The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
-St. Augustine of Hippo
When I read through this quote, it ignited my desire to travel more, that I must open up myself to learning outside four-walled rooms.
Each of us is dreaming of a perfect vacation in a paradise or to any place in order to keep a balanced sanity between work, life, family, leisure and lovelife. We all have different stories and reasons why at a certain time we go on trips – to find our self, remove stress, forget something, explore the wilderness or cities or bond with friends or families. No matter what the reason is, it will always be about the journey and the experiences you will collect.
The best place for me is my country – the Philippines. It may not be that rich with man-made tourist spots, lo and behold! its natural resources, islands and reefs will leave you dumbfounded. I’m really proud!!!!
This month of September we went to the great island of Batanes for three days.
When the plane started to descend, I was elated more and I can’t wait for my feet to get on the green lands. My eyes went wide of the blue seas. I said to myself, this is for real…
I’m not dreaming anymore!!!!
I’M SEEING BATANES!!!
NORTH BATAN
After we made a reservation for our lunch, we walked around the town proper of Basco until we reached an old port area. I can’t believe it, we are at the top part of the Philippines!!! *A friendly dog, followed us in our morning walk. We gave him a piece of the sausage bread left from our in-flight meal.
I am extremely awed.
I climbed up the top of Basco lighthouse when I got there, I was hugging the wall cause the wind was too strong I fear that it might blow me away. That time my friends were laughing at me… hehe.. but I successfully did it and had a photo taken with them 🤣😛
SOUTH BATAN
On the second day, the idea that there’s no internet connection and signal sank on our minds. We cannot post anything on our messenger’s my day. We were surrounded by the hills, bodies of water. We walked very close to animals such as cows, lambs and horses. We paused several times to breathe in fresh air and looked at the resplendent view.
Everything was alluring and harmonious. Thus, I realized what God felt when He saw His creations —- everything is good and beautiful (Genesis 1).
I patiently waited and worked hard to capture a few pictures and videos of the animals. I also thought that perhaps they knew that we are visitors and we would like to have a selfie with them. Find out where the cow was facing.
*Somehow keep distant from them or you might want to be kicked.
At San Carlos Borromeo blank book archive, you will be given a chance to write down your thoughts. I found the perfect book for me, “My Story in Batanes Book no. 250” filled with drawings of kids and few letters from tourists. I did not read their letters though.
Appreciate life in its simplicity.
You may freely run, dance, scream and jump like little kids which we actually did.. lolz…
We are on TOP OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!
SABTANG ISLAND
My stomach was so sensitive to the movement of the van going to the port and back to our home particularly the conquest of the seas to and fro Sabtang.
Oh!!!.. that mixed feelings of happiness, fear and surprise. It’s like being on a vikings ride.
We got the chance to pray inside some churches, to sing and use some musical instruments (ssshh…) The highlight of the tour was the actual visit to the weavers association and stonehouses village.
*Please observe the waves first.
Thus, we are so blessed for the life that we have and for the world we are living in.
Support and preserve our beautiful lands and bodies of water.
Let’s continue to promote our tourism!!!
I will always be grateful.
Ichaddaw ku Batanes!!!!
I promise that I will come back when my hair becomes long again.
By that time, I guess traveling solo with the love of my life is already legit.
I’ll include Itbayat Island on my return and book a room at Fundacion Pacita.
All for the best,
– Louj
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*As requested. I made a separate article below for the other details.
Please note that I’m sharing my personal experience. This is not an advertisement or money savy tips.
Originally, I planned to visit Batanes with my bf. Since we are just bf and gf, we are not allowed to be alone. An opportunity with my parish mates opened. It was during the travel fair in November last year, they invited me to book a ticket.
Before this moment, I was actually scouting PAL and Skyjet for their ticket prices to Batanes, I must say the prices equates to international fair from Php 3,500 and up per way.
In one travel event, I had the chance to line for Skyjet for a Php700 base fare per way from Manila to Batanes only to find out that the slots are no longer available since they first accommodated inside the convention center the credit cardholders. =( I only have cash on hand. Because of that, I decided to accept credit cards and will only use for important matters. *It is very practical to look for less pricey ticket so that you can use your money for other things.
There was another travel event, my friend who ran a business during a clothing and travel bazaar happened to have a better access inside the World Trade. We did not reserve a ticket on the first day because we had a conversation with our other friends until we come up with a decision. To avoid the long lines, we opted PAL.
We did not reserve for July month because it’s also a month of typhoons as well as August. SAFETY FIRST!!!!! Don’t always get too excited!!!
I had a cough and I felt ill before our travel dates and there was two typhoons in Philippine territories. We prayed for a better weather.
Are you ready to take the challenge??? ——— No WIFI for days or network signal at certain times? Early bedtime? The feeling of being a SURVIVOR in an island?
If yes, then save up and prepare for your trip.
PAL has many vacant seats and you are free to change seats like I did when the plane was already stable. For a cheaper plane fare there is Skyjet. Note. There are times that the plane will retreat to Manila because of cloudy skies and strong winds. Postponed flights in Batanes are normal.
Because it is sultry, bring your kits such as sunblock, insect repellant, aloe gel, towels for sweat and extra shirts.
Sometimes people get stranded on Batanes. I brought some rice, garlic, calamansi, biscuits, chips and canned good just to be sure. We ate everthing before we go back to Manila. Hence, it is necessary to bring foods for survival although there are small stores in most streets. It serve as the market since they are selling vegetables too.
Batanes is quite small and you can roam around it through bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles or vans. The three inhabited areas are Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat. Most travellers visit the first three. Itbayat will require 1 1/2 to 2 hours boat ride surging giant waves. Roller coaster lovers will surely enjoy this.
March, April and May are the peak seasons of Batanes. Lean season for typhoon months is from July to October. According to the local, their place can get cold during November to early March as the snow from nearby countries melt it is then carried by the winds. The temperature is cooler compared to Baguio.
Our plane left NAIA 3 at 6:05am. our flight is 20 minutes shorter from the official flying hour which is one hour and forty minutes. I took a picture of the list of homestay and restaurants at the airport. You need to pay the EcoTourism Fee of Php350.00. Bring the card and ticket everywhere you go because it is being checked. We were picked at the airport by a personnel from Wakay Home which was referred by a friend to me whose province is Batanes itself.
I’m the one who arranged our homestay and tour with the help of the recommendations from my friends who visited the province earlier this year.
We were torn between Marfel Lodge and Wakay inn. both offers airconditioned room and free use of kitchen. We decided to book a room in Wakay since there are plenty of people in Marfel due to its popularity and the number of their rooms.
Airconditioned room in Marfel costs Php625.00 per day/pax while Wakay Php500.00. NonAirconditioned room, is Php300 – 350.00. Then, everyday we cooked our breakfast as our bonding moments…. we are also lazy to go out in the morning just to eat. We also received a calling card from Vatan Inn, price range 1,200-2,000 per room. They also offer ATV rental Php400 per hour or Php2000 whole day. You may contact the owner sir Jover Vargas at vatanhomestay@gmail.com, 09985519696 or 09153560709.
It’s better to sought for the advise of the tour guide for the scheduling of trips because they know their weather and seas well. My original plan is as follows: North Batan, Sabtang and South Batan. It has always been my practice to save the best for last. Due to the adjustments, Sabtang became last. They do suspend trips on that island for safety purposes. Furthermore, I negotiated with our tour guide to include the Fountain of Youth on our South Batan tour.
daughter of Mang Lito
the hero of some of our pictures. Mang Kris (have you seen him in You’re my boss movie?
With us is Mang Lito – our main tour guide
For tricycle rides, the maximum number of passengers aside from the driver is three persons only in order to keep the balance of the vehicle when moving to the curvy pavements. Since we are four, we were divided into two groups. On the last two days of our tour, we rode on a van. We were not asked for additional fees.
According to our tour guide, camote (wakay in their language) is one of their local products and specialty. They used to cook it as chips, fries or sweetened with sugar. Another one is the preserved and fried pig meat recipe called “Luñis”. For the second day, we had our South Batan escapade. It is a whole day activity, from 9am to past 5 in the afternoon.
- Chawa viewdeck (faces the West Philippine Sea) – we did not go down since the waves are too high
- Mahatao Boat Shelter Port -whenever there’s a storm the Ivatans hide their boats here behind a floating hill. It was like the hill was naturally there for this purpose.
- Marlboro hills “Racuh a Payaman” (Big Pasture) – it was like we are on Sound of Music. We stayed here for 15 minutes to savour the view and have some photoshoot.
- Rock Formation: view of Imnajbu point and beach
- Alapad Pass
- Alapad Hill – where Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta did the remarkable “i-Dawn Zulueta” scene
- Homoron Blue Lagoon (Spanish Lagoon) and the white beach – we just had a bird’s eyeview. I thought this is where mermaids rest 😛
- Song-Song Ruins – the sitio was affected by a great tsunami wayback in 1954. As per our tour guide, no one died during that time because the people received an early warning. They had evacuated the place before the tsunami hit. This is where Nora Aunor had the shoot for the film Kabisera.
- San Carlos Borromeo Church (Mahatao Church) and Blank Book Archive. (Maywang a Libro du Vatan) – you are free to write your story, intentions or lamentations here. My friend read the other writings in the book and she said, a woman visited Batanes because she wants to move on.
- House of Dakay (Vajay ni Dakay) – the oldest house
- San Jose de Obrero Church (Ivana Church)
- Honesty Coffee Shop – self-service shop, make sure you have exact amount of payment. You have to drop your payments in a box. Don’t expect that you will get a change.
- Old Spanish Bridge
- Diura Fishing Village – every year in the month of March on a specific day, the villagers do a ritual. They invite a priest to celebrate the mass after that they offer pigs to the sea as the start of the fishing season. They pray for a good fishing. This take place only from March to May.
- Fountain of Youth and swimming – you will need to hike and go down the mountain but it is worth it – the view and the cold water from the top of the mountain is fresh.
- Tayid Lighthouse in Mahatao – this is my favorite lighthouse view. When we were here, we felt that we own the place. There’s no other people and there are green pasture around. The animals freely roam. The view of the sea is so magnificent.
- Mahatao Town
- Mahatao wind turbines – they also fell because of typhoon Ferdie 😦
On our final tour day, we were picked by the van from Wakay inn at 5:40am. The travel time to Ivana Port is 30 – 45 minutes. The Faluwa boat ride have schedule trips: Ivana – Sabtang Port as early as 5:30am to 7:00am. Sabtang to Ivana Port 12:00nn to 12:30pm only. They do this because of the waves 🌊 , if the boats will leave Sabtang port later than 1pm. The current is already wild.
As per our tour guide, kuya Lito. Sometimes there are dolphins which tails the boat. Sad to say, we haven’t seen any. I hope in my next visit there would be dolphins. There are sharks on the other side of the sea, I just can’t recall if it will include the part on the way to Itbayat or on the side of Babuyan Islands (4 hours boat ride).
Upon arrival at the port, our tricy-cool are already waiting for us. It’s roof is made of nipa huts.
- Port of Ivana
- Sinakan Village
- Savidug Village – the sinadumparan homes have two sloped cogon roofs
- Sabtang Weavers Association – organization of old local women who weave the iconic vakul. Php 400.00
- Chavayan village – the houses are also made of stones. We have entered the house where Coco Martin and Toni Gonzaga had their shoot.
- St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel and Old Beaterio (old priest house)
- Chamantad Cove and Tinyan Viewpoint
- Sta. Rosa de Lima Chapel
- St. Vincent Ferrer Church
- Sabtang Lighthouse
- Makabuang Arch “Ahaw”
- Morong Beach
Since the devastation of typhoon Ferdie in September 2016, the internet connection in Batanes has not yet been fixed. There is an internet cafe near our homestay that offers Wifi service. Your Php150.00 is equivalent to 120MB. It can go as high as Php900, depending on the MB that you will buy.
First Day
Hiro Joy Cuisine offers Php 200.00 Budget Meal. Our friend treat us with a Joy Platter meal which costs Php 900.00. In Fundacion Pacita, we ordered Tubho Drink (Php85.00). We just had camote chips since we had just eaten our lunch. Fries are not available and the other food that we inquired about. Php500 is the cost for the first day tour. We forgot to give tip to the drivers. nonetheless, positive thing is that we gave them tubho drink from Fundacion.
At Pension Inn Restaurant, we ordered set meal Php450.00 with set of calliente, liempo, kilawin and sisig. We divided the price into four. I ordered extra soda and camote roll for dessert so that we could taste it. I alone pay Php400.00 for my food. After we went home, we contacted the massage therapist that we met from the airport and requested for a home service traditional massage,Php350.00 (tip not included) – ate Maring 09973742990.
Second Day
Outside the Blank Book Archive, you can buy the ticket for the Fountain of youth. That is Php50.00.
For breakfast, we cooked our own food. We did our team work. I bought extra oil and onion.
Lunch, Php300.00 per person. It was a set meal. In the evening we had dinner at Beehan. They had set silogs, Php 110.00 per order. I bought, beefsteak and rice, camote fries and special halo-halo, total amount is Php280.00.
Third Day
Faluwa roundtrip boat ride fee Php200. On arrival on Sabtang, you will pay for tourism fee at the municipal hall Php200.00
We requested for 1/2 kilo lobster and coconut crab. The crab is not available in half kilo servings. You need to buy the whole crab and the price is computed according to it’s weight. We thought that this will be our food together with rice and drinks to our surprise, other meals were put on the table. They did not clarify to us that aside from the seafoods each one of us will pay for Php300.00 budget meal. We finished all the lobster and crab. We had the fish, pinakbet and luñis for take out because we are already full. We recook it for dinner together with the corned beef that I made. I also bought a liter of soda Php70.00. Before having our dinner, we attended the 6pm mass and ate some snacks at the kapitolyo @lamon center. If you do not like herbs or vegetables you might dislike the taste of their drinks. They put basil leaves 🍃 for green lemonades.
Batanes is just the opposite of Manila. As you can see in the pictures below. Taken from the plane.
Below is the table of my expenses.
Book that ticket now!!!! The rest will just be easy.
SoDiViNe 