Banaue is one of the major tourist attractions in Philippines. It is a mountain range that is located on the northern side of the Luzon Island in the Philippines. The most important among the list of attractions in Banaue is its Rice Terraces because it is regarded as the eighth wonder of the world. Banaue rice terraces stretch to as long as a maximum altitude of 4920 feet.
Top Loading is more fun in the Philippines
Trekking is one of the most common activities that travellers can enjoy while making a visit to the Banaue Terraces. Locals as well as tourist guides are available for assisting the visitors all along their trip within the area.
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Other common attractions of Banaue include the Museum of Cordilleran Sculpture that showcases the traditional art and culture of the locals. Another major attraction is the Viewpoint which provides visitors with a spectacular view of the town and beautiful natural amphitheater.
NFA Rice in Banaue
Banaue Rice Terraces has become a popular trekking destination in Philippines over the years. In Batad, The effort to lay down those huge stones in the terraces especially with their bare hands is quite astonishing. Banaue Terraces has been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Sufficient transportation facilities are there for the travellers to make their journey up to Banaue. Visitors can get direct buses from Manila to Banaue and the trip will take a maximum of nine hours.
Gasoline Station in Banaue
Ohayami Trans is the only Bus company that offers Banaue transportation service. It is located in Lacson Ave. (formerly Forbes) cor. Fajardo St., Sampaloc, Manila. You can call Ohayami Mobile Phone Number (+63)09276493055.
Top Loading in Banaue
Ohayami provides direct trips to Banaue. They have three daily trips – 9pm, 9:45pm and 10pm. It also has to be noted that there are no day time bus services available to Banaue, the main reason being the increased day time traffic adding hours to the overall trip. As of now, bus service or travelling by land only seems to be the travelling means to reach Banaue.
Rice terraces at Cambolo near Banaue (courtesy of Wikitravel)
If you want to drive your own 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 hours due to the several blind curves through the mountains. Best day to travel is on good Friday of Lenten season, Christmas day and new year’s day. It will take about 7 hours only by car with a reliable driver. (Wikipedia)
Melo in Batad
Jeeps are also available from Bontoc which is also a nearby place from Banaue which will take a maximum of two hour journey from Bontoc to Banaue. Farming is considered to be the major means of employment in the province. Travellers can see most of the people doing the plantation of the rice as well as vegetables in some of the terraces during the planting season. Visitors can also visit the traditional tribes once they reach the top of the Banaue terraces after the trekking.
Accommodation is also not a matter of concern for the travellers since there are many lodges as well as hotels available in Banaue. Even the homes by locals also accept the tourists for a lesser charge especially during the peak seasons.
I wish I can visit this place anytime this year. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I really wanna see the Banaue Rice Terraces. Didn’t know there is a bus going directly to Banaue, very convenient and the station is near us 😀
yup theres one bus company allowed to enter the Banaue Town…
Grabe kelangan na talagang ingatan yan ang pagkakaalam ko unti unti na din daw yan nasisira. Gusto ko rin maka punta dyan ng para mamasyal.
di naman sya nasisira, di lang nalalagyan ng tanim na palay yung iba at tinutubuan na ng talahib… tapos yung iba tinatayuan na ng bahay:(
Wow, just when I need it! I’m currently researching for information on how to get there since we will be traveling to Sagada next week. We want to take the Banaue route this time. Would you know how to get to the Banaue viewpoint if we take the Ohayami Trans bus? Thanks! 🙂
Hello Gabz – you need to rent a tricycle or ride a jeep to reach the viewpoint… there are more than 3 viewpoints there:)
As always i am amaze by the rice terraces– nice post here.
@eigroj – thanks:)
Nice shots, been here from Baguio as we don’t know how to get there we hired a taxi (actually we asked old couple in Baguio but they told us how but they also said there’s no more baby bus to Banaue) and then the taxi got caught by traffic enforcer for traveling out of his route. Lol!
I’m quite surprised you’re on the photos Melo. Hihi. Amishu! Miss ko na rin magtopload.
@Gaye – im quite surprised too hahaha Im starting to become a camwhore:) Miss you too… now in Davao and Im supposed to head back to manila today but decided to stay and go to Cotabato City and explore the rest of Mindanao:)
I would love to reach Banaue in the future if my neurosurgeon give his go signal. Nice pictures. I super like your top loading shots!
Melo!!!! Sarap ng ngiti mo sa taas ng jeep ah. I’ve yet to do that – toploading. Wala bang seat belt yan? :))
Kakahiya man sabihin, I haven’t been to Banaue. Laging por nada ang plans to finally see it. Is it true that it’s crumbling? Oh, and that museum seems like an interesting place to visit as well. Didn’t know about that before.
I have a scheduled trip in a week,
I’m going back to Sagada.. And we are torn between going the Banaue-Sagada route or the Baguio-Sagada route..
Is there a bus schedule to Banaue at daytime?
I work at night, so I can’t really leave Manila at nightime.
One day makakapunta din ako Banaue..
At try ko ang top loading.. hehehe..:)
@Tripsiders – dali lang… its a must for a travel blogger to visit this manmade wonder:)
@Francis Balgos – they only leave at night
@AJ – walang seatbelt hahahaha higpitan lang ang kapit sa mga bakal heheheh
@Cha – hope your doctor will soon permit you to visit Banaue:)
Banaue is one of my top list I hope by the time I pay them a visit, the place would still be as is (or better).
I hope one day I will be able to go to Banawe…
I just know the place through pictures and movies
but i never set my feet on this magnificent place.
@marri – its easier that what you think, Banaue is easy to explore too:)