Banaue Things to Do

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Not for the faint-hearted as these terraces are quite high (5 metres in places), but worth the effort for the scenery. We crossed the terraces to reach the hot springs, unfortunatly after 3 typhoons and resulting landslides, the springs have been reduced to a very small area and are not suitable for bathing!
Our guide also took us to see the local Shamman who sacrificed a chicken to ensure our safe travel, please if you have the chance to visit him do not turn it down... access is a little tricky but then again it's part of the adventure!
Banaue is noisy but full of colour, here you can find an internet café to keep in touch. There is also a tourist information centre which can provide help with treks and transport.
A trip to a local school with little presents of biros, and maybe postcards of where you live, is a good idea; the children need all the help possible and will be pleased to see you.

After long hours of rough road travel, a long walk with nice view always pays off. Many shops selling locally made crafts are available for shopping almost all over the place that surrounds the hotel. You should at least take a walk around banaue town after a good rest in your hotel and I am pretty sure you'll enjoy the place and people.

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For me, this is the climax of a Banaue visit . Amphitheater-shaped Battad Rice Terraces is the most stunning rice terraces I have ever seen. As an added bonus, a large and beautiful waterfall named Tappia hidden at the far side of the rice terraces awaits tired hikers at the end of the trek.

For a day trip to Battad, take a tricycle near the market for a flat rate of about P600 to-and-fro Battad junction, maximum of three persons. Make sure you leave Banaue town not later than 8am, for you to have enough time to enjoy Battad. Get ready for an hour of almost 100% bumpy ride before you reach the junction marker. Start the two-hour hike from here. After approximately one hour of hiking, you will reach the Battad view point. Hikers usually stop here to get excellent panoramic shots of the rice terraces. After the short stop, hike one more hour to cross the beautiful terraces and eventually reach the refreshing waterfalls hidden at its far side. Take a dip and be amazed of the beauty of the surrounding. Pack-up by 2pm so you'll be back at the junction by 4pm, where your ride back to Banaue town will be waiting.

As the first tourist to ever have climbed to the top of Mt. Lulu (or so I was told :) ), I can say it was the experience of a lifetime. The guide who took me up was named Adolfo, he's not affiliated with the main tour agency in town but he does own the property at the top of the mountain. If you have seen all the rice terraces and are stuck with half a day before you catch the overnight bus back to Manila, this is a fairly easy hike and the views of the Cordilleras might be the best I saw in my 3 days in the area.

If you're interested and end up getting sick of all the rice terraces (you probably won't), look for Adolfo in front of Greenview or Las Vegas lodges and ask him about it. He might not take you if it's been raining but he knows all the trails that go in that direction and will get you up and back safely.

Tours are offered to go around Banaue but it is expensive. Better go with friends or if your a single traveller you can join other travellers for tour. You can save money especially when your on a budget and also you gain new friends.

The rice terraces at Banaue are probaply the most famous rice terraces in the world.
They were build around 2000 years ago and are still in full use.
They are situated in a very scenic way and they are the main reason why most people visit Banaue.
I have to agree that they are very nice and i will return to this place.

Walking around Banaue is a nice thing to do some afternoon. There is the fresh vegetables market, shops and a tourist information center.

Besides, there are a number of street shops that make amazing banacues. You can pick up a bananacue, eat it and walk around.

I personally like the bananacue place just outside the market.

The Banaue Ethnic Village

This privately owned resort sits in what local known as “Apar Nga’-o’”, tucked well away from the busy town center and roads. The wide spaces, pine trees and the natural cold climate make it a perfect get away for camping and a retreat area for individuals and groups. The evolution of the Ifugao Native Houses in their open show area where some local weavers and carvers reside is just one of the interesting educational parts that the resort offers.

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