The islands

This guide introduces the geography, character, and transportation links for each inhabited island, providing direct access to detailed guides for every landmark and attraction.

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Island Comparison at a Glance

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1. Batan Island (The Main Island)

Batan is the central and most accessible island in the province, home to the capital town of Basco and the primary commercial airport (BSO).

Travel on Batan is organized into two primary sightseeing loops:

• North Batan Circuit: Includes Basco Lighthouse & Naidi Hills, Vayang Rolling Hills, Valugan Boulder Beach, and Tukon Chapel & Dipnaysupuan Japanese Tunnel.
• South Batan Circuit: Spans Mahatao, Ivana, and Uyugan, featuring Racuh a Payaman (Marlboro Country), Tayid Lighthouse, Homoron Blue Lagoon, Honesty Coffee Shop & House of Dakay, Alapad Rock Formation & Song-song Ruins, and Chawa View Deck & San Carlos Borromeo Church.

Read the complete Batan Island Travel Guide.

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2. Sabtang Island (The Stone-Village Island)

Sabtang Island sits southwest of Batan across the Sabtang Channel. Famous for preserving traditional Ivatan stone house architecture, Sabtang is accessible via a 30-minute falowa boat ride departing from Radiwan Port in Ivana.

Major linked destinations on Sabtang include:

• Nakabuang Arch & Morong Beach: A natural limestone sea arch on a white sand cove.
• Chavayan & Savidug Heritage Villages: Historic settlements featuring maytuab and sinadumparan stone houses and traditional vakul weavers.
• Chamantad-Tinyan Viewpoint: Rolling grass clifftops overlooking a horseshoe cove.

Read the complete Sabtang Island Travel Guide.

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3. Itbayat Island (The Far North)

Itbayat is the largest island by land area in Batanes and the northernmost inhabited island in the Philippines. Lacking natural sandy beach landings, Itbayat is ringed by vertical sea cliffs up to 100 meters high. Travelers access the island via rock piers at Chinapoliran Port after a 3 to 4 hour falowa ocean voyage.

Major linked destinations on Itbayat include:

• Torongan Cave & Cliff Pastures: Ancient Austronesian settlement landing cave (circa 4,000 BP).
• Rapang Cliff & Stone Bell: Uplifted coral karst terraces featuring the ancient ringing stone (Tungw).

Read the complete Itbayat Island Travel Guide.

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Inter-Island Travel Logistics

1. Provincial Entry Fee: ₱405 per visitor (₱200 ecotourism fee + ₱205 Visitor ID fee) payable via online pre-registration before landing at Basco Airport.
2. Sabtang Boat Fare & Fee: ₱100 to ₱200 per way for falowa boat ride from Radiwan Port, plus ₱200 Sabtang municipal fee.
3. Itbayat Travel Buffer: Always schedule 1 to 2 buffer days when visiting Itbayat in case ocean swells cause Coast Guard boat grounding bans.

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