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Ivana is a municipality of Batanes province in the northern Philippines.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Ivana is in the southwestern part of Batan Island, the main island in the Batanes archipelago. It is the main port of entry leading to neighboring Sabtang island. With a population of only 1,368 people as of 2024, it is the second least populated municipality in the Philippines; only Kalayaan in Palawan is less populous.
Get in
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The best time to visit is during the dry season between March and June, when the winds and waves are calm. Otherwise, expect frequent cancellations at the last minute.
Ivana is connected to the rest of Batan Island through a scenic highway system, with jeepneys and tricycles running between the town and the provincial capital Basco.
- 1 San Vicente Port (New Port), National Road, San Vicente (Igang). An alternate, though less used port serving Sabtang.
- 2 Radiwan Port (Old Port), National Road, Radiwan (in front of Ivana Church). The main port in town, servicing the faluwa ferries to and from Sabtang.
Get around
[edit | edit source]There are not much cars or heavy vehicles due to high costs, logistical difficulties when it comes to importation, and short distances. Motorcycles and tricycles are more common.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 House of Dakay (Jose Estrella House), National Road, Tuhel. The oldest house in Batanes, built in 1887 in the traditional Ivatan way of using stones and thatched roofs.
- 2 Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church (Ivana Church), National Road, Radiwan (in front of the old port and across from the Honesty Store). Ivana's main Roman Catholic church, built during the Spanish era in a Baroque style in 1795.
- 3 San Jose Bridge (Tuhel Spanish Bridge), National Road, Tuhel. A rare Spanish-era arched stone bridge that remains in use.
- 4 Ivana Lighthouse, National Road, Radiwan (beside Radiwan port). Built beside Radiwan Port, it guards over the strait separating Batan Island from Sabtang.
- 5 Maydangeb Beach, San Vicente (Igang). A secluded stretch of white sand near the boundary with Mahatao.
- 6 Toblerone Hills, National Road, San Vicente (Igang). A series of moss- and grass-colored limestone hills named after its resemblance to the logo of the Swiss chocolate brand.
Do
[edit | edit source]Buy
[edit | edit source]All transactions are in cash due to the absence of banks and ATMs.
- 1 Honesty Store and Coffee Shop, National Road, Radiwan (beside the old port). Probably Ivana's most famous landmark, it is a store with a self-service cafe next door deliberately left without attendants, leaving its components to the mercy of the customer's moral scruples. Payment is deposited in a box, while you may have to knock next door if you need change. The fact that it has a generally stellar record of not being robbed is a testament to Batanes' low crime rate and Ivatan honesty.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]There are homestays and inns in town.
- 1 Honesty Homestay, National Road, Radiwan. An accommodation run by the owners of the Honesty Store.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]Like in the rest of Batanes, crime is abysmally low, and the residents know each other.
Stay healthy
[edit | edit source]Try not to get into a serious medical emergency, as there is no hospital and you will need to be evacuated to Basco or worse, to mainland Luzon due to a lack of medicines and other resources.
Connect
[edit | edit source]The town's postal code is 3902.
Like in the rest of Batanes, electricity is on a rotational basis, with generators and solar panels being the norm. Cellphone and internet signals are often sketchy, although things are improving with the proliferation of Starlink terminals, while the reception from radio stations in Taiwan can be clearer than the domestic ones.