Breathtaking Batanes
For me, the most illusive Philippine travel destination... the Batanes!!!!
I once went to a travel expo's in SMX. It was a long line and a long wait. And when the door finally opened, people ran towards Skyjet booth like crazy!
Airfare alone costs a fortune. And food is expensive too! But who wouldn't want to cross this out from their travel list?
First, I love their airport! Imagine flowers around it. And not only that, there is a pond inside! It is a small airport and just near it are residential houses. A van picked us up to transfer us to our accommodation for 2 nights, which is pretty much walk-able from the airport.
Van dropped us up in Brandon's Lodge. We checked in, refreshed for a few minutes and off we go to our North Batan tour.
But before we started our tour, we had to drop by the Capitol to pay environmental and other tour fees that costs 550 pesos each.
Before our tour, we ate lunch (part of the package) in one of the resto's. I really thought we are going to have seafood galore but nope. We had one fish viand though which is delicious.
By the way, smoking is prohibited in the island! (I just remembered because a friend wanted to smoke after lunch)
Then onto our North Batan tour!!!!!!!!
The hills are so uh-mazing!!! Thank goodness, our tour guide is just so smart, he led us to the the perfect overlooking spot. This is where the famous lighthouse is, boulder beach, stone church, Japanese tunnel and the famouse vayang rolling hills.
But at the same time, it was so hot. It is windy.. yes.. but humid.
At the end of the day, our eyes were full of beautiful hill scenery...
... And clothes drenched with sweat. Good thing, we are a group in an air-conditioned van!
That night we ate at Beehan's since it is just nearby. Just like what I said, food here is expensive. A silog costs 150 pesos. And that's even basic.
The next day, it was a full on full day tour!!!
Breakfast is free in Brandon's. Obviously, since it happened on our two breakfasts, we concluded that
guests don't get to choose their breakfast. It will just be served by whatever they cooked for that day, which consists of bangsilog on our first breakfast and longsilog on our second breakfast.
Morning: Sabtang Tour
Afternoon: South Batan Tour
Sabtang Tour:
In order to visit Sabtang island, we had to take a boat. It was a pretty interesting old boat that can carry upto 100 passengers. The waves were pretty strong in our opinion but our tourguide said it was just normal.
The previous day, our tour guide already warned us that if we think it is already hot in Batan, Sabtang is hotter
And I tell you he is right! Here has the prettiest view of the hills and the famous stone houses. We also had our lunch in this island, in an open area near the beach served with their famous ginger rice and fried pork.
After lunch, we headed back to the port to go back to where we left earlier to complete our Batan tour.
South Batan Tour:
More hills!!!! You see, at this point I am so done with hills that doesn't excite me anymore. LOL. But Marlboro hills is also beautiful. They just let some cows, horse and goats run free here.. This is where the famous honesty store is. Who doesn't know the concept yet? Basically, it's a do it yourself pay and change.
End of tour.
After our van dropped us in our accommodation, we were just so done. It was a very tiring and long day.
Our dinner is just in one of the small cafe along Abad Street, their most commercial street.
Overall, it was such fun witnessing the beautiful Batanes. People are just so nice and of course honest. Do I recommend it? Of course! Will I go back, yes but not in the near future.
------------------------------------------------
Batanes trip last May 17-19, 2019.
Travel Service by Metro Wanderer (Airfare, Accommodation and Tour Package) - around 18k
Accommodation: Brandon's Lodge with free set breakfast
Airline: PAL (Philippine Airline) via Clark
Tours: North and South Batan Tour, Sabtang Island tour. This is group tour by van
Things to note:
-Bring tons of SPF lotion because it is so hot there. Remember, this island is mostly hills. I highly advise to join group touring in an air conditioned vans compared to tricycles.. But if you are okay with this temperature, then tricycle it is. My friends joke, it is better be hot and sunny than cold and rainy. 😁
-Bring something to cover you from the sun - hat, cap, umbrella
-Be ready for some good walking up and down the hills. Wear super comfy footwear
-Wear light clothes
-Of course, don't forget bring money for souvenirs and take loads of photos
I once went to a travel expo's in SMX. It was a long line and a long wait. And when the door finally opened, people ran towards Skyjet booth like crazy!
Airfare alone costs a fortune. And food is expensive too! But who wouldn't want to cross this out from their travel list?
First, I love their airport! Imagine flowers around it. And not only that, there is a pond inside! It is a small airport and just near it are residential houses. A van picked us up to transfer us to our accommodation for 2 nights, which is pretty much walk-able from the airport.
Van dropped us up in Brandon's Lodge. We checked in, refreshed for a few minutes and off we go to our North Batan tour.
But before we started our tour, we had to drop by the Capitol to pay environmental and other tour fees that costs 550 pesos each.
Before our tour, we ate lunch (part of the package) in one of the resto's. I really thought we are going to have seafood galore but nope. We had one fish viand though which is delicious.
By the way, smoking is prohibited in the island! (I just remembered because a friend wanted to smoke after lunch)
Then onto our North Batan tour!!!!!!!!
The hills are so uh-mazing!!! Thank goodness, our tour guide is just so smart, he led us to the the perfect overlooking spot. This is where the famous lighthouse is, boulder beach, stone church, Japanese tunnel and the famouse vayang rolling hills.
But at the same time, it was so hot. It is windy.. yes.. but humid.
At the end of the day, our eyes were full of beautiful hill scenery...
... And clothes drenched with sweat. Good thing, we are a group in an air-conditioned van!
That night we ate at Beehan's since it is just nearby. Just like what I said, food here is expensive. A silog costs 150 pesos. And that's even basic.
The next day, it was a full on full day tour!!!
Breakfast is free in Brandon's. Obviously, since it happened on our two breakfasts, we concluded that
guests don't get to choose their breakfast. It will just be served by whatever they cooked for that day, which consists of bangsilog on our first breakfast and longsilog on our second breakfast.
Morning: Sabtang Tour
Afternoon: South Batan Tour
Sabtang Tour:
In order to visit Sabtang island, we had to take a boat. It was a pretty interesting old boat that can carry upto 100 passengers. The waves were pretty strong in our opinion but our tourguide said it was just normal.
The previous day, our tour guide already warned us that if we think it is already hot in Batan, Sabtang is hotter
And I tell you he is right! Here has the prettiest view of the hills and the famous stone houses. We also had our lunch in this island, in an open area near the beach served with their famous ginger rice and fried pork.
After lunch, we headed back to the port to go back to where we left earlier to complete our Batan tour.
South Batan Tour:
More hills!!!! You see, at this point I am so done with hills that doesn't excite me anymore. LOL. But Marlboro hills is also beautiful. They just let some cows, horse and goats run free here.. This is where the famous honesty store is. Who doesn't know the concept yet? Basically, it's a do it yourself pay and change.
End of tour.
After our van dropped us in our accommodation, we were just so done. It was a very tiring and long day.
Our dinner is just in one of the small cafe along Abad Street, their most commercial street.
Overall, it was such fun witnessing the beautiful Batanes. People are just so nice and of course honest. Do I recommend it? Of course! Will I go back, yes but not in the near future.
------------------------------------------------
Batanes trip last May 17-19, 2019.
Travel Service by Metro Wanderer (Airfare, Accommodation and Tour Package) - around 18k
Accommodation: Brandon's Lodge with free set breakfast
Airline: PAL (Philippine Airline) via Clark
Tours: North and South Batan Tour, Sabtang Island tour. This is group tour by van
Things to note:
-Bring tons of SPF lotion because it is so hot there. Remember, this island is mostly hills. I highly advise to join group touring in an air conditioned vans compared to tricycles.. But if you are okay with this temperature, then tricycle it is. My friends joke, it is better be hot and sunny than cold and rainy. 😁
-Bring something to cover you from the sun - hat, cap, umbrella
-Be ready for some good walking up and down the hills. Wear super comfy footwear
-Wear light clothes
-Of course, don't forget bring money for souvenirs and take loads of photos
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