French
Deutsch
Sabtang is an island municipality of Batanes province in the northern Philippines. It is famous for its villages composed of traditional Ivatan stone houses that form the stereotypical postcard images of the province.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Sabtang is the southern-most island and municipality in the Batanes archipelago. It is one of the three (out of 10) islands in the province that are inhabited, the others being Batan and Itbayat. It also has jurisdiction over the islands of Dequey and Ivuhos, the latter used as a pastureland for grazing cattle.
It is home to about 2,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
[edit | edit source]
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.
Sabtang is only accessible from the daily ferry on the faluwa, the traditional Ivatan fishing boat, that disembark from the port of Ivana in the southwestern part of Batan Island at 7:30AM. Travel time takes 30-40 minutes in fair weather. If you are in a hurry to get back to Batan island and the provincial capital Basco, take the return ferry before noon, as the seas tend to become rough afterwards and the ferries may get cancelled. Expect to share space with goods being imported from Batan and even livestock.
- 1 Sabtang Port, National Road, Sinakan.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Sabtang Island is ringed by a circumferential road, except for its uninhabited southern tip. Tricycles and motorcycles are the predominant form of transportation in town.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish Church (Sabtang Church), National Road, Sinakan. Sabtang's main Roman Catholic church, built in a Baroque style during the Spanish era in 1785.
- 2 Sabtang Lighthouse, Malakdang. An 18 metres (59 ft) structure overlooking the northern part of the island and watching the ferries heading to and from Batan Island.
- 3 Chavayan. The main draw in Sabtang, it is a community (barangay) composed of houses built in the traditional Ivatan way and composed of stone and thatch roofs in the southern part of the island. It is where most postcard images of Batanes are taken.
- 4 Santa Rosa de Lima Chapel, Chavayan. Chavayan's Roman Catholic chapel, built with a Baroque facade and a thatched roof during the Spanish era.
- 5 Chamantad-Tinyan Viewpoint, Chavayan. An elevated sport along the National Road with views of the surrounding cliffs, coves and roaring ocean, set amid a background of rolling hills and grasslands. Beware of droppings from grazing goats and cattle.
- 6 Savidug. Like Chavayan, it is a barangay in the east-central section of Sabtang composed of traditional stone houses that also forms the typical postcard pictures of Batanes.
- 7 Saint Thomas Aquinas Chapel, Savidug. Savidug's Roman Catholic chapel, built in a Baroque style during the Spanish era.
- 8 Savidug Idjang, Savidug. The idjang is an Ivatan word for the elevated and fortified settlements that existed in Batanes before Spanish colonization. The one in Sabtang, situated on a triangular-shaped hill, has been the one most extensively studied by archaeologists.
- 9 Morong Beach (Nakabuang Beach), Malakdang. A stretch of white sand on the northeastern shores of the island.
- 10 Mayahao Arch (Ahao Arch), Malakdang. A naturally-formed rock arch along Morong Beach that is the most photographed natural attraction in the island.
- 11 Nakabuang Cave, Malakdang. A low-ceilinged chamber along Morong Beach.
- 12 Ivuhos. A large grass-covered island west of Sabtang inhabited only by free-roaming cows and goats.
Do
[edit | edit source]Buy
[edit | edit source]All transactions are in cash due to the absence of banks and ATMs. Prices tend to be higher than in Batan Island due to the costs of transporting goods by sea, and can increase further when bad weather halts the ferries.
Based in Chavayan, the Sabtang Weavers’ Association is where most of the indigenous Ivatan fashions such as the lung and flowig vakul headdress, the jacket-like kanay'i vest and the wide-brimmed salakot hat are made from the leaves of the endemic palm species known as vuyavuy. You can buy these garments or rent them for photo-ops.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]There are homestays and inns across the island, with the prize catch being a stay on a traditional stone house in Chavayan.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]Like in the rest of Batanes, crime is abysmally low, and the residents know each other. In any case, there is no escape route other than the once-daily faluwa ferry back to Batan Island.
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 3904.
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.
Go next
[edit | edit source]The only way in or out is to Ivana on Batan Island.