Sabtang Island in Batanes
Part of the Batanes travel guide — see every topic in All Batanes Guides.
Sabtang is a small island just southwest of Batan. Many visitors say it is the highlight of Batanes. It has old villages of stone houses, white sand beaches, high cliffs and very few cars. You reach it by a traditional boat called a faluwa, and the crossing is part of the experience. Most people visit on a day trip from Basco, but a night on the island is also possible.
The faluwa crossing
Boats to Sabtang leave from the port in Ivana, on the southwest coast of Batan, about 30 to 40 minutes by road from Basco. The faluwa is a wide, open wooden boat made for these rough waters. The trip takes roughly 30 minutes when the sea is calm. Boats usually leave in the morning, and the last trips back are in the early afternoon. The channel between the islands has strong currents, and waves often grow bigger after midday. You will likely get wet from spray, so keep your phone and camera in a dry bag. If the sea is too rough, the boats do not run. Ask at your guesthouse the day before.
Stone villages: Savidug and Chavayan
Sabtang keeps some of the best groups of traditional Ivatan houses in Batanes. In Savidug, stone houses line the quiet lanes, with thick walls and steep roofs of cogon grass. Chavayan, at the southern end of the island, is a small village between the hills and the sea. Here the narrow paths, low stone walls and thatched roofs feel very calm. These are living villages, not museums. People still live and work in these homes. Walk quietly, ask before you take photos of people, and do not enter houses or yards without an invitation. Small shops sometimes sell local handicrafts, such as woven headgear.
Morong Beach and the Nakabuang arch
Morong beach is close to the port and is the best-known beach on Sabtang. It has soft white sand and clear water, and at one end stands Nakabuang, a natural rock arch shaped by the sea. Many visitors stop here for photos and a swim. The water can be calm near the shore in the morning, but currents can be strong further out, so do not swim alone or far from the beach. Simple food stalls sometimes serve lunch near the beach. Along the island road you will also find viewpoints over cliffs and wide bays.
How to see the island
The easiest way to see Sabtang is with a tricycle and driver. Tricycles wait near the port, and many guesthouses in Basco arrange a full package with the boat, the tricycle and lunch. A loop of the main sights takes about half a day. Some visitors bring or rent a bicycle, but the road has hills, and the heat and wind can be tiring. There are only a few small homestays and stores, so bring cash and water. If you want to stay the night, book ahead and confirm by phone, because places to stay are very limited.
Sabtang Island at a glance
| Getting there | Faluwa boat from Ivana port, about 30 minutes |
|---|---|
| Hours | Boats mostly in the morning; last return early afternoon |
| Cost | Boat fare plus tricycle hire; small village fees, check locally |
| Best time | March to June, leave Batan early in the day |
| Sea | No boats in rough weather; expect spray on board |
| Bring | Cash, dry bag, water, sun protection |