Batanes: North Batan Island Tour

Comparing with South Batan Tour, the North tour is a bit shorter.  It only covers half of your day. So you can do this after resting a bit following your arrival on the island.  This tour is just the prologue of what the first-timers can expect in Batanes.  

During our tour, we passed by...

1. Tukon Church  

Mt. Carmel Chapel, inspired by the Ivatan stone houses, is a project for the nearby residents of the Abad clan, a prominent family in the Batanes.   

North Batan: Radar Station

Just a few minutes away from the chapel is the Tukon Radar Station.
In Ivatan terms, "tukon" means hills, "radar" means lightouse. 

the view where Mt. Iraya is covered by the clouds

The spot gives you a perfect 360 degree view of Batan. 

As per Wikipilipinas, you'll see the Pacific Ocean on your east side, 

South China Sea on your west, 

Mount Iraya on your north, 

And the rolling hills on your south. 

Wonderful isn't it? 

the wonderful hedgerows 

As per history, 

the Radar Tukon used to be a lighthouse and was used as US weather station.

Now, it merely serves as primal weather station of Basco. 

the golf ball-like weather station

The cow is also up for some snapshots!! hihi! 

North Batan: Vayang Rolling Hills

Our second to our last halt, 

and where we stayed long is in the 

Vayang Rolling Hills. 

Yes!! 

This is one of the spots in Batanes that I've been wanting to see. 

The lush green hills with hedgerows,

sun rays touching the plush grassland, 

cool winds hugging and welcoming you tightly,

blue skies reflecting on the West Philippine Sea,

and just waiting for the biggest star to set.

we were about to go to the hills and spotted these grazing cows

We're almost there!!! I can see it! 

The hills serve as a food for the animals and 

resting den not only for the herdsmen but also for the animals. 

Vayang Rolling Hills facing the West Philippine Sea

Can you spot Itbayat island?

Naidi Hills from the Rolling Hills

the Radar Tukon 

North Batan: Mt Carmel Church

Our first kick-off from our next day tour, which is the North Batan tour, is the 

Tukon (means mountain in Ivatan) Chapel, also known as Mt. Carmen Chapel. 

photo taken when we were at Radar Tukon

The chapel is situated in a hill-top area offering a magnificent view of 

West Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean. 

The structure is a dream come true for the Abad clan for the nearby residents

so they don't have to go to a farther church, which is 3 km away. 

It was built in 2007 but was officially opened the succeeding year

just in time for former Budget Secretary's daughter's, Julia's, wedding. 

overlooking Mt. Iraya

The first sight of the state-of-the-art structure was indescribable. 

It just blew my mind away.

Everything's so exquisite.

the stone walls of the church inspired from Ivatan houses

The interiors have elephantine paintings of saints done by the Ivatan artists. 

life-size paintings of Ivatans

From the doorstep of the chapel, 

you'll find vines dispersed above the doorway, 

clinging and hanging on both sides of the walls of the entrance

with blooming flowers

giving accent to its frontier. 

On the sides of the church 

are wooden doors and stained window glasses,

still with vines crawling down the stone walls. 

Truly this place is beyond compare destination when you visit Batanes.