Located over 130 miles from the mainland of the Philippines, Basco is the capital of Batanes Province. Situated very close to Taiwan, it makes a great base for exploring the surrounding islands.
Being in such an isolated area, many local people have never travelled to mainland Philippines and can’t afford certain luxuries which are found in the more developed parts of the Philippines. Electricity, for instance, is provided by a generator that is switched off at night time and water is often in short supply.
Basco itself is not very populated and western comforts are few and far between, but the scenery here makes up for it all. The remoteness is very appealing for most people and the natural scenery is simply stunning. You will not find any bars or discos in Basco; in fact, you might find it hard to eat out. A restaurant may well consist of some chairs thrown up in someone’s front yard.
Getting There & Away
The best way to reach Basco is by plane. Twin props fly up to five times a week in high season from Manila and the journey takes no longer than 2 hours. Alternatively, buses from Manila will take at least 10 hours but this is followed by a further 12 hours on a boat.
Things to Do
Basco Attractions
- Mount Iraya
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A dormant volcano to explore that emerged to form part of batanes islands.
- Basco Lighthouse
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This pretty lighthouse has the naidi hills as a backdrop.
Side trips from Basco
- Batanes Islands
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Basco is an ideal jumping off point for visits to other batanes islands such as sabtang and itbayat.