Batanes
Batanes is the northernmost and smallest province of the Philippines. It is a group of small islands far out at sea, north of Luzon. The landscape looks very different from the rest of the country. Instead of palm beaches you find green hills with grazing cows, high cliffs, stone walls and wide ocean views. The main island is Batan, where the small capital Basco and the airport are. Here you can walk the open pasture of Racuh a Payaman, see the big round stones of Valugan beach and watch the sunset from the lighthouse on Naidi Hills. A short boat ride takes you to Sabtang island, with its quiet villages of old stone houses. The Ivatan people built these thick-walled homes to stand up to strong wind and rain. Life here is slow, roads are empty and the air is clean. Weather rules everything: flights and boats can stop on windy days. Plan extra days and go in the dry season, roughly March to June.
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All Batanes Guides
5 in-depth guides to Batanes — food, nightlife, beaches, transport, money and the practical detail that is hard to find.