Itbayat Island
About
The last frontier of Batanes, the northernmost town in the Philippines and closer to Taiwan than to mainland Luzon! Itbayat is a giant uplifted coral island ringed by sheer cliffs, and only a few travelers make it here each year. Walk out to Rapang Cliff with its mushroom-shaped rocks and bonsai-like trees, climb Mt. Karoboboan for a view of the whole island, and step into Torongan Cave, believed to be where the first Austronesian settlers landed. Getting here is part of the adventure: a bumpy faluwa ride or a tiny plane from Basco!
Dry until sunset (5:25 PM). Good time to go!
- 2 to 3 daysTime to spend
- Outside the windy December to February months and typhoon season; boats and flights stop whenever the sea or weather turns bad.Best time to go
- About ₱800 per personFair
- From Basco, ride a faluwa (local boat) for about 2.5 to 4 hours depending on the sea; boats leave Basco in the early morning.Getting there
What to do here
- Walk out to Rapang Cliff
- Climb Mt. Karoboboan for the island view
- Visit Torongan Cave with a local guide
- See the old Ivatan stone houses
Know before you go
The faluwa crosses open sea and can be very rough; take motion-sickness medicine, wear a life vest and never sail during gale warnings or storm signals.
Weather can cancel boats and flights for days; leave buffer days in your Batanes trip.
Stay well back from cliff edges in strong wind, and visit caves only with a local guide.
Faluwa about ₱800 per person one way and plane about ₱3,100 per person one way (creator report, February 2026). Guides, motorbikes and tricycles are paid per group; arrange your homestay ahead.
Where it is
Itbayat, Batanes (by faluwa boat or small plane from Basco)
By commuteFrom Basco, ride a faluwa (local boat) for about 2.5 to 4 hours depending on the sea; boats leave Basco in the early morning. Or take a small plane from Basco to Itbayat Airport, a 10 to 15 minute flight that only flies when it is full. On the island, hire a guide with a motorbike or a tricycle.
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FAQ
How do I get to Itbayat?
By faluwa boat from Basco (about 2.5 to 4 hours) or a 10 to 15 minute small-plane flight that only leaves when all seats are filled.
Where do I stay?
There are no big hotels. Arrange a homestay with a local host or an accredited tour operator before you go.
What are the must-sees?
Rapang Cliff, Mt. Karoboboan, Torongan Cave and the stone Sta. Maria de Mayan Church.