Batanes in Mono: My favorite walking spots from Basco
Basco Lighthouse, Cliffs and Sea
Aside from finding the range of accommodations in Basco and also discovering places to eat, I spent a lot of my time in Batan Island just chilling out and wandering around. It was after a 4 day of assignment so I didn’t really want to pressure myself to produce as many photos as I needed. I decided to be experimental this time and set my camera to monotone mode and capture Batanes in monochrome hues. At different times of the day, I go to these places walking distances from Basco center and just sit there for at least an hour and just be amazed at this wondrous creation.
Valugan Beach Rocks
For a couple of times I went back here in Valugan Beach, maybe to make up for the couple of times I visited Batanes before that I never got to visit the place. It is the place to catch the sunrise and watch the crashing waves hit the rocky shores. I just sit there on one of the large boulders and observe how these large smooth stones differ from each other. Each one is uniqe much like people are but together they look amazing. A beautiful landscape of uniqueness. One of my favorite spots in Batanes. It’s just less than a 45 minutes walk and 15-20 minutes by bike going east out of Basco.
Basco Marine Sanctuary
I always passed by this place. A Marine Sanctuary just south of the border of Basco just after Batanes Resort. Numerous jutting corals rising out from the sea by the corner of the road. It’s a nice place to catch the sunset by the coast. Further on the right is an amazing view of the cliffs of Batan with the Basco lighthouse standing out from the distance. I take my moments here sitting by the roadside un-mindful of the passing vehicles and wait for the sun to come down against those rocky corals by the sea. It’s less than 45 minutes walk from the town center and less than 20 minutes bike going south out of Basco.
Basco Lighthouse Night Glow
Ever since my first visit here in 2004, the Basco Lighthouse has been one of my favorite spots, even just to hang out. It’s so close to town but the view is just amazing. Imagine a stupendous view of the South China Sea up hill on a cliff and come sun set, its warm glow showering the hills on your left with warm light. And as the night goes deeper, gazzillion stars lights up. A sight you can never ever see in urban Manila. The lighthouse is only 15 to 20 minutes walk north east from Basco Center along the National Road.
Tags: Basco, Batan, Batan Island, Batanes, Beach, Lighthouses
Posted on
Sunday, May 24th, 2009 at 11:28 am 
Subscribe through 
May 24th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Love the lighthouse at night photo! great set bai.
May 24th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
the night shot is my favorite in this set. thanks for an overview ferdz. you’ve had so many post on batanes already. making a guide book will really be great.
May 24th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
yay, my favorite places in batan as well
i recalled being on assignment in batanes while there was a series of blackouts and getting lost in the cemetery near the lighthouse. it was an eerie and fun experience seeing the globs of light that reflect on the eyes of the cows and goats in the darkness. valugan is also a perennial hiking place, i’ll never get tired of going there. wow, seeing your images make me want to go back there again 
thanks for sharing amigo 
May 24th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Thanks Allan! That was a 15 minute exposure experiment.
Thanks Dom! Am thinking about that book but am still gathering materials for it.
Thanks Og! Sarap din mag night shoot there. nd all I can say is that Valugan is such a wonderful place to relax.
May 25th, 2009 at 2:27 am
Basco Lighthouse Night Glow is so romantic. Love it!
sarap nga tumambay dito heheh.
May 25th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Three of us have just been there 19-23 May and the scenes here are still very vivid in my mind. Valugan Beach is definitely lovely for me, though we were there at noon, very very hot. The waves were so big, but we were fascinated by two very small boats “now you see them, now you don’t” because of the big waves. My companion has geography courses for her MS in Australia, and it fascinated us to learn how Valugan rocks came about.
How i wish i can take great photos like yours.
May 26th, 2009 at 12:50 am
Naku Millie! Ang sarap mag latag lang ng banig dun and watch the stars all night! Lamig nga lang and ingat sa cow dung
Hi Andrea! Thank you very much for the visit. Glad to hear you had a great time in Batanes. If I could back there whenever I want to I’d be there more often. I know what you mean, those small boats just disappear from your field of view. I love just hanging out there in Valugan. Hope you visit again.
June 10th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Ang galing nga mga shots mo. Anong camera bang gamit mo? I wish to have the best shot dahil galing ako mismo sa Batanes.
Dios mamajes.
July 12th, 2009 at 2:28 am
Hi! Compliments on the nice pics and the very informative and interesting reviews. I’ve been wanting to go to Batanes for its beautiful sceneries and meeting the natives. How do I get there? Is there only one air carrier that flies there? Thanks a lot.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Great pictures! I’m now a fan.