More than an Escape Featuring Honest Batanes (Part 1)

For some reasons, my write-up about our Batanes trip has been way too late. And maybe there is a reason why I say ‘You’re my Boss’ movie a year too late.

Because, obviously, that motivated me to finally sit down and recount my experiences about my trip to the beautiful island in the northern part of the Philippines.

Batanes has been labeled so exquisitely as the ‘New Zealand in the Philippines”, a place where honesty is at the core of the residents and a breath-taking place that is more than a nature escape but a serene, sincere view of what life truly is – ‘simple and honest’. (Yeah, some reference to You’re My Boss lines. )

Day 1

So here’s my take on Batanes.

Obviously, we have to start with a haphazardly taken birds-eye-view-in-the-airplane-window-shot. Or whatever you call it. Even from a scratchy window, you can see the lush landscape that is too inviting to miss.

Plane window overlooking the landscape of Batanes' rolling hills. — A plane window overlooking the landscape of Batanes’ rolling hills.

For our plane ride going there, we took advantage of the privilege given to us as PAL employee dependents. For commercial airfare, do a Google search, or ask your local ticketing agents.

Aisle showing how narrow the passenger plane was.

Upon arrival in Basco, Batanes, we were greeted with the stone-house building of the main airport, reminiscent of the old stone houses that we would witness more soon.

We checked in at Batanes Resorts, which looked like the rest of the old-stone-house we saw at the airport. They want to preserve the legacy of their ancestors and keep the traditional setting for everyone to see and feel. So, luckily for us, we will see more of this kind of buildings while roaming the islands.

One of the stone houses that are signature in Batanes

We didn’t want to waste any more time, so a few hours after settling down (we arrived early in the morning, had breakfast, and some of us took a few hours of nap), we decided to go to town and rent bicycles to do some sightseeing on the main island, Basco. Bicycle and motorcycle are some the popular rides you can rent there if you want quick access to the pretty stores and spots scattered in the area.

While we were at it, we went to some tourist destination store in the area that my sister plotted for us to visit.

Right beside that is the entrance to…

Shanedel's Inn and Cafe in Batanes — Shanedel’s Inn and Cafe in Batanes

You should make a stop here to relax a little bit after a few minutes of biking around town under the hot and humid sun. While here, you would understand why foreigners would die to visit a place like this. Exquisite view of the seas, Batanes Port, and the surrounding mountains and coastlines are situated here. Grab a glass of the famous halo-halo and bask in the enchanting scene right before your eyes.

A Port with small boats — A Photo of Halo Halo

And that was just the beginning. Here are some shots of the breathtaking scenes we saw while riding around the Basco on our bicycles.

An arch that says 'Welcome to Basco' — An arch that says ‘Welcome to Basco’

Another oceanside view with some rocks peeking out of the waters — Another oceanside view with some rock formations peeking out of the water

The ride took several hours, and we were wholly spent from biking up and down the hills. After that, we had dinner at Pension Ivatan, the restaurant that concluded our first day in Batanes. And before I miss it, let me introduce you to Mr. Coconut Crab, one of Batanes’ special treats. He will turn orange when you cook him, just like an ordinary crab but some say he tastes a bit different. 🙂 🙂

Day 2

Day 2 was when we began our official tour, led by a Bisumi Travel and Tours agent who was extremely helpful in explaining the history and underlying stories behind each scene and the places we visited. So I guess I’ll quit talking and let the photos paint a better picture.