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A Peek of Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao

A Peek of Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao

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.

Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao

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.

Just Arrived in Banaue Group Pic at Banaue Rice Terraces Group Pic at 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.

Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao
Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao Pictorial at Banaue Rice Terraces Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao

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.

Group Pic with the Ifugaos Our ever dearest Project Manager and his wife at the Banaue Rice Terraces Souvenir Shops in Banaue, Ifugao

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
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This entry was posted on Saturday, August 22nd, 2009 at 9:14 pm and is filed under Ifugao. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Comments

48 responses to “A Peek of Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao

  1. comment-502
    Filipina on Flip Flops
    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! 🙂

  2. comment-503
    Wayne Post author
    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! 😀

  3. comment-507
    Nomadic Pinoy
    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.

  4. comment-508
    Wayne Post author
    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. 🙂

  5. comment-509
    r u s s
    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!

  6. comment-515
    Wayne Post author
    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! 😀

  7. comment-516
    bonistation
    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!

  8. comment-519
    Wayne Post author
    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! 😀

  9. comment-530
    Wayne Post author
    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*

  10. comment-540
    Wayne Post author
    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. 😀

  11. comment-546
    walongbote
    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… :-$

  12. comment-549
    Wayne Post author
    comment-549

    Thanks walongbote. Hehehe! Ang mahal nga lang magpapicture dyan. Parang 20 pesos ata yun per Ifugao native. Hehe! 😀

  13. comment-552
    r u s s
    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?

  14. comment-555
    Wayne Post author
    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? 😛

  15. comment-583
    madz
    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 😀

  16. comment-584
    Wayne Post author
    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. 😀

  17. comment-588
    Wayne Post author
    comment-588

    Hello Carver! These rice terraces are really captivating. These show how creative and hardworking the Filipinos are. 😉

  18. comment-635
    suni
    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-)

  19. comment-641
    Zorlone
    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

  20. comment-642
    Wayne Post author
    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! 😀

  21. comment-896
    hiyapeman
    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.

  22. comment-987
    ezra arze
    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

  23. comment-1130
    Felicor
    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!

  24. comment-1153
    Basil
    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.

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