Our trip to Batanes was an AWESOME way to start our year. This trip wasn’t planned at all, well, until we booked that Php 1,500+ RT promo fare last October from PAL Express. You see, we always book months ahead (think 6 to 9 months before our trip), and thanks to Cebu Pacific and PAL Express, we were able to spread our trips for 2014. So adding another destination was unplanned, but less-than-a-thousand pesos fare is too cheap to pass up.
Our flight to Batanes is January 1st at 6 am. When I booked the flight, I didn’t see any problem since December 31 naman ang putukan di ba? Eeeeep, I miscalculated. If our flight is at 6 am, we should be in the airport by 4 am, which means we have to leave from Caloocan around 3 am. And thanks to the overpriced overnight parking fees at the airport, we decided not to bring the car and just take the cab. Wait… cab during the New Year’s Celebration?! Either it’s very difficult to pass the streets because of the fireworks or there are no taxis at 2 am/3 am because the drivers are celebrating. The solution, go to the airport before the New Year. Our plan is to check in or look for a place to leave our bags and head to Resorts World to have dinner and watch their concert for the New Year. But we just stayed and Gwen slept in a dimly lit hallway at the airport right after midnight. (We just stayed because we were stressed by the baggage issues of PAL Express).
What came to be an uneventful new year for us in Manila was transformed into a memorable one in Batanes. Upon landing, we were instantly mesmerized with Batanes, so serene and charming. I will be writing about our tour package and accommodation in Batanes at Badudets.com in the coming days. In the meantime, here are some of the photos taken from my phone.
Tayid Lighthouse or popularly known as Mahatao Lighthouse because it is located in Mahatao
Like I said in my IG post, “Dati sa TV ko lang sila nakikita…” Grazing cows, green grass, rolling hills, blue sky, aaah perfect!
Gwen at Rakuh a Payaman in Mahatao, Batanes
Lighthouses, rolling hills, blue skies, old churches, stone houses… the things why everyone falls in love with Batanes. Everywhere you look is a perfect spot for picture taking.
The photographer and his model
We joined the North Batan and South Batan tours, but my favorite place in Batanes is Sabtang island where we stayed overnight in the traditional stone house in Chavayan Village.
Chamantad viewpoint, Sabtang island, Batanes
According to our guide, Niko, Chamantad viewpoint is the place where Dawn Zulueta and Richard Gomez shot the scenes from their movie “Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit”.
We passed by Savidug Village too, another community where the stone houses are preserved. How about our family photo first…
Church at Savidug Village. Thanks Rapuy for this photo!
We reached Chavayan village around 4 or 5 pm, and while our guide was searching for a place to stay in one of the Ivatan’s houses, Jeff and Gwen roamed around the village.
Wearing the vakul, a head gear worn by Ivatan women to protect them from rain, sun and wind.
Gwen paying respect to an elderly Ivatan.
We finally got a home to stay and we are so excited for this experience. The stone house we stayed has wooden floors and our host gave us banig, pillows and blankets. The host cooked dinner for us, which is included in the tour package.
This stone house is over centuries old. From the story of Kuya Roger (our tricycle driver), this is his great grandfather’s house, who became the mayor of Chavayan during his time.
From 12 midnight to 6 am, there’s no electricity so we have no choice but to sleep early, and we’re also exhausted from the day’s tour. We left Chavayan village very early to catch the 6 am faluwa boat ride going back to Batan island. It was a short but sweet stay but it’s one of the highlights of our trip.
The rest of our stay were spent in Basco, Jeff and our friends climbed Mt. Iraya too while Gwen and I stayed at Marfel’s lodge and played with her new friend, Ate Nicole. Her house is just across Marfel’s lodge.
with Ate Nicole. Meeting a new friend while traveling is an added bonus.
We’re supposed to board the plane to Manila on January 6, but a 6-day vacation was turned into a 7-day vacation. Due to bad weather, PAL Express needed to offload some passengers and we’re one of the offloaded (lucky?) ones. So there, an awesome first 7 days of 2014 in Batanes.
*** Batanes tour package from A2C Travel. Promo tickets from PAL Express.
Wow, it looks so pretty there! Are there any hotels or lodges, or do you really stay in a house when you visit Batanes? 🙂
Hi Patty, aside from homestays, there are a number of hotels in Batanes, try Batanes Seaside Lodge, Amboy’s Hometel or Shanedel’s. Or for the best accommodation in Batanes, Fundacion Pacita. We stayed in that stonehouse in Sabtang island for 1 night and stayed in a more comfortable one when we went back to the city proper.
wow! what a low fare… and Batanes is really a beauty. very interesting un houses nila talaga. so good that even though pre-flight was uneventful, sulit naman ang destination. 🙂
wow!!what a really amazing way to start the year. Would love to visit this place someday
I was in Batanes last year and I really was mesmerized by Batanew raw beauty. I enjoyed my time there.
Wow your trips looks great and fun! Can you share to me the budget and accommodations and expenses here? I really want to go to Batanes and want to know the details! 😀 Thanks 🙂
We got a tour package which includes accommodation and tours, spent 12,500 for two people. Availed this package through A2C Travel, the link is in my post. I hope you can visit Batanes soon 🙂
Yes, sulit na sulit. 🙂
Ang ganda naman ng mga kuha mo! Very vibrant ang photos. 🙂
Lovely place to stay away from the city…very refreshing and beautiful.
I am really stunned and memirized with the places in Batanes specially at Basco that is why I wrote a short story.
What an experience this New Year!
A real fun adventure to start the new year. Just askin, if wala yung promo, how much kaya ang maggastos papuntang Batanes. I love to see kasi those Ibatan houses.
Your family is very outdoorsy, that’s so nice! We only got to Baguio as a family but we wish to travel more in the future. Batanes is such a good idea.
It looks very nice. A breath of fresh air, running free in the wild and is suitable holiday there with family
I’m impressed that you brought your kids to Batanes! Now I’m inspired. Looking forward going to Batanes with my kids too!
Thanks for this post!
fear ko yan, magkaron ng extended trip. sasampalin ako ng boss ko. heheh
nice post! =)
Chyng, pag Batanes yata, be prepared sa ganyan. Ibang level kasi ang hangin dun eh. Thanks for the visit, na-starstruck ako :p
Gwen is 3 years old and she enjoyed running on top of the hills. 🙂
It sure looks like a nice place to get in touch with nature. I wish to go there someday with my children when they’re older.
Ms B! Ano yung baggage issues ng PAL for Basco trip? Going there sa Holy Week! Bookmarking this post as reference. Thanks so much! 🙂
Anne, we didn’t buy prepaid baggage upon purchase of our tickets online. And when it’s time to buy prepaid baggage 24 hours before our flight, PAL does not allow prepaid baggage anymore, that’s why we have to follow the 7-kilos free baggage allowance. Eh we’re carrying 1 21 kilos big duffle bag sa aming tatlo na yun.
hi! thanks for this blog.
i am really eager to go there. i’m afraid it will cost me too much if i avail package tour. i’m planning to have my “do-it-yourself” itinerary plan for my vacation. do you have any info how much is the cheapest accommodation or transient house per night? how much was marfel’s lodge rate?
i hope u can help. thanks! 🙂
Hi Tabs,
Sorry for the late reply. Marfel’s I think has a Php 800 rate if fan room. A2C Travel (check their FB) can offer just the accommodation.
Hi Misis B,
I would like to ask what were the inclusions of the Php12,500 package for two persons?
I would love to visit Batanes soon.
Thank you!
Hi Zel, the 12,500 includes accommodation and tours na. We bought the airfare separately when PAL went on sale. Inquire ka lang sa https://www.facebook.com/a2ctravel for the updated rates.
Hello. How was the boatride to Sabtang? How did your daughter like it? We’re taking our toddlers with us to Batanes and I need to come prepared (as much as I can) 🙂
Hi Kadrina, she did not get seasick. I guess if your kids are used to boat rides, flights or road trips, they can handle it don’t worry :). Just a suggestion, make sure to find a comfortable spot in the boat, for us dun sa gilid ng boat para may hangin. The boat kasi sometimes gets cramped. Enjoy your trip!