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Philippines

Central North Luzon / Banaue And The Vicinity

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.

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