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The Batanes Islands, situated in the Philippines’ far north, are quite different to anywhere else you may find among one of the country’s 7,000+ islands.

Comprising three main islands; Batan, Sabtang, and Itbayat, each offers its own unique draw. The rolling hills on Batanes are quite beautiful, its villages welcoming and its capital Basco, has all the major amenities required to support a flourishing island community. With only three daily flights arriving from Manila each day it still remains isolated enough to not have been disrupted from mass tourism.

For somewhere to stay the islands’ Fundacion de Pacita boutique hotel offers guests spectacular views out to the Pacific, well set rooms and an excellent staff to guest ratio. The hotel has its own foundation designed to train the local people in the hospitality industry and provide an opportunity not readily available outside of the major cities. This community spirit is visible throughout the islands and you may often see the local people working together on a small building project. Lunch is a sociable event where everyone eats at the same time and generosity is shared, even among visitors.

For those who wish to venture further afield a 30-minute ferry ride will take you across to Sabtang Island, a living museum home to the Ivatan people. Small villages hug the coastline still retaining well preserved traditional homes built using rock and grass native to the area. Walls are built one metre (three feet) thick and grass roofing is tied on tightly using strong reeds. For an island which often finds itself in the path of powerful storms it’s extremely important the houses can stand the test of time and it seems to have worked with multiple examples still existing today. People here lead a simple life with farming and fishing being the islanders' main income. The island's protected status has seen it being shortlisted for UNESCO recognition.