Rice terraces galore in and around Banaue. Batad being the highlight. Everything easily accesible on a good pair of hiking boots. Note, though, that Banaue is just your starting point.
Nature wonder indeed! I've visited the place 3 times. After Banaue, I recommend you visit Sagada as well.
DON'T go there during RAINY season! You won't see a thing except foggy clouds that enveloped the rice terraces. I am not kidding. When it rains, it rains in the morning, afternoon and evening for days. The first trip was a more 25km run in the rain from Lagawe(capital town) to Banaue. Was so tired & disappointed. Could not see a thing, but foreigners on their umbrellas trying to shoot the fog. The 2nd trip was going to Mountain Province. Same thing, just raining! couldn't see a thing! This time though I hitched with friends!The 3rd trip was OK! It wasn't raining but gloomy and the fog lifted!This is what you see when you're coming from Banaue town to see the rice terraces.1st stop: The Main View Point- pretty but ehhhh! Just go ahead & buy souvenirs.2nd stop: Dayanara View Point- this is the most beautiful site of all, trust me! Buy more souvenirs, wear some Ifugao attire & stuff. There is a FEE of course!3rd stop: The View Point- it's all the way up high! this is the view where the fog stays later. This is where you can hike also to the terraces. We didn't, too crappy and muddy! Buy more souvenirs, wear Ifugao attire & have selfies.This time I was able to see a beautiful waterfall that's coming from the top of the mountain. You can hire tricycle to bring you up then work the way down. I don't know the fee, but I know that haggling is the best way to go. What to bring:waterproof everything as much as possible! You energy to hike! Your energy bars, bottled water is available almost any stall/store you come upon. Don't forget those wipes, very important!
I remember growing up how I love to see the picture of Banaue Rice Terraces or Hagdan-Hagdang Palayan. I remember my elementary days; I’m very much in love with my favorite subject, Sibika at Kultura. Every time I read those books, the picture of Banaue Rice Terraces was one of the most highlights.As we entered Banaue. My heart began searching this perfect spot. We rented tricycle with our tour guide, Allan to visit the famous place. Because, we only have limited time, our destination was in Bangaan Rice Terraces, but good enough to see those parts of rice terraces.There was certain of joy and happiness when I saw the famous spot. True enough, this captivating beauty is really amazing, proudly enough to remember that it was hailed as the 8th Wonders of the World.
What a magnificent tourist site! Having traveled in many countries, Banaue is one of my favorite places for its shear beauty. Getting to the Terraces is sometimes tiring along busy roads, but stopping frequently to enjoy Philippine scenic beauty and local culture, and staying at least overnight adds to the wonderful experience. Even in heavy rains the sights are breath taking.Take time to enjoy local meals in small restaurants: so friendly and excellent Filipino foods.
Engineering work of art, This is a very interesting place to see, and learn about its unique design irrigation.
This review is destined for non-backpackers, people like myself who are over fifty, consider themselves fit enough for trekking rice terraces, and thought they were OK with baseline conditions (I wasn't!). I'll have to watch out for my level of comfort being challenged. The quality of the rice terraces of Banaue and Batad is not the question here, they are breathtaking, it's accommodation.If considering a trek to Banaue and Batad, first, reserve a good place to stay in Banaue, like Sanofe Lodge, which will serve as your base. Guides are a dime a dozen, it's more important to find a place to stay that doesn't occupy your mind because it's so beneath the level of comfort you're used to (my experience). The guide we hired because friends had hiked with him reserved a room for us at Halfway Lodge because of his connections there. On seeing the room, I wanted to walk right out and find some other place to stay. I almost did, but there was no room better elsewhere. The room was decent, clean, and the staff was friendly and helpful, but it was so far from what I am used to when traveling. That said, Halfway Lodge has a pleasant balcony the floor above the restaurant where you can admire the rice terraces opposite.It is worth your while to study the transport from Banaue to the various viewpoints and villages, if you're not hiking everywhere. Our guide had a tricycle, which we had to pay for, but that meant we sat in the exhaust over bumpy roads for long distances. However we were free to stay as long or as short as we wanted at each stop. This also meant we hadn't thought of this extra charge; and there are no ATMs in Banaue! One must bring far more cash than one expects to spend in Banaue and Batad. The nearest ATM is in Lagawe, 22 km away.The rice terraces in Banaue are modest compared to those in Batad, which are like an amphitheater of rice terraces, simply stupendous. You actually don't need a guide from Saddle to Batad, there are no possibilities you might lose your way if walking in daylight. Nor do you really need a guide to go into the rice terraces in Batad or down to the waterfall. If you're hiking from Batad to Banaue via Banga-an then it's worth taking a guide.If you consider spending the night in Batad, and your guide says you have a 'private room' with all amenities, don't assume you do, because chances are, you don't. At Hillside Lodge, the comfort was limited (cover of foam mattress was cloth bags stitched together that had contained flour in a prior lifetime), bathroom not clean, toilet non-flush, but again the staff was friendly if shy. But the hike into the rice terraces and down to the waterfalls is grueling, so spending the night in Batad is actually a good idea.We got there via Dangwa Bus from Cubao, QC, out of an awfully cramped bus terminal where the bus drivers kept the motors running so you sit and wait in the fumes of exhaust. But the buses leave right on schedule.A must: the two museums in Banaue are definitely worth a visit, Banaue Museum, and Museum of Cordilleran Sculpture especially.If you are into acquiring bululs (rice gods) or other Ifugao sculpture, artist Delfin Campol's art gallery beside the Dangwa bus station is full of interesting artifacts within a reasonable range of prices.Big bonus: my husband's wallet fell out of his pocket on our trip back to Manila on Dangwa Bus from Banaue. We thought, lost forever. Wrong! The bus conductor picked it up, gave it to the management and we recovered it intact, with all the credit cards, cash, and ID. Thanks to Ferdinand Gamagam, said bus conductor, for his integrity.
I visited Banaue Rice Terraces some years ago when I got a rental car and drove around Southern / central and Western Luzon. The rice fields blew me away having never seen any rice fields before let a lone so massive. There is an amazing history to it too going back a very long time. I stayed in an accommodation across from there. it was amazing to awaken to in the morning. Simply breath-taking. A must see for anyone!! We only observed this from a distance, not realizing it was possible to go on what appeared like private land.
Travelling throughout Luzon you are immediately faced with iconic rice terraces in every shade of green shimmering across the hillsides. Numerous photo stops along the mountain roads offer varying views and every terrace in different in its own way. Most are fully accessible by foot and open to tourists, with long steep steps and boulders to get down to the base and then precarious walks across narrow walls to traverse the terraces, before a steep climb back up to the roadside - but every step is worth it. Wear sturdy footwear as it will be slippery as it does rain a lot in banaue even in the 'dry' season. Those that have working communities in them are warm and welcoing and the children love the attention from the tourists and giggle profusely if you take their photo and show it to them on your digital camera. So worthy of becoming a UNESCO heritage site.
Great place to visit if touring in The Philippines. The ancient rice terraces are beautiful seen from the top viewing point. There were a few local Ifugao hanging out at the viewing point for photo oppertunities (you should tip). We got a tricycle to the top viewing point and walked back down to the town, there are a few viewing points along the way and one had a lovely old man living there who would let you take photos with his traditional outfits and weapons for a donation. This place was worth the long journey from Manila.