Activities

> Sight Seeing

> Photography

> Hiking

> Diving / Swimming

> Bird Watching

> Surfing

> Biking

> Island Hopping

> Fishing

> Trekking

Sight Seeing. Satisfy your eyes with the spellbinding view of the entire and the nearing islands of Batanes. The landscapes are picturesque, and the cliffs are breathtaking, as if the sea below is inviting you to jump in. You’ll find yourself wondering if it is a painting or of if it is real. The rage of the wind touching your skin will make you realize that you are looking at real edges and landscapes.

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Photography. Batanes offer tremendous opportunities for landscape photography. The island's architecture subjects are, likewise, worth preserving on film. Don't forget the wildlife. The islands have interesting birds and sea life. There are many unique images that will delight any photographer. Take along all the film you need, plus that extra roll just to play safe. Print film can sometimes be bought in Basco, but don't even bother to look for slide film.

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Hiking. The Batanes Islands are, without doubt, a hiker's paradise. A number of routes, featuring different types of terrain and various levels of difficulty, are available to the serious (or occasional) hiker. Nine known trails are featured here. Although the Batanes is a very safe place and you could probably locate some of the trails yourself, it is still a good idea to have a local guide with you when you go to Mt, Iraya for a climb.

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Diving/Swimming. Visitors are often taken to White Beach in Maydangeb, Ivana or at the beach in Kilometer 2. Avoid Kanyuyan Beach on Baluarte Bay for swimming. Two creeks drain there and it is located almost right by the Basco pier. The old US Cost Guard Station in Imnajbu, Uyugan has a fine "pool" at its southern side. Batanes beaches generally do not offer visitors the fine sand and calm water that you find elsewhere in the Philippines. Most of the Batanes coastline is fringed with a broad, shallow reef and a pounding surf that can prove to be a bit difficult for the inexperienced as what happened to young tourist from Quezon Province last 04 April 1999 (Easter Sunday) while bending to watch the sea weeds move, she was sucked by the waves. Her lifeless body was recovered at the botom of the sea two hours later. Do not swim at one of the boulder beaches in a rough surge. The large boulder shift with each wave and swimmers have been known to get their feet cought in between rocks. You will find changing facilities or refreshment stands at these beaches. As long as you know what to expect, a swim by the Batanes shoreline can be a pleasant break.

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Birdwatching. The Batanes Islands are a well-known and highly-regarded birdwatching location among serious hobbyists. When the prevailing winds change, in September or October, a host of migratory birds fly down through the islands from the Asian land mass. Unfortunately, the peak season for birdwatching is in the off-season and not many visitors come to the islands during this period.

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Surfing. Surfing is a popular activity at Madiwedved, Mahatao. The towering waves and blazing wind will surely turn your surfing time into a real water adventure.

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Biking. Bicycles and motorcycles are the basic means of transportation in Batanes. You won’t normally find any other motor vehicles flooding the streets of Basco and the rest of the place. You can enjoy the 26km concrete road with no pain, not to mention the beautiful landscapes that the place has to offer.

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Island Hopping. Batanes is composed of 3 main islands: Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat, and 7 uninhabited ones.  You can visit each isle riding a boat that has no “katig”. Watch and experience every wave hitting the boat that you are riding on, yet still maintains it’s stability. See the panoramic edges of each island and know how is to be at the world’s end. Let the dolphins and dibangs (flying fishes) join you in your sea escapade.

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Fishing. Deep or shallow, near the shore, or far in the middle of the sea, catch different kinds of fish using a rod or a net. Just make sure to bring enough containers for these sea creatures never run out.

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Trekking. March through hills of grass and wander in the curves of Batanes. Enjoy the landscapes and all the life-forms that can be found therein, may it be a plant, insect, or animal.

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