Located in the Luzon Street, about 40 to 60kms north of the Philippine island of Luzon, the still mostly untapped Babuyan Islands create an archipelago consisting of five main islands; Babuyan Island, Camiguin, Calayan, Dalupiri and Fuga. The islands feature extensive coral reefs and three volcanoes.
The Babuyan Islands are inhabited by fishermen and farmers, the latter being discouraged from cultivating rice or corn due to the islands’ lack of arable soil and the occurrence of strong winds. As an alternative, root crops, especially sweet potatoes are largely cultivated. The biggest town and only harbor is Calayan, with frequent inter-island shipping services which are interrupted between September and February due to the typhoon season.
You won’t find any private resorts and electricity on the Babuyan Islands. Lodgings are offered in the form of cottages which can be rented from the welcoming local officials for a small fee per night. The cottages are equipped with a communal bathroom and tap water, while electricity is provided by a generator.
The long island of Fuga is considered the most charming of the Babuyan Islands and boasts an endless stretch of white sand beaches and coral reefs. Other rewarding beach destinations are Camiguin, Pamuktan and Calayan. A boat tour to watch the majestic humpback whales is a must-do on the islands.
Getting There & Away
Since there are no ferry services to the Babuyan Islands, the only option is to charter a boat from Aparri on the mainland, the trip taking four to five hours. A flight from Manila to Tuguegarao City, the provincial capital, takes about 45 minutes; from here, it is a 55km bus ride to Aparri.