“Batanes is equivalent to typhoon.” That’s how most Filipinos refer to this place years ago. But because of social media, Batanes is now one of the most sought-after dream destination in the Philippines.
With these 10 amazing photos taken by an Ivatan himself, it’s not hard to understand why Batanes is indeed a must see and now included in most traveler’s bucketlist.
BASCO LIGHTHOUSE
Witness the uninterrupted view of the whole island from the view deck of this 6-story lighthouse on top of Naidi Hills, facing the vast South China sea.
RACUH A PAYAMAN
Feel the cold breeze as you walk around Racuh a Payaman, more popularly known as Marlboro Hills. Blue skies, calm sea, green field and perfect volacano. What more can you ask for?
CHAVAYAN STONE HOUSES
Experience the rich culture of Ivatans as you walk around this old village of Chavayan in Sabtang, Batanes. Be mesmerized by stone houses made of coral rocks, limestones and cogon grass roofs believed to be standing strong for more than 100 years!
DI-ATAY BEACH
Spend a quiet afternoon under the cool shade of tree-lined coconut trees in Batanes’ Di-atay beach. Find your spot and just chill as you can feel that the island is all yours.
CHAWA VIEW DECK
Have a quick glimpse of Batanes cliffs as you stand at the edge of Chawa View Deck. Then challenge yourself to take the stairs to be as close as possible to the smashing waves hitting Batan island.
MT. IRAYA
Hike Mt. Iraya if you’re up for a challenging adventure! The mountain’s summit most of the time is cloudy. Its trail is steep and Batanes white viper is just around the corner. These poisonous reptiles are endemic to this mountain so take extra precautious if you decide to explore its beauty.
VALUGAN BOULDER BEACH
Listen to the whistling wind and monstrous waves slapping these boulders in Valugan. No white sand, no coconut trees. Just a bunch of stones that served as a beautiful remembrance of Mt. Iraya’s volcanic eruption sometime in 400 AD.
SAN JOSE DE IVANA
Step into a church with original Baroque architecture established by the Dominicans as a chapel in 1787. More than its aesthetic, San Jose de Ivana is also a national historic landmark in the Philippines indicating its significance to Batanes’ history.
NAKABUANG ARCH
Stroll along Morong beach with this naturally formed arch in the background. The Nakabuang arch, also called as Mahayaw arch is one of the most famous tourist spot in Batanes due to its distinct and stunning geological formation.
CHANARIAN BEACH
Watch the astounding Batanes sunset from Chanarian’s long stretch of black sand beach. Get thrilled and see for yourself how these incredible rock formations blend perfectly with silence and darkness that can only be experienced in this unbelievable island.
Truly, there’s so much about Batanes than just typhoons. And if you’re eyeing to visit this dream destination, make sure to subscribe to TravelBrew as we’ll be sharing more secrets, tips on where to stay, what to eat and what to expect in this breath taking island.
Oh, and one last thing. Did I mention that the Ivatan who took these photos is part of Travel Brew? Yeah, he was born and raised in Basco, Batanes and that’s another reason to subscribe to Travel Brew! We hope you found this blog helpful!