Batanes isn’t really one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. So why would I want to go there?
It’s too far up north, that it’s closer to Taiwan than it is to Manila. Getting there is not easy, and from what I hear, getting out of there is harder still. I’ve heard of people traveling there and getting stuck, because the plane can’t land due to the weather. The seas around Batanes are also quite turbulent, for it’s where the Pacific meets the South China Sea. So that means rough waters when crossing over to Sabtang island.
The airfare alone is enough to discourage travelers from going to Batanes. Upwards Php 10,000, some people would rather opt to spend this amount on a weekend jaunt somewhere else in the country or spend it on a round trip ticket to our Southeast Asian neighbors.
But it’s because of this isolation that makes Batanes appealing. This means the landscape is pretty much untouched, and the culture closer to its roots. I’ve heard nothing but praise for the beauty of this island, and for the simplicity and honesty of its people, and I want to experience it for myself.
And that is why I want to go to Batanes. Why would YOU want to go there?
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