Batanes Island

The Batanes group of islands is the smallest province in the Philippines in terms of land area and population. Basco is the capital of the province which is 280 kilometers north of Apari, Cagayan and it is 190 kilometers south of Taiwan. Batanes is isolated from the rest of the Philippines for quite some generations making the culture preserved. Batanes lies in the vast waters of the Pacific Ocean where the Pacific Ocean meets China Sea. 

The Batanes group of islands consists of ten small islands and islets namely: Batan, Sabtang, Itbayat, Mavudis, Siayan, Diogo, North Island and Y'ami. Only the islands of Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat are inhabited.

The islands of Batanes are beautiful and enchanting and uniquely different from other islands in the Philippines. Since Batanes is separated from the country by miles of rough waters, the Ivatans (the native name of the people of Batanes) have developed a different culture. Ivatans are honest, gentle and polite but brave and robust. They are proud of their heritage and their land.

The landscape of Batanes is also distinct from other Philippine provinces - steep cliffs, rolling hills, deep canyons and boulder-lined shores - not unlike New Zealand in some way. But the most noticeable of all features of Batanes is the architecture façade of the houses - stone walled and thick thatched roofs to withstand the battering of typhoons.

The weather of Batanes is cool and windy. The rain pours in any month of the year and temperature from December to February fall as low as 7 degrees centigrade. Although Batanes lies along the typhoon belt and gets hit by strong typhoons, it receives its fare share just like other provinces on the north. But in spite of the reputation of Batanes as a backward region, it now has modern conveniences like mobile phones (cell sites by Smart & Globe Telecoms), electricity and cable television but hardly any vehicles.

There are lots of things to do and see in Batanes, swim on the sandy beaches, see the fishing villages, the churches and lighthouses, island hop, but best of all, it is a beautiful place to reflect and admire nature.

The trip to Batanes Islands bestows ones feeling of timelessness, an experience that will linger long after arriving back home. The feeling makes you appreciate the simple things in life, but in a deeper sense. But be forewarned though, once you've experienced Batanes Island getaway, it will definitely haunt you to come back.