Batan Island

Philippines, Philippines

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Batan Island is the main and second-largest island in Batanes province, the northernmost and smallest province of the Philippines, located about 162 kilometers north of Luzon mainland in the Luzon Strait and 190 kilometers south of Taiwan amid the Bashi and Balintang Channels.

Volcanic in origin with rugged, rocky terrain, rolling hills, mountains like Mount Iraya (1,517 meters), and intermittent sandy beaches, it hosts the provincial capital Basco plus municipalities Ivana, Mahatao, and Uyugan, supporting around 17,000 residents through root crops like sweet potatoes, fishing, and livestock amid frequent typhoons.

Home to stone houses, cliffs, and sites like Radar Tukon for panoramic views, it offers serene hikes and cultural immersion in a sparsely populated, windswept paradise without heavy tourism.