Getting to Batanes

By Sea 
The Batanes Multi-Purpose Cooperative now carries the MV Ivatan Princess which runs the Currimao, Ilocos Norte - Basco, Batanes route. It leaves Ilocos Norte at 8pm on Wednesdays and Sundays and arrives in Basco at 4pm the next day. From Basco, it leaves at 3pm on Tuesdays and10 pm on Fridays. Fare is PhP1,200 and travel time is about 18 hours. Contact Mr. Antonio Castro at Mobile No. (0917) 793-0102.

By Air 
SEAIR flies to Batanes from Manila three times a week using a 19-seater Let 410 with the following schedules: Manila 6am to Laoag City 7:30am, Mondays, PhP2,000; Laoag City 8am to Basco 9am or Basco 9:30am to Laoag City 10:30am, Wednesdays, PhP1,950; Laoag City 11am to Manila 12:30pm, Fridays, PhP2,000. Fare excludes Insurance Fee of PhP150 and Security Fee of PhP15. Contact Ms. Marina Arma at Tel. No. (02) 714-2218.

CHEMTRAD
CHEMTRAD which flies the Tuguegarao-Basco route. Schedule of flights vary especially during peak season but normally flies on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Travel time is around 1 hour and 30 minutes. Fare is around P2,300 one way as of October 2002.

To confirm schedules and reservations, please call CHEMTRAD in Tuguegarao City telephone number 844.3113. Please take note that CHEMTRAD uses a 10 seater aircraft. You might be expecting a big aircraft only to be surprised when you're about to fly. Photo below features 2 CHEMTRAD aircrafts at Basco airport.

Please be informed as well that on some flights there are not enough passengers and if you really need to reach your destination, you may have to pay additional amount to compensate for the vacant seat. The positive side of it is if you're travelling as a group, you can actually arrange your flight schedule as long as you pay the full seating capacity. Its best to confirm these details when you make your reservation.

ASIAN SPIRIT
As of January 28, 2003 the Asian Spirit flight details are as follows:

• Route: Manila-Basco-Manila (alternate flight via Laoag, Ilocos Norte will be available very soon)
• Frequency: 3x a week (Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
• Aircraft: CN 235 (40 seater)
• Travel time: 2 hours, one-way, direct flight no stop-over
• Airfare: P3,750.00 plus P150 insurance = P 3,900.00 (Philippine pesos) one way only
• Departure from Manila: 5am (check-in time starts as early as 3:00am, check-in closes 45 minutes before departure)
• Allowable baggage: 10 kilos free. Any excess will be paid by the passenger at P40 per kilo

The Ivatan Foundation for Development Communications, Inc. (IFDCI) is the contracted sales manager of Asian Spirit in Batanes. For reservations and further information please call telephone number (02) 533-34-44 / 535-48-51 /535-48-99 or email demy.narag@batanes-ifdci.com.phIn Manila you can call Asian Spirit sales office at telephone (02) 851-8888. 


M/V IVATAN PRINCESS
An alternative way to reach Batanes is through the M/V Ivatan Princess. The boat carries around 150 passengers. Only limitation is you have to travel to Curimao, Ilocos Norte to where it is docked. For reservations, please call in Manila Mr. Antonio Castro at telephone 0917.7930102 or in Curimao, Ilocos Norte Ms. Evelyn Gonzales at telephone number (0918) 6507405.

And before you book your reservation, please be advised that weather is unpredictable especially after summer days causing flights to be canceled, take this into account when planning your trip to Batanes.