Basco Lighthouse

Basco Lighthouse is a lighthouse in the town of Basco in Batanes, the northernmost province in the Philippines. It is located on Naidi Hills in Barangay San Antonio, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the West Philippine Sea and Mt. Iraya. It is one of the three main lighthouses in Batanes, along with Sabtang and Mahatao lighthouses.

The lighthouse was built in 2003 as a working lighthouse and a tourist attraction. It stands 66 feet tall and has a tapered cylindrical tower with a balcony and a lantern. The tower is painted white with red trim, while the lantern is red. The lighthouse has six stories, with a viewing deck on the fifth floor that offers a 360-degree view of the island and the sea. Next to the tower is a dwelling that resembles the traditional Ivatan houses made of stone or rubble masonry.

The lighthouse is easily accessible by a 1.2-km or 3/4 mile hike from the Port of Basco. You can also bike or drive to the lighthouse, as there is a parking area nearby. The best time to visit the lighthouse is during the summer season, from March to May, when there is less rainfall and more sunshine. You can also catch a spectacular sunset from the lighthouse, as it faces west.

The lighthouse is not only a guide for the local fisherfolk, but also a symbol of the history and culture of Batanes. The site where the lighthouse stands was once a small community for pre-colonial Ivatans and home of the late Chieftain Boyas. It was also the site of the American period telegraph facilities that connected Batanes with the central government until it was destroyed by the Japanese Imperial Army bombings at the start of World War II. Some of the buildings survived and have been converted into businesses like a café.