Breathtaking Batanes Travel Guide

Being my 82nd and last province in my personal #Project82PH, Batanes is a dream destination to many. But here we are, exploring the northernmost province in the Philippines! Here is a quick Batanes Travel Guide and explore options on how you can get to the country’s last frontiers.

Batanes Overview

Batanes is located on the northernmost portion of the Philippines and is bordered by Taiwan (Pingtung County) in the North, the Calayan Group of Islands in the South, West Philippine Sea in the West, and the Philippine Sea in the East.

Its GPS Coordinates are approximately 20°35’30” N 121°53’46” E and is known as “The Home of the Winds” because it is situated in 4 main water channels bordering the Philippines and Taiwan.

Batanes consists of 11 volcanic islands, 3 of which are inhabited (Batan, Sabtang, and Itbayat). It is home to the Ivatans and the province is also known for its traditional stone houses. This is also the place where you will find the Vakul and Kanayi (made from dried vuyavuy palm) being used by the locals to shield them from intense heat.

What I observed here in Batanes is that the people always smile and they approach you when they know that you are just a tourist visiting their place. The province is one of its kind in the Philippines – quiet, windy, and the landscapes are just pure eye-candy. The 360-degree view of the islands are like paintings from afar yet the cool breeze greets you and tells you that Batanes is one of its kind.

Read also: Turista Boy’s Best of 2025!

Best time to go to Batanes

Given the very unpredictable and variable weather of Batanes, the best months to visit the province is from March to June where it is usually the onset of the dry season in the Philippines. Though it is also good to visit sometime from November to February where the weather is a bit cooler but expect light and frequent rains as it is still the northwest monsoon (Amihan) season.

The annual temperature range in Batanes is from 18 to 28°C (64.4 to 82.4°F). The warmest months to visit is usually March to April, the coldest months are usually from November to February, and the wettest month is usually August.

How to get to Batanes

Since Batanes is an archipelagic province, it is only and mainly accessible by air. Here are the travel options when you plan to go to Batanes:

By Land

When traveling in and around the three main islands of Batanes, the tricycle and habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) are the two most common modes of transportation. They can bring you around town and fares vary depending on the destination.

By Air

Being the primary mode of transportation going to Batanes from mainland Luzon, traveling by air is not as cheap but is serviced by three commercial airlines, namely: Philippine Airlines, SkyPasada, and Fliteline Basco (as of 2026).

Basco and Itbayat airports are relatively small and can only cater to turboprop airplanes. Here are the schedules of the airlines for reference. (Note, too, that these schedules may change overtime without prior notice. If you happen to notice some changes in flight schedules, you can e-mail me here so we can dish things up!)

Philippine Airlines

PR 2696	Daily (Clark to Basco)	1005 – 1135 H
PR 2688	Daily (Clark to Basco)	1100 – 1230 H

SkyPasada

Tuesdays (Binalonan to Basco)		0700 – 1015 H
Daily (Tuguegarao to Basco)		1 to 3 flights daily (varied schedule)
TThS (Basco to Itbayat)		1 flight every TThS (varied schedule)

Fliteline Basco

Varied Schedules		(Basco to Itbayat)
		(Basco to Tuguegarao)
		(Basco to Plaridel, Bulacan)

*You can check these airlines’ websites / apps / social media pages for more accurate and updated flights, especially SkyPasada as they have varied ETA and ETD per flight per day.

By Water

Traveling by water in and around Batanes is common among locals. A distinct feature of their boats is that it has no outriggers to balance the boat and the ride would become bouncy especially during windy days (basically, everyday!) Their boats are called “tataya” (smaller boats), and the common passenger boats are called “faluwa” which can carry around 20 to 40 passengers.

Things to know about when visiting Batanes

Land Area	203.22 km² (78.46 mi²) *slightly bigger than the US District of Columbia
Languages / Dialects spoken	Filipino, English, Ivatan, Ilocano (some parts), Itbayaten
Cellular Signal	Globe: Poor to Fair (especially in far areas) Smart: Poor to Fair (town centers) Dito: N/A
Socket Standard, voltage (V), frequency (Hz)	Type A: 2 flat parallel prongs Type B: 2 round pins Type C: 2 round pins and 1 grounding pin Voltage: 220 V Frequency: 60 Hz
Modes of Payment	Cash is still king in Batanes. Though some establishments accept Digital Wallet Transfers (i.e. GCash)
Currency used	Philippine Peso (PH₱)

Basic Ivatan Sentences / Phrase you might need to know

– Hi / Hello (God Bless You) = Kapian kapa nu Dius

– Goodbye = Avek Dana!

– Thank you = Dios Mamajes

– How Much? = Manyi Pira?

– Good morning = Chamavukhas!

– Good afternoon = Chamakuyab!

– Good evening = Chamahep!

– How are you? = Ara ca mangu?

– Where is ___? = Ara dino si ___?

– Delicious = Asdep

Famous food and delicacy in Batanes

Dishes

– Vunong

Vunong is one of the most well-known traditional food preparation techniques in Batanes. Although it is not technically a ‘dish,’ the whole meal is wrapped in Kabaya leaves and is mostly served in special occasions such as fiestas, weddings, birthdays and the like. It typically consists of turmeric-infused rice, a root crop (usually uvud), and luñis (lunyis).

– Payi

As Batanes is an archipelagic province, marine life is abundant throughout the province. One of which is the Payi (local name for lobsters). One large piece can easily be bought at around ₱ 150-200 (US$ 2.5-3).

– Luñis (salty pork adobo)

We all know that adobo is the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. Batanes also has its own version by the name Luñis (lunyis). This ‘adobo variant’ is rather served dry and is cooked with rock salt until the meat’s fat is rendered, adding flavor to the dish. It is also stored in jars and it is stored and cured using its own lard. When I tasted this one, it was perfectly paired with ‘supas’ (turmeric rice) and vinegar! (YUM!) I tried luñis in Vunong at Jessica’s Place in Basco!

– Vunes (taro stalks)

Vunes is a traditional Ivatan dish that is made of steamed taro leaves and/or stalks often mixed with the usual cooking aromatics. First, the leaves and stalks are soaked in water and will be cut and minced. After that, they will be cooked together with pork and patola (sponge gourd). It is akin or closely similar to the Bicolano dish ‘laing’ sans the coconut milk.

– Supas

Another staple Ivatan food is their Supas (turmeric-infused rice). It is also called ‘balencyana’ in Itbayat. The rice is cooked and infused with turmeric pulp and usually is combined with pork and other aromatics. It is also sometimes called ‘yellow rice’ similar to the popular Java Rice – but I can say that out own supas has more flavor and personality.

– Dibang

Dibang is also a common dish in Batanes and is also commonly called ‘flying fish’ because it does ‘fly’ out of the water. It is commonly air-dried first before cooking (usually fried).

Delicacies

– Uved (Grated Banana Corn Balls)

A popular Ivatan delicacy is the Uved or grated banana corn balls. It is also called “uvud” or “tabtab” (in Sabtang). This comfort food should not be missed when visiting Batanes! It is usually made from grated corn (fine), which is commonly found at the base of the trunk of a banana shrub. After, it is mixed with ground meat (your choice of pork or beef) and minced / ground fish; then combined with the usual aromatics and is then formed into balls (or as is) and can also be served with or without its broth. I would really be excited to make my own version when I get home!

Exploring in and out of Batanes

Going in and around Batanes can be quite challenging when going from one island to another but the journey is always rewarding. In Batan island alone, you can visit and tour 4 different municipalities. The main modes of transportation are tricycles and habal-habal (motorcycle taxis).

There is literally no traffic in Batanes as it is the least populated province in the Philippines. Most of its roads are concrete and paved and there are some dirt roads, too, in far rural areas.

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*Note that the places, prices, and information written as of publication date and time are true and are given best during my visit. Changes may occur without prior notice. If you notice any changes to the information given above, you can e-mail me here so we can dish things up!*

We’re born to travel!