Banaue, 350km
(217mi) from Manila, is a popular tourist spot, mainly because
of the nearby rice terraces. The place is very popular among young
foreign backpackers who often follow the ManilaBanaueSagadaBoracay
well beaten travelers' track. Banaue and its environments are
good places to shop around for native handicrafts and tribal artifacts.
Although accommodation is reasonable by travelers' standards,
food in lodges and restaurants is comparatively expensive.
Accommodation
All accommodations
have small restaurants or at least provide food. Except for the
Banaue Hotel, accommodations have no airconditioning.
Banaue
Hotel (11) luxury hotel
Cracks in the walls
and grounds were caused by the July, 1991 earthquake. swpl, rest;
Reservations:
Department of Tourism, Rizal Park
Manila, Tel 588191, 501751
Sanafe
Lodge (15) middle class hotel
Terraceville
Inn (5) middle class hotel
Banaue
View Inn (6)
Green
View Lodge (17)
rm 2550 pp (3 beds)
J & L
Lodge (8)
Banaue
Youth Hostel (10) rm 50/100 pp (member/nonmember)
Suffered severe damage in the July, 1991 earthquake.
Stairway
Lodge (19) rm 35 pp
Traveler's
Inn (22)
Peoples
Lodge (17)
Brookside
Inn (21) rm 25 pp
Cozy Nook
Inn (20) rm 25 pp
Half Way
Lodge (19) rm 25 pp
Val Greg Lodge (17) rm 25 pp
Wonder
Lodge (18) rm 25 pp
Adespa
Lodge (7) not clean
Sightseeing
Banaue
Rice Terraces The rice terraces are a leading tourist destination
of The Country , considered the 'Eighth Wonder of the World'.
2000 years ago, the Ifugaos, {the word Ifugao means people of
the hills,} started building the terraces, using only primitive
tools. The terraces run like stepping stones, 500m (1,640ft) high.
If the walls were laid end to end, they would extend more than
20,000km (12,400mi).
Streams and springs found in the mountains were tapped and channeled
into irrigation canals that ran downhill through the terraces.
On July 16,
1990 the earthquake caused considerable damage to the terraces.
Some terraces were destroyed as well as irrigation systems. Huge
boulders cover some fields and canals.
The best
panoramic view of the rice terraces is at a vintage point called
the 'viewpoint' (1), located on a promontory along the BontocBanaue
road. It's a 11.5 hr hike from the Banaue Hotel on the BanaueBontoc
road.
Bocos
Village (2) 150 steps uphill from the Conception School of
Banaue, about 20 min hike; one can see the most sacred rice gods
of the Ifugaos, called 'Bulul', kept in their rice granaries.
Pictures may be taken with the consent of the owners of the statues.
Matanglag
Bronzesmith (3) beyond Bocos Village, about 30 min from the
Banaue market; made to order silver and bronze items
Banaue
Trade Center (16) 20 min hike from the Banaue Hotel; souvenir
items are sold, Saturdays is big market
TamAn
Village (12) 250 steps from the Banaue Hotel's swimming pool,
about 15 min hike; a typical Ifugao Village where woodcarvings
and hand woven products are produced and sold.
A few kilometers
along the road down from Banaue Hotel and through the village
into the rural area is a shallow stream which is a nice place
for a swim.
Guihob
Waterfall (4) about 1 hr hike from the market towards Batad;
waterfall with natural pool for swimming
Batad
Rice Terraces (25) amphitheatershaped rice terraces; about
12km (7mi) east of Banaue; it is a 23 hrs hike uphill through
mountain trails from the junction at kilometer 12 which can be
reached by jeepney going to Mayaoyao; the whole distance on foot
takes 45 hrs. 20 min on the way from Batad village is a cascading
waterfall with a big pool for swimming. There are three lodges
in Batad which have rooms at P 25 per person.
Miscellaneous
Post Offices
(9) in front of Banaue Youth Hostel
(14) in the municipal hall bldg
Tourist Information Center (16) at the market
Transportation
To Bontoc
(2 hrs) jeepneys from the market early in the morning (P 50);
Dangwa buses from Adespa Lodge (P 40) at about 11:00. There is
no direct link BanaueSagada.
To Manila (89 hrs) Dangwa buses from the market at about 7:00
direct to Manila; Sarkies minibuses from Sanafe Lodge at about
10:00; or jeepneys from the market to Solano and from there frequent
buses to Manila.
