At long last, I am done with all the photos and all the posts. It is time for a summary. This is basically for anyone who wants to go to Batanes and is wondering where to stay, where to eat, what to do and see, and how much will it actually cost. Here is our itinerary and expenses incurred in our 6D/5N stay in Batanes.
SCHEDULE:
Sept 27, 2010 (Day 1)
– arrival at the Basco Airport at 7:30 AM, picked up at the airport by the Novita House van and our tour guide, Ate Remy Santos
– rest and exploration of Abad and nearby streets
– Lunch at Novita House
– pick up at 1:00 pm for our half-day tour of the Northern part of Batan Island
Sept. 28, 2010 (Day 2)
– pull out at Novita House at 6:00 AM (we were a big group and we actually pulled out at 7:00 AM)
– arrive at Radiwan port in Ivana at 7:20AM
– arrive at San Vicente port in Sabtang Island at 7:45 AM
– whole day tour of Sabtang Island
– back in Basco by 4:30 PM
Sept. 29, 2010 (Day 3)
– REST DAY!!!
Sept. 30, 2010 (Day 4)
– Pull out at 7:00 AM at Novita House
– whole day tour of the Southern Part of Batan Island
– back in Basco by 4:00 PM
– biking around Basco and half-way to Mahatao and dinner at Batanes Resort
October 1, 2010 (Day 5)
– biking all the way to Mahatao Boat Safety and Fish Port and then around Basco
– some of the group went to Fundacion Pacita
October 2, 2010 (Day 6)
– leave for airport at 6:30 AM
– flight back to Manila at 8:00 AM
ITINERARY:
Northern Tour of Batan Island
– Tukon Chapel
– Tukon Radar Station
– Dipnaysupuan Japanese Tunnel
– Valugan Boulder Beach
– Vayang Ranch (Rolling Hills)
– Naidi Hills (Old Settlement and Basco Lighthouse)
Sabtang Island
– Savidug Vernacular Houses
– Traditional Lime Kilns/Lime Beach
– Chamantad-Tinyan Sitio views
– Chavayan Community (UNESCO Nominated site)
– Lunch by the port
– Nakabuang Beach and Nakabuang Arch
Southern Tour of Batan Island
– Mahatao Town Tour and the San Carlos de Borromeo Church
– Ivana Town Tour: Old Spanish Bridge, House of Dakay, San Jose Obrero Church, Radiwan Port, Honesty Coffee Shop
– Uyugan Tour: Song-song Ruins and LORAN Station Ruins
– Other places in Mahatao: Chawa View Deck, Marlboro Country, Diura Village & Mananoy Bay, Spring of Youth
EXPENSES:
Airfare:
SEAIR RT tickets to Batanes (bought during the Independence Day Sale): P2,400 + travel insurance
Accommodations:
5N at DDD Habitat Inc.: P6,000
Tours:
Northern Tour of Batan Island
– van for 12.5 people: P1,000
– tour guide: P600
Sabtang Island Tour
– van from Basco to Radiwan Port in Ivana RT: P600
– faluwa from Batan to Sabtang RT: P100
– jeepney in Sabtang: P1500
– tour guide: P1,200
– catered lunch by the port: P300/pax
Southern Tour of Batan Island
– van for 13.5 people: P2,000
– tour guide: P800
– catered lunch at Marlboro Country: P300/pax
Miscellaneous:
– bike rental for a total of 8 hrs at P25/hr: P200
– Batanes Resort lunch and dinner, with desserts & drinks for 2pax: P1000
– Hiro’s Cafe lunch for 2pax: P300
– Novita House food for 5 days for 2pax: P1000
– Lunchbox Restaurant Meals (1 breakfast, 2 dinners) for 2pax: P430
– North Spirit Cafe drinks and food: P420
– airport terminal fees: P440
– taxis to airport and back: P800
– other expenses (supplies, etc.): P800
Since we were a big group, each of us spent about P1,500 for all the tours (transportation, guide, lunch and tips) included.
All in all, my little family (H, Lia and me) spent about P20,000 for the entire 6D/5N trip, everything, from airplane tickets, taxes, food, accommodations, tips, tours and supplies, included. It was a deal! 🙂
Here is a list of all my Batanes blog posts:
- Basco Airport (Batanes)
- Batan Island Tour – Northern Part
- Lia in the Northern Tour of Batan Island, Batanes
- Sabtang Island, Batanes on a Wonderful, Clear Day
- Lia in Sabtang Island, Batanes
- DDD Habitat Inc., Kayvaluganan, Basco, Batan Island, Batanes
- Novita House, Basco, Batan Island, Batanes
- San Carlos Borromeo Church and the town of Mahatao, Batan Island, Batanes
- Ivana, Batanes Town Tour
- Uyugan, Batanes – Places to See
- Mahatao, Batanes – Places to See
- Eating at Batanes Resort
- Accommodations in Batanes
- Places to Eat in Basco, Batanes
Your site is very informative! Super!
We’re planning to go to Batanes. I’d like to ask if we could travel in Basco without a tour guide?
Thanks! I put all this info up so I could be of help to other travelers like me. Yup, you sure can travel without a tour guide, though having a tour guide is always a great help. But its not mandatory.
Hope you get to Batanes soon and love the place as much as we all loved it!
Hi! Thanks for the info 🙂 We’re planning to go to Batanes Oct 2012 but that’s still rainy season. How was the weather when you had your trip?
Hi, weather was good when we were there! Scattered rain showers on some days but otherwise, weather was relatively nice. It only rained during our last day there and even our trip to Sabtang was relatively easy – the waves weren’t as high as we thought it would be. We were there last week of September 2010 if I remember correctly.
Hello guys, after reading your posts i feel envious of your travels and fun tours in and around the Philippines. I have been to Siquihor, Camiguin, Bohol, GenSan, Davao, Surigao, Misamiz Occidental, etc…but i still want to visit a lot more places like Batanes, Palawan, Bagui0.
Thanks for sharing your travel experiences guys. I realy envy you all, hehe.
Take care folks.
Ingats palagi,
gerry
how much is the payment for a tour guide now? thankyou
We’re planning to go to Batanes but the fare is really high. May I ask how did you know that Seair offers discounted rates? I have been watching their rates recently, but they aren’t offering any promos or deals.
Thanks.
Seair no longer have any flights to Batanes. I believe you can only fly there via SkyPasada. Saw this poster on Facebook. Follow the link to know more. 🙂 Cheers! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=343973305692492&set=a.121254591297699.26312.100002394766057&type=1&relevant_count=1
Here’s the Facebook page of SkyPasada: https://www.facebook.com/sky.pasada.wcc
Nice 🙂
Thanks for considering Batanes…
ang cheap ng fare nyo! kainggit, samin umabot ng 11k ang roundtrip per person.
Yes it was! Independence sale and I think closing out sale na rin ng airline because after that, they stopped their flights to basco and then they got bought by tiger airways. 11-12k I think is the normal rt fare for manila-basco.
Nakakatuwa na ang daming gusto maqkita ang bayan namin… you are all welcome to visit batanes… if you need more info, visit our site. Dios Mamajes!
Hi, is it hard ba to just get a tour guide sa batanes? bigla kasing nagkaron ng ibang client yung tour guide ko.. would it be too much of a hassle ba kung dun na lang kami hahanap?
Hello!
Sorry for the late response. Madali lang naman maghanap ng tour guide sa Batanes. I think the hotel/inn/resort you will be staying at can also help you with that.
Have a good trip! 🙂
Hi, great blog! which tour agent did u get during your stay in Batanes? 🙂 is it the hotel’s?
Hi Nils,
Thanks for the kind words.
Sorry for the late response. We basically got the tour guide that was associated with the house we stayed at – Novita’s. If you book any accommodations in Batanes, I am sure they will have a tour guide they can recommend for your stay. 🙂
Hello..me and my boyfriend planning have a vacation in batanes pwd po bang 4 days lng kmi? Maikot ba namin lahat with in 4days? Ksi 15 days lng vacation namin sa Philippines. Balik ulit kmi abroad.
Over all total mgkano mgastos naming 2????
Salamat