Solo Travel | 8 Days in Breathtaking Batanes for 15,000 Php

Last August 05-12 my Batanes dream came true. It was supposed to be a 5-day trip but a week before my flight SkyJet advised me about the “runway reduction” issued by CAAP so my flight was moved to August 12. But hey! Another 3 days in “breathtaking Batanes” is not really a problem with me. 😃

Prior to rebooking i already pre-booked my 3 nights stay at Marfel’s lodge, 1 night stay at Sabtang Lighthouse and 3 days tour with Chanpan Tours.

Day 01 (August 05, 2018)
07:25 – Arrival at Basco Batanes
Check in at Marfel’s Lodge main
Breakfast at Pension Ivatan
Back at accommodation to rest
12:30 – Free lunch (Tour from Chanpan Tours)
Start of North Batan tour
6:00 – End of tour, back at accommodation
(Mag-isa lang ako nag North tour kaya naka tricycle kubo ako. Yung lunch sobrang dami kaya tinake-out ko. Pagbalik ko sa accommodation yun na din and dinner ko.)

Basco Lighthouse

Vayang Rolling hills

Free lunch from Chanpan Tours. Hindi ko kayang ubusin. Kaya yung natira ko dinner ko na din 😄

Day 02 (August 06, 2018)

5:00 – Free breakfast (Since mago-overnight ako sa Sabtang Lighthouse, check-out pero iniwan ko yung malaking bag ko bahala na sila ate Emy magtago , nagdala lang ako ng pang-overnight).
6:00 – Pick up from Marfel’s lodge to San Vicente Port. (This time naka-van na kasi marami na kong kasabay )

– From San Vicente Port, 30 minutes faluwa (boat) ride to Sabtang.
7:30 – Start of Sabtang Island Tour.
12:00 End of Sabtang tour.

Yung mga hindi mago-overnight kailangan nilang bumalik sa port ng 12:30 kasi yun ang huling schedule ng faluwa going back to Basco.

Since overnight ako, kasama yung 3 kong tourmates hinatid na din kami sa Lighthouse.

Check in at Sabtang lighthouse.

For my dinner nagbaon ako ng cup noodles, bread and palaman.

Yung isang solo traveler na kasama ko nag-order ng food kay Nanay Adela(owner ng Lighthouse) yung iba namalengke at nagluto na lang. Pwede magluto, free lang naman)
At around 10pm nag bonding lang kami ng mga kasama ko sa lighthouse (7 kaming guest sa isang house then 5 dun sa parang main house.)
Stargazing, kwentuhan and picture taking. Around 1am na kami natulog nun.

Chamantad Tinyan View Point

Sabtang Lighthouse

Hindi ka dapat maselan kung magi-stay ka sa Lighthouse. Dito ako nagstay, parang bed space, walang privacy pero okay lang kasi one night lang naman and mababait mga nakasama ko.

Sa may baba lang ng Lighthouse may lagoon na pwede magswimming

Day 03 (August 07, 2018)

Wake-up early. Free coffee from Nanay Adela.
Walking distance lang naman yung Sabtang port from the lighthouse and tanaw mo din so makikita mo kung may available ng bangka.

5:00 – Faluwa ride Sabtang port back to San Vicente port.
Pagdating namin ng San Vicente port sinundo na lang kami ng tricylcle kubo ni kuya Justin ang tourguide namin.

7:00 Back at Marfel’s lodge. Check in.
9:00 Start of South Batan tour.
12:00 Free lunch
4:00 End of tour
Back to accommodation.
6:00 Dinner. (May mag-asawa ako na na-meet sa first day, si Ems and Ian. Kasabay ko sila ng flight, kasama ko sila sa tour and accommodation. Namamalengke at sa accommodation na lang sila nagluluto para mas tipid, sinabay nila ako sa dinner nila, kaya free and dinner ko)

Racuh A Payaman aka Marlboro Hills

Honesty Store

Alapad Rock Formation

Day 04 (August 08, 2018)

Free breakfast.
Tapos na yung in-avail kong 3 days tour. Wala akong naka schedule na gagawin kaya ang ginawa ko nung morning is naglaba ng ilang pirasong damit and since 3 nights lang yung bi-nook ko sa Marfel’s lodge naghanap na din ako ng malilipatan na medyo mas mura.
Nahanap ko yung Nanay Cita’s homestay. Malayo sya sa airport, (Marfel’s kasi is sobrang lapit. Less than 5 minutes na lakad ata.)
Nanay Cita's homestay is around 20-25 minutes na lakad to airport

Yung Mag-asawa na kasama ko is nag North Batan tour. Nag decide kasi silang magpahinga nung Day 01 since galing pa sila ng Davao a day before ng Batanes flight.

Dinner is nag-order na lang kami since yung tagaluto naming si Ian ay sobrang napagod sa tour.
Then napagusapan din na magpupunta kami sa Spring of youth kinabukasan kasama yung tatlong nakasama namin sa tour.

Day 05 (August 09, 2018)

Wake up early. Free breakfast. Check out sa Marfel’s lodge. (Since dadaanan naman namin yung Nanay Cita’s Homestay drinop-off ko na lang yung gamit ko)
6:00 - 30 minutes tricyle ride then another 30 minutes trek going to the Spring. Maganda kapag maagang pupunta para solo nyo yung place gaya nung sa'min.
07:00 – 8:30 Spring of youth. Bonding with the group. Maganda yung place. Malamig yung tubig kasi galing sa bundok.
Sandali lang kami kasi yung couple na kasama namin flight na nila pabalik ng Manila ng afternoon.
Pauwi na nauna na akong bumaba ng tricycle kasi magche-check in na ko sa bago kong accommodation.
9:30 Check in at Nanay Cita’s homestay.
Lunch time bumalik ako sa Marfel’s lodge kasi sabay kaming magla-lunch nila Ems and Ian.
4:00 nagdecide kaming bumalik sa fundacion Pacita (included sa North Batan tour) Nag snack kami sa Café de tukon, nag tubho iced tea lang ako kasi medyo pricey 😄

Dinner time sa Marfel’s lodge ulit. Kinain namin yung mga natira naming food tapos nagluto ulit si Ian (kami pala ni Ems ang taga hugas ng plato at tagaligpit).

Bonding bonding after dinner kasi flight na nila pabalik na Manila kinabukas.
Sa Batanes pala wala kang tricycle na mapapara kung saan saan. Parang Grab ang tricycle dun, itetext mo yung terminal nila para mahatid or sundo ka.
That time around 8pm malakas ang ulan, nagtry akong kontakin yung terminal kaso wala nang nagreply, sabi ni ate Emily ng Marfel’s lodge baka wala ng nakapila since malakas ang ulan. Sakto naman na andun si ate Fe and mayari ng Marfel’s. hinatid nya ko kay Nanay Cita for free😃

Spring of Youth

Rooftop view from nanay Cita's Homestay

Day 06-07 (August 10-11, 2018)

Umuwi na sila Ems and Ian. I spent these days by going around Basco on bike. Nung una nagrent pa ko 25/hour pero nung sumunod pinahiram na lang sa’kin ni Nanay Cita yung bike nya.
I went to Basco lighthouse again. Check out their schools and churches.
My free days in Basco was never boring. The place is screaming with peacefulness. Everywhere you look is just picture perfect. The people are so honest, accommodating and very nice. Spending a few more days in Basco is really a must.

Rented a bike for 25/hour

The next day pinahiram na lang ako ni nanay Cita ng bike 😃

Day 08 (August 12, 2018)

Basco-Manila via SkyJet

The reason why I did not visit Itbayat despite my long stay was because there was a low pressure and habagat in Manila. In fact a lot of flights were cancelled. Natakot akong ma-stranded sa Itbayat kasi malakas na ang mga alon. May na-meet akong 2 girls na pumunta ng Itbayat ng Thursday pero nung Sunday pauwi na ko andun pa din sila.

And because of that I made a promise to visit Batanes again and explore Itbayat.

Dios Mamajes Batanes.
Thank you Lord for keeping me safe and giving me a wonderful weather during my 8 days stay.

Summary of Expenses.