2020 Batanes Travel Guide & Itinerary: Make the Most of your Vacation

Want to visit some Batanes tourist spots soon and make your Batanes Travel dreams more realistic? And still contemplating yourself if your going to avail a Batanes Tour Packages or you want a bit of challenge and create your own Batanes Travel Itinerary. In this batanes travel guide, you’re going to get an answer to your question and make you decide what’s best travel package you want to do.

Batanes Island is known as one of the dream destination of many but only a few can Travel on the Island because of their limited flights and somehow expensive. But this doesn’t mean that you cannot go to your dream land, isn’t it? That’s why I am creating this Batanes Travel itinerary and guides for you to plan ahead your trip. Ready yet?

Now, how about you get yourself first a cup of coffee and grab some cookies and biscuits to munch while we start your planning? Please also don’t forget your pen and planner, or any tools you may use in noting the important things and details in this post for your future Batanes trip.

The content of this Batanes Travel Guide is base on our DIY trip last January 18-22, 2020. So I may not be able to cover all your inquiries but I’ll try my best to elaborate and give all the full details of our trip.

This article also contains affiliate links to products or services. Keep in mind the I may receive a commission when you click our links and make purchases, however, with at no additional costs to you.

You can also visit my article to take a sneak peak on what Batanes can offer you, so you can decide whether to go and continue this travel plan yours.

Booking for your Batanes Flight

The most important piece of this guide is a plane ticket to Basco, Batanes. Yes, to make your dream in a more reality side you need to make a booking right now.

How to get to Batanes from Manila

“We fly of course!” *I just remember one of the Harry Potter lines*

There are three major airlines that are accustomed in flying to Basco, Batanes and these are the PAL, Cebu Pacific and Skyjet. I’m sure there are some but these three are the most common flights. Flights to Batanes from Manila is approximately 2 hours (more or less).

Batanes plane tickets are quite expensive I know, but if you are lucky enough you can sometimes score a seat sale or if you can find some mediocre price just go and grab it. That’s what we did during my booking, I have made a booking worth 7K RT ticket + 20kg baggage inclusion.

Best Month to Visit Batanes

Tip#1:
(1) I suggest you book a flight in months January-Early March since this is not yet a peak season but also you can enjoy a cool weather. This is only my preference though.
(2) Make sure you get a right window seat so you can see the greenish hills from the plan before you land.

March-May is their peak season because it is summer and the island is mostly dry and sunny. Thus, this months are highly recommended as well if you really want to feel that summer vibes.

Batanes Accommodations

These recommendations are just a few choices I have but I’ll definitely update the list or make a new article for some places to stay in Batanes.

I won’t be taking into full details in selecting your batanes accomodation. Since this will be up to your own preference. I’ll just put some places I found to be most recommended by travelers. After all, I don’t see much of any negative thoughts in most of the places because I believe all the Ivatan serves what’s best for their customers so choosing your stay will be much more on you.

By the way, there are different types of accommodation you may opt for. You can go for hotels or homestays. Though I highly recommend to go for Batanes Homestays, wherein this is the very moment you can blend in with the Ivatans (Batanes Locals)

Here are some of my recommended places to stay:

• Savatan Homestay – This is where I’ve booked our stay for our 5D4N trip. They are offering their rooms for 1500php/night and it can actually fit 4 persons. One room is consists of 1 double bed and 2 single bed. That’s a good deal right? Plus a bonus of having a perfect Mt. Iraya view on their balcony, it’s worth it!
• Marfel’s Lodge – This lodging is one of the top recommended by solo backpackers because of it’s cheap accommodation per night. They say you can go as low as 350php/night for 1 person.
• Nathaniel’s Lodge – One of the top recommended places when you check some third party booking sites such as Agoda, etc. Their price can go for 1300-1500php/night for 2 persons plus breakfast inclusion, sounds nice right?

There are so many Homestays and Lodging places in Batanes. I bet you can go and pick the best right, google is just 1 click away! Also if you plan on getting Batanes Tour Package, they already have a ready place for you so no need to get stress on finding a lodging place.

Tip#2: If you like to like to choose your own stay, then go for a DIY travel plan. You can even book 2 or more different places of course in parallel with your itinerary. But Batanes is a very small Island so staying in 1 place in Basco should be enough.

To make it easier for you to check out some available hotels and stays in Batanes, you can always go and check in Agoda:

Batanes Travel Itinerary Planning

Note: If you are already decided in availing Full Batanes Tourist Package, maybe you can already skip this part and go here. Because what we are going to talk about now is how will be the flow of your itinerary in Batanes.

If you read the article mentioned above, you should know that Batanes is composed of three(3) inhabitable Island namely Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat. Basco is located in Batan Island and this island will be the primary focus of this itinerary planning.

First, I am going to breakdown all different tour that you may opt to do. Batanes tourist spots are commonly subdivided into this tours:

• North Batan Tour – main focus of Itinerary
• South Batan Tour – main focus of Itinerary
• Sabtang Tour
• Itbayat Tour

Going Around Batanes

Now that you have the idea or the breakdown of the tour parts, we have to know first your way of commuting or going around the town.

• Van – If you avail a Batanes Tour Packages, you’ll be much more likely to go around and visit the tourists spots with a van, and this is according to the itinerary given by the travel agency.
• Tricycle – We have two types of tricycle in town
  • Kugon – This is the tricycle they are using for the tour packages. You can take a look of the Kugon here.
  • Ordinary – This is the vehicle used mostly by locales when they are commuting around the town.
• Motorcycle – There are a lot of motorcycle rentals in the town, so if you are up for adventure and know how to drive a motor then I suggest go for this one.
• Bicycle – Renting a bike is like an enhance adventure for you, but if you want to explore the town with a bike, why not? Just be careful and you need a lot of energy as most roads are very uphill.

Tip#3: If you want to enjoy the view I suggest to rent a motor or a Kugon Tour, because I am telling you every angle on Batanes is worth seeing.

Tip#4: If you decided to rent a motor, explore the town until you can find some stores that offer a 1K php per day rental, because most local would suggest to go to ‘Petron’ where the motor cycle rental is 150php and it’s per hour!

In case you needed just a one ride to a specific place for some reason, you can always contact the tricycle operator. Just a tip that in order to ride an ordinary tricycle you need to text the BATODA(in Basco) or MATODA(in Mahatao). Here are their contact numbers:

BATODA – 09297038404/ 09152091060
MATODA – 09392883709

Day 1 Batanes Itinerary

Most of the flights are early so you can start the tour around 9-10 am or just rest and have the tour after lunch.

Tip#5: Make sure you go first to the Basco Eco Tourism Office and pay the Environmental Fee of 400 php per head. They will give you a guide manual and that would serve as your ticket on the tourist spots in Batan Island.

I want you to take note that this batanes travel guide is very simple and a very relax tour. I am really not a fan of an Itinerary with so many activities because I think I’ll be just stressed out if I limit my time on the tourist spot. Also, Batanes is a very great place to relax and enjoy the vacation you’ve always wanted, right?

Let’s jump now on our Itinerary for Day 1:

See the places we visit during our first day

A Sneak Peek on the untouched Beauty of Batanes!

Tip#6: Harbor Cafe have a large servings that 1 order can fit for 2 persons, just buy an extra rice for your travel buddy!

Tip#7: Sunset is best viewed at Basco Lighthouse. Make sure you end your day here and get your phone/cam ready for time-laps.

TOTAL EXPENSES FOR DAY 1: P 1120 each

Day 2 Batanes Itinerary: North Batan Tour

We are now going to explore the whole North Batan today and check some restaurant to eat. Make sure to visit this post to know more about the batanes tourist spots that we’re going to visit.

Packed with Historical Places: A North Batan Tour!

TOTAL EXPENSES FOR DAY 2: P 1390 each

Tip#8: Ask some questions to your Ivatan Tour Guide if you avail a Kugon Tour, they’re not just only a tricycle drive but indeed have undergone a training to be a certified guide. They have lots to tell about the history of every places in town. The tours with locals are the best in town!

Day 3 Batanes Itinerary: South Batan Tour

We’re done in North, are you amaze yet on Batanes beauty? Now in our South Batan Tour you’ll going to see how perfect Batanes can be!
Know more about the Top Places to Visit in South Batan.

Top Places to Visit in South Batan! The Breathtaking Batanes Tour

Tip#9: Sabtang Island
(1) If you plan to visit Sabtang, you can insert it on your South Tour but in the morning and make sure you catch the boat at 5:30 am
(2) If you’ve insert Sabtang in the morning, you can only do half of South Batan Tour in the morning, so the other half is in the afternoon
(3) Also some tourists are staying in Sabtang for 1 night so you can have a 1 whole day of Sabtang Tour and just visit South Batan the other day.

Tip#10:
(1) If you travel to South Batan with motor, need to make sure both of the passenger is wearing a helmet or you may pay a fine if seen by the authority.
(2) Did you know that you can swim at the Blue Lagoon? If you plan to swim, I suggest have a half-day Itinerary plan to Spring of Youth and then add the Blue Lagoon with it. You can do it on your Day 4!

TOTAL EXPENSES FOR DAY 3: P 552.5 each

Day 4 Batanes Travel Itinerary: Going Back to the Place your Heart wants

For our last day, I won’t be doing any itinerary since I want this day to be your free day and just go to some places you wanted to go back and then relax.
But as of my tip#10, you can plan your Day 4 a swimming day! I highly suggest you visit the Spring of Youth and relax on the spring, heard that the view is great and the entrance fee is only P 50. However, you need to trek for 30 mins first.

What we did then?

Vunong at Jessica’s Place

We actually didn’t have the reservation and just only know then but luckily we’ve met Jessica and she’s so nice that she allow us to have the Vunong without us having a reservation. Phew!
She also serve us the maruya for free and that was the best taste of maruya for me ever! You should definitely try. You can order also and set the time of pick up for only P 15 each.

Tip#11:
(1) If you want to try the Vunong at Jessica’s, you need to make a booking on them or ask your stay to make a booking for your. Because they only serve fresh cooked food at their place.
(2) Another thing is, if it’s your first time at Jessica’s you are required to order only the Vunong’s. Yes, that’s the rule before you can try other meals at her restau. I believe it is traditional that you taste the Vunong’s first.

Expenses at Jessica’s Place:
Vunong Meal + Free Maruya = P 300
Maruya Take-out = P 60 for 4 piecesffde83
TOTAL = P 360 eachffde83

Marlboro Hills

Yes we go back here to relax. This is the tourist spot that I have appreciated a lot and the landscape is definitely beautiful so it did captures my heart thoroughly.

Other Expenses:
Motor Rental = P 700 [P 350 per pax]
Dinner at Beehan’s = P 210
TOTAL = P 560 each

TOTAL EXPENSES FOR DAY 4: P 920 each

Overall Expenses:

Take Note:
You can always make changes on the Itinerary and I think traveling with a larger group can still make your budget tighter. And it’s a more plus if you can score a seat sale.
But for me, this expenses is best enough to enjoy the place. Batanes is a great place for a family vacation as well. And the 14K PHP is good enough just being able to see how beautiful the island is! It is definitely worth traveling to.

Like this Batanes Travel Guide? Pin it!

With Love,