Wanderworld

So. This is my lame attempt to continue this blog that I unintentionally abandoned because life happened: 1) I got an office job again 2) I got engaged and I’m still currently busy planning and preparing for our wedding. 😀

Anyway. After our Day 1 ATV tour in Batanes, our second day was mainly intended for a Sabtang Island tour. Sabtang Island is a 30-minute boat ride from Batan Island (where the airport is and most of the resorts are). Here are the essentials:

How to go to Sabtang Island

Join a group tour. BISUMI Tour and Services is a reputable tour agency in Batanes which offers van tours for big groups and tricycle tours for couples like us. However, we still ended up joining a van tour of a group of senior citizens going to Sabtang. BISUMI decided to just mix us with them because they said it’s easier and safer to travel via a van than a tricycle during the time due to the several road constructions in Batan.

It wasn’t a big deal though because by the time we reached Sabtang, we went separate ways; Joseph and I had our own tricycle tour while they went on a van tour of their own.

Sabtang Island tour price and inclusions. Our BISUMI’s half-day Sabtang Island tour cost Php 2,000 per person, if I remember correctly. That includes boat transfers, land transportation in Sabtang, and lunch. Take note that Sabtang Island tours are usually done only until noon because it’s difficult to travel by boat in the late afternoon due to strong waves. Sabtang Island tours are usually cancelled if the waves are too strong, which is what happened the day before we arrived at Batanes, according to the owner of our homestay.

Itinerary. BISUMI’s tricyle or van will pick you up early in the morning at your hotel/homestay to take you to the port going to Sabtang. There, you’ll ride the local boat called faluwa, which, unlike normal boats, don’t have katig (outrigger), so it rides along with the huge waves. It’s just like the traditional long boats of Thailand.

Once you get to Sabtang (30 minutes or more, depending on the waves), you’ll board another van (if you’re with a big group) or a tricycle. For Joseph and I, we boarded a tricycle with cogon as roof, which I think is the normal tricycle on the island. The tricycle took us to the different tourist spots in Sabtang and to the port going back to Batan after we had lunch.

What to See in Sabtang Island

While the views in Sabtang are basically similar to those in Batan, the attractions in the former are much bigger and grander. Sabtang is where you can explore the traditional villages, where the stone houses can be found. It’s also where you can find Morong Beach, which is the most ideal place in Batanes if you wish to take a dip.

Here’s a rundown of the places we visited. I’ll keep the descriptions short and let the pictures do the talking. 🙂

Savidug Village

The good: Touring around the village gives you a glimpse of the simple life of the Ivatans in their stone houses. The village is adjacent to a beach, which offers serene views and fresh air.

It’s also where you’ll find this house near a church. I forgot what it’s called though. The house is famous because it’s one of the usual locations for a prenup in Batanes.

The bad: According to our guide/tricycle driver, fewer stone houses are being built nowadays because construction of one costs millions due to the materials used. Kuya said that more people are resorting to building normal houses which are way cheaper but risky since Batanes is usually hit by typhoons numerous times a year.

Chamantad Tinyan Viewpoint

The good: This is my favorite spot in Sabtang and actually our entire Batanes trip, followed closely by Marlboro Hills. From afar, it looks like a place somewhere in Scotland, with its vast rolling hills, rock formations, and the broad ocean below. You’ll enjoy unparalleled views from every corner, but my fave one is that of the little beach cove.

The bad: The hills are somewhat steep, and getting to the topmost part or posing by the cliffs scared me, even though I’ve hiked more complicated terrains before (though not in a dress and normal flip-flops; maybe I was just out of practice too, haha).

I don’t know how some tourists managed to get down to the actual beach cove that I mentioned because there’s no real path going there, and the seemingly harmless patches of greens you see in the picture above are actually very steep and dangerous.

Bonus: This is where you can “rent” the famous Ivatan wig called vakul as well as the attire they use for farming for photo ops. Sorry, I’ve forgotten how much it cost just to take a picture with the local items (this blog is so helpful, isn’t it? haha).

Chavayan Village

The good: This is another traditional village made up of stone houses, just like Savidug. Here though, you’ll get a glimpse of the Ivatans’ livelihood, as we got to watch a couple of locals weave the vakul.

The bad: I can’t really think of anything bad for this, except maybe by that time we were already tired from walking under the scorching heat of the sun, haha.

Morong Beach

The good: As I previously mentioned, this is the most ideal place to swim in Batanes. Unlike the normal beaches in Batanes, its shore is sandy instead of rocky, and its sand is probably the whitest. This is also where you’ll find the famous Mahayaw Arch, also called Nakabuang Arch, which is a natural stone arch that’s widely photographed.   

Worth mentioning also are the literally breathtaking views of the beach and cliffs we passed by going to Morong Beach.

The bad: Though I said it’s the most ideal place to swim, it’s still a challenge because it’s so windy that it’s cold to actually take a dip. Also during our visit, the tide was low, but if you get to deeper waters, the waves are strong.

Here’s a little secret: I wasn’t really able to swim during our entire Batanes trip; I just stripped to my swimsuit in Morong Beach for the sake of photo ops. 😀 So if you’re looking forward to enjoying the water during your trip, sadly, Batanes is not the place for you.

Note: Morong Beach is where travelers on a group tour usually eat. There’s a lone restaurant there where you eat with the rest of the tourists. After eating, your driver will take you back to the port so you can go back to Batan island. We were reunited with the senior citizens group in the van when we reached Batan, and then we were dropped off in our homestay at around 2 pm.

Bonus: Since we had the rest of the afternoon free after our Sabtang Island tour, we decided to go to the airport to explore the empty runway. Yes, Batanes airport’s runway is accessible to the public in the afternoon since flights are only available in the morning. People usually go there to walk, jog, bike, or simply take pictures of the sunset, like we did. 🙂 I’ll tell you more about Batanes’ empty runway and our third day in Batanes in my next post. 🙂

Travel Date: March 2016

**Next post: North Batan Tour in Batanes + biking at Batanes Airport