Batanes is one of my dream destinations in the Philippines. So when I have the chance to visit the northern island of the country as part of the course I am handling, I grab the opportunity. Aside from observing the project implementation of my student advisees, they have arranged a time for me to visit some of the tourist destinations in Batanes. Their project only covers the main island of Batan, so I cannot visit the other Batanes islands such as Itbayat and Sabtang. Four of the 6 municipalities in Batanes are found in Batan including the provincial capital Basco, Ivana, Mahatao and Uyugan.

Batanes is known as the “Home of the Winds,” because of its usual calm and windy weather. It may be the smallest and least populous province in the Philippines, but it is rich with picturesque scenery and well-preserved culture of a simple life away from the rest of the country.

Here are the tourist spots that I visited on my first day at the island.

1. Vayang Rolling Hills

After unpacking at my hotel, my students brought me first to the Vayang Rolling Hills. From the rolling hills, you can have a panoramic view of the Batanes greenery, the majestic Mt. Iraya, the nearby islands of Sabtang and Itbayat and the calm West Philippine Sea. There are cows grazing in the rolling hills which actually blocked us from walking farther.

2. Mt. Carmel Chapel

Mt. Carmel Chapel, also known as Tukon Church, was built by the province’s prominent family of the former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad on top of a hill modeled from Batanes’ traditional stone houses.

Nearby the chapel is the most expensive hotel in Batanes, the Fundacion Pacita. This hotel was owned by the late Pacita Abad, an internationally known artist and sister of former cabinet secretary of Education and Budget, Butch Abad. In her memory, a bronze statue of Pacita made by Filipina sculptor Julie Lluch now stood on the hotel grounds. Unfortunately, the hotel is currently closed due to the damage brought by typhoon Kiko in 2021.

3. Pension Ivatan

Pension Ivatan is a hostel-restaurant located in Batan Island. It is famous for its specialty dish called Ivatan Platter. Served in breadfruit leaves are a concoction of different Ivatan cuisines including Uvud balls made from banana trunk mixed with meat and flying fish; Luñis, the Ivatan version of adobo with pork liempo; Vunes, made from dried taro (gabi) stalks; Fern Salad, Grilled dibang or flying fish, and Turmeric rice. The staff was kind enough to explain the different dishes included in the Ivatan Platter.

4. Valugan Boulder Beach

It was so hot but still we went to the Valugan Boulder Beach. Filling the entire three-kilometer stretch of the beach are round boulders and smaller stones. It is said that these rocks came from the eruption of Mt. Iraya several centuries ago. Swimming is not allowed in the area but I saw about two to three people dipping in the water.

5. Dipnaysupuan Japanese Tunnel

When the Japanese soldiers arrived in Batanes in 1941 during World War 2, they ordered the Ivatans to dig this tunnel which will serve as the shelter for the Japanese forces. The Dipnaysupuan tunnel is a 250-meter long interconnected network of tunnels carved out of the Tukon hills. It consists of five exit points, chambers, bunkers, water reservoir and has a lower deck chamber.

6. Tayid Lighthouse

Built for guiding boats and ships traveling near Batan Island, the Tayid Lighthouse is located in Mahatao, a town about 5 kilometers south of Basco. It was built in the early 2000s, together with the other lighthouses in Basco and Sabtang.

7. Basco Lighthouse

Our last destination for the day is the 66-foot Basco Lighthouse. Unlike the hexagonal tower deck of Tayid Lighthouse, the Basco Lighthouse has a round tower deck. The area where it stood was also where the American telegraph facilities linking Batanes to the central government were located. This was destroyed due to the bombing of the Japanese Imperial Army at the beginning of World War II.