Discover Batanes Group of Islands

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The Batanes group of islands is the smallest province in terms of population and land area in the Philippines. Its capital is Basco which is 280 kilometers north of Apari, Cagayan. The province consists of 10 tiny islands which only the islands of Batan, Sabtang, and Itbayat are inhabited.

The people living in Batanes are called Ivatans who descended from Austronesians and migrated to the Batanes Islands 4000 years ago during the Neolithic period. They live in fortified mountain areas called idjangs and drank palek made from sugar cane. The people of Batanes are also good sea fearers and boat-builders.

Batanes Island has distinct beauty compared to other Philippines islands. Batanes has steep cliffs, rolling hills, deep canyons and border lined shores but what is most interesting about this island are the stone walled houses purposely designed to survive against typhoons.

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The weather of Batanes is cool and windy. And it rains any month of the year. Compared to the rest of the country, the Batanes weather is rather pleasant. It has an almost temperate temperature from December to February where temperatures dip as low as 7 degrees centigrade. It enjoys practically four seasons, the best one being summer which is from March to June. Average monthly rainfall is 450 mm.

 

The wind swept islands of Batanes are beautiful and enchanting and they are like no other in the Philippines.