Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Batanes Diary 1. How to Get There

If you're within the Philippines, getting to Batanes is easy via Manila. Pal Express flies from NAIA 3 daily (6:00 am!) using the Bombardier Q400.  it's a 76-seater turboprop that flies as quietly and smoothly as a jet. Regular fare is about P7,000. one-way, but since we waited for promo fares, we got ours at P7,000 roundtrip Manila-Basco-Manila.


Basco is the destination to look for -it's the capital town of Batanes.



(Photo from Pal Express website)


After a smooth 1 1/2 hour flight, we're happy to see this
What promises does that shoreline hold?


Closer now... 



The closer to the airport we get, the  more structures we see.

All eight travellers accounted for, happy to be at the stone house-inspired airport terminal before 8am ....the early arrival gives us the whole day to start our Batanes exploration!





The beautiful Mt. Iraya behind Mats welcomed us. Although Mt. Iraya last erupted in 1454, it is still considered an active volcano.

(Mount Iraya last erupted in 1454, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) considers it as one of the active volcanos in the Philippines.
In 1998, volcanologists recorded seismic swarms which led them to form a monitoring network on Batan Island for several months. After the swarms of tremors had diminished, the temporary stations in Barangay San Joaquin in Basco, Batanes and another near the crater, were pulled out. Seismicity or any activity relating to Iraya is still monitored by the Basco Seismological Station.- from wikipedia)


Now we're ready for adventure! 


(Some of the photos were taken by Nancy A. )

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