Treks, hikes and other outdoor adventures in the Philippines
BANAUE: Home of the Ifugaos and the world-famous rice terraces
This page is a guide to Banaue, where you can find the world famous rice terraces, and gateway to the rest of Ifugao.
General information
One of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines, Banaue is one of the municipalities in the province of Ifugao, a land-locked area at the foot of the Cordillera mountain range in Northern Luzon, Philippines. The rice terraces and the rich colorful culture of its native inhabitants, the Ifugaos, make Banaue, or Ifugao Province in general, an interesting destination for the intrepid traveler in search of unique experiences.
Filipino and English are widely spoken and understood in the area, aside from
the local dialects. Bring enough cash in Philippine pesos. It's difficult to
find an ATM machine in the area and credit cards are not widely-accepted. There
are money-changers that convert US$ to pesos (about US$1=Php53 as of December
2002). Due to its elevation, weather is a bit colder than the rest of the
Philippines.
Banaue Viewpoint
. This is three kilometers north of Banaue, and 10 minutes travel by car via
the highway that goes towards Bontoc. Situated on top of a plateau, this is the
perfect place to view the world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces, known as the
Eighth Wonder of the World.
Matang-lag Bronze Smiths
. The small sitio of Matang-lag can be reached by climbing foot trails beside
the road that goes towards Batad. Using crude tools and materials, the smiths
produce a cornucopia of metal ornaments.
Guihod Natural Pool
. Its refreshing, crystal-clear spring waters can be reached either by a 1˝ km.
ride or a 30-minute hike from the town center.
Poitan Village
. Just a short trek on your right, from the same road going to Batad, visit
this place to witness traditional woodcarving and weaving.
Wake-up call for the rice terraces
The Banaue Rice Terraces, despite its popularity, is also endangered of
deterioration. Some parts had to give way to housing. Erosion is a common
problem caused by burrowing earthworms, creating holes in the soil. Banaue's
forest cover, which serve as watersheds and soil anchor have dwindled, courtesy
of Banaue's booming woodcarving industry. It's ironic that a place made famous
by tourism would also meet its tragic fate as a result of tourism. The
challenge now is how to promote an eco-friendly tourism that supports the
preservation of Banaue's endangered legacy, the rice terraces and its fragile
ecosystem. I wrote an article to open the eyes of readers on the endangered
rice culture of the Ifugaos . Please
click
here
to check it out.
If you're coming from Manila, the most popular way of getting to Banaue is by
taking the 10 PM Autobus (Tel. Nos. 743-6869 to 73) trip at their Dimasalang
bus station in Sampaloc. There's only one bus assigned for Banaue, though
additional trips are scheduled during peak seasons. To be sure, reserve tickets
in advance. If you fail to get reservations on the Banaue bus, don't despair
because you can still get there by cutting your trips. Try going first either
to Lagawe, Kiangan, Santiago or Solano, and then take a connecting trip from
any of these points to Banaue.
The nearby Dangwa Tranco bus station in Dimasalang also has scheduled trips to
Banaue.
Those coming from Baguio can take any of the two non-airconditioned Dangwa
Tranco bus trips to Banaue.
Travel time from Manila or Baguio to Banaue is from 8 to 10 hours.
You can choose from a variety of inns to stay in Banaue. Some of these inns
also have restaurants on the ground floor. Prices for overnight stay ranges
from less than Php100 up to Php2,000 (about US$2 - US$40).
The last Autobus trip from Banaue to Manila leaves around 5 PM. Reserve tickets
in advance during peak seasons. The last trip going to Manila is by Dangwa
Tranco bus that leaves around 6 PM. If you fail to catch the Manila-bound bus
and you cannot stay overnight in Banaue, try a connecting trip by taking first
a two-hour jeepney ride from Banaue to Bagabag. At the highway in Bagabag,
plenty of Manila-bound buses from other provinces pass by.
From Banaue to Baguio, Dangwa Tranco provides a daily service that leaves as
early as 6 AM and as late as 4 PM. The last Autobus trip from Banaue to Baguio
leaves around 5 PM.
Gateway to more Ifugao adventures
If you only have time for an overnight stay, a trip to Batad and Tappiya
Waterfalls within Batad is worth it. In Batad, choose an inn that will afford
you a view of the Batad amphitheatre and the surrounding mountain range.
Resolve to get up early in the morning to witness the sunrise. The sun
gradually peeking from the mountain range and gently illuminating the Batad
amphitheatre is an unforgettable sight to behold!
Sagada is just a small town in Mountain Province but is gaining popularity
worldwide, especially among backpackers. Sagada is an eco-adventure and
cultural trip all rolled into one. I've never been in any other place where so
many points of interest are concentrated in one area. (I still have to schedule
that Batanes and Camiguin trip.) Sagada is blessed with a cool climate and pine
forests.
With Banaue as jump off point, one can go to a myriad of places to complete
one's Ifugao adventure. Whether your taste is trekking or mountaineering,
mountain biking, or simply relaxed sightseeing, all roads start from Banaue,
your gateway to more Ifugao adventures.
Ifugao Villages
Batad / Cambulo / Pula
I trekked through these villages sometime in November 2000. Click
here
to check it out.
I always stay at the Hillside Inn because of the friendly service. Friends have
bad comments about Simon's Place, so I'll stay away from this inn.
For those who don't have the energy and the luxury of time to trek and stay
overnight in Batad, a daytrip to Bangaan makes a good alternative. Bangaan is
an hour's journey from Banaue. At the Batad-Bangaan junction, the road on the
right goes to Bangaan and brings you to more views of rice terraces and a
native Ifugao village.
About 4-5 hours from Banaue is the town of Mayoyao. The rice terraces in these
parts have walls made of masonry stones. Mayoyao is a pleasant surprise. Since
it's
not as popular as Batad, I never thought Mayoyao could be so beautiful. Click
here
to check out my visit there in December of 2002.
Hapao / Hungduan / Mt. Napulauan
I traversed Mt. Napulauan, with ascent from Hungduan and descent via Hapao
sometime in January 2001. Click
here
to read the accounts of my trek.
One of the top 10 highest peaks in the Philippines, it is a recommended climb
to mountaineers. The summit affords a 360-view of neighboring towns and
summits, including Mt. Pulag, the highest peak in Luzon and second in the
Philippines.
There are several options in going to Amuyao. The traditional way is via
Barlig. When taking this route, you have to take a series of jeepney rides that
brings you from Banaue to Bontoc to Bay-yo to Talupeng, and eventually, to
Sitio Macalama in Barlig, the jump off point. The jeepney travel will consume
the whole morning, so you will start your trek in the afternoon. On the
average, the summit can be reached within 4 to 5 hours of trekking. Plan to
camp overnight at the summit. Bring your food and water provisions. Don't
forget to bring a sleeping bag and a windbreaker. The weather on top is very
cold.
Amuyao can also be reached via Batad-Cambulo-Pat-yay. To take this route, start
from Banaue, passing by Batad. You can add spice and variety in your trek by
traversing Amuyao, either ascending via Barlig with a descent via Pat-yay or
vice-versa. Check out
here
my traverse climb of Mt. Amuyao last Nov./Dec. 2001!
If you have more time to spare, a trip to Sagada is highly recommended. In
fact, a lot of travelers only pass by Banaue as jump-off point. After a brief
sightseeing at the Banaue viewpoint, to see of course its world-famous rice
terraces, they would immediately head to Batad for an overnight stay, and then
to Sagada the following day.
To get to Sagada from Banaue, take first the jeepney that goes to Bontoc.
Top-loading (riding on top of the jeepney) is highly recommended to witness a
kaleidoscope of fantastic scenery along the way. If you opt to stay below, sit
on the left side of the jeepney for more views. The jeepneys leave before noon
and the trip takes about 2˝ hours. You may opt to visit the museum in Bontoc
before taking a connecting jeepney to Sagada, for another hour of a scenic
journey.
The rice terraces of Batad are more pristine and better preserved compared with
its famous counterpart in Banaue. The refreshing trip and hike towards the
village of Batad is a good introduction to fantastic views that the rest of
Ifugao has to offer.
Personally speaking, it's the best tourist destination so far north of Luzon.
(Shut up Baguio City!) Hmmm…let me qualify that. Sagada rules, at least, for
the nature-loving adventure-seekers among us.
An overnight's stay in Sagada is not worth it. Plan to spend at least two days
to enjoy the place.
Don't leave Sagada without exploring the caves! If you do, you've never been to
Sagada at all. Sumaging caves are the most popular.
Don't miss also the hanging coffins and the craggy cliffs along Echo Valley.
It's just a short trek from the town center.
There are two waterfalls that you can explore. Bokong is the small waterfalls
and is a trek away from the town proper. Bumod-ok, the big waterfalls in
Fidelisan, is normally reached by jeepney but can be hiked for about two hours.
In previous trips, access to the big waterfalls was prohibited to the public.
Don't push your luck when this happens lest you get caught in the middle of a
tribal war!
A leisurely hike towards Kiltepan Tower is highly recommended. Climb the tower
to view breathtaking vistas, including well-preserved rice terraces.
A hike to the summit of Mt. Ampacao could take most of your day. Don't forget
to bring lunch and plenty of drinking water. You can cap this dayhike by
traversing Ampacao to emerge at a road going to Lake Danom.
Forgoing the dayhike to Mt. Ampacao, you can hike through Lake Danom by
following the main road from the town proper going to Besao.
View My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook
For questions, comments or feedback, please leave a message at my guestbook.
Copyright © 2001-2002. All Rights Reserved.