Batanes

The northernmost island province of the Philippines, with a distinctive landscape of rolling green slopes, sea cliffs and Ivatan stone houses.

Batanes lies in the Bashi Channel north of Luzon and is the northernmost province in the Philippines; its main inhabited islands are Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat. Tropical beaches are rare here; instead the province is known for green hills, coastal cliffs, lighthouses and the thick-walled stone houses of the Ivatan people, along with its unspoiled local character. The area is heavily affected by typhoons, and March to May is generally considered the most settled weather. Most visitors fly from Manila to Basco Airport, and travel between islands relies on small boats, so build some weather buffer into your itinerary.

Destinations

• Batanes

Itineraries

• Batanes Grasslands and Stone Houses Route – Cover the north and south loops of Batan Island and the Sabtang stone house villages in four days, leaving one day for…