Our trip to Sagada last April 2008 was one of the most memorable and unforgettable experiences I ever had with my office colleagues. It was also during this period that everyone else in our team used to get along well and were really bonded. And yeah, I’m missin’ the good ol’ days.
To begin with our 4-day Sagada adventure, we left the Florida Bus Lines’ terminal in Manila past 10.00 p.m. for an almost 9-hour bus ride to Banaue. Our team decided to take the Banaue route as our jump off point to Sagada for us to take a peek on one of the natural wonders of the world – the Banaue Rice Terraces.
It was past 6.00 a.m. when we reached the Florida Bus Banaue Sub-Station in Ifugao and from there, we hired a vehicle that would take us to Sagada Province. But before heading to Sagada, we made a quick stop in a small area that has a view deck where one can see the stunning and breathtaking views of the Banaue Rice Terraces.
Located in the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines, the Banaue (also spelled as Banawe) Rice Terraces are commonly referred to as the “Eight Wonder of the World.” These spectacular manmade terraces were built and carved by the Ifugao natives 2,000 years ago with the use of primitive tools and olden methods.
They are approximately 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level and is said that their length would encircle half the globe if put end to end since they cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4,000 square miles) of the mountainside. Aside from the Banaue Rice terraces there are four (4) other similar rice terraces in Ifugao namely:
- Batad Rice Terraces
- Mayoyao Rice Terraces
- Hapao Rice Terraces
- Kiangan Rice Terraces
These rice terraces used to stretch northeast to Cagayan and as far south as Quezon and an ancient irrigation system that flows downhill from the rainforests and springs above were also used to feed them. At present, these terraces are slowly being abandoned and are already showing signs of damage and deterioration due to lack of maintenance.
We didn’t have much time to stay longer on the place so after goofing around and taking tons of pictures, we just bought some few souvenirs and then headed off to Sagada. Above all these, the few minutes we’ve spent in Banaue is good enough to give us a breathless moment with the beauty that it possesses.
Getting There
From Manila, the following air conditioned buses usually have daily trips to Banaue and vice versa:
Dangwa Tranco Company Incorporated
Terminal: 1600 Dimasalang St. Sampaloc, Manila / 832 Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City
Tel. No: (+63 2) 731-2879 / (+63 2) 410-1991
Autobus Transport Systems Incorporated
Terminal: 1455 SH Loyola St. corner F. Cayco, Sampaloc, Manila
Tel. No: (+63 2) 493-4111 / (+63 2) 740-7959
Florida Bus Lines
Terminal: Lacson St. Corner Espana (near UST) Manila
Tel. No: (+63 2) 731-5358 / (+63 2) 912-5354 / (+63 2) 743-3809
These buses usually leave Manila at around 10.00 p.m. daily. Bus fares usually range from P450.00 – P475.00. The trip usually takes about 8-9 hours.
Climate
March, April and May are considered to be the hot and dry months in Banaue. The months of June to October are the wettest months where you can expect rains while November to February on the other hand is cool.
Accommodations
Here are some hostels and guesthouses that are available within Banaue:
- Banaue Hotel & Youth Hostel (+63 2) 812-1984 / (+63 2) 810-3655 / (+63 2) 810-3703 / (+63 74) 386-4087 to 88
- Fairview Inn (+63 74) 386-4002
- People’s Lodge & Restaurant (+63 74) 386-4037
- Terraceville Inn (+63 74) 386-4094
- Cozy Nook Inn (+63 74) 386-4003
- Greenview Lodge (+63 74) 386-4022
- Halfway Lodge (+63 74) 386 4082
- Native Village Inn (+63 916) 405-6743
- Sanafe Lodge and Restaurant (+63 74) 386-4085
- Banaue Homestay, Poblacion Banaue Ifugao
- Spring Village
comment-502
comment-502
Great pictures! I’ve been meaning to go to Banaue but I don’t know, I always end up in a beach somewhere instead. Hehe. But one of these days I really will see the rice terraces for myself! 🙂
comment-503
comment-503
Hi Daene! Thanks! Same here, actually I’ve never thought that I could go there too. Thanks to my ever dearest Project Manager who suggested this place. It was great and we really had fun! 😀
comment-507
comment-507
It is really sad that some areas of the UNESCO-listed rice terraces are neglected. I went to Batad 2 years ago and learned that a lot of younger Igorots prefer to go to school than toil on the terraces.
comment-508
comment-508
@Nomadic Pinoy: Yeah, it’s saddening to see these terraces slowly being abandoned. 🙁 Our government should do something to preserve them. I think this place is truly amazing. 🙂
comment-509
comment-509
WOW. That looked really fun. My friends and I have been planning to go there to take a little break from our beach trips and to see something different. My guy friends are just a little iffy to bring us girls. Bloghopping here. Have a happy Monday!
comment-510
comment-510
hehehe ang ganda! may parokya din kami sa ifugao… 😀
comment-511
comment-511
…pero di pa ako nakapunta doon… ;-(
comment-513
comment-513
been to sagada several times. really a must see paradise. sarap balik balikan.
comment-515
comment-515
@Russ: It’s really super fun! For a change, try going to these places other than the beaches. I’m sure you’ll love it too. Thanks for droppin’ by. Have a great week ahead and don’t be sad. Malapit naman ng mag-September eh. :-$ *hugs*
@Father: Ayyy, sayang. 🙁 Pa-assign kayo dun. Tas invite mo kami. Hehehe! 😛 Or pwede ring kahit iinvite mo na lang kami sa parokya nyo dyan. Hehehehe! Joke lang father. 😀
@Leoj: Napaka-gala mo talaga. Hehehehe! 😛 Gusto ko rin bumalik doon, kaso kelangan kong magtraining ng husto para hindi ako naiiwanan pag naglalakad. Hehehe! 😀
comment-516
comment-516
ang ganda naman sa banaue! dipako nakaratong dyan hahayss pero nueva ecija lang aku ^^. nice mag punta pag marami nga kau at maraming ka bonding!!
napadaan lang po. wala akong masakyan eh! haha walang MRT sa banaue?! AWWW!
comment-519
comment-519
Hi bonistation! Hehehehe! Oo naman, mas masaya pag mas marami kayo. Tsaka syempre kung okay yung mga kasama mo. 😀 Oo nga, wala pang MRT dun. Di bale, magkakaron din yan. Hehehe! 😀
comment-524
comment-524
wow parang ang sarap pumunta ng banaue!
comment-529
comment-529
waah, gustong gusto ko makarating ng sagada..
comment-530
comment-530
@Yuri: Masarap talaga. Pero dapat fit ka. Kundi kawawa ka. Hehehe! 😀
@The Lady in Green Ruffles: Hehehe! Easy lang. 😛 Makakarating ka rin dyan. *hugs*
comment-536
comment-536
breathtaking pictures! i’d love to go to banaue, kaya lang hanggang ngayon di pa rin ako nakakapunta. 🙁
comment-537
comment-537
how i always hope na pangalagaan ng gobyerno ang mga magaganda nating tanawin at likas na yaman.
sana, sana.
comment-540
comment-540
@Hector: Don’t be sad. Time will come, makakapunta ka rin dyan. *hugs*
@Siyetehan: Oo nga eh, sana lang talaga. Para rin makita ng mga bata ngayon kung gaano kaganda yung mga rice terraces na to. 😀
comment-543
comment-543
Beautiful pictures! The rice paddies kind of remind me of pancakes…except they’re green.
comment-544
comment-544
Haha! Thanks Monica. That made me hungry. Argh! O-)
comment-546
comment-546
😎 wow super enjoy naman yang sagada trip nyo.. gustong gusto koyung kuha na nakaupo kayo kasama ng mga katutubong sagada.. I LOVE IT so much.. so much talaga… :-$
comment-549
comment-549
Thanks walongbote. Hehehe! Ang mahal nga lang magpapicture dyan. Parang 20 pesos ata yun per Ifugao native. Hehe! 😀
comment-550
comment-550
..oha! nice pics. hmmmmm kaka inggit mag travel. ahuhu.
..nice one ate! apir! 😉
comment-551
comment-551
Thanks Joan. Apir! 😀
comment-552
comment-552
Hahaa. Well … I’m back. And good thing is, I’m not sad anymore.Ü
I think it would be a good break from the beaches. Another adventure that I’d like to try is Mt. Pinatubo. Have you been there?
comment-555
comment-555
Hey russ! You’re back. 😀 Good for you. 😛
Nope, we haven’t been to Pinatubo but we’d love to go there. Tara? 😛
comment-583
comment-583
Haven’t been there. Thanks for these information. My next wanna-be destination is Pagudpod 😀 Saka ko na sched ang Sagada at Banaue 😀
comment-584
comment-584
Hey Madz! You’re welcome. Uyy, maganda dun. We’ve been there too. Kaso hindi ko mahanap yung mga pics namin doon kaya hindi ko ma-blog. Hahaha! 😀 Enjoy your trip. 😀
comment-587
comment-587
Great post. THe rice terraces are amazing. Hard to imagine how much work would go into that.
comment-588
comment-588
Hello Carver! These rice terraces are really captivating. These show how creative and hardworking the Filipinos are. 😉
comment-635
comment-635
“It was also during this period that everyone else in our team used to get along well and were really bonded. And yeah, I’m missin’ the good ol’ days” – natawa ko dito… hahaha… astig first day ko p lang ata sa office nung pinplano nyo to! hahaha… O-)
comment-641
comment-641
I must be a fool for declining to go to Sagada twice! The next time someone asks me to go there, I’ll pack my bags and go! Of course, I have to endorse my patients then. he he he.
Great pics Wayne!
September na! Biyahe na!
Z
comment-642
comment-642
@Shuni: Hahaha! Naaalala mo pa ba ang mga panahong yun? 😛 Uu nga, first day mo pa lang nun, sinasama ka namin, pero ayaw mo kasi shy type ka pa. Asus!!! :-[
@Doc Z: Go!!! Anu ka ba, dapat sama lang ng sama. 😛 Yup, September na, we’re off to Mindanao next week. Woohoo! 😀
comment-644
comment-644
oo kng alam ko lng n wawalangyain nyo rin lng ako sumama n lang sana ako… LOL! 😛
comment-647
comment-647
Hahahaha! Ikaw lang eh. Alam mo namang mababaet kami. Aayaw-ayaw ka pa. Edi sana sumeksi ka pa! 😛
comment-654
comment-654
[…] enjoying the breathtaking views of the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, we then headed to our next destination – Sagada, Mountain […]
comment-695
comment-695
wow breathtaking views…i want to go na tlaga in baguio jajajaaj 😎
comment-826
comment-826
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comment-830
comment-830
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comment-896
comment-896
anong ikakaganda ng sagada eh wala naman kayong makikitang cultural aspect dun?
dahil taga banaue ako, alam ko ang mga kultura at social structure doon.
bakit hindi niy tignan kahit overview ang human aspect ng ifugao society, which, almost surpases the eaerly japanese society, in terms of complexity, and loads more, para maapreciate niyo talaga ang meaning ng rice terraces na kinahiligan na ng kapwang pinoy ni kung saan saan irelate, kahit nga tv show sabi nasa baguio ang rice terraces.
no offense against beach spots ng pinas, pero all you end up from spending time in beaches, is getting : drunk, poorer, and morally devalued.
i personally have the urges to hike alone in my home place, rich in everything, except immorality.
comment-987
comment-987
hai nakoh yung peak namin sah banaue rice terraces prang peak lang gyud xa, di maxado kameh nag stop over… tapoz medyo ka2 harvest lang nung nagpuntah kameh kaya wla mxadiong greenery scenes… hahaiiiiii
comment-1046
comment-1046
One of the best I’ve ever been, I will definitely be back to this place.
comment-1075
comment-1075
Nakakaingit naman kailan kaya ako makakapunta dyan. keep up the good work, I enjoy reading this blog.
comment-1085
comment-1085
Thanks Romer. 🙂
comment-1130
comment-1130
Great blog!
I was looking for information on how to get to Banaue and where to stay. The normal sites for tourists weren’t very helpful at all.
I’m so glad I found your blog!
Please keep travelling and sharing!
comment-1153
comment-1153
Hi, I’d like to ask for your permission to use you picture for a banner I am making. I hope you’d grant my request. I’d appreciate your reply or email. Thank you.
comment-1163
comment-1163
Thanks Felicor. You’re very much welcome. 😀
Basil: Which photo would you like to use? You may send us an email at pasyalera@gmail.com 😀
comment-1202
comment-1202
wow! been here and the view is nice.
comment-1269
comment-1269
You might have noted quite intriguing points ! ps nice internet site .