Travel Tips

Travelers always find themselves mystified with its majestic nature and the simplicity of the people. The distinctive landscapes of Batanes is marked by windswept hills, undulating plains, tree-bordered farms covering with hillside like quilts.

The mountain roads and curves between Basco and Uyugan have overwhelming with beauty and thrills for its sheer cliffs and deep canyons. While beaches are not as inviting, rather rewarding in their rugged seascapes characterize by limestone cliffs.

The people of Batanes are generally good-natured and spontaneous. Foreign and local visitors have consistently noticed how everyone greets them in the streets. Frequent visitors say that the main attraction of the islands is the people for being gracious hosts and for being a hardy race. And some say they are the gentlest of Filipinos.

The experience of visiting the islands is mystical, where the blue of the sea crashing into the cliffs and the changing patterns of floating clouds in the sky combine with such intent beauty. Its beauty is so powerful and moving that a visitor may feel a constant brush with perfection of God.

Mt Iraya is located on Batan Island and a 1,008 meter high peak.

At its foot is nestled the town of Basco.

The town of Mahatao is about 15-20 minutes jeepney ride from Basco.

It has an old century Spanish church, San Carlos, which was originally decorated in baroque.

The town of Ivana is also proud of their old century Spanish church.

It is also known as the "Marlboro Country" for its communal pasture overlooking green farm fields and the Pacific Ocean.

Song Song or the ghost barrio as many called it now.

The town was hit by a tidal wave in the mid 1950's wiping out the village. Ruins of houses were abandoned.

Sabtang Island is one of the biggest islands in Batanes, has an extensive coral reef on the eastern cost of Ivahos and is ideal for hiking.

A boat ride of approximately half-hour would take you to the island from the coast of Ivana town.

The town fiesta of San Vicente made our trip to Sabtang Island as indeed memorable and unique. We were lucky enough to experience a genuine Ivatan cuisine such as "uvod" made of mixed deboned fish and core of banana steamed with local herbs. Another Ivatan's cuisine famous of is the "yellow rice" cooked with yellow ginger. Then instead of plates, our hosts served our food on leaves of local breadfruit tree called "kabaya". They are certainly the gracious hosts of Filipinos.

Itbayat is the farthest and most isolated from Batan Island. It is a unique island because of no beaches and shorelines. They say "one who gets to the island by landing along a cliff side that plunges into a sea five to ten fathoms deep". It was hapless to miss and overlook the much talk about island.

Time was the factor. The traveling time would take us 4-hour ride (land or water no idea) from Batan Island and locals suggested to stay overnight on the island if we wanted to explore it. And we didn’t intend to travel that far for a short visit then rush things up. We also wanted to be acquainted with the island and its people. Instead, we ended up swimming on a grey sand beach in Basco. Nevertheless, we had fun time together in the water.

Then the three of us spent our idle afternoon sitting on the steps of NFA office building and wondering would it be nice if we had bikes to roam around town? The long wait paid off when a woman parked her bike in front of the building and disappeared inside. Cora with a smile stretched from ear to ear hopped in and pedaled away. Arlene and I didn’t wait that long either. Of course, we returned the bikes where they were parked. Although the owners were unaware we borrowed their bikes.

Faith and Gerry had their own world. All she had in mind was going to the market and cook for our dinner, while he was preoccupied reading his book on "God's talk". They were our saviors physically and spiritually.

The architecture of the homes responds intimately with nature. As the weather is unpredictable, in Batanes it is unusual for it is not actually a tropical or winter that brings snow.

Known as a typhoon prone and "the wind is king in Batanes", Ivatan houses are built with stonewalls as thick as two to four feet, with concrete or layers of cogon grass or the strongest of galvanized iron roofs. Cogon roofs also keep cool in the hottest weather.

We stayed in Mama Lily's Inn located along National Road and just across the capitol, municipal hall as well as the plaza. It is clean and well managed. For the price of lodging per night, you may contact Bebot at NFA.

Here are some alternative accommodations which I gathered while in Batanes, Batanes Seaside Lodge and Restaurant at (981) 993613 or Ivatan Lodge (didn't get the number but easy to find.

Our journey to the unspoiled islands of the Philippines began on a Tuesday morning with a bus ride from Manila to Laoag City. It was excruciatingly 10-hour ride of pain in the butt, not to mention the jetlag I was still suffering from New York to Manila trip. Too late to find out that I was the only one sat on a flat-cushioned seat.

Nonetheless, a 2-night stay in Palazzo de Laoag Hotel would set you to forget all of the agony and pain of traveling. Our room was cozy and stylish home. And the warm smiles of the personnel have made our stay more relaxing.

We left for Basco on a Thursday morning. The 1-hour plane ride was smooth and we arrived on time. However, claiming the luggage was longer than the flying time. They’d waited the plane to take off before we could claim our luggage. It was so inefficient and inconvenient.

Our host Fernan, NFA Provincial Manager of Batanes, along with his staff welcomed us at the airport.

Sunday late morning, we flew back directly to Manila with 45 minutes layover in Laoag for jet refuel.

...and so were back from Batanes Islands to face the real world again! If only we could live in dreams

We thank you for visiting the webpage and hope you enjoyed viewing it as much as we enjoyed visiting the islands and learning the cultures of Ivatans.

The travelers: Gerry, Faith, Arlene, Cora and Carlo

Specially thanks to: The Manager and Staff of National Food Authority (NFA), Batanes Islands for providing us free lodging and transportaion.

Our travel companion, Jovar with his unconditional friendship and kindness.