Batanes is one of the best destination in the Philippines. It’s located in the northernmost province of the country, which is part of the Cagayan Valley region. The provincial capital is Basco, which is the center of commerce and seat of the provincial government.

The province features a lot of beautiful and unique tourist spots. Anywhere you go, you can find amazing things, which is perfect background for your selfie or group photo. Batanes has three largest islands, Batan, Itbayat, and Sabtang.

Each spot in the province offers unique attractions. The Sabtang island has lots of natural attractions that will be loved by every nature lovers. You can find here white sand beaches with steep mountains and deep canyons. Read More: http://www.thepinoytraveler.com/2015/01/places-to-visit-in-batanes.html

Photo from: https://www.blissfulguro.com/2014/01/southbatan-tour-batanes.html

SPECIAL PLACES IN BATANES

Itbayat Sta. Maria Church

Photo from: http://lagalog.com/2010/07/itbayat-catching-glimpse-of-simple-life.html

Don’t leave Itbayat without dropping by the Sta. Maria Imaculada Church located at the heart of the town. The church was built by Father Vicente Araujo from 1853 to 1858. The façade of the church is simple yet it has a unique charm that made me consider it as the best church in Batanes. I wasn’t able to check out the interior of the church since no one was available in the area that time and all doors were closed. Read More: http://www.rjdexplorer.com/the-journey-to-the-northernmost-inhabited-island/

Itbud Idjang

One of the 4 Idjangs in Batanes. In here, rock carvings are still evident (probably for water storage), as well as their gathering/meeting area and the rocks with bored holes for anchors are still intact. Read More: https://iamaileen.com/batanes-things-to-do-diy-itinerary-5-days-sabtang-itbayat-travel-guide/

Ijangs are citadels built on mountaintops, as you can already guess from the title. These are made approximately 4,000 years ago, the time of Austronesian migration to northern Philippines. Pre-Hispanic Ivatans, the indigenous dwellers of the Batanes Group of Islands, shaped and carved the mountains to accommodate their population’s needs.

Ijangs were primarily used as fortifications and settlements. Early civilizations in Batanes were characterized by frequent wars among different villages, so settlers sought refuge in these strongholds when they were attacked by enemies. Some of these fights would last for a long period of time, requiring the inhabitants to make their own dwellings on the mountaintops. Aside from internal conflicts between tribes, it is also theorized that outside threats were one of the reasons why ijangs were built. Read More: https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Ijangs-Mountain-Fortresses-of-Batanes