Things to Do in Batanes

Heritage · North BatanBasco Lighthouse (Naidi Hills)Free entry

The white Basco Lighthouse sits on Naidi Hills, a short ride from town, and it is the best sunset seat in Batanes. The six-story tower has a viewing deck on the fifth floor with a sweeping view of Basco, Mount Iraya and, on clear days, Sabtang and Itbayat. The hill was once home to American-era telegraph facilities that linked Batanes to the central government until Japanese bombing destroyed them at the start of World War II; a few surviving buildings now house a café. Come about an hour before sunset, then walk the grassy slopes as the sky turns orange. It is about 1.2 km uphill from Basco Port, so it is an easy first-day stop after landing.

Park · South BatanMarlboro Country (Racuh a Payaman)Free entry

This is the Batanes postcard. Racuh a Payaman, nicknamed Marlboro Country, is a communal pasture of rolling green hills where cows, carabaos and horses graze above cliffs that drop straight into the Pacific. Tayid Lighthouse stands on a nearby hill, so you can get the pasture, the sea and the lighthouse in one frame. Walk the narrow foot trails for different angles, bring a windbreaker, and stay on the paths because the animals are not pets. It is a stop on every South Batan tour, so pair it with Tayid Lighthouse and the Honesty Coffee Shop in Ivana. Come early morning or late afternoon for soft light and fewer tripods, and wear shoes with good grip for the grassy slopes. There are no food stalls up here, so bring water and snacks.

Heritage · Sabtang IslandSabtang Island and Chavayan Village₱200/head

Sabtang is where the old Batanes still lives. A faluwa boat takes you from Ivana Port to Sabtang, then a tricycle loops the island: Savidug and Chavayan villages with rows of old Ivatan stone houses and cogon roofs, the Chamantad-Tinyan viewpoint, Morong Beach with the Nakabuang Arch, and the Sabtang Lighthouse near the port. In Chavayan, some elders sell handmade vakul, the palm-fiber headgear Ivatan women wear against sun and rain. Be respectful: people live in these houses, so ask before taking photos of residents. The big lesson is timing. Boats leave Ivana from 6 to 7 AM, and trips back run only until about 2 to 3 PM depending on the weather, so start early and be at the Sabtang port by 2 PM, or stay overnight for a slower visit.

Park · North BatanValugan Boulder BeachFree entry

Forget white sand. Valugan is a beach paved with smooth gray boulders, rocks thrown out by Mount Iraya's eruption long ago and polished by the Pacific waves. Facing east, it gets loud crashing surf and dramatic sunrises. Walk carefully over the stones, sit and listen to the rocks rolling with each wave, and take wide shots with the cliffs and Mount Iraya behind you. This is a look-only beach: the waves are strong and it is not for swimming. It is about 15 to 20 minutes from Basco town by tricycle, so it fits easily into the North Batan tour or a sunrise trip on your own. There is nothing on site, so bring water, wear shoes with good grip, and leave the stones where they are.

Park · North BatanVayang Rolling HillsFree entry

Vayang is the wide-open green carpet that made Batanes famous on Instagram. Rolling hills tumble down to the sea on one side, with Mount Iraya on the other, while goats and cows graze along the slopes. It is a big, quiet place to walk, picnic and take wide drone-style photos even without a drone. Go in the late afternoon when the hills glow gold, or early morning when it is cool and empty. Wear a jacket because the wind can be strong, and keep to the paths so you do not trample the pasture. Vayang is part of the North Batan tour, usually paired with Basco Lighthouse, Valugan Boulder Beach and Tukon Chapel. Bring water and snacks: there are no facilities on the hills, and the nearest restrooms are back in Basco.