Batan and Sabtang Island are wonderful sufficient. However then I acquired to Itbayat, the northernmost inhabited island of Batanes, and I used to be floored. Whereas Itbayat is extra rugged and tougher to discover, it has a singular allure of its personal. Mountain climbing over tough roads, hills and steep paths could be grueling, however you may be rewarded with wonderful views of caves, cliffs and coasts.
Poverty incidence in Itbayat is excessive, but the individuals are pleasant, trustworthy and beneficiant. Itbayanons delight themselves on having no casualties when typhoons hit, since their stone and lime homes have been constructed to face up to calamities. And identical to their vernacular homes, the individuals are robust, resilient, and hard-working.
Their financial system is especially agricultural. I used to be informed that everybody on the town, even the mayor, is a farmer. Many households keep small patches of farmlands, and their homes, regardless of how humble are at all times adorned with blooming vegetation and flowers. With only a inhabitants of two,914 (as of 2013), they’re additionally a tight-knit group, the place everybody is aware of everybody else. Itbayat is without doubt one of the most off-beat locations I’ve been to within the nation, and my solo journey right here was each an incredible and humbling expertise.
Itbayat is the northernmost municipality of the Philippines, positioned solely about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the southernmost tip of Taiwan. It’s the largest of the three inhabited islands of the province of Batanes. Itbayat is an Ancestral Area with a CADT, the primary municipality in Batanes to have such a title. Itbayat additionally consists of a number of small and uninhabited northern islands together with Dinem, Siayatan, Ditarem, A’li, Misanga and Mavulis.
As of April 2014, there are three motorized boats that ply the Basco-Itbayat inter-island route: M/B Itransa, M/B Ocean Spirit and M/B Veronica (new), which ferry all method of cargo (from baggage of cement to stay pigs) and passengers as properly. Of the three, M/B Veronica is the most important and probably the most steady. Waves are particularly tough in these components and boats don’t journey in inclement climate. In good climate, there are every day boat journeys, aside from Sunday. The fare is P450/individual for a one-way journey.
The boat journey from Basco used to take roughly 4 hours lengthy, which locals say has dissuaded many vacationers in Basco from visiting. Since boats have upgraded to quicker engines, the journey time is roughly 2.5-3.5 hours in good climate. There are not any seats on the boat, so passengers often lie down on the boat’s ground to counter seasickness and to sleep by means of the journey.
Boats go away Basco every day at round 6 am and arrive at Itbayat at 8:30 to 9am. The identical boats go away Itbayat for Basco at round 10 or as quickly as they’ve unloaded all of the cargo. You need to be on the port round half-hour earlier than your time of departure to enroll within the manifesto of which boat you wish to experience.
M/B Ocean Spirit: 0939-9186580. M/B Itransa: 0908-5022814. M/B Veronica. Ivatan Transport and Companies. Tel. No: 0939-5023494
It’s additionally attainable to journey to Itbayat by airplane from Basco. NorthSky Airways is an 8-seater airplane that travels each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Elite Aviation (which began working simply April 19, 2014) is a 5-seater airplane that gives every day flights. Fare for each planes value within the vary of P1,800 for a a method journey that can take 10-12 minutes lengthy. Each aircrafts will solely fly if there are sufficient passengers to fill all of the seats. The Itbayat airport is an hour away from the city correct by land.
NorthSky Air. Basco: 0949-1550100, Itbayat: 0920-9651495. Elite Aviation c/o Batanes Journey & Excursions: Contact individuals: Basco: Mrs. Luz Cartano: CP: 0928-5250818. Itbayat: Ms. Gina Ponce: CP: 0999-7190410
There are solely 3 tour guides and 4 tricycles on the entire island of Itbayat. Solo vacationers can experience with a information aboard a bike (P1000/day) whereas teams of 2-3 can decide to rent a tricycle (P2000/day). For bigger teams, the guides often borrow a truck or larger automobile to get round. There’s additionally an ordinary vacationer information payment of P1000/day. Tricycle fare from the port to city middle is P100. As of my go to, there have been no motorcycle leases accessible, although the house owners of Levinda Lodge talked about they’d ordered some XRM models that they have been planning to lease out to company.
You possibly can convey rented bikes or mountain bikes from Basco (extra cargo payment: P360 for motorbikes, P50 for MTB, P40 for girls bike), however I wouldn’t advocate it, because the terrain in Itbayat is steep and a bit tough to navigate. Even for those who lease a automobile, the one choice to get to many websites of curiosity is to go by foot. Count on to stroll loads.
Allot a much bigger funds for those who plan to go island-hopping from Itbayat. Boat journeys to the uninhabited Northern Islands could be organized however can value you from P6000-8000/day (boat good for a bunch of 10), climate allowing. The boat journey to Yami can take one other 4-6 hours. Tour Information for predominant websites: Jason Asa – 0999-9327744
Chinapoliran Port
Itbayat is without doubt one of the world’s largest uplifted coral reefs, and thus has no shoreline to land on. Chinapoliran Port is the port the place you’ll dock whenever you arrive from Basco.
As a substitute of a flat platform, you will see a steep highway and set of stairs constructed into the rocky coast main as much as small sheds that function workplaces for the totally different boat operators. Loading and unloading passengers and cargo is a feat in itself, since everybody must time the boat and leap when the water is stage with the touchdown. A pulley system hooked up to a truck is used to tug up and decrease cargo and bikes that will probably be transported on the boat.
City Correct
Itbayat has 5 barangays, specifically: San Jose (Raele), San Rafael (Idiang), Santa Lucia (Kauhauhasan), Santa Maria (Marapuy) and Santa Rosa (Kaynatuan). The city correct the place most homestays are positioned is in Barangay Sta. Maria, which is also called Mayan Centro.
The city middle is marked by a big plaza. with a grassy area and basketball courtroom, surrounded by a row of recent and vernacular homes, the municipal constructing, and the Sta. Maria Inmaculada Church, which was inbuilt 1845. Within the mornings, you may watch locals enjoying basketball and baseball within the plaza and other people attending morning mass.
Lake Kavaywan
Lake Kavaywan is the landmark pilots use when touchdown in Itbayat. Guides say that when pilots see the lake, they will begin to descend. The lake itself, which is surrounded by hills, just isn’t actually supreme for swimming, because it’s continuously utilized by the cows that graze within the close by pasturelands.
Mt. Karoboban View Deck
Mt. Karoboban is the very best level in Itbayat, with an elevation of about 280 meters above sea stage. It is without doubt one of the island’s foundations, being an outdated settlement for the early settlers of Itbayat. You may get to the view deck by tricycle, although the trail is usually unpaved and rocky. The view deck is presently being reconstructed because the outdated one acquired broken by a storm. From right here, you may see the 4 uninhabited islands North.
Torongan Cave
Torongan Cave is an enormous cave, mentioned to be an historic dwelling place. It’s believed to be the primary touchdown place of the Austronesians from Formosa, 4000 BC. The doorway to the cave is reachable by a forty five minute – 1 hour hike by means of dense forest from the jump-off level reachable by tricycle.
There’s a bit on the finish of the cave that appears out into the ocean. The temperature contained in the cave is kind of cool and nice, because the wind blows by means of this gap.
Torongan Hills
From Torongan Cave, you may hike as much as the highest of Torongan Hills to get a view of the encircling islands. Alongside the best way, you’ll encounter stone boat-shaped burial markers. The world is believed to be the burial floor of the traditional settlers of the Torongan Cave.
Paganaman Port
A port the place fishermen dock their boats. The platform right here is de facto steep, and fishermen all pull collectively to boost the boats as much as the platform.
Across the cliffs, you may see little home windows and sheds constructed into the rocks the place fishermen preserve some provides. It’s finest visited throughout mid-late afternoons so you may watch the sundown.
Small Lagoon
The small lagoon is a set of a number of swimming holes on the foot of the cliffs of Paganaman Port, the place locals go swimming. A number of shallow, pure swimming swimming pools are fashioned within the rocks surrounded by towering rocky cliffs.
Rapang Cliffs
A pure park and grazing space for goats comprised of forest, cliffs and rocky hills the place bonsai arius tree abound. If you wish to hike to Rapang Cliffs, you will have to rent a separate information because the space passes by means of non-public property. The one solution to get right here is to stroll from the city correct.
The hike takes about 5-7 hours (backwards and forwards) relying in your tempo. The hike will take you thru a number of hills, by means of forests and clambering up rocky cliffs earlier than you attain a excessive level overlooking the island. Allot at some point for this exercise (with free time within the afternoon). Alternatively, you can begin your hike at 3am, catch the dawn there, and get again to city by 8am if you’ll want to catch the boat again to Basco the identical day. Convey plenty of water and lightweight snacks and/or packed lunch.
Information for Rapang Cliffs: Jose Valiente – 0949-6200184. Information payment: P1000/day (no matter measurement of group)
Stone Bell
On the base of Rapang Cliffs, yow will discover the stone bell, a flat stone which lies naturally upon one other stone, which produces melodious sounds resembling a bell when struck with stones. Placing the stone bell served as an alarm for the traditional inhabitants when enemies have been approaching. The bell was additionally utilized by farmers as a sign for conferences and to collect their goats.
The Seaside of Kaxobcan
Since Itbayat is without doubt one of the world’s largest uplifted coral reefs, it doesn’t have any seashores. Nevertheless, we did come throughout a seaside fashioned from a calamity. We made our solution to one other space the place a pure seaside was fashioned when an earthquake brought on a landslide on one facet of the cliff, resulting in a small white sand seaside surrounded by pure swimming holes within the cliffs.
In line with our information, Jose, we have been solely the second group he had taken to that website. Locals haven’t been to this spot both, and it doesn’t appear to be in any vacationer map or information but. The water right here regarded so attractive. I solely want I might have gone down the cliffs to take a swim.
Different vacationer sights
- Mt. Riposed – one of many two volcanoes thought of to have been the muse of Itbayat, from the place you will get a panoramic view of the island.
- Nahili Votox – an historic settlement with boat-shaped burial markers.
- Komayasakas Cave and Water Supply – an underground stream on the Northwest of Itbayat which flows to the ocean.
- Manoyok – a sinkhole that serves as a large drainage of the city of Itbayat. Manoyok is believed to be a haunted sinkhole as a result of ancestors used to throw witches there as punishment in accordance with native justice system throughout the historic instances.
- Different Caves: Northern Sarokan, Japanese Sarokan, Pevangan Cave, Do’tboran Cave
- Agosan Rocks – a rock formation north of Itbayat
- Port Mauyen – various port south of Itbayat
Different islands
- Siayan – an island north of Itbayat, mentioned to have stunning white sand seashores
- Dinem – an island southeast of Itbayat with boulder seashores
- Ditarem – an island behind Siayan
- Misanga – North Island
- Yami – recognized domestically as Mavolis, the northernmost level of the nation.
There are a couple of lodging homes in Itbayat, principally positioned within the city middle across the plaza and close to the church. Most cost an ordinary charge of P200/night time for fan rooms. There’s one lodge that has air-conditioned rooms, however since electrical energy is turned off from midnight to six am, I counsel you simply guide a fan room.
I stayed in Levinda Lodge, a two-story home transformed right into a homestay, which has a number of rooms on the second ground, a balcony with an excellent view of the plaza and church the place you may take your meals, a spacious kitchen, and two well-maintained loos. The decrease ground is occupied by the proprietor’s household, a small pc store and a comfort retailer, the place you should buy provides. The house owners are very accommodating and pleasant. Elaine, Levinda’s daughter, is a TESDA-accredited therapist who gives therapeutic massage companies to company, which is nice for those who’ve been mountaineering all day. Since I used to be touring solo, in addition they provided free choose up and drop off service from the port (so I didn’t need to take a tricycle).
Levinda Lodge, Itbayat, Batanes. Cellular quantity: 0921-5668269
Cano’s Lodge is one other well-known homestay in Itbayat, run by the pleasant Faustina Cano, a retired instructor who serves as Itbayat’s tourism officer. She can provide you an excellent orientation of the historical past of Itbayat previous to your tour across the island. The rooms on the lodge are fairly massive, with an open air gazebo outdoors and a useful map displaying among the websites of curiosity.
Cano’s Lodge, Itbayat, Batanes. Cellular Quantity: 0919-3004787
Others locations to remain:
- Visitor Home c/o Municipal Mayor (capability 4) – P150/pax/day
- Brgy. Sta. Lucia c/o Brgy. Secretary (capability 6) – P150/day
- SM Island Lodge Homestay (capability 11) – Firstclass/aircon – P1300/room
- Fernando Dierra Homestay (capability 8) – P200/pax/day
- Faustina Cano Homestay (capability 10) – P200/pax/day
- Maria Gordo Homestay (capability 4) – P200/pax/day
- Levinda Lodge Homestay (capability 15) – P200/pax/day
- Domnena Gaza Homestay (capability 2) – P200/pax/day
Larez Carinderia within the city middle is without doubt one of the few locations you may eat out in Itbayat. Nanay Laura serves quite a lot of dwelling cooked dishes and Ivatan specialties, with meals costing P200/every. Different eateries akin to Danevelle’s Canteen, Jasser’s Canteen and Yvette’s Canteen are now not working (as of April 2014).
You too can organize to have home-cooked meals delivered to your homestay day by day from the Itbayat Caterer’s Cooperative for P200/meal. The meals I acquired often consisted of rice, 2 viands and 1 vegetable or soup dish. The servings have been fairly beneficiant. One meal might have simply fed 2 individuals or might final your entire day.
For those who’re happening a day hike, the caterers can pack meals for you in Tipoho leaves, in order that it’s lighter to convey and you’ll simply get rid of the leaves simply after consuming. The speed of P200/meal could appear costly at first look, however you must keep in mind provides on the island are restricted particularly if boats can’t make journeys.
If you wish to avoid wasting cash, you can even purchase canned items or noodles as most homestays have their very own kitchens the place you may prepare dinner meals. Antas Household Enterprise (the comfort retailer on the bottom ground of Levinda Lodge) has a big selection of provides. They’re open Monday – Sunday 7:00 am – 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Most individuals within the city are farmers, and garlic is the principle produce. Whereas the bulbs are very small, they’re actually tasty. It’s price shopping for strings of garlic to take dwelling as helpful souvenirs. The garlic bought in Basco comes from Itbayat.
You too can purchase different Batanes souvenirs like Ivatan headdresses and baskets at Larez Carinderia and memento t-shirts, baggage and hats at Larez Carinderia and the comfort retailer.
- In line with locals, the most effective time to go to Itbayat is from the month of April to June and the coldest months are from November to March.
- Vacationers, guests and researchers are required to pay first their vacationer payment (P90), which covers Torongan and View Deck, to the workplace of the Municipal Treasurer earlier than visiting the websites.
- Convey heat clothes like jackets throughout the chilly months: October to March.
- It’s prohibited to collect/extract corals, orchids and different endangered natural world.
- Put on mild, comfy garments, shorts or denims, rubber slippers or sandals throughout the tour. Vacationers are suggested to put on respectable garments.
- Electrical energy is from 6:00 am to 12:00 midnight. Voltage is 220 volts.
- Water is non-potable; mineral water is accessible on the market.
- You will want to rent totally different guides relying in your itinerary. The 4 accredited tour guides can take you to many of the websites round city, however you want a separate information if you wish to go to Rapang Cliffs & the Stone Bell.
- Good and Globe communications can be found for textual content and calls. No Wifi (that I do know of) and poor 3G sign in Itbayat.
