If you are on the lookout on what to do in Batanes for your upcoming vacation, we suggest you add the activities listed below to maximize your vacation.
If you are planning for your Batanes trip, we highly suggest you get a registered tour provider from a company that can really take care of you and please, do not DIY Batanes. I tried it last 2018 and I can fully say that I had so much fun on my second Batanes escapade because everything was organized!
You can find one on the island but better if you contact a tour provider before you go to Batanes. Better be prepared than sorry, dear. Might be fully-booked already when you get there.
We actually searched for the best tour provider. Saw a number but Amazing Batanes Tours stood out.
Let me know if you want me to connect you to them. Hassle-free and the tour guides really knew Batanes well.
Amazing Batanes Tours Details:
- Contact Details: GLOBE: 0927 387 8172 | SMART: 0920 217 9031
- Email Address: book@amazingbatanes.com
- Facebook Page: Amazing Batanes
- Instagram: Amazing Batanes
10 Best Things to Do When in Batanes
Go ahead and explore the island to the fullest! I hope you have a day or two all to yourselves as some of these are not in the usual itinerary. Oh, writing this makes me wanna go back to Batanes again!
1. Eat Ivatan dishes at Hiro’s Joy Canteen
More than the seemingly endless green rolling hills of Batanes, the province has a lot more to offer especially with their dishes.
And trying dishes is actually a great way to learn more about Batanes traditions and culture!
Our team tried a number of restaurants in Batanes but one stood out — the Hiro Joy Canteen.
Hiro Joy Canteen or Hiro’s Cafe is located in Abad St. Corner Argonza St. They are offering a number of Ivatan dishes, American, and some traditional Filipino dishes as well. What we love most is that every dish is made with extra love — extra herb, extra sauce, and is carefully cooked with passion and love.
We were talking with our team the other day and if we wanna go back to Batanes, we’ll definitely go back to Hiro Joy Canteen. This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.
Food to try:
- Lobster
- Graham Cake
- Uved
- Lunyis – Ivatan’s Pork Adobo
- Marida or Taveh (Ivatan Escargot)
Check out our separate review of Hiro Joy Canteen here.
2. Fishing at Basco Port
Free time in Batanes? Go fishing!
Being surrounded by water, one of the Ivatan’s primary works is fishing. If you don’t have a fishing rod with you, you may ask your tour guide where to find/rent one.
For us, fortunately, there’s a family friend living in Basco and luckily, they have fishing rods!
We also asked our tour guide, Kuya James, if he has one. Although he was very eager to lend us his fishing rod and accompany us to Basco Port and Chanarian Point, he wasn’t able to because he needed to go diving/fishing as well that afternoon.
We wanna go but his boat is small.
Anyway, I suggest you go fishing in Batanes. What a memorable way to maximize your Batanes vacation!
3. Take a dip in the beaches of Batanes
When I imagined tBatanes beaches before, all I can think of was they’re so rocky that you can’t even swim near the shore.
While this is true for some beaches in Batanes, there are also beaches with fine white sand and less rocky.
There are also rocky beaches like the blue lagoon and some lagoons in Sabtang shore near the port.
So yes, add this in your itinerary — swim in Batanes!
Suggested beaches:
- Beach near Basco port
- White Beach in Basco
- Sabtang beach near Sabtang port
- Blue Lagoon in Basco
- Sumnanga Fishing Village
Sabtang lagoon near Sabtang Lighthouse
Sumnanga Fishing Village 
Swimming near Basco Port. Yes, it’s clean!
4. Biking (Motorcycle and Bicycle)
One activity to never miss while in Batanes is biking!
There are a number of bike rentals in Basco and just a couple in Sabtang. Basco also has motorcycles for rent at a gasoline station near Nanay Cita’s Homestay.
No need to worry if you think you are lost already. Just talk to the Ivatans and they will guide you the way. Don’t forget to use google maps as well!
Suggested biking areas:
- Around Basco preferably the one near the school and open grounds
- Outside Basco Airport
- Way to Boulder Beach
- Way to lighthouse
Went to Naidi Lighthouse early in the morning. We had so much fun!
Biking in Sabtang 
5. Sunrise at Chamantad-Tinyan Point in Sabtang
This is not in the usual itinerary when in Batanes but we highly suggest you visit Chamantan-Tinyan point and cove before sunrise.
It is a magical experience waiting for the sun to rise while looking at the vast ocean and endless rolling hills.
Additional payment is P1,100.
6. Sunset watching at Natawu Point
Another activity to add to your Batanes bucket list is sunset watching at Natawu Point in Sabtang Island.
Our tour guide said this point is the best spot for sunset viewing in Batanes.
True enough, it is indeed the best one. Here you can see a 360 view of Sabtang, the rolling hills, and the ocean.
Additional payment: P400
7. Roam around Basco and make friends with the locals
Any place can be more experienced in being with the locals. Each time you go out, make sure you engage with the Ivatans.
Talk to your tour guides, make friends with them, ask the history of Batanes, where they live, what they do..
Sometimes it’s not just about the place but the people that you will meet that will make you really love the place.
And I can say that you will leave Batanes with a heavy heart because of the memories and the Ivatans as well.
With Amazing Batanes Tours Tour Guide, Kuya James 
Ivatna kids even helped us with our fishing rods!
8. Surprise your loved ones with a dinner date at Naidi Lighthouse
Who would have thought that exclusive dinner dates are possible at Naidi Lighthouse?
Naidi Lighthouse is one of the most famous lighthouses in Batanes. But, did you know that you can arrange a dinner date here?
Whether you wanna surprise your loved ones on their birthday, anniversary, or any milestone in life, and you are in Batanes already, I suggest you go and reserve that exclusive date!
We are not sure if there are other operators for activities like this but we reserved our slot with Amazing Batanes Tours.
They will help you arrange everything. From food to balloons, to the set up of the place.. Really glad we booked everything with Amazing Batanes Tours.
Videos soon on our youtube channel!
Still munhcing the lobster here! Haha! 
9. Camping in Sabtang
If you will stay more than one night in Sabtang, try camping by the shore! To make this hassle-free for you, book your stay with Pananayan Homestay. They can help you with the tent pitching and can even prepare a bonfire for you!
10. Try Fundacion Pacita’s Dishes
If you happen to have spare money, we want to suggest having your merienda or lunch at Fundacion Pacita.
Fundacion Pacita, perched at one of the rolling hills in Basco, is one of the most picturesque places I have been to in my entire life. Suggesting that you add this to your itinerary, separate from your tour, and try different dishes.
The food was great for the price that you would want to order another one. We tried their pizza and it was surprisingly good. While waiting, you may also check their arts area below the restaurant.
Fundacion Pacita also has several rooms for guests which starts at P12,870.
In summary, these are some of the best things to do while in Batanes! Make the most out of your Batanes trip!
- Eat Ivatan dishes at Hiro’s Joy Canteen
- Fishing at Basco Port
- Swimming
- Biking (Motorcycle and Bicycle)
- Sunrise at Chamantad in Sabtang
- Sunset at Natawu Point in Sabtang
- Roam around Basco, make friends with the locals
- Surprise your loved ones with a dinner date at Naidi Lighthouse
- Camping at Sabtang
- Try Fundacion Pacita’s Dishes
Batanes Travel Guide Frequently Asked Questions
- Where to Stay in Batanes?
- What are the usual tours in Batanes?
- What and where to eat in Batanes?
- Best Batanes Tour Providers
- What to do in Batanes?
- 10 Best Things to Do in Batanes – Our favorite is number 8!
Where to Book your Batanes Tours?
We highly suggest you book your Batanes tours with a well-organized, hassle-free tour provider. Tried Batanes DIY before — it was adventures, yes but would like to suggest to have a team who’ll help you maximize your Batanes trip.
Got ours from the Amazing Batanes Tours! From the name itself, this tour provider is actually amazing! They’ve got cool tour guides — whom I think knows everything! All our questions where answered and we were brought to many awesome places. Check them out!
Check this blog about them as well at Amazing Batanes Tour Provider Review.
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Batanes is still in my bucket list. I will make this as reference for my itinerary when i go to Batanes
Batanes is definitely in my top 10 places to visit in the Philippines! Really such a beautiful and serene place. I also want to be able to do these with my boyfriend one day! <3
It is a must in your list! Thank you!
I totally agree with hiring a travel company to organize everything. We dis that for our sagada trip and we were able to explore all of the place. I can’t wait to visit batanes soon and i will for sure do everything on your list. Won’t miss out on a single activity! Hahaha
Swimming in Sabtang lagoon would be pretty amazing! I love the unique beauty of Batanes 🙂
Camping in Sabtang would be a great idea for my next travel there. I would love to see the beauty of batanes real soon.
my son really wants to go here. mas goals pa niya kaysa sakin! nako number 8 din ang magugustuhan ko if ever. also number 9 ang saya! i love all! i hope one day maka visit din kami jan. thanks for sharing.
Visiting Batanes is one of our bucket list. There are lots of beautiful places and instagrammable spots in Batanes. Fishing and swimming in beaches is nice activities to try here. Biking is fun also and you have enough time to explore the island on your own. Camping with your love one in the beach is a very romantic experience.
I’ve never been to Batanes but it’s on my bucket list! Noted on NOT doing DIY for Batanes. I think getting a private tour would be best nga, at least you support their livelihood. Yikes, I don’t know how to ride a bike – looks like fun pa naman to bike around in Batanes! 😅
I love your pictures so much! They gave justice to the beauty of Batanes. Thank you so much for sharing this post with us!
I remember my time their in Batanes! It’s truly a beautiful place. Hindi mo aakalain na wow, nasa Pilipinas pa ba ako haha Love your photos! I also did the biking experience. It was unlike no other. Only in Batanes talaga!
Pia! It’s been a dream to visit Batanes and I’ll surely bug you for tips once I book. To be honest, when I started traveling, the place didn’t appeal much to me because of the distance and how quiet it is. But now as I grew older, I absolutely have this on my travel map!