Travel Guide Itbayat Island

Did you think you'd reached the end of the Philippines? You hadn't yet reached Itbayat, the country's northernmost inhabited island, closer to Taiwan than to the Philippines! A tiny island of 4,000 inhabitants, a coral island surrounded by steep cliffs rather than beaches, arid vegetation and sublime landscapes. The island is first and foremost a marine sanctuary and nature reserve, and travelers who visit it are expected to behave respectfully towards nature and the local inhabitants.Major points of interest include Turungan Hill, an important burial site where the first Austronesians are said to have landed from Taiwan 4,000 years ago, and the Turungan caves, where the first inhabitants must have stayed. The Kumayasakas caves and their natural water source. The view from Mount Riposed and Mount Karoobulan, overlooking Lake Kayaywan. You can also visit Rapang Cliff Nature Park, with its cliffs, forests and pastures.