If I were to pick my must-see attractions of the Philippines, Banaue would be firmly in the top three. Along with the breathtaking beaches of Palawan and the surreal Chocolate Hills of Bohol, the rice terraces of Banaue round out the Philippines as a powerhouse of a travel destination. Each of these three offer vastly different landscapes, giving travelers a glimpse of how diverse the Philippines truly is. Of the places I’ve mentioned, Banaue is by far the least-visited. Its location deep in the Cordillera region of Luzon makes it a challenge to reach in the first place. With no airports nearby, one needs to embark on a grueling 10-hour bus journey from Metro Manila just to get to Banaue.

That challenge is a huge part of the charm. Unlike the crowds one will encounter on El Nido’s beaches, or the commercialized tourism industry of Bohol, the vast rice terraces of Banaue can be experienced without running into another human. Since it isn’t as easily accessible, only the most off-the-beaten-path of travelers brave the journey to the remote rice terraces of Ifugao. Even fewer delve deeper towards the more secluded areas like Batad.

Never fear, despite the long journey through daunting mountain roads, Banaue is a lot less challenging as people imagine. I’ve got you covered. Here is everything you need to know before visiting Banaue and its otherworldly rice terraces.

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 Table of Contents

• How To Get To Banaue
• Where To Stay in Banaue
• Best Time To Visit Banaue
• Best Things To Do in Banaue
• Where To Eat in Banaue
• Closing Thoughts on Banaue
• More on the Philippines

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How To Get To Banaue

There are a few different ways to reach Banaue, depending on what part of the Philippines you are coming from. As I said earlier, there are no airports nearby, meaning that you’ll likely have to fly into Manila, if you aren’t already there. From Manila, there are direct buses from Cubao with Coda Lines, which can be booked online through 12go.asia. These overnight buses will arrive at Banaue early in the morning, usually between 5 to 7 AM.

These buses also go through Bontoc and Sagada, so it’s possible to catch one to Banaue coming from the opposite direction. From Sagada, we hopped on the Coda Lines bus in the afternoon and arrived in Banaue at 5 PM. You can check the schedule with the Coda Lines ticket office in Sagada, but one typically leaves at 1 PM and the next at 2 PM. It’s not uncommon for these buses to leave earlier, so show up 30 minutes prior to the expected departure to grab a seat and settle in. These buses will arrive in Bontoc about an hour later, so wait at the Bontoc terminal if you’re coming from there.

The first time I visited Banaue, we were coming from Buscalan after visiting Apo Whang-Od. We had to backtrack to Bontoc and since there was a group of us, we were able to split the costs of a private minivan to Banaue. I don’t remember the costs, but between the four of us, it was comparable to booking a bus ticket for each of us.

Where To Stay in Banaue

Despite its renown as a travel destination among Filipinos, Banaue’s tourism infrastructure is fairly undeveloped. Therefore, Banaue doesn’t have too many great options for accommodation yet. Both times that I’ve visited Banaue, I stayed at Uyami Greenview Hotel, which is one of the nicer hotels in town. Uyami is just a short 3-minute walk from the main bus stop and sits right in the center of what could be called Banaue’s downtown in Barangay Poblacion.

There are some other options, including similarly-nice ones, but these are further from Banaue’s town center. Pink Eco Hostel, Evergreen Hostel, and Trekker’s Lodge are a few options that lie along the highway. All of them have great reviews but for convenience’s sake, I have always stayed at Uyami Greenview. Unless you have your own car or don’t mind paying for tricycles all the time, staying in Banaue town makes everything, from restaurants to transportation, much more accessible.

Best Time To Visit Banaue

Like most travel destinations in the Philippines, the difference in scenery and experience can be dramatic depending on when you choose to visit Banaue. The rainy season, rice planting season, and the time of harvest can all play a part in what Ifugao’s rice terraces will look like.

The rice farming season in the Philippines typically falls between the months of April and July. During this time, Banaue’s rice terraces will be at their most lush and vibrant. Leading up to these months, the rice plants will be at various stages of growth, which is still beautiful to see. Shortly after these months, the rice paddies might be a murkier brown color, especially following the heavy monsoon season. However, it was also incredible to see the waterlogged paddies reflect the sun, clouds, and natural landscapes. Honestly, I can’t pick which view I preferred. It is up to your personal preference, but if you are only in the Philippines once, I highly recommend making the trip no matter the time of year. There is no wrong time or season to experience this one-of-a-kind attraction.

Before setting off on epic adventures around the Ifugao Province, make sure you have a plan for staying connected. I use Saily eSIM to keep me online during my travels, ensuring that I have internet from the moment I land to the moment I leave. Navigating directions, coordinating travel plans with new hostel friends, booking a ride, and so on – having an eSIM makes life that much easier when you’re on the road. Data packages for The Philippines start at just $3, and you can use my code “eli5” for an additional 5% off of your first Saily eSIM.

Best Things To Do in Banaue

Now, what can one actually do in Banaue? While Banaue is typically used as a kicking-off point for more adventures in the area, there are a few things to do in Banaue itself. Here are some of my favorite things to do in Banaue town and the stunning Ifugao province.

The Banaue Rice Terraces

Banaue’s rice terraces are arguably the Philippines’ most famous, although development and urbanization have changed the terrain a little bit. As the local farmers move towards different careers, a lot of the rice terraces have been reclaimed by forests and housing. Regardless, they are still a marvel and Banaue has no shortage of epic viewpoints to take in the scenery. The best viewpoints lie outside of Banaue town. You can hike or take a tricycle to the view decks and restaurants along the highway. I haven’t tried hiking in Banaue’s rice terraces, but I do believe there might be local trails that avoid the highway and allow you to further immerse yourself in the rice fields.

Banaue Museum

The Banaue Museum is a small but detailed museum featuring handicrafts and artifacts of the Ifugao people. The museum doesn’t seem to have official hours, but we rocked up anyway since we had time to kill before our bus back to Manila. One of the weavers from the shop below opened up for us and showed us around. It was an older lady who had spent her entire life in Banaue, and it was precious to have her perspective guiding us through the museum. She gave us so much first-hand information on Banaue and Ifugao, as well as her insights on how Banaue has transformed through the years.

One of the most fascinating things was learning about the head-hunting traditions of the Ifugao. Themes of vengeance played heavily into the history of the indigenous people of the region, which is a stark contrast to the laid-back, happy-go-lucky attitudes of Filipinos today. It’s a good way to spend an hour or so. Be sure to pay a visit to the weaving center below the museum to see the talented women weavers at work, displaying mastery of the uniquely South East Asian ikat style.

Batad Rice Terraces

The best thing to do in Banaue isn’t in Banaue itself, but a short day trip away in the secluded village of Batad. Although it is possible as a day trip, I recommend adding an extra night or two to your itinerary to spend some time in this peaceful village. It is one of my favorite places in the Philippines, and a tried-and-true getaway whenever I want an escape from the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a sight to behold, and remains one of the most unique landscapes I’ve seen on my travels. The town of Batad has a few homestays should you wish to escape into the tranquility of the Cordilleras. I’d recommend the Batad Countryside Inn, boasting an incredible view of the rice terraces, collectively known as the Batad Amphitheatre.

Tappiya Falls

While in Batad, dedicate a few hours to hiking down to Tappiya Falls. It is a steep descent and punishing climb back up, but is a true hidden gem of the Philippines. Its secluded location and dense, jungly atmosphere makes for an otherworldly experience. We had this entire place to ourselves for about two hours. The cool waters are refreshing after the hike. Soak it all in.

Other Rice Terraces in Ifugao

En route to Batad, there are a few rice terraces along the way. Most of these are viewpoints, and unlike Batad, you won’t be able to spend the night in the village or wander through the rice terraces themselves.

These rice terraces include the:

• Bangaan Rice Terraces
• Cambulo Rice Terraces
• Kinikan Rice Terraces

All of them are beautiful, and if you can convince your tricycle driver to stop for a few minutes, it will be well worth it. If you have your own transportation, like a scooter rental, then feel free to stop and make a detour by hiking down into the rice paddies themselves. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the local life of Ifugao.

Where To Eat in Banaue

Banaue doesn’t have too many great restaurants but there are a handful of nice places to eat with beautiful views. Uyami served as our one-stop shop for everything, and most of our meals were had here.

7th Heaven’s is a restaurant along the main highway and just a short walk from Banaue’s town center. It offers excellent views overlooking Banaue and its rice terraces. The food and coffee are pretty solid. Considering the limited options in Banaue, 7th Heaven’s is definitely a must.

We also snacked our way through Banaue’s market street, filled with street food and small bakeries. For quick and cheap meals, there are also a number of cardinerias, or local cafeteria-style eateries. These will offer about a dozen or so mass-produced Filipino dishes. Just pick one or two ulam to go with a heaping portion of rice, and you’ve got yourself a budget-friendly and filling meal.

As Banaue develops, I’m sure more restaurants and cafes will pop up, but for now, Banaue doesn’t have much to offer in the way of food. If you find yourself in Batad, the same is true. Most guesthouses will double as a restaurant for its guests. Don’t worry, though. Most meals I’ve had in Banaue and Batad are of great quality, and I rarely found myself lamenting the lack of food options. For a short trip, the current dining scene in Ifugao will do.

After all, you aren’t coming here for the food, and I promise you’ll get your fill from Banaue’s otherworldly attractions.

Closing Thoughts on Banaue

Few places in the Philippines will give you as much insight into the history and heritage of the country as Banaue will. Although small, it is an incredible travel destination, and serves as a unique addition to any Philippines travel itinerary. Not many travelers make it to this gem in the Philippine cordilleras, and I promise that those who do will not be disappointed.

Buy Me A Beer!

If this post helped you out, show some love and support for the blog and help keep my adventures going by buying me a beer! My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated, and allows me to keep writing helpful travel guides and creating travel content to help you all travel the world on a budget.

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