BATANES

Batanes (capital Basco) is about 190 kilometers south of Taiwan, the northernmost and the smallest province of the Philippines both in terms of population and land area.

Batanes lies in a typhoon path. While typhoon can occur at any month, statistics shows that most of the typhoons comes during the months of August. Months of September to November are usually windy.March to May is the summer months in Batanes with the least rainfall compared to other times of the year. Seas surrounding the island are calm making it suitable for fishing.Batanes has a semi-temperate climate due to its location. Temperature ranges from 14 degrees centigrade in December and January to 37 degrees centigrade during the humid months of July. The land area is 230 square kilometres and population estimate of 18,000 and literacy rate of 95%. Major industry farming, cattle and fishing. The language is Ivatan (an Austronesian language, with pidgin Spanish and Chinese accent). The generally cool climate of Batanes combined with its unique appearance, gives a visitor a feeling of being in a foreign land.

Although Batanes is far from the mainland, there are cable TV companies that keep the people in Batanes up-to-date to the events happening worldwide. CNN, MTV and Discovery Channel and Manila channels can be watched in Batanes. Modern conveniences like cell sites (Smart & Globe Telecoms), internet is available in the island.

For the fastest Batanes flights and for affordable Batanes airfare, Seair (http://www.flyseair.com/) flies to Batanes every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.


Destinations in Batanes

House of Dakay (1887) a UNESCO heritage building
St. Dominic de Guzman Parish Cathedral
Mt. Iraya - A 1008-meter mountain on Batan Island
Burial Caves - Pre-historic burial caves in the town of Itbayat
Sumhao Wind Power Plant
Nakaboang Beach, Ark & Cave
Songsong Ruins
Beaches - Chadpidan Beach, White Beach
Payaman - known as "Marlboro Country", a pasture overlooking farm fields & the Pacific Ocean

San Carlos Borromeo Church

"Marlboro Country"


Mahatao View Deck



Lighthouses of Batanes

Sea View

Hotels and Inns in Batanes

Brandon's Lodging - 11 tastefully decorated rooms each with TV, aircon and toilet & bath. Contact: Madeleine Siazon at +63 919 366 2158 for reservations
Batanes Resort - P550 /day and up. Tel. # 9229621 local 327 (Ivatan Center, Q.C.)
Batanes Seaside Lodge P450 /day and up Tel. # 0981-993613
Ivatan Lodge - P100/1 pax, P400/ 1 or more pax/day. Email: ivatanlodge@ yahoo.com
Shanedel's Inn - P200 /day 0920-4470737
Troy Lodge - near airport Tel. # 0920-4470726