Batanes Diary 8. Sabtang Island

A visit to Batanes is not complete without a daytrip to Sabtang Island. It's 30-45 minutes away from Batan Island (where Basco,  the capital town of Batanes, is) but many visitors to Batanes are unable to visit the island because of the rough seas. 

In Sabtang, one will find whole villages made up of the traditional Ivatan stone houses, some in ruins, some in perfect condition and currently occupied. Aside from getting a glimpse of day-to-day Ivatan life, Sabtang also has some of the most amazing views in the country. It should definitely be on one's Batanes tour list. 

 This is a falowa, the traditional Ivatan boat, except that this one is motorized. This is what we used to cross to Sabtang. 

Among the cargo from Sabtang to Basco are a calf and a pig bound for the market. Poor things!

The 40 minutes of rough seas are soon forgotten when we see this.

And this...

 And this...

this too...

and this....

Enough already! Just go!


"All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, hay may learn to improve his own. And, if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.: - Samuel Johnson