Banaue Travel Guide: An Excellent Guide to the World

This Banaue Travel Guide helps you make the most of your two days in Banaue. It features a well-thought-out travel itinerary and a detailed budget for the trip,

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Introduction

Back in the summer of 2004, when I first set foot in the mountain town of Banaue Ifugao. Being raised in a broken family who don’t see each other so often, this trip brought me so much joy.

I remember the long conversation, the laughter, and the family portraits photographed on these breathtaking rice terraces are worth celebrating. Indeed, our quick escape to Banaue has taught us to cherish such moments we are bound on this rare event.

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Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines

Quick Fact About Banaue

Due to Banaue’s mountainous terrains, the early Ifugaos carved their mountains using their bare hands to grow crops. Hence, the existence of an engineering marvel and a great legacy to the world – the Banaue Rice Terraces.

Climate in Banaue

Like most parts of the Cordillera region, Banaue Ifugao has a temperate climate due to its high elevation. The mountain town has an altitude of around 4,000 feet above sea level. Thus, the months from December to February bring a much colder atmosphere than the rest of the year.

Best Time to Visit Banaue

Banaue’s main draw is the rice terraces located in Batad and Bangaan, declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. So, visiting Banaue is best when rice terraces are most verdant.

April to June

The driest month, from April to June, are the best time to witness Banaue’s rice terraces in their lush greens. However, the summer season may bring a bit warmer temperatures.

July to November

The harvest time begins in July so is the wet season. These months are often raining and prone to landslides. However, expect to witness an incredible view of the rice terraces growing luxuriantly, starting October until November.

December to March

Months from December until March is the best time to visit Banaue for much colder weather. However, rice fields in these months are pools of mud and completely barren. Hence, avoid these months or enjoy the scenic views of bare terraces.

Language in Banaue

Ifugao is the language spoken in the Ifugao province. It consists of other dialects, such as Ayangan, Kalanguya, and Tuwali, which differ in accentuations.

Moreover, some locals speak and comprehend Ilocano, Tagalog, and English. Here are some of the essential Ifugao words and phrases you can use in Banaue.

Good morning – Mayat ni aghapa
What is your name? – Hipay ngadan mu?
Good afternoon – Mayat ni mangiwid
I can’t understand – Agak maawatan
Good night – Mayat ni malabi
Can you help me? – Mabalin tulungan mirak?
What time is it? – Hipay oras mo?
How much? – Piga?

Currency in Banaue

Philippine Peso is the currency in Banaue, Ifugao. The exchange rate as of December 09, 2022, is PHP 55.40 or USD 1.

Mode of Payment in Banaue

Like Batanes, hard cash is the primary payment mode in Banaue, especially in Batad. But there are a couple of ATMs in the public market if you run short of cash.

Banaue Travel Guide Tip: Bring enough cash to cover the entire duration of your trip. The ATMs in Banaue will likely run out of bills and is sometimes offline.

Ways of Getting to Banaue

Ifugao shares a land border with Mountain Province to the northwest and Benguet to the west. Moreover, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino are the neighboring provinces to the south, while Isabela is to the east.

If from the nearby provinces, or Metro Manila, land transportations are viable options to reach Banaue.

Metro Manila to Banaue via Baguio

Victory Liner, Joy Bus, and Solid North have daily trips to Baguio from their Pasay, Manila, Cubao, and Caloocan terminals. It will take 4-6 hours from Metro Manila to reach Baguio.

In addition, it will take another three-hour bus transfer from Baguio to get to Banaue. Ohayami Trans cater to this route.

Metro Manila to Banaue via Sagada

If you intend to visit Sagada before heading to Banaue Ifugao, spend eleven hours traveling from Metro Manila to Sagada.

From Sagada, ride a jeepney, which departs from 6:30 am until 1:00 pm, to Bontoc for about 45 minutes. And from Bontoc, buses, vans, jeepneys, and tricycles are the viable options to reach Banaue. The travel time is roughly an hour and a half.

Metro Manila to Banaue

Coda Lines and Ohayami Trans have direct trips from Metro Manila to Banaue for ten hours. An overnight trip to Banaue via night buses is recommended.

Banaue Travel Guide Tip: Otherwise, book an organized Banaue tour paired with Sagada and Baguio. This hassle-free tour often includes van transfers, lodgings, and entrance fees.

Getting Around Banaue

The Banaue Museum and the Tam-An Village, located in Poblacion, are nearby and walkable. However, expect some inconveniences as you go farther, like Batad, a secluded village and home to imposing ‘Batad Rice Terraces.’

To reach Batad, catch the only departing Batad-bound jeepney, stationing at Banaue Public Market at 2:00 pm. Otherwise, hire an entire jeepney or tricycle that leads you to the village, but for a pricier fare. The tricycle fare starts at PHP 500.00, or USD 9.04 per way.

Inversely, ride a Poblacion-bound jeepney that leaves from Batad at 9:00 am once daily.

This Sagada Travel Guide requires 13 minutes of reading. If you can’t make it this time, read it later. But please save this pin.

Areas to Stay in Banaue

Accommodations are sprawling in Banaue due to the growing number of tourists who wish to see up close Banaue’s renowned wonders. However, many accommodations are simple yet decent lodges, hostels, and inns concentrated in Poblacion and Batad.

Poblacion

A multitude of accommodations is found in Banaue’s commercial center, Poblacion. Also, retail shops and restaurants are close-packed and are the jumping-off place to other parts of the Cordillera.

Banaue Rice Terraces, located in Viewpoint, are a few minutes-ride from Poblacion.

Batad

The world-renowned Batad Rice Terraces and the Tappiya Falls are the main draws in Batad. Accommodations are homestays, guesthouses, and hostels, providing essentials like sleep and bath. Also, some have balconies with views of the expansive rice terraces of Batad.

Banaue Travel Guide Tip: Banaue, Ifugao is peppered with concreted structures, and so are their accommodations. But, visiting Banaue would not be complete without spending a night in a ‘Bale’ or a traditional Ifugao house.

Internet in Banaue

The internet connection in remote places like Siargao could be challenging, and so in Banaue. So, expect a slow to moderate internet speed as you explore this far-off Cordillera town.

Power Adaptor in Banaue

Banaue operates on a 220V supply voltage with a frequency of 60HZ and has one type of power adaptor:

• A or with two flat parallel pins

Banaue Travel Guide Itinerary

Day 1 - Batad

Departure from Sagada, Mountain Province

06:30 am – 07:15 am travel to Bontoc

At the Sagada transport terminal
Take a Bontoc-bound jeepney
Alight in Bontoc

07:15 am – 08:45 am head to Banaue

From Bontoc
Ride a Banaue-bound transport
Drop-off at Banaue Municipal Tourism Office

08:45 am – 10:30 am register, pay the tourism fee, amounting to PHP 100.00 or USD 1.81, and have lunch

Banaue Travel Guide Tip: Before going to Batad, ensure that you’re in good shape as activities may require strenuous hiking.

10:30 am – 12:00 pm head to Batad

From Banaue Public Market
Take a Batad-bound jeepney or tricycle
Alight at Batad Saddle Point
Trek toward accommodation

12:00 pm – 01:00 pm register and pay for the Batad tourism fee amounting to PHP 50.00, or USD 0.90. Check-in and reserve a tour guide

01:00 pm – 05:00 pm explore Tappiya Falls

Tappiya Falls

Aside from the impressive Batad Rice Terrace, Tappiya Falls is another must-see spot. This waterfall, tucked amidst the lush greeneries, offers refreshing cold water after an hour of the arduous hike. The guide fee is PHP 1,200 or USD 21.70 for five pax

05:00 pm, and onwards head to the homestay, have dinner and sleep

Day 2 - Poblacion

06:00 am – 09:00 am wake up, prepare for departure, have breakfast, and watch up close the Batad Rice Terraces from your homestay’s balcony.

Batad Rice Terraces

Built more than 2,000 years ago, the Batad Rice Terraces is an imposing engineering wonder, carved using bare hands. This world-renowned amphitheater-like terrace is the result of the inventiveness of the early Igorots to sustainable agriculture.

Ifugao’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites are the rice terraces in Batad and Bangaan in Banaue. Moreover, Hungduan, Mayoyao, and Nagacadan in Kiangan are also part of the list. Regrettably, Banaue Rice Terraces in Viewpoint are delisted due to preservation concerns brought about by modernization.

Banaue Travel Guide Tip: Hike to the Awa View Deck for an incredible sight of Batad Rice Terraces. But, getting to this vantage point demands physical endurance as you will face a challenging trail.

09:00 am – 10:15 am travel to Poblacion

From the accommodation
Hike toward Batad Saddle Point
Take a Poblacion-bound jeepney
Alight at the Banaue Public Market

10:15 am – 04:00 pm explore Poblacion

The Banaue Museum

Banaue Museum, situated next to Banaue View Inn, is a two-storied building showcasing a few collections of items of cultural importance. Some are traditional Igorot costumes, books, old photographs, maps, and ancient tools.

The entrance fee is PHP 50.00 or USD 0.90. Banaue Museum is open from Monday until Sunday, from 08:00 am to 05:00 pm.

Tamn-An Village

Situated near Banaue, Hotel Tam-An Village has a few traditional Igorot houses with a backdrop of rice terraces.

04:00 pm onwards, head to Banaue Municipal Tourism Office, prepare for the departure, and travel to Metro Manila.

Budget for Banaue Trip

In 2022, I spent P 3,427.50 for two days and one night in Banaue. However, the costs may still vary depending on your travel lifestyle. For more thrift tips, consider several ways to save money for travel.

Below is the Banaue travel guide budget for your reference.

Pre-Departure

Bus fare, Banaue to Manila, PHP 770.00
2D1N lodging, PHP 855.00/2, PHP 427.50

1st Day

Sagada to Bontoc via jeepney, PHP 80.00
Bontoc to Banaue via tricycle, PHP 500.00/2, PHP 250.00
Banaue Tourism Fee, PHP 100.00
Lunch, P 150.00
Poblacion to Batad via tricycle PHP 500.00/2, PHP 250.00
Batad Tourism Fee, PHP 50.00
Guide fee for Tappiya Falls, PHP 1,200.00/4, PHP 300.00
Dinner P 250.00

2nd Day

Breakfast, PHP 250.00
Batad to Poblacion via jeepney, PHP 150.00
Banaue Museum entrance fee, PHP 100.00
Lunch, PHP 150.00
Dinner, PHP 150.00

Banaue Travel Guide Resources

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Banaue Travel Guide Question: What are the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Banaue, Ifugao?

Please drop your answers or messages in the comment section. Thank you, and see you on the road!

About the Author

J. Sac is the author of ‘Banaue Travel Guide: An Excellent Guide to the World.’ He is also the founder of Traveledictorian – a travel blog that publishes compelling travel-related content.

His passion for writing, photography, and travel fueled him to explore Asia and the rest of the world. He also plans to undertake humanitarian work in his travels. Read his inspiring story and follow him on social media!

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