Banaue Rice Terraces ifugao

Get around

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaue_Rice_Terraces)

Get in

By bus

Getting to Banaue directly might take a lot of effort if you're not taking a direct route from Manila or if you don't have a tour agency to help you. Here are a few possible ways to get to Banaue:

Manila - Banaue (direct)                                                                                                      

• Ohayami Trans, Lacson Ave. cor. Fajardo St., Sampaloc, Manila (Just near University of Sto. Tomas or take the train from the Legarda Station then just take a trickshaw to the terminal), ☎ +63 927 649 3055, +63 917 561 7344, +63 2 516-0501,.Provides trips directly to Banaue. They have three daily trips - 21:00, 21:45 and 22:00 leaving their terminal in Manila and taking 9-10 hrs ₱450.  

Manila - Baguio - Banaue

• Ohayami Trans, Otek St., Burnham Park, Baguio City (within Chowking area), [8 hrs. Provides trips from Baguio to Banaue. They have two daily trips - 20:00, 21:00 ₱360.  
• KMS, Near Rizal Park, Baguio City. 7 hr. Provides a mini-bus trip from Baguio to Banaue. They have two daily trips: 08:00 and 21:30. ₱400.  

The first option may be a good choice if you don't like overnight buses or want to enjoy the very scenic drive during the day.

Manila - Baguio - Bontoc - Banaue

There are jeepneys going from Bontoc to Banaue and even Sagada to Banaue during peak season or holidays.

Manila - Solano - Nueva Vizcaya - Banaue ifugao

Buses heading to Tuguegarao (e.g. Baliwag transit, Victory,Florida transport inc., etc.) pass by the town of Solano. Several jeepneys ply the Solano-Banaue route or the Solano-Lagawe, Ifugao route. From Lagawe, one can then take another jeepney to Banaue.

Manila - Tarlac - Solano - Banaue

Buses heading for Baguio pass by Tarlac. Vizcaya liner plies the Tarlac-Solano route at 05:00.

By car

The distance between the Balintawak Cloverleaf, in north Manila at the beginning of the North Luzon Expressway and the Welcome to Banaue sign, is about 332 km. The road is paved all the way to Banaue. Travel time can be as long as 9 hr due to the several blind curves through the mountains.

Best day to travel is on Easter Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. It will take about 7 hr by car with a reliable driver from Manila.

Get around

Jeepneys (converted jeeps/bus) and tricycles (trikes) (little motorcycles with side cars) are easily available around Banaue. Vans can be hired with driver/guide. Expect to hike some to great places to see that are not on the roads.

There is a public jeepney plying the Banaue-Batad (Saddle-point) (start of trek to Batad village) route daily. See Get Out, below for more info.

I’ve been to Banaue Rice Terraces  also called musuan peak, are 2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the “Eighth Wonder of the World“.The adventure would not be complete if you wouldn’t experience walking on the paddies. So, i put my hiking shoes on and walked down towards the bottom of the terraces. Going down is easy. Going up is another story. Ive been too Chapa Falls. 45-minute hike from downtown. It was nice there.. and there are few tourist go there unlike Batad. But Batad is also beautiful place.The Ifugao are almost as famous for carving wood as they are for carving earth into green, fuzzy, rice-bearing steps. You’ll find myriad locally made carvings and other crafts in the shops surrounding the main plaza. Two kilometres north of town you can ogle rice terraces to your heart’s content at the viewpoint; a tricycle there and back costs P200. If 
your heart’s still not content, there are similarly impressive specimens lurking in nearby Hapao 

and Kiangan, as well as around Bontoc and in Kalinga Province to the north.


What to see in banaue ?
The Museum of Cordillera Sculpture, located next to Spring Village Inn, has a fabulous collection of bulol and other Ifugao woodcarvings, including some rare originals. There are also some fascinating old books that you can read, including a 1912 National Geographic on Ifugao head-hunters.




The Banaue Rice Terraces have often been called the "Eighth Wonder of the World" due to the extent and height of these gigantic stairways. They soar for several thousand feet upwards and extend for miles. Standing at the terrace viewpoint, the green steps extend for as far as the eye can see.

The first question to ask in deciding where to stay is do you want to have electricity at night or do you want to experience living in the Batad Village with no electricity?  There are five inns located on the hill overlooking the Batad Village. They are Rita's, Hillside Inn, Simon's, Batad Pension and Ramon's Homestay. All of them have electricity but the biggest inns are Hillside Inn and Simon's Inn. Both of them can accommodate 50 guests at any time and they have a fantastic view of the Batad Village.

We stayed in Hillside Inn and I would recommend it because of the good service and good kitchen. The rooms in Batad would costs P150-P200 per person per night. 

Hillside Inn and Restaurant
Contact Person: Maya Addug
Mobile Number: +63 919-379 9599
Mobile Number: +63 905-769-9796

17 rooms.
Maximum of 50+ people.
Has electricity and good kitchen.
Common Bathrooms -- separate toilet and bath rooms.
Has great and unobstructed view of Batad Village.

Rita's Mount View Inn and Restaurant 
with Special Pizza and Chapati Bread

Mr. and Mrs. Romeo Nabannal
Batad, Banaue 3601 Ifugao, Philippines
Mobile Number: +63 910 842 3076

6 rooms
12 people maximum
Has a nice ifugao hut with ifugao antique collection

Ramon's Homestay
Contact Number: +63 927 678 3932
Contact Number: +63 918 243 9827

You can stay in traditional Ifugao huts and learn about Ifugao Culture

Simon's Inn
Contact Person: Simon Illag
Mobile Number: +63 919 261-9566

16 rooms
48 people maximum.
Has a fantastic view of Batad Village.

Batad Pension and Restaurant
Contact Person: Gina or Florence
Mobile: +63 921 737 1745

8 rooms.
Maximum of 22 people.

Samson's Homestay.
Inside the Batad Village.

Reserve via Batad Tourist Info
Mobile Number: +63 905 397 2317

Cristina Inn
Contact Person: John Amehna +63 906 977 3771

3 rooms.
12 people Maximum
In Batad Village.
No Electricity Available at night.

Foreigner's Inn
Contact Person: David Chuccar

Reserve via Batad Tourist Info
Mobile Number: +63 905 397 2317

7 rooms
14 people maximum
In the middle of Batad Village.
No Electricity available at night.
The original inn popular to foreigners inside the village.

Waterfall Side Inn
Contact: Charlie Ognayon
via Batad Tourist Info
Mobile Number: +63 905 926 5423

3 rooms.

10 people maximum.

Near the Tapiya Falls.

No Electricity.

Where to eat? 

Eating & Drinking Banaue

Most of the best lodges in Banaue also have the best restaurants in town and so this chapter will help you decide where to eat and drink in this quiet town. It is also advised to have your dinner before 9pm as most kitchens and cafes close by 9pm.

Sanafe Lodge and Restaurant - Among all the restaurants in Banaue, Sanafe's is the best-looking although some people might not find it the best tasting in town. Although the food is a bit disappointing, this is the best place for drinking because of their big viewing deck and bar stools facing straight at the terraces. Recommended is their selection of pasta.

People's Lodge and Restaurant - For your eating and viewing pleasure, this place is highly recommended. Not only do they provide great views of the terraces for their diners but also great food. They have a wide variety of food available for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as light sandwiches and snacks. For breakfast, try their banana-filled pancakes which are reasonably priced at 60php. Sandwiches cost 45php and must-try is their People's Rice which consists of asparagus soup, brown rice, chopsuey, a slice of chicken plus a banana for dessert and costs 100php. 

Uyami's Green View Lodge - Aside from being the most popular lodge in town, Uyami's onsite restaurant if often bustling with customers because of its good food and excellent service. Unlike Sanafe and People's Lodge, Uyami's Restaurant doesn't have a straight view of the terraces because there is no verandah so guests can just enjoy the view by looking through the window. For 50php you can have a sauteed leafy vegetable dish and for 110php you can have a meal consisting of a rice and a local dish called Tinolang Manok, which is basically a chicken with green vegetables in a ginger soup.

Banaue Hotel Restaurant - Banaue Hotel offers its guest complimentary buffet breakfast that can be taken at their restaurant and with great views of the terraces. They also serve decent wines, steaks and a variety of continental dishes. Cultural shows are also held depending on the schedule. 

 Las Vegas - Located just a few meters away from the Banaue Tourist Center is Las Vegas Cafe, which is also one of the very few restaurants in town which stays open later than 9pm. Family-owned and operated, this restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and also has local beer available. Must-try is their version of Pork and Chicken Adobo and Fruit Pancakes.

Friends Country Music Bar - Located on the ridge north of Banaue Hotel, Friends Country Music Bar is  a favorite local hang-out which features live acoustic performances from local bands and best enjoyed with a cold bottle of beer. Like other bar and restaurants within the town, this bar is only open until 10pm.