#SABVENTURES: BASCO BATANES

February 13-16, 2015

Welcome to the northernmost part of the Philippines, Batanes!

Batanes, also known as Orphan of the Motherland, is located in the northernmost part of the Philippines. It features breath taking view of Philippines' natural resources and it's climate is totally a spot on. But it's not just about beauty, it's also about it's people how incredibly honest and trusty they are to everyone!

The fastest way to get to Batanes from Manila is by plane via PAL Express and Skyjet. Peak Season is from March – June for summer and November to February for the cold season so be sure to get your tickets months before your scheduled trip to Batanes since the fare is relatively costly.

We took PAL Express flight going to Batanes. We decided to spend Valentine's Day in Batanes since we can't take all the couples being overly sweet in the Metro! HAHAHA **bitter much?** Anyways, before we arrive in Batanes we had a reservation in MARFEL'S LODGE for our 4 days -3 nights accommodation. We also communicated with KUYA DALE for our North, South and Sabtang Tour. I'll be giving all the details later!

DAY 01 X NORTH BATANES 

(ARRIVAL IN BATANES)

BASCO CATHEDRAL

BASCO LIGHT HOUSE AND BUNKER'S CAFE

NOTE: The only lighthouse that you can enter and climb up. Other light houses are close. So make sure you go up because the view is so amazing!! though it is super windy BUT who cares! 

BASCO LIGHT HOUSE

VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE

OBLIGATORY PHOTO AT BUNKER'S CAFE

VAYANG ROLLING HILLS

One of my favourite spots in Batanes, because everything is just so perfect even the poop of the cows. everything is just so natural up here. (be careful of the poops it's everywhere HAHAHA. just watch where you're going)

  

VALUGAN BOULDER BEACH

SUN X SEA X STONE. I'm so in love with the waves brought to you by the Pacific Ocean! And did you see how ENORMOUS the stones are?

JAPANESE TUNNEL

You must try and get inside. NO WORRIES! I don't think there's ghost inside though it's dark inside (OFCOURSE IT'S A TUNNEL) so if you have your phones with you, you can turn your flashlight on so you can see what's inside  clearly and there's also a small hole inside where the water reservoir is located.

BASCO IDJANG 

The ancient fortress of the Ivatan. We just stop by and took a picture of it.

Idjang 

 

FUNDACION PACITA

One of the most expensive hotels or inns in Basco, Batanes. Well, why not? the place ready showcase an amazing view and great artworks. (BTW, If the place is fully booked you cannot go inside which is of course we didn't know not until a group of tourist came and wanted to go inside but the care taker stopped them. Is it too late to say sorry?)

They have a thing with blue. 

 

TUKON CHURCH

One of the tourist attractions that I'm so excited to see. It was featured in a Filipino Movie You're my boss and since then I wanted to see it in person. The view is so amazing and the church's interior is totally a spot on!

 

PAG-ASA WEATHER STATION

At first I thought it was a ball or something but as per Kuya Dale it is something to do with the winds. 

View from the weather station (Marlboro -South Batanes)

DAY 02 X SABTANG ISLAND

(EXPERIENCING ANOTHER ISLAND)

SABTANG ISLAND

Sabtang Island is a hour or less boat ride from Basco, Batanes. The boat rides going to Sabtang starts at around 6am to 8:30am and out from Sabtang starts at 1pm  to 3pm. You can stay in different home stays in Sabtang if you wish to. We opted to have the day tour only due to limited time constraints. 

Catching the sunrise. 

I could finally see it.

HELLO SABTANG  

Upon arrival in Sabtang you're rented tour ride, Kuya Adrian is the name of our tour guide, will be waiting for you and assist you to the Tourist Office where you will pay the Environmental fee of PHP200.00. 

Obligatory tourist shot 

The Trike is super cutie pie!!!

Savidug Village

A place that showcase a lot of old stone houses in Sabtang is our  first stop in Sabtang. 

ST THOMAS AQUINAS CHAPEL

Another Blue Door :)

THE OLD BEATERIO 

I saw this vast landscape and I have to asked Kuya Adrian to stop HAHAHA

Chamantad Cove and Tinyan Viewpoint

Breathtaking views in 360 degrees! HAHAHA! I know I know! Everything is about nature. Every turns is amazing. Did I say that I've over used the word "WOW" in this trip? Well! I did. Every moment is a WOW moment. You would really not care about how the sun is burning you. How the poops are everywhere. Because the only thing that will keep running in your mind is how incredibly amazing and dashingly beautiful the place is. 

Someone is wandering with us 

 

The Hills are alive with the sound of music 

 

Happiness in a photo

Chavayan Village

This village also showcase different old stone houses in Sabtang. Dogs are everywhere but you have nothing to be scared of I think they are harmless. 

The kids asked for a selfie when we got there!

Morong Beach and Mayahaw Arch

The sand is so white!! It is even better than Boracay and the place is kept clean from trash. And you can have your lunch here too before heading back to Batanes. 

Mahayaw Arch

Visited Sabtang during Heart's Day! So yeah, Happy Heart's Day! 

   

Sun x Sea x Sand x Sisters in Sabtang 

DAY 03 X SOUTH BATANES 

(Last day of the tour)

CHAWA VIEW DECK

Showcasing amazing view is the start of our South Batan Tour! See how blue the water is? Ohhh gosh! The weather is bit dark that day BUT no one will ever stop us!

MAHATAO BOAT SHELTER PORT

THIS IS MANMADE! And it is incredibly beautiful! Kuya Dale said that this is built to protect the boats from massive waves whenever there is a typhoon in the area. 

MAHATAO CHURCH

One of the breath taking churches we've visited. 

ANOTHER BLUE DOOR

CHURCH'S INTERIOR 

MANMADE STONE MINITURE OF THE CHURCH

MAYWANG A LIBRO DU VATAN

Also know as BATANES BLANK BOOK ARCHIVE. It is beside the Mahatao Church. It is actually one of my favourites because it is something that is so personal to me. You are given a chance to share the things in your mind and to let your heart out through writing. There are a bunch of blue books with blank pages where you can scribe it out.

Choose this book since 14 is my favorite number!

TAYID LIGHTHOUSE

It's quite rainy and windy. BUT who cares? It's so pretty!! We're not allowed to climb up though. 

 

View from the Tayid Lighthouse 

  

MARLBORO COUNTRY

A massive land pasture. The wind is really strong up here so better prepare yourselves! Everything up here is all green and blue! You would really appreciate nature and wish to live here because pollution is so mainstream!

Trying the jumps shot!

It's so hard to do our pose here because of the wind so we just sat down 

SAN LORENZO RUIZ CHAPEL 
It is located in Imnajbu (i don't know if i spelled it right). According to Kuya Dale this is where Christianity started in Batanes. 

ROCK FORMATION

Totally forgot what it is called. But  I remembered Kuya Dale said that it is also called "Rock Formation" because of the enormous rock naturally erected in the area. You'll also enjoy the scenery here. The splashing waves, whistling wind, and green land.

Rock Formation

Hi Goats! I think they are scared. They kept on running away e?

SONG SONG RUINS

Where you can see more stone houses. Before you can actually go there and see all the houses but the Government of Batanes close the area from the tourist. It is an abandoned community which was affected by a natural camminity back then.

HONESTY COFFEE SHOP

The famous honesty shop. Well actually i think HONESTY is the main characteristic Batanes is promoting. It is not just Honesty Coffee Shop but other shops are actually the same. The owners allows visitors to buy and grab anything that they want and visitors will just list it with the corresponding prices and pay for it. No one in manning the shop so you really have to observe HONESTY in here. 

IVANA CHURCH

Also known as San Jose de Obrero Church. One of the biggest churches in Batanes just right across the Honesty Shop.

HOUSE OF DAKAY

Went inside to see what it looks like. And the floor is so cold. I didn't know that someone is living inside so I got shocked that a kid run behind me. HAHAHA!

 

OLD SPANISH BRIDGE

It was built during the Spanish time. the bridge is still being use up to this time. 

WHITE BEACH

It is located along the highway. You have to guess why it is called white beach. Ha? Yes you got it right! It's because of it's white sand. You can actually take a dip when it's low tide for your safety of course!

THE BLUE LAGOON

It is called Blue Lagoon because of how blue-ish the water here. When the waves are calm it is more blue-ish than this. 

Where to Eat?

** You must try their lobster and coconut crab (sad that we're not able to taste some since it's seasonal)

** Try their Turmeric Rice (with pork), Blue rice (with seafood), and Red Rice (with vegetables)

OCTAGON BED AND DINE

VIEW FROM THE RESTAURANT 

PAULVANA'S CANTEEN

They are serving set meals. (Pork x Seafood x Desert)

#OOTD FOR 3DAYS

OFCOURSE! You should visit Batanes with style! 

#SABVENTURES X #TIFFANYWANDERS : BATANES

SOME OF OUR BESTIE POSES DURING THE TRIP!

DID YOU GET OVERWHELMED WITH ALL THE PHOTOS?  SORRY! HAHAHA! Anyways, below is our travel expenses, and guess what?? our 4D 3N in Batanes cost us roughly LESS THAN PHP5,000.00!! YES YOU READ IT RIGHT! LESS THAN PHP5,000.00!

TIPS AND EXPENSES:

1. If you're travelling alone, or by pair. I highly recommend that you rent a trike instead of a van it will cost you less money. 

   LAND TOUR EXPENSES : PHP3,300/ 2 PAX

   **BREAKDOWN: 

      NORTH BATANES      : PHP1,000/2 PAX excluding lunch

      SOUTH BATANES      : PHP1,500/2 PAX excluding lunch

      SABATANG TOUR      : PHP800/ 2 PAX excluding lunch and boat ride

   LUNCH/MEALS

      OCTAGON DINE       : PHP570/ 2PAX

      SABTANG                : PHP600/ 2PAX *set meals*

      PAULVANA               : PHP600/ 2PAX *set meals*

    

2. Other fees:

     

    ENVIRONMENTAL FEE (SABTANG)  : PHP 200/PAX

    BOAT RIDE TO/FROM SABTANG    : PHP 75/PAX

    TRIKE TO/FROM PORT IN BATANES: PHP220/ 2 PAX

    ENTRANCE IN MAHATAO CHURCH   : PHP50/PAX

3. For your accommodation, there are a lot of inns or home stay houses that you can check -in. Please make prior arrangements before arriving to Batanes since there are times that all are fullybooked. Especially during the peak seasons: from March – June for summer and November to February for the cold season.

MARFEL'S LODGE (Accommodation FAN ROOM ONLY) : PHP350/night/pax

TOTAL EXPENSES :    PHP 3,420.00 

FOR MY PASALUBONG : PHP 1,020.00 

MY TOTAL EXPENSES:  PHP 4,440.00

4. For flight prices it actually varies form the day of your purchase. So early booking is highly recommended. You can fly with PAL Express air SkyJet

5. Contact Person/s:

KUYA DALE  for the whole Tour: 09293410941

MARFEL'S LODGE  : 09088931475 (Look for Ate Fe or Ate Sheryl)

I hope I was able to help with your itinerary planning for your Batanes Escapade! You guys should really visit it. Because pictures are will never justify it's beauty! 

DESERVE NA DESERVE ITO MAPASAMA SA BUCKET LIST NIYO!

#SABVENTURESinBATANES ACHIEVE NA ACHIEVE! Till our next adventures! 


xx SAB