Hello everyone!
I promised myself not to succumb to my procrastination when it comes to Batanes - my ultimate travel destination in the Philippines. I'll never get tired of saying that this trip has been decades in the making. Now that I've finally visited the very place that haunted my imagination since I first learned about the allure of the province, I'll also never get tired of sharing everything about the trip. So, be prepared for all the posts about Batanes until all my photos and videos are exhausted.
I was initially worried that I had set my expectations too high because I had this overhyped imagination that I would probably cry the moment we land in Basco Airport, but I didn't. It was a lackluster moment and I didn't feel anything.
This photo sums up my emotions (or the lack thereof) the moment we landed at Basco Airport. I just find it so funny that I looked like this kid who's been forced by his moment to pose for a photo. Did you know I instructed my friends to take a video the moment we landed just to capture if ever I would cry? Yeah. Disappointing.
The van from our tour agency was waiting for us outside the airport. For those planning to visit Batanes, you can't DIY your tour. We booked Batanes Byaheng Lokal as our tour provider. Thanks to @itskareninamoi for booking everything.
We stayed at Casa Feliciano, which was also part of the tour. It’s just a short walk from the airport. I swear, you can walk around Basco from end to end without breaking a sweat.
Can I just flex my @worldmappin hoodie? It finally arrived a day before our Batanes trip and after four months in limbo since it was shipped from Germany. Thank you @detlev, @lizanomadsoul, and the rest of team from Europe!
As we didn't have a decent sleep from the flights from Cebu, we decided to take a nap first before exploring the town in the afternoon. As the lighthouse is just on a hill that can been seen from our accommodation, we decided to visit that first.
As we got closer to the lighthouse, I started to notice how small the town proper of Basco is. Also, there's a reason why it's always recommended to visit the lighthouse during sunset. It's an iconic landmark that captures the imagination of tourists when talking about Batanes.
Basco is surrounded by hills and mountains which made the location strategic considering that Batanes is always on the path of strong typhoons. In the south are the hills going to Mahatao, in the north are Vayang Rolling Hills, in the east is Mt. Iraya, and in the west is Naidi Hills where the lighthouse is located.
I thought the lighthouse was constructed a long time ago, but it was only completed in 2003. It was constructed not only as a guide to fishermen and seafarers, but also as a tourist attraction. As one of the three main lighthouses in Batanes, you can't think of Batanes without these lighthouses attached to it.
There were people making arrangements and fixing some decorations in the lighthouse because there would be dinner with the Department of Tourism Secretary the next day. It was supposed to be a dialogue about the possible government intervention to boost Batanes' tourism without sacrificing the peace and way of life of villages in the islands.
After filling up the registration form, we immediately explore the vicinity of the lighthouse. It was just in time for the golden hour. You can access the top of the lighthouse through the winding stairs and the interior walls of the lighthouse has paintings depicting Ivatans' way of life.
It's time for the sunset photos:
Since Naidi Hills is facing the West Philippine Sea, it's one of the best places in Batanes for sunset watching. You know me, I'm a sucker for sunsets, so this one is for the books.
The view at the top of the lighthouse is immaculate, but it's so windy up there. No matter, the sunset is epic and I'd say we had a good start in our eight-day stay in Batanes.
This is the west view of Naidi Hills from the top of Basco Lighthouse. The verdant green rolling hills with occasional touch of white stone houses made it looked like we were not in the Philippines.
Some close-ups:
I guess that's all for this post. I still have a lot of photos to share, so be prepared because I'm gonna share them all even if no one's asking for them. See you!
Kim Ybañez
Welcome to Kim's small corner in Hive. He is a chemical engineer by profession but a blogger by passion. He is a wanderlust and an adventure seeker. Join his quests as he visits remote destinations, climbs mountains, tries new and exotic dishes, and explores his country (The Philippines). He's also a trying-hard photographer, so stay tuned as he shares his photos and his thought process while creating them.
If you like his content, don't forget to upvote and leave a comment to show some love. You can also reblog if you want to. Also, don't forget to follow him to be updated with his latest posts.
The view from the lighthouse is really awesome. So beautiful, the sunset… is indeed special.
A shame the excitement wasn’t there when you landed. Maybe one day your friends will capture you crying hahaha
Yeah! The hoodie, so good to hear it also arrived. It looks good on you. Now you can share it with the world around you.
Thanks for sharing the lighthouse and surrounding views.
Have a wonderful day my friend. 😊
I finally had that most coveted hoodie! We only have a few in the world.
I have another ultimate travel destination and I hope I can cry once I visit. 😂
Yes, I am happy for you. There are only a few right now indeed what makes it extra special.
Oh, sounds exciting. Maybe you will cry that time when you go. Haha maybe we will see it. Must be a very special place.
Have a lovely evening my friend.
Probably not. I'll probably enjoy, but will not cry.
And that is the important thing… enjoying it. What ever emotions are there.
Have a lovely weekend my friend.
!LUV
Have a lovely weekend to you too, my friend!
Thank you kindly 😊
Wow, your photos are stunning and the story behind them makes it even more special! It’s so relatable how reality sometimes hits differently than what we imagined. But hey, that sunset totally makes up for it! Batanes looks absolutely magical and peaceful. Can’t wait to see the rest of your photos and posts—bring them on! Also, that hoodie finally arriving right before the trip? Meant to be! This was such a lovely read.
Thank you! Batanes is really the ultimate travel destination for Filipinos because it's not easy to get there. It's cheaper to go to Vietnam or any Southeast Asian country than to visit Batanes. But the landscapes and the people's way of life is really worth every penny. Indeed, it was so peaceful and magical.
What a lovely post and than this beautiful Hoddie
Never read about this place before, but it looks damn cool.
Thank you for taking the time and resources in sending the merch! So many great items that I finally started to distribute them.
love to hear this.
A collection from several events I visited.
At every point where there are lighthouses, we encounter spectacular sunset views. Basco is one of them, I would even say the best one. The view of the Naidi hills from the lighthouse is amazing, it was my favorite. Those little houses among the greenery without harming the area were built very well thought out. Your feelings about travel planning and landing at the airport were very sincere and heartfelt. Congratulations.
Indeed once of the best sunsets I witnessed here in the Philippines.
I had never heard of Batanes, but now it's on my list. It looks like a calm city and for some reason I got a thing for Lighthouses. Those are great pictures of the place and those images at sunset are incredibles. Great post, keep on doing the good work.
P.S: that's a cool sweater
Hope you'll be able to visit the Philippines soon!
I'm really curious about Batanes; I hope someday I can land here too and explore its beauty. Sunset viewing here is great; would love to do that someday. The place looks very peaceful and secluded from the hustle and bustle of a busy city. It's just a pity that they are often affected by typhoons. How awesome for you to have an eight-day stay in Batanes.
It wasn't easy to get there. We had two flights from Cebu and there were so many flight rebookings and cancellations before our flight date that we had to stay near Clark International Airport for a night and booked another flight just to push through. But everything was so worth it.
Wow! The Philippines is blessed with many stunning tourist spots, offering its own unique charm. So nice that you visited the place. This place is one of the most magical. The place is so serene, I'm just imagining the peaceful vibe, the fresh wind from the ocean and the view of endless green hills make me think that it will be number one on the list when I come home. 🥰
Definitely worth to visit! Hopefully you'll be able to visit once you come home.
The colors in that sunset are unreal! Loved how the lighthouse silhouette added so much drama, felt like I was standing there myself.
Thank you! Glad I was able to capture this because the following days were gloomy.
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Thank you! It was indeed magical.
Sunset is so giving!
Kasing giving mo 😂
Wow, what a great location to be! I till love seeing the hoddie on you <3
Thanks, Liz! I really love the hoodie, too! The color pops up in any location.