Batanes Islands

Batanes: A Remote Gem of the Philippines

2025-07-31T16:45:00.000-07:00

Batanes: A Remote Gem of the Philippines

The Batanes group of islands is the smallest province in the Philippines, both in terms of land area and population. Its capital, Basco, is located 280 kilometers north of Aparri, Cagayan, and about 190 kilometers south of Taiwan. Due to its isolation from the rest of
the country, Batanes has managed to preserve its distinct culture through generations.

Situated in the vast expanse where the Pacific Ocean meets the South China Sea, Batanes is made up of ten small islands and islets: Batan, Sabtang, Itbayat, Mavulis, Siayan, Diogo, North Island, and Y’ami. However, only three—Batan, Sabtang, and Itbayat—are inhabited.

Batanes is captivating and unlike any other destination in the Philippines. The distance from the mainland has helped the Ivatans—the indigenous people of the province—develop a unique way of life. Known for their honesty, gentleness, and resilience, the Ivatans are proud of their heritage and deeply connected to their land.

The province's landscape is also a departure from the typical tropical scenery found in much of the country. Think steep cliffs, rolling hills, deep canyons, and rocky shores that evoke comparisons to New Zealand. Most iconic of all are the traditional Ivatan homes—stone-walled with thick cogon roofs, designed to withstand the region’s frequent typhoons.

Batanes enjoys a cool, windy climate, with rainfall possible throughout the year. Between December and February, temperatures can dip to as low as 7°C. Although it lies along the typhoon belt and frequently experiences strong storms, it’s no more vulnerable than other northern provinces.

Despite its remote reputation, Batanes has embraced modern conveniences. Electricity, mobile networks (via Smart and Globe), and cable television are now available—though cars and heavy traffic remain rare.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities: lounging on serene beaches, visiting old fishing villages, exploring historic churches and scenic lighthouses, or hopping between islands. More than anything, Batanes offers a peaceful setting perfect for reflection and reconnecting with nature.

A journey to Batanes is a timeless experience—one that lingers long after you’ve left. It reminds you of life’s quiet joys and simpler rhythms. But be warned: once you’ve visited Batanes, it may keep calling you back.

Heritage Sites Conservation

2011-10-25T01:51:00.000-07:00

BASCO, Batanes October 24 -- The local committee for Batanes World Heritage, the office of the Congressman and the Batanes Heritage Foundation Inc. conducted a seminar workshop on the management and conservation of world heritage sites last October 21 to 23.

The seminar workshop aimed to teach the stakeholders how to manage and conserve their cultural heritage. It was a three-day seminar-workshop which was attended by stakeholders, namely, national government agencies, non-government organizations, local government units and the academe.

Speaker-lecturer Dr. Florentino Hornedo said not all stakeholders understand their heritage and its significance, making it incompatible for some stakeholders to manage and conserve their heritage.

Hornedo, the only Ivatan commissioner to the UNESCO, said the workshop leads to the island-province’s pursuit of World Heritage sites nomination.

Hornedo said UNESCO appreciates universal values but, recognizes only the outstanding universal values for enlistment to the heritage Sites.

Hornedo also taught the participants how to preserve their museum. He said it should contain the best cared, preserved, properly arranged and labeled artifacts or masterpieces of the Ivatan culture. He also challenged all schools to keep an organized museum.

“The living treasure system is recognizing, appreciating and encouraging Ivatan master artists such the best tataya maker, the master craftsman, the laji (folk lore singer) the best vakul weaver and basket weavers,” Hornedo told the participants.

“The skills manifested in the product is a representative of the living treasure or artisan who is the maker/producer and the promotion and support by making the stakeholders aware of the cultural tradition are very important to be able to pass it on to the younger generation," Hornedo said.

The 4 C’s in heritage namely culture, community commerce and creative arts were comprehensively discussed. The stakeholders are likewise challenged to reach the people and to orient the younger generation to be more creative using the indigenous materials into marketable products.

The best vakul maker of the province, Isleta Fuego of Sabtang, was also recognized. Vakul is a native woman’s farming headgear used as a protection from heat and rain.(Batanes Islands)

Natural Tourist Attactions

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SABTANG ISLAND
Chosen as one of the 12 Best Destinations in the Philippines by the Department of Tourism in 1994, this island southwest of Batan Island remains undisturbed and unspoiled. It has intermittent white sand beaches, steep mountains, and deep canyons with small level areas sporadically found along the coastline. Accessible in 30 minutes by falowa (oval-shaped motorized passenger boat without the outrigger) from Radiwan Port in Ivana. This island is also the take-off point for Ivuhos Island from Barangay Nakanmuan.

ITBAYAT ISLAND
Located north of Batan Island, it is surrounded by massive boulders and cliffs rising 20-70 feet above sea level and has no shoreline. It has a dirt airstrip for light aircraft. Ferries also run the Batan-Itbayat route, with a travel time of about four hours by falowa from the Basco Seaport. Light planes fly from Basco Airport to Itbayat in 12-minute trips at PhP700.00/pax.

BATAN ISLAND
Batan Island is where the center of commerce and seat of the provincial government lie. This is the most populated of all the islands in the province. It is composed of the municipalities of Basco, Ivana, Uyugan, and Mahatao.

MOUNT IRAYA
A dormant volcano standing at 1,517 meters whose last eruption was recorded in 505 AD. This peak is ideal for mountaineering, trekking, and trailblazing. It is located walking distance from Basco and can be climbed to the top in about three hours.

MUVUDIS ISLAND
Mavudis is the northernmost island of Batanes. Coconut crabs (called “Tatus” by the locals) are bountiful on this island, which is surrounded by rich marine life.

DI-ATAY BEACH
This beach is located along the national highway between Mahatao and Ivana, a mere 9.85 kilometers from Basco. It has a beautiful cove with multi-colored rocks and white sand, which is ideal for picnics and beach combing.

SONGSONG (Chadpidan Bay)
Famous for its beautiful sunset view and big stone boulders. It is a 3-kilometer, one-hour trek from Basco proper.

CHAWA CAVE
Chawa is believed to be an enchanted cave. It has a natural salt bed and a mouth that opens to the South China Sea, which is also accessible through the boulders of Chawa Point in Mahatao. This cave lies about 4 kilometers from Basco.

NAKABUANG CAVE
Another cave worth looking into. It is located 5.5 kilometers from San Vicente Centro in Sabtang.

MOUNT MATAREM
An extinct volcano measuring 495 meters at its summit. Located eight kilometers from Basco.

WHITE BEACH
As testament to the province’s natural beauty, this beautiful white beach can be found in Vatang Hapnit and Mavatuy Point at Mahatao.

Bird Watching at Cuyab
Observe the migratory birds from China that flock the islands in search of a warmer climate every October.

Accommodations in Batanes

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Accommodations in Batanes

Looking for accommodation in Batanes? Listed below is a range of Batanes hotels and Inns each chosen by our local team. The hotels and inns in Batanes range from local guesthouses and budget inns to more luxurious hotels and resorts. Let us help you find the ideal place to stay for your Batanes holiday!

Hotels and Inns in Batanes

Brandon's Lodging - 11 tastefully decorated rooms each with TV, aircon and toilet & bath. Contact: Madeleine Siazon at +63 919 366 2158 for reservations.

Batanes Resort - P550 /day and up. Tel. # 9229621 local 327 (Ivatan Center, Q.C.)

Batanes Seaside Lodge P450 /day and up Tel. # 0981-993613

Ivatan Lodge - P100/1 pax, P400/ 1 or more pax/day. Email: ivatanlodge@ yahoo.com

Shanedel's Inn - P200 /day 0920-4470737

Troy Lodge - near airport Tel. # 0920-4470726

Religious Tourist Attractions

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San Jose De Ivana Church (Ivana)
Built in 1814 (although its foundation dates back to 1795), this church is truly unique among all the old churches in Batanes as it is the only one not built in the espadana style of the day. It has a crenellated fortress-like campanile or belltower that gives the appearance of a fortification. San Jose Church fronts the Ivana Seaport and offers a commanding view of the sea and surrounding countryside due to its elevation. It is 14 kilometers from Basco.

San Carlos Borromeo Church & Convent (Mahatao)
Founded in 1789 and built in 1873, it has a facade modeled after that of Basco Cathedral, with two round arches at roof level for the bells. On its outer walls are massive buttresses that used to serve as stairways to the roof – a thing of convenience in the olden days when frequent repairs had to be made to the cogon grass roofing. The church still retains its centuries-old features. Located six kilometers from Basco.

Church of Sto. Domingo de Basco (Basco Cathedral)
Established in 1783, it is the oldest and most important church in Batanes. To give the facade stability and strength against earthquakes and typhoon winds, the church walls were buttressed with massive pilasters from foundation to top. The church is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, patroness of Batanes.

San Vicente Ferrer Church (Sabtang Island)
Another church modeled after the one in Basco. Following an unfortunate incident in 1790, when Spanish emissaries sent to procure goods from the parish were killed by some natives, the people of Sabtang were forcibly resettled across the channel to Ivana and not allowed to return until 1844 when the foundations of the present church were laid.

Culture and People

2011-10-25T01:50:00.000-07:00

The people of Batanes are called Ivatan and share prehistoric cultural and linguistic commonalities with the Babuyan on Babuyan Island and the Tao people of Orchid Island.

This divided homeland is a result of the Dutch invasion of Taiwan in 1624 ( Dutch Formosa ) and Spanish invasion in 1626 ( Spanish Formosa ). The northern half of the Ivatan homeland, Formosa and Orchid Island which were formally part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, fell to the Dutch who were in turn expelled in 1662 by forces of the Chinese Ming Dynasty, led by the Chinese pirate Koxinga who then set himself up as The King of Taiwan.

The southern half of the Ivatan homeland, the islands of the Batanes, was reinforced and fortified by Spanish refugees from Formosa before being formally joined in the 18th century with the Spanish government in Manila.

The main languages spoken in Batanes are Ivatan, which is spoken on the islands of Batan and Sabtang, and Itbayaten, which is spoken primarily on the island of Itbayat. The Ivatan which is dominant in the province is considered to be one of the Austronesian languages. From college level down to elementary level, the language is widely spoken.

Other Attractions

2011-10-25T01:49:00.000-07:00

Other Attractions

Kanyuyan Beach & Port
(Baluarte Bay, Basco). The port of call of the cargo ships bringing goods from Manila.

Sitio Jura at Racujaide
The fishermens village at Mananoy Bay. Fishing season is marked by a festivalin mid-March called Payvanuvanuan during which visitors are treated with fresh fish delicacies from the Pacific Ocean. Within the area is the legendary spring of Youth and a living cave with crystal limestone formations. Mananoy Bay is nine kilometers from Basco proper.

Batanes Day (June 26)
Marked with playground demonstrations, parades, the Palu-palo Festival, and other cultural events.

Feast of Three Kings (January 6)
On this day, the image of the Sto. Nino (Holy Child) is venerated in every home in Batanes.

Ruins of Songsong
A ghost barangay which is really a cluster of roofless shells of old stone houses abandoned after a tidal wave that hit the island of Batan in the 1950s. The area has a long stretch of beach. Located 23 kilometers from Basco.

Radiwan Point
Located at Ivana Seaport, this is the landing site of the Katipuneros on September 18, 1898, thus making it a very historical location. The falowas plying the islands of Sabtang and Itbayat are also stationed here.

Other Places of interest in Batanes:
House of Dakay (1887) a UNESCO heritage building.
Lighthouses of Batanes
St. Dominic de Guzman Parish Cathedral
Mt. Iraya – A 1008-meter mountain on Batan Island.
Mahatao View Deck
Burial Caves – Pre-historic burial caves in the town of Itbayat.
Sumhao Wind Power Plant
Nakaboang Beach, Ark & Cave
Beaches – Chadpidan Beach, White Beach and more.
Payaman – known as “Marlboro Country”, a pasture overlooking farm fields & the Pacific Ocean.

Batanes Greening Program

2011-10-25T01:39:00.001-07:00

BASCO, Batanes, October 21 -- The Department of Agrarian Reform here has committed 1.5 hectares of public domain land for the Billion Trees and National Greening Program of the environment department.

According to Agrarian Officer Flordeliz Come, the said lot will be planted with trees for the period of six years, starting this year up to 2016.

Come said under the leadership of Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Felix Alvarez, DAR has been extensively carrying out significant activities to support the NGP such as establishment of a nursery for seedling production and a tree farm at Rakuh a Payaman in Mahatao.

She also said that John Gato, DAR-Community Agrarian Reform program oficer has volunteered his lot in Sitio Malayo, Barangay San Antonio, Basco to be utilized as nursery for seedling production.

“DAR Batanes saw the need to establish a nursery for seedling production and preliminary activities
were done such as cleaning the area, potting and planting of seedlings of Arius, Mabolo and Palo-maria,” the agrarian official added.

A total of 1,600 seedlings were potted in June 2011 and 1,400 of it were planted the following month.
For the tree farm, MARO Agnes Viñas coordinated with Mayor Pedro F. Poncio of Mahatao, for a 1.8 hectare portion of the communal pastureland to be designated as permanent area for DAR and the Mahatao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries association.

Kick off activity was the planting of two mango seedlings per employee and after a month, the fencing of the area was also done. Each employee also gave three posts and contributed an amount for the purchase of two rolls of barb wire to secure the area from astray animals.

Last month, the indigenous trees propagated at the nursery in Malayo Basco were traded with grafted carabao mango seedlings from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. These, along with langka and guayabano seedlings were planted at the tree farm.

To date, an initial 1,400 seedlings have been planted at the tree farm and the DAR officials said through their regular schedule of tree planting, the completion of their target number of trees for the NGP will be fast tracked.

The DAR personnel are also continuously protecting and monitoring the status of the planted seedlings as well as continuous propagation of fruit-bearing seedlings, ornamental trees, local trees and hardwood trees. (Batanes Islands)

I-rice in NFA Batanes outlets

2011-10-25T01:32:00.000-07:00

BASCO, Batanes, October 15 -– National Food Authority (NFA) Chief Francisco Escalona announced that the I-rice is now available in all outlets of NFA here for P27 per kilo during the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting recently.

Escalona said their warehouse has a stock of 4,000 bags of rice which is expected to last for two months and has been available in NFA outlets province-wide since the middle of September.

He further said that that another 4,000 bags of i-rice and ordinary NFA rice arrived in Basco through a cooperative cargo vessel.

NFA dealers were already rationed with their weekly 10 sacks supply; five sacks of ordinary rice
and five sacks of i-rice at 50 kg per sack.

Escalona said both varieties of rice are sold at P27 per kg.

Meantime, Editha Balles Surban of Barangay San Antonio here said she prefers i-rice for her family because aside from its low price at P27 per kg., which is much lower than the P45 per kg. of commercial rice, it is more nutritious than the ordinary variety. (Batanes Islands)

Typhoon Quiel in Batanes

2011-10-06T10:55:00.001-07:00

September 30, 2011

Weather forecasters said Friday Tropical Storm Quiel (international codename: Nalgae) intensified into a typhoon, posing threat to northern Luzon.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5 a.m. Friday bulletin that "Quiel" was at 770 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan at 4 a.m.

The typhoon packed maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It is moving west at 22 kph.

Storm signal number one is hoisted over Cagayan, Isabela, and Babuyan group of islands.

Pagasa said the typhoon may make landfall in Cagayan Valley by late Saturday.

With two high pressure areas ridging in at the Pacific, state weather forecasters said "Quiel" will be led to the provinces of Cagayan and Batanes this weekend.

A landfall is expected over these areas if the weather systems will not be dissolved soon, according to Graciano Yumul, supervising undersecretary of Pagasa.

A high pressure area, which brings good weather along its path, normally blocks the movement of a tropical cyclone in its intended direction.

"But we will continue to monitor for changes. So far, that is the consensus track," he told Sun.Star.

Typhoon Quiel is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring scattered to widespread rains over southern Luzon and western Visayas.

The Pagasa also said another weather disturbance, Tropical Depression Ramon, is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility within two days after Quiel makes landfall and will hit northern Luzon.

Source: Sunstar Manila

Batanes Islands Geography

2011-10-06T03:06:00.001-07:00

Batanes lies on a group of islands collectively called Batanes Islands and they are the northernmost islands of the Philippines. They are located between the Babuyan Islands (belonging to Cagayan Province) and Taiwan. The islands are sparsely populated and subject to frequent typhoons.

The three largest islands are Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtang. The northernmost is Mavudis Island.

Almost one-half of Batanes are hills and mountains. Batan Island, with a land area of 35 km², is generally mountainous on the north and southeast. It has a basin in the interior. Itbayat Island, which has a total area of 95 km², slopes gradually to the west, being mountainous and hilly along its northern, eastern coast. As for Sabtang, mountains cover the central part of its 41 km² area, making the island slope outward to the coast.

The islands are situated between the vast expanse of the waters of Bashi Channel and Balintang Channel, where the Pacific Ocean, merges with the China Sea. The area is a sealane between the Philippines and Japan, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. It is rich with marine resources, including the rarest sea corals in the world.

The province is hilly and mountainous, with only 1,631.50 hectares or 7.10% of its area level to undulating and 78.20% or 17,994.40 hectares varying in terms from rolling to steep and very steep. Forty two percent (42%) or 9,734.40 hectares are steep to very steep land.

Because of the terrain of the province, drainage is good and prolonged flooding is non-existent. The main island of Batan has the largest share of level and nearly level lands, followed by Itbayat and Sabtang, respectively. Itbayat has gently rolling hills and nearly level areas on semi-plateaus surrounded by continuous massive cliffs rising from 20–70 meters above sea level, with no shorelines. Sabtang on the other hand, has its small flat areas spread sporadically on its coasts, while its interior is dominated by steep mountains and deep canyons. Batan Island and Sabtang have intermittent stretches of sandy beaches and rocky shorelines.

The terrain of the province while picturesque at almost every turn, has limited the potential for expansion of agriculture in an already very small province.

The Province of Batanes

2011-10-06T02:24:00.000-07:00

The Province of Batanes (Filipino: Lalawigan ng Batanes) is the northernmost and the smallest province of the Philippines, both in terms of population and land area. The provincial capital is Basco.

The province is composed of ten islands, called the Batanes Islands, located about 162 km north of the Luzon mainland in the Luzon Strait and is part of the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Of this island group, the largest and only inhabited islands are Itbayat, Batan and Sabtang.

The Batanes Islands are separated from the Babuyan Islands of Cagayan Province by the Balintang Channel and from Taiwan by the Bashi Channel.

The northernmost island of the province, as well as of the Philippines, is Mavudis (Yami) Island. The other islands are Misanga, Siayan, Itbayat, Dinem, Batan, Sabtang, Ivuhos, and Dequey. Only the four largest islands (Batan, Ivuhos, Itbayat and Sabtang) are inhabited.

The Batanes are about 190 kilometers south of Taiwan.

Batanes Island

2011-09-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

The Batanes group of islands is the smallest province in the Philippines in terms of land area and population. Basco is the capital of the province which is 280 kilometers north of Apari, Cagayan and it is 190 kilometers south of Taiwan. Batanes is isolated from the rest of the Philippines for quite some generations making the culture preserved. Batanes lies in the vast waters of the Pacific Ocean where the Pacific Ocean meets China Sea.

The Batanes group of islands consists of ten small islands and islets namely: Batan, Sabtang, Itbayat, Mavudis, Siayan, Diogo, North Island and Y'ami. Only the islands of Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat are inhabited.

The islands of Batanes are beautiful and enchanting and uniquely different from other islands in the Philippines. Since Batanes is separated from the country by miles of rough waters, the Ivatans (the native name of the people of Batanes) have developed a different culture. Ivatans are honest, gentle and polite but brave and robust. They are proud of their heritage and their land.

The landscape of Batanes is also distinct from other Philippine provinces - steep cliffs, rolling hills, deep canyons and boulder-lined shores - not unlike New Zealand in some way. But the most noticeable of all features of Batanes is the architecture façade of the houses - stone walled and thick thatched roofs to withstand the battering of typhoons.

The weather of Batanes is cool and windy. The rain pours in any month of the year and temperature from December to February fall as low as 7 degrees centigrade. Although Batanes lies along the typhoon belt and gets hit by strong typhoons, it receives its fare share just like other provinces on the north. But in spite of the reputation of Batanes as a backward region, it now has modern conveniences like mobile phones (cell sites by Smart & Globe Telecoms), electricity and cable television but hardly any vehicles.

There are lots of things to do and see in Batanes, swim on the sandy beaches, see the fishing villages, the churches and lighthouses, island hop, but best of all, it is a beautiful place to reflect and admire nature.

The trip to Batanes Islands bestows ones feeling of timelessness, an experience that will linger long after arriving back home. The feeling makes you appreciate the simple things in life, but in a deeper sense. But be forewarned though, once you've experienced Batanes Island getaway, it will definitely haunt you to come back.