Sabtang, Batanes

We woke up us as early as 5AM to travel to Ivana Port, the jump-off point to Sabtang Island. We boarded a falowa, an oval-shaped boat without outrigger which is designed to glide along the big waves of the rough seas surrounding Batanes Islands. Falowa ride from Ivana Port to Sabtang cost about P60.

We were very lucky that the seas were very calm during that day. I slept throughout the 45 minute falowa ride.

We registered in the tourist center and waited for our guide as he rented a jeep to tour us around.

Sabtang is a quiet little town with 6 villages and less than 2000 in population.

Sabtang Island, Batanes is perhaps my favorite island in the country. It is beautiful, serene.  It's laid back and happy. Its people, genuinely nice and well-mannered. They segregate trash. Their Mayor make rounds every morning in his motorcycle.


Map of Sabtang Island

On our first day in Sabtang, we explored east side of the island.

Barrio Savidug
A Village with rows of Ivatan Stone Houses. An Ivatan Stone House is made of boulder stones and corals that are glued togethere by lime. It's roof made of Cogon. The houses are built to withstand the strong typhoons that often pass Batanes.

Savidug, Sabtang, Batanes

Ivatan Stone House

Chamantad-Tinyan Sitio
Breathtakingly beautiful view of the grassland, mountains, and sea.
 



Chavayan

What makes this village extra special is that beyond the charm of the preserved Ivatan stones houses is the friendliness of the people who live here. We spent a considerable time in Chavayan listening to their stories. Here, we met and chatted with Lolo Marcelo, the oldest person in Sabtang at 103 years old.



with Lolo Marcelo

 Nakabuang/ "White Beach", The Arc
We had rested and had our lunch in Nakabuang Beach also known as "White Beach". It's called White Beach well because of its white sand.



White Beach, Sabtang

Also an attraction in White Beach, is what they call "The Arc".

We were served very delicious lunch of lobster, inihaw na baboy, inihaw na isda, Sinigang na isda, vegetables,  banana, and buko.

Lobster (just one of our viands for lunch)

We headed back to the port after our late lunch. Our guide and one of companions will return to Batan that same day. 

As for us, we opted to stay in Sabtang. During that time, Isa and I were the only tourists in the island.


I spent the afternoon exploring the nearby village, Malakdan, by foot and swimming by the beach near the port.

 
There are no hotels or inns in Sabtang. We stayed in the tourist center which offers rooms for guests for P250/pax.  The tourist center is very homey and our room has kick-ass view. I love it there.

The view from our room

The Manang who prepared our lunch earlier, also prepared a sumptuous dinner for us--Tatus (Coconut Crab), fried fish, adobong baboy, and yellow ginger rice.

Tatus again for dinner

 I just love Sabtang, Batanes.