To my right were sheer, rugged cliffs, and to my left was the sea that seemed to stretch on endlessly. Above me was the bright sky and the even brighter sun. Up ahead were impossibly green hills that looked like they never wanted for rain.
This was Batanes, one of the most beautiful provinces in the Philippines – one that is on many travelers’ bucket lists. And I was experiencing it not from behind any window or below any roof that would insulate me from the elements, but from the back of a motorbike. As my guide and I sped through the scenery, the wind – occasionally laced with salt – rushed at me from all sides, sometimes feeling like an assault. I had never felt more alive.
Experiencing mountains, seas, and other scenic views by motorbike is one of my top favorite travel moments. Exploring the country’s islands by motorbike is already an experience like no other for many riders. But to me, riding at the back of a motorbike is especially sublime. While the driver fully focuses on the road, I can take in the scenery from all sides.
My first motorbike experience was on a trip in Camiguin. The island is small – so small, in fact, that you can drive around its coast in just two hours. For its size, Camiguin is blessed with diverse natural attractions: aside from beaches and mountains, it features several waterfalls, and springs, both hot and cold. While riding at the back of the motorbike, I especially loved seeing the White Island sandbar from a distance, and the peak of Mount Hibok-Hibok.
My next memorable motorbike experience was in Biliran. Another island blessed with mountains and surrounding seas, it is bigger than Camiguin but also takes just a few hours to circumnavigate. Biliran is known for its many waterfalls, and I was lucky to visit some. My favorite was Ulan-Ulan Falls, with its cascades that do look like falling rain (ulan translates to “rain”). Prior to visiting Batanes, Biliran was the greenest province I ever saw, with its many mountains and rice fields, including spectacular terraces.
One of my more recent motorbike rides was in Siquijor, another small province in the Visayas. It was my second time exploring it; my first was via a tricycle. Riding by motorbike this time was especially convenient, as my guide was able to take me to places with terrain that would be too steep for tricycles.
The sea view during motorbike rides is especially beautiful. Siquijor’s waters are a clear aquamarine, which is easily noticeable even for tourists arriving at the port. Beneath those clear waters are many colorful marine sanctuaries. I had the privilege of visiting two, and they were among my best snorkeling experiences.
Siquijor also has sweeping hills and mountains. Among them is Mount Bandilaan, which is home to medicinal plants the province’s healers use. From the mountains flow the waters that feed into the province’s turquoise waterfalls such as Cambugahay.
Batanes, of course, was the most memorable. Here, where beauty surrounded me 360 degrees, I was happy not to miss a thing. Riding by motorbike there, I felt that the journey was already a destination in itself. The experience of having the sea on one side and the massive rock formations on the other spans several minutes, not just for a brief moment.
Batanes and its islands actually make up the smallest province in the Philippines, but it is arguably one of the most beautiful. It has been my best ride so far.
While I was not able to experience all the provinces I visited by motorbike, I believe any province with picturesque views of either mountains or seas or both is worth exploring by motorbike. Small islands are especially beautiful because you get to see the sea more fully! With thousands of islands in the country, there is no shortage of new places to go on a motorbike exploration.
