Racuh A Payaman is a protected location in the island of Batan in Batanes. The breath-taking view from the hills makes it a photographer’s dream location: even the most inexperienced photographer can probably come up with awesome photos just because the place is incredibly beautiful already by itself. Dubbed as the “Marlboro country” of Batanes, Racuh A Payaman makes you wonder that such a place still exists in the Philippines.

The photo above is the first thing you will see as you enter the gate leading to the trail. My travel buddies and I were fortunate that the weather was agreeable that day—the sky so blue and the green hills vibrant with life.

The fresh air from the untouched greens would make you appreciate the place even more. You can simply hang out there and watch the skies and the sea, not knowing how much time has passed. I’m not very good at hiking—the extra weight I put on after I quit smoking takes its toll during climbs—but not once did I get shortness of breath. Either the air was so fresh, or I was just so taken by the scenery and busy taking as much photographs as I could that I didn’t notice I was already climbing up and down a hill.

From a distance, you get to see carabaos grazing in the hills. Best not to get too close, the animals in the area are known to be wild and undomesticated.

Though you can get better views from the lighthouses scattered around the island, Racuh A Payaman gives a unique perspective of the shores, hills, and cliffs of Batanes.

It’s best to stay on the trail for your own safety. Protection of the environment is also strictly imposed: littering, extraction without necessary permit, and vandalism are not allowed under the NIPAS Act and Batanes Protection Act of 2000.

It’s great to know that the government is doing its best to protect the beauty of the hills. The remoteness of Batanes has long protected it from the bad effects of industrialization, but with the government actively taking part in its protection, we might be able to keep Batanes the way it is: simply beautiful.

Thank you very much to SEAIR for allowing me to experience breath-taking Batanes. It’s one of the very few airlines that fly five times a week to the province. For more info on how to get there, visit the SEAIR website.