Chavayan & Savidug Heritage Villages

Architectural Heritage: Maytuab and Sinadumparan

Ivatan stone houses are built with meter-thick walls made from hand-carved limestone blocks and ocean coral bound together with lime mortar. These structures are designed specifically to withstand severe typhoon winds and earthquakes.

1. Maytuab Roof Form

Characterized by a four-sloped hipped roof thatched with thick layers of cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica). The four-way slope minimizes wind resistance from all directions during storms.

2. Sinadumparan Roof Form

Features a two-sloped roof with high, solid stone gable walls extending up to the roofline at two ends.

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What to See and Experience

1. Chavayan Village Street Walk

Chavayan is nestled between high green hills and a narrow beach cove. A single narrow stone street runs through the center of the village, lined on both sides by intact stone houses with cogon roofs and flowering bougainvillea.

2. Chavayan Church (Sta. Rosa de Lima Chapel)

Located at the end of the village street near the sea, this chapel is unique in Batanes for retaining a traditional cogon-grass roof on a place of worship.

3. Vakul Weavers Association

In Chavayan, visitors can meet local Ivatan women artisans weaving traditional vakul (women's rain headpiece) and talugung (men's straw hat) using dried fibers from the indigenous voyavoy palm (Phoenix loureiroi).

4. Savidug Village & Vernacular Houses

Savidug features wide village lanes and historic structures, including traditional beaterio community buildings and lime kilns where limestone was historically burned to make mortar.

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Logistics and Access

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Traveler Etiquette Guidelines

• Respect Resident Privacy: Chavayan and Savidug are active living communities, not outdoor museums. Do not look through private house windows or enter yards without an explicit invitation.
• Photographing Elders: Always greet local residents ("Capian ca pa dios") and ask politely before taking photographs.
• No Alteration of Stone Structures: Do not climb on stone walls, remove stones, or pull on cogon thatch.
• Support Local Artisans: Buying authentic handcrafted vakul headpieces directly supports village women elders and preserves traditional weaving skills.