local treats! Camp on the hills, choose to Home Stay, lay on the ground and look up the sky. There seems to be an endless array of “what to do” lists in a seemingly simple communal pasture land for the Ivatans. As they say, “Happiness is found in the simplest of things!”

***Note that below pictures aren’t of any order and only include the Batan tour. Other tours will be covered in my next blog. 🙂

The evasive Mt. Iraya reveals itself while biking the rolling hills of North Batan.

The rolling hills of Batan Island, the dark blue ocean, and the towering Mt. Iraya!

These guys are free to roam the grassy hills on their own!

And these water buffaloes seem to be chilling at Marlboro Hills.

The popular Marlboro Hills is actually a communal pasture area for farm animals!

Mt. Iraya shying away at the Marlboro Hills.

Tayid Lighthouse – one of the most beautiful beacons on Batan Island.

The breath-taking views from the lighthouse will surely take you away.

This photo is an insult to how majestic it really is!

Chawa View Deck – but who needs a view deck when everywhere is a view of a lifetime!

When story high waves crash upon towering cliffs!

Alapad Pass, two towering cliffs guard the gates to more of Batanes’ wonders!

Alapad Pass rock formations – a beautiful scenery just beside the road!

Take a short detour and try (just try) not to be impressed with the view. Lol.

Surreal views deserve surreal photo ops don’t you think?

I command thee high waves of Batan! Give me strength!

Mahatao Boat Shelter Port – protecting vessels during stormy days!

A warm welcome from Basco Lighthouse.

Taking a short break after a tiring bike session…

The stone church of Mt. Carmel.

House of Dakay – the oldest surviving stone house in Batan Island.

Ivana Church.

Just strolling by and saw this beautiful view down the road!

An old Spanish bridge which is still used today.

The fork to Mt. Iraya and Fundacion Pacita…

Mt. Iraya taken from the PAG-ASA station.

Fundacion Pacita Lodge offers a great view of the Pacific ocean!

Vegetable farm close by the Pacific ocean!

Stopping by these goat fences for a little break.

The road to the unknown is best traveled by foot!

Japanese tunnels really?

Ivana Honesty Shop. “The place is too small for dishonest people”.

Valugan Boulder Beach – where boulders are smaller than the waves!

And if you got some free time, stroll the park and enjoy the fresh breeze!