| Islands | | | | San Carlos Borromeo Church & Convent (Mahatao) |
| Batanes is a place that is hard to forget, a place so | | | | Founded in 1789 and built in 1873, it has a facade |
| mesmerizing that going back home would be difficult. | | | | modeled after that of Basco Cathedral, with two round |
| With its captivating beauty and magnificence Batanes | | | | arches at roof level for the bells. On its outer walls are |
| is truly a feast for the senses. In Batanes, there is | | | | massive buttresses that used to serve as stairways |
| always that feeling of calmness and relaxation and the | | | | to the roof — a thing of convenience in the |
| comforting fact that it is a place where time is not | | | | olden days when frequent repairs had to be made to |
| important and everything stands still. Need to get away | | | | the cogon grass roofing. The church still retains its |
| from the world for a while? Batanes is your place. | | | | centuries-old features. Located six kilometers from |
| Location | | | | Basco. |
| The Batanes Islands lie at the northernmost tip of the | | | | Church of Sto. Domingo de Basco (Basco Cathedral) |
| Philippines, where the Pacific Ocean merges with the | | | | Established in 1783, it is the oldest and most important |
| South China Sea. Batanes is the smallest province in | | | | church in Batanes. To give the facade stability and |
| terms of population and land area, and is composed of | | | | strength against earthquakes and typhoon winds, the |
| three major islands: Batan, which contains the capital | | | | church walls were buttressed with massive pilasters |
| town of Basco; Sabtang, and Itbayat. | | | | from foundation to top. The church is dedicated to the |
| Best Times to Go | | | | Immaculate Conception, patroness of Batanes. |
| December to May are the best times to visit Batanes. | | | | San Vicente Ferrer Church (Sabtang Island) |
| It does rain most months of the year though, so be | | | | Another church modeled after the one in Basco. |
| prepared with your rain gear. | | | | Following an unfortunate incident in 1790, when Spanish |
| Batanes Attractions | | | | emissaries sent to procure goods from the parish |
| Whether you want to see the natural wonders or | | | | were killed by some natives, the people of Sabtang |
| explore bits of religious history, Batanes has these | | | | were forcibly resettled across the channel to Ivana |
| sites to offer even the most discerning tourist. | | | | and not allowed to return until 1844 when the |
| Natural Sites | | | | foundations of the present church were laid. |
| Sabtang Island | | | | Other Attractions |
| This island southwest of Batan Island remains | | | | Kanyuyan Beach & Port |
| undisturbed and unspoiled. It has intermittent white sand | | | | (Baluarte Bay, Basco). The port of call of the cargo |
| beaches, steep mountains, and deep canyons with | | | | ships bringing goods from Manila. |
| small level areas sporadically found along the coastline, | | | | Sitio Jura at Racujaide |
| accessible by falowa (an oval-shaped motorized | | | | The fishermens village at Mananoy Bay. Fishing |
| passenger boat without the outrigger) from Radiwan | | | | season is marked by a festival in mid-March called |
| Port in Ivana. This island is also the take-off point for | | | | Payvanuvanuan during which visitors are treated with |
| Ivuhos Island from Barangay Nakanmuan. | | | | fresh fish delicacies from the Pacific Ocean. Within the |
| Itbayat Island | | | | area is the legendary spring of Youth and a living cave |
| Located north of Batan Island, it is surrounded by | | | | with crystal limestone formations. Mananoy Bay is nine |
| massive boulders and cliffs rising 20-70 feet above | | | | kilometers from Basco proper. |
| sea level and has no shoreline. It has a dirt airstrip for | | | | Batanes Day (June 26) |
| light aircraft. Ferries also run the Batan-Itbayat route, | | | | Marked with playground demonstrations, parades, the |
| with a travel time of about four hours by falowa from | | | | Palu-palo Festival, and other cultural events. |
| the Basco Seaport. Light planes fly from Basco Airport | | | | Feast of Three Kings (January 6) |
| to Itbayat in 12-minute trips at PhP700.00 per person. | | | | On this day, the image of the Sto. Nino (Holy Child) is |
| Batan Island | | | | venerated in every home in Batanes. |
| Batan Island is the most populated of all the islands in | | | | Ruins of Songsong |
| the province, and is also where the center of | | | | A ghost barangay which is really a cluster of roofless |
| commerce and seat of the provincial government lie. | | | | shells of old stone houses abandoned after a tidal |
| Mount Iraya | | | | wave that hit the island of Batan in the 1950s. The |
| A dormant volcano standing at 1,517 meters whose | | | | area has a long stretch of beach. Located 23 |
| last eruption was recorded in 505 AD. This peak is | | | | kilometers from Basco. |
| ideal for mountaineering, trekking, and trailblazing. It is | | | | Radiwan Point |
| located walking distance from Basco and can be | | | | Located at Ivana Seaport, this is the landing site of the |
| climbed to the top in about three hours. | | | | Katipuneros on September 18, 1898, thus making it a |
| Mavudis Island | | | | very historical location. The falowas plying the islands |
| Mavudis is the northernmost island of Batanes. | | | | of Sabtang and Itbayat are also stationed here. |
| Coconut crabs (called "Tatus" by the locals) are | | | | Other Places of interest in Batanes: |
| bountiful on this island, which is surrounded by rich | | | | Ï House of Dakay (1887) a UNESCO heritage |
| marine life. | | | | building. |
| Chawa Cave | | | | Ï Lighthouses of Batanes |
| Chawa is believed to be an enchanted cave. It has a | | | | Ï St. Dominic de Guzman Parish Cathedral |
| natural salt bed and a mouth that opens to the South | | | | Ï Mt. Iraya - A 1008-meter mountain on Batan Island. |
| China Sea, which is also is accessible through the | | | | Ï Mahatao View Deck |
| boulders of Chawa Point in Mahatao. This cave lies | | | | Ï Burial Caves - Pre-historic burial caves in the town |
| about 4 kilometers from Basco. | | | | of Itbayat. |
| White Beach | | | | Ï Sumhao Wind Power Plant |
| As testament to the province’s natural beauty, | | | | Ï Nakaboang Beach, Ark & Cave |
| this white beautiful white beach can be found in | | | | Ï Beaches - Chadpidan Beach, White Beach and |
| Vatang Hapnit and Mavatuy Point at Mahatao. | | | | more. |
| Bird Watching at Cuyab | | | | Ï Payaman - known as "Marlboro Country", a |
| Observe the migratory birds from China that flock the | | | | pasture overlooking farm fields & the Pacific Ocean. |
| islands in search of a warmer climate every October. | | | | Accommodations in Batanes |
| Religious Sites | | | | With the emergent interest in this part of the country, |
| San Jose Church (Ivana) | | | | regular visitors to Batanes have witnessed a marked |
| Built in 1814 (although its foundation dates back to 1795), | | | | improvement in the available accommodations. There |
| this church is truly unique among all the old churches in | | | | are also additional places to stay, which goes to saying |
| Batanes as it is the only one not built in the espadana | | | | that Batanes has truly emerged as a top Philippine |
| style of the day. It has a crenellated fortress-like | | | | destination. Most travelers to Batanes stay in pension- |
| campanile or belltower that gives the appearance of a | | | | or lodge-type accommodations which are plentiful in |
| fortification. San Jose Church fronts the Ivana Seaport | | | | the area. These places are very inexpensive, clean, |
| and offers a commanding view of the sea and | | | | well-maintained, and are near the top attractions of the |
| surrounding countryside due to its elevation. It is 14 | | | | area. Most of these pension houses are even installing |
| kilometers from Basco. | | | | wi-fi for their tech-savvy lodgers. |