Tips for the Batanes Budget Conscious Travelers

Memoirs and a pen September 14 2015 …

Batanes has been a destination belonging to every travel bucket list especially for many Filipinos. The thought that this dreamland is only for a few is now the thing of the past. Here are few tips for the Batanes budget conscious travelers.

1. Define what you really want to accomplish and experience in Batanes. This also includes your standard in selecting places to stay, food to eat, places to visit, etc.

Batanes has lots of things to offer, if you have a certain interest, ask the homestay manager, a tourist guide, locals and/or even some tourists. Just ask.

For instance, I am not aware about coconut crab but I got to taste it because one of the tourists in the homestay requested for it. This is plus the trivia about the crab. By the way having this in a restaurant is quite expensive. Better option is to order directly from the homestay and cook it there. It is far cheaper especially if you will divide the price among your mates. In our case, we were three so we pay far far cheaper compare to the price in the restaurant.

2. Air fare. Regular air fare going to Basco, Batanes is pricey than going to the Philippine neighboring Asian countries. However, the site is incomparable and once you get there it is so much cheaper. Check and always check for the airlines promo fares. There are only two airlines having flights from Manila to Basco, Batanes: Philippine Airlines and Skyjet Airlines. There were tourists who got their back and forth tickets for just around 5,000 pesos and even others got lesser than that. Ours were quiet expensive than the other tourists but already cheaper than the regular fare. However, if you have ample of time you can visit Tuguegarao and from there fly to Basco. It doesn't make the fare cheaper but you will have a chance to visit Tuguegarao too.

Planes are cute by the way. ^_^

3. Cook your own food. Obviously eating outside wherever you are is expensive than cooking your own food. The same way in traveling. If you have an option to cook then do it because you will save a lot. Groceries and other items are not expensive at least in Batan and Sabtang (not sure in Itbayat) considering the distance from where these goods are coming from. We bought fresh fish for 30 pesos and divide it by 2 that's only 15 for each of us. We had Fish Sinigang for dinner and we enjoyed it.

Watermelon is also cheaper and fresh from the vine. But do not look for the usual fruits you used to eat in Manila or in your hometown. This is a different place with different products. Asked for potatoes and other root crops instead.

Girls scout motto is flowing in our blood. That's why we are always ready; we bring our own supplies of noodles, can goods, chocolates, rice, etc. Don't want to get hungry, huh! Imagine how much we have saved. ^_^

4. Homestay. As of this writing there are already numbers of homestays in Batanes. In Batan we stay at the Marfel's Lodge Annex for 350 pesos per night. We were allowed to cook and there is a mini honesty store inside where what we need are available, i.e. coffee and other breakfast beverages, rice, water, bread, etc. This is a well-maintained home: clean with a spacious garden outside that also serve well for us in drying our laundry. Plus Ate Fe and her assistants are very accommodating too.

With Ate Fe at the Marfel's Lodge

Enjoying at the Marfel's Lodge.

While in Sabtang (oohh the beautiful and peaceful Sabtang I am missing so much) we stayed at Cervillion Homestay for 150 pesos per night. This is the Ivatan traditional house with bonus stories from Nanay Diling, the co-owner of the homestay. It can actually accommodate up to 12 people. We were also allowed to cook but during our stay there were no available cooking utensils yet, or, maybe because we did not asked since our guide Jimmy Hornedo handed us their rice cooker and other things necessary for the duration of our stay. Do the asking always.

This is not a grandiose homestay by the way. The treatment is as if you are in your own home. Meaning you will clean it up when needed. The bathroom is separated from the house itself. There is a laundry and a hanging area too.

Electricity is until 12 midnight only.

Water is abundant.

You will be sleeping Ivatan way - all doors are open. Nanay Diling will come and entertain you with her stories before you sleep or sometimes even in the afternoon if she is not busy. You can request her to stay and sleep in the house if you want to listen even more.

This homestay is perfect if you want to immerse yourself more to the culture of Ivatan.

At the Cervillion Homestay with Nany Diling (pink) and neighbors.

At the Cervillion Homestay with Nany Diling (pink) and neighbors.

5. Timing. The weather in Batanes is unpredictable. But whatever weather the Batanes has, it would be a worthy and a memorable experience to tell.

We also have endured the stress of cancelled flight because of the weather condition but thanks God when we arrived in Basco everything was perfect. Our timing was really good! Ate Fe, owner of Marfel's lodge related that tourists arrived ahead of us were not able to visit Sabtang and for me that was so unfortunate. If you are in Batanes, you have to stay in Sabtang. It is worth it!

Here are what you can do -

- cancelled flight because of the bad weather condition - rebook it by choosing the date one week after your original date of departure. If you choose the next available flight you will not be able to experience many of the best things in Batanes. Why? The reason matches with the locals and wikipedia explanation: "The fastest waves in a storm are the ones with the longest wavelength. As a result, after a storm, the first waves to arrive on the coast are the long-wavelength swells." Rebooking is free. Might as well choose the best dates, isn't it?

- if you want to visit Sabtang - go right away while the weather is good. When storm signal has already been announced you will not be able to visit unless you have ample of time and could wait until the next good weather condition. We stayed in Sabtang for 4 days. You might want to stay longer.

- stranded due to the strong wind? - be glad because you are stranded in a paradise! Go wave watching at the Valugan Boulder Beach. You will find out how these enormous waves could do in calming you mind.

- visit during festivals - it could give you a rich taste of Ivatan culture. Here are few of the festivals to visit:

April 15 - Kuli Festival

April 27 - Vacul Festival

June 26 - Ivatan Festival; The foundation day of Batanes.

6. Tour. Choices are available and all depend on what you prefer.

Package tour. Normally, a 3-day packaged tour in the North and South of Batan and Sabtang island is worth 4000 pesos to 5000 per person including lunch per day, van, environmental fee for Sabtang Island, guide, boat ride and water. I did not tried this type of tour because I preferred an immersion type of travel. However, the tourists I have met who tried this tour were all happy. There is no hassle for this plus you get to gain new set of friends. The price is also worth it according to those who experienced it and anyway as I always mentioned Ivatan are honest people.

Trike package tour. Good for 2-3 people.

North Batan Tour - 1000 pesos

South Batan Tour - 1500 pesos

Sabtang Island Tour - 1300 pesos

Now, look at what we did.

North Batan tour - DIY walking tour for free + more discoveries along the way + interesting people we've met + stops whenever we want + getting lost. Exciting!

South Batan Tour - 1500 pesos divided by 2.

Sabtang Island Tour - 1700 + 900 (tip) for 4 days divided by 2.

From our DIY tour we have discovered more places. I have attached some of the activities we did while in Sabtang. I'll share more in the coming days.

Fun-filled Immersion and Activities in Sabtang Island, Batanes! - Memories and Pen - the travel monologues

Welcome to Batanes! There is more than meets the eye, we have seen the hidden treasures of Batanes. Aside from the never ending lovely rolling hills that seems to move like waves, there are so much

http://memoirs-and-a-pen.over-blog.com/2015/09/fun-filled-immersion-and-activities-in-sabtang-island-batanes.html

Fun-filled immersion and activities in Sabtang.

7. Boat Transfer.

Boat from Batan going to Sabtang Island is very easy to arrange. Take a trike going to Ivatan port around 5:30 in the morning. There are usually two boats crossing the island - Sta Ines and Sto Tomas. Register your name upon arrival. Fees will be collected in the boat. Fare is 75 pesos each. If you forgot to pay the fare just like us you can pay when you return to Batan. Be honest too.

Arrange a trike in Sabtang in advance. Once again I recommend Jimmy Hornedo. His contact number is 0918 211 6156. Call him. The link below is about him.

http://memoirs-and-a-pen.over-blog.com/2015/09/sabtang-batanes-guide-the-man-and-his-trike-no-32.html

Boat from Sabtang to Batan has no hassle too. Same process. Now, upon arrival (assuming you take morning boat and arrive early at the Ivatan port) instead of contacting a trike back to your Batan homestay take a jeep instead. It will only cost you 27 pesos instead of hundred pesos for the trike. However, there is only one jeepney. Better act fast!

Ivana and Sabtang Port

I have included in the attached link souvenirs of our walking tour. I encourage you to do the same while you are still young. Someday, when your knees are weak and your back is aching, you'll regret for not doing it.

Walking Tour - a free and fun way of enjoying Batanes - Memories and Pen - the travel monologues

Batanesly speaking, it isn't far. Note though that this is Batanesly speaking. Come on... use that strong and beautiful legs and feet of yours. It is worth it. Although you may opt to rent a bicycle

http://memoirs-and-a-pen.over-blog.com/2015/09/walking-tour-a-free-and-fun-way-of-enjoying-batanes.html

Our walking tour.

8. ATM Machine

There are banks with ATM in Basco.

Landbank near the Basco plaza. Very easy to find.

PNB along the way to the airport.

Better to bring extra cash though.