Chavayan Village

Chavayan Village is a traditional Ivatan settlement on the southwest coast of Sabtang Island in Batanes, Philippines. Known for its well-preserved stone houses with cogon roofs, cobblestone streets and lime-mortared walls built to withstand typhoons, it exemplifies vernacular Ivatan architecture. The village is part of the Batanes Protected Landscape and Seascape and included in the UNESCO tentative list, offering insight into centuries-old building traditions and community life.

Visitors can expect a small coastal village with narrow cobblestone lanes lined with traditional Ivatan stone houses featuring thick limestone walls, wooden frames and cogon grass roofs. The settlement faces the West Philippine Sea with views of surrounding hills and coastline. Visitors can walk through the village streets, observe traditional architecture from the exterior, see local daily life, and take photographs of the well-preserved houses and scenic coastal setting. Access is on foot within the village.

Chavayan Village preserves vernacular Ivatan architecture developed over centuries to adapt to frequent typhoons and earthquakes. Its stone houses with thick limestone and coral walls, cogon roofs and small windows reflect construction techniques from the Spanish colonial period that continue to be maintained by the community.

The village is a living example of Ivatan culture and traditional building knowledge, demonstrating community-based preservation of heritage houses, communal work practices, and adaptation to the island environment. It is part of the Batanes cultural landscape recognized on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.