The white lighthouse on the hill above Basco is one of the most-photographed spots in the province, and the view from the hilltop justifies the short climb. From here you can see the town below, the arc of the bay, and — on a clear day — the island of Itbayat to the north and the mountains of Taiwan on the horizon beyond. The lighthouse itself is a modest colonial-era structure, functional rather than grand, but the setting does most of the work.
Most visitors walk up from the main road through Basco — the path is well-worn and takes about fifteen minutes from the town centre. Go in the late afternoon when the light is soft and the sea changes colour, or very early in the morning for clear skies before the clouds build. It is a good first stop on your first day in Batanes, both for orientation and for the pleasure of having the view to yourself before the tricycle tours arrive.