SMALL-TOWN GIRLS, MIDNIGHT TRAINS

— travel inspiration for small budgets and big dreams —

travel inspiration for small budgets and big dreams

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Whether you’re in Batanes for 2 days or 2 weeks, joining a tour group or going DIY, these are the stunningly gorgeous spots that will make you fall in love with the Philippines’ northernmost province — so much so that you’ll start keeping an eye out for seat sales the moment you get back home!

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NORTH BATAN

 

Basco Lighthouse_01

Basco Lighthouse and Naidi Hills
The iconic Basco lighthouse is one of the highlights of the North Batan tour and is the perfect place to watch the sunset. It can also be reached by a leisurely 30-minute walk from the town center.

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The view from Fundacion Pacita's dining area

Fundacion Pacita
The Fundacion Pacita Batanes Nature Lodge was the home of acclaimed artist Pacita AbadΒ and is now an exclusive (and expensive) boutique hotel. Its proceeds fund projectsΒ for Ivatan artists, educational grants, and eco-tourism programs.

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Mount Carmel Chapel_03Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
A charming little chapel built in the tradition of old Ivatan stone houses, the breathtaking views from its beautifully built doors and windows will make you believe there is a God.

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Rolling Hills_06Rolling Hills
In these sprawling emerald hills — a pasture for goats, cows and carabaos (Philippine water buffalo) — you could point your lens towards a random spot, take a random shot, at a random angle and focus, and your photo would still come out perfect.

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Boulder Beach_001Boulder Beach
When Mt. IrayaΒ erupted all those years ago, it rained molten rocks on Batan island’s east coast, eventually leaving behind the boulders that now adorn this beach. The stones, waves, and surrounding cliffs are particularly gorgeous during sunrise.

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SOUTH BATAN

 

Batan_06White Beach
Visit this secluded strip of sand on a misty morning and you’ll never want to leave.

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Boat Shelter Port_01Boat Shelter Port
A touch of Venice! Functionally, this port is where marine vessels seek refuge during inclement weather, but the profusion of outrigger-less boats floating on a watery avenue will no doubt remind visitors of a certain Italian city.

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Batan_09Alapad Hill and Rock Formation
Aside from the chance to see goats risking their lives to graze on steep hills, this spot also offers views of grass-cloaked mountains, glorious cliffs, and waves furiously crashing against stoic rocks.

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Chawa Viewing Deck_04Chawa Viewing Deck
From this vantage point — often the first stop on the South Batan tour — one can behold otherworldly cliffs, sun-kissed hills, deep blue seas, frothy waves, and the majestic Mount Iraya.

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Racuh a Payaman_02Racuh a Payaman
Its colloquial name, Marlboro Country, is pretty apt: Racuh a Payaman has just the sort of vast, rugged, grassy terrain through which the Marlboro Man can be expected to gallop. Although horses have been known to graze here in the past, nowadays the primary residents are carabaos — and tourists marveling at the stunning views.

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Tayid Lighthouse_01Tayid (Mahatao) Lighthouse
The original lighthouses in Mahatao were two stone structures situated several meters apart: once their two points of light converged, sailors knew they were at the right spot for entering the town port. This newer, prettier lighthouse is perched on top of the Mahatao mountains and commands views of sprawling hills and sparkling seas.

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SABTANG ISLAND

Sabtang LighthouseSabtang Lighthouse
The last of three lighthouses in Batanes, this edifice is the most prominent feature of the Sabtang coastline and is as picture-perfect as its two counterparts in Batan island.

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Sabtang_Savidug Village_01Savidug Village
Traditional Ivatan stone houses, separated from the sea by a row of coconut trees and a beach dotted by fishing boats, transport the wanderer back to simpler times.

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Sabtang_Chavayan Village_03 (2)Chavayan Village
Brightly colored windows add a touch of whimsy to sturdy stone dwellings built by Ivatans in the shadow of legends.

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Sabtang_05Morong Beach and Mahayaw Arch
It’s hard to resist taking a dip in the cool, clean waters of this fine, white sand beach — or taking a selfie with the Mahayaw Arch as the perfect natural frame.

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Chamantad-Tinyan Viewpoint_03Chamantad-Tinyan Viewpoint
If the wind here doesn’t blow you away, the view undoubtedly will: behind you, towering rocks, under which goats and carabaos contentedly graze; before you, craggy slopes and grassy hills recalling landscapes from Lord of the Rings; and below you, a steady procession of unruly white waves stemming from seas of crystal blue.

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BONUS!
#17

Maywang A Libro Du VatanMaywang A Libro Du Vatan
Leave a piece of yourself in Batanes. This archive of blank books, located within the grounds of the San Carlos Borromeo Church in Mahatao, lets you leave a message, a prayer, or…anything, really, within the pages of any book you choose. I randomly pulled out book 156. Or was it 165?? I guess I’ll find out when I return.



Β© Small-Town Girls, Midnight Trains. All rights reserved.Β 

 


 

31 Responses

  1. I was born and raised in batanes and I didn’t know about the blank books until i saw your blog. I will visit it when i go back home.

    1. Oh, cool! I think there was a Japanese foundation that gave them the funds to set it up; it may have been put together relatively recently.

      And can I just say how lucky you are to live in such a beautiful place! Do you miss it? Is your family still there? Of course there are pros and cons — one of our guides mentioned how young people have to leave Batanes to find work, and I suppose the regular airfare there is pretty prohibitive — but it must be great to call Batanes home.

      1. Thank you for your kind words. I’d prefer blessed rather than lucky. I left Batanes after high school and return every two or three years to have a vacation. My family is still there and I have left my job here. I am going home this December hoping to drop my anchor there for good.

    1. Thank you for dropping by! πŸ™‚ I am reading your post on Bali right now…very serendipitous, as a friend and I are planning to go there in a few months. Your son is adorable! Happy travels and best wishes to you and your family. πŸ™‚

      1. Great to hear you’re coming. Some says it’s over developed now but still heaps of cool things to discover. So many things I have to write about Bali but I’ve been postponing it far too long. I’ve been postponing everything pretty much for far too long hehe. Thank you so much for your kind words.. Happy travel to you. If I can’t make the posts more about bali soon enough, I’ll send you the list of ‘where the locals usually go’ stuff πŸ™‚

    1. Thanks Badfish!

      Actually, Luzon is a really, really big island — Batanes is around 1/1000 the size of Luzon and is in fact considered part of the Luzon island group — and it has a wide variety of landscapes so it’s really difficult to compare. Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is in Luzon.

      It would really depend on what sort of stuff you like! Batanes is charming and is good for a 4- to 7-day stay. In contrast, you could spend a whole month in Luzon and still not see everything, so you’ll have to decide what specific places you want to visit and pick a good base for exploring. Many places in Luzon can be reached by plane or [long] bus ride from Manila.

      (I hope that’s a helpful answer!)

      1. Thanks Smalltown. Actually I’ve been to Luzon. I don’t like big cities. But I always wanted to see those huge rice field terraces in Banaue. Then you made Batanes sound pretty laid back. I hate making decisions.

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