Why Batanes is known for having good tourist spot? Batanes is one of the beautiful provinces found in the Philippines. It is also known as the “Home of the Winds” due to its cool and windy weather. Batanes is the northernmost and the smallest province in the country. It encompasses ten chief islands and three of them are occupied. Basco is the capital of Batanes.
Batanes is home to the Ivatans who are much admired as the “True Insulares”. Ivatan Tribe is the first settler in this province. They have kept the purity of their culture and traditions through the years. Batanes is subdivided into 6 municipalities, all encompassed by a lone congressional district: Basco, Itbayat, Ivana, Mahatao, Sabtang, and Uyugan.
What are the fun things to do in Batanes and some tourist destinations?
*tour around with the bike. Bicycles are the basic means of transportation in Batanes.
*Boat ride to Sabtang or Itbayat Island
*Trek Naidi and Vayang rolling hills
*Hike Mountain/Mt.Iraya/Mt.Matarem
*Relish on Delicacies
*Hike to Torongan Cave and cliff.
*Batan Island
*Di-atay beach
Everywhere in Batanes is picture-perfect. A Batanes trip which is in almost everyone’s travel bucket list is a little bit expensive due to its high-priced plane tickets. Batanes is beautiful for its stone houses and the willingness of Ivatans to put hard labor into their neighbor’s house because they know that the cogon will serve as a shelter that would house them both on strong and blazing days for the next 30 years.
From rolling hills, stunning cliffs and deep canyons, the islands of Batanes are completely distinct from the rest of the Philippines. You can meet the honest, gentle and polite Ivatans.
What to expect in visiting Batanes? Flights to Batanes are more expensive than Hongkong. It’s like a completely different country. There are no high-rise buildings, there are no malls, only sari-sari stores that sell basic needs. Honesty is their best policy. That’s why they have the Honesty Store, the Honesty Coffee Shop. You can’t go to Batanes without visiting the famous Honesty Cofee Shop. This store is open 24/7, left unmanned but well-stocked with coffee, snacks, and even souvenirs. Since the store is self-service, customers are kindly requested to get than pay for what they need.
Behind its beautiful sceneries and tourist spots, hide a rich culture; throughout the years, this culture has been preserved and passed generation to another generation of the Ivatans. People of Batanes have surpassed other tribes because of their unique and refreshing traditions. Their culture is magnificent and only people who will visit the place will be surely enchanted by the things Batanes and Ivatans can offer. Therefore; go visit Batanes and be amazed by its people, culture and place.
The fastest way to get to Batanes from Manila is by plane.Peak season is from March to June so be sure to get your tickets months before your scheduled trip to Batanes.