Banaue guide - tips by travel authority Howard Hillman

Banaue Rice Terraces

travel wonder in the Philippines

Why the

Banaue Rice Terraces

are special

While other Asian countries also have photogenic rice terraces, none matches the sheer scale and grandeur of those in Banaue.

Banaue Rice Terraces

tips & insights

Size - The mountainous rice terraces of Banaue and vicinity in the Philippines are mankind's grandest scaled engineering feat. The vertical distance between bottom and top rows exceeds the height of the world's tallest building. If the terraces were laid end to end, they would stretch more than half way around the world.

History - The rice terraces were carved over a 2,000 year span with primitive handtools by the ancestors of the current farmers, the Ifugao tribesmen.

Batad & Bangaan - The Banaue region has other worth-visiting rice terraces, including those of Batad and Bangaan.

Variety - The rice terraces come in many guises, as this photo gallery illustrates.

Ethnic festivals - The region has many festivals. The Imbayah in Banaue town is the biggest one. It's held every several years.

Distance from Manila - The Banaue Rice Terraces are 350 kilometers (220 miles) from the capital of the Philippines.

Getting there - Unfortunately, you cannot fly to Banaue from Manila. You need to travel by car or bus, which normally takes 8.5 to 10 hours. Heavy traffic and long stops will lengthen the time.

Manila-Banaue buses - Many travelers save two travel days by taking the overnight express bus to and from Banaue and sleep en route. However, those who take the day express bus get to see the interesting rural and mountain scenery along the way. A good compromise is taking one overnighter and one daytimer.

Viewpoints - Banaue's main viewpoint has an spectacular vista. It's a 10-minute ride up the road to Bontoc from the town center. Be sure to stop at the other roadside viewpoints along the way - each offers a different and exciting perspective.

Local roads - Although you don't need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to travel from Manila to Banaue (the highways are paved all the way), you will need one when you arrive. Otherwise, you won't be able to travel the scenic rutted dirt roads to visit the rice terraces beyond the town. Solutions: Take a commercial jeepney - or hire a small one with driver. I don't recommend using motorized tricycles. Although they are much cheaper, the ride will be excruciatingly slow and jarring on the rough mountain roads.

Accommodations - The town has a variety of inns and guest houses to suit most pocketbooks. The Banaue Hotel has the best facilities and is reasonably priced.

Temperature - This mountainous area is much higher in altitude than most of the country. Nights can be sweater-cool even on hot & humid days.

Best time of year - Winter to early spring is the ideal rice terraces sightseeing period. During the rainy season (summer and fall), low lying clouds can disappointingly mask the slopes. And landslides (especially in July and August) occasionally block roads.

Best photo months - From mid-March to mid-May, it's harvest time. The landscape will be a combination of vivid greens and golden yellows.

Eroding rice terrances - The Banaue Rice Terraces (as well as the other regional ones) are facing erosion because of a decline in upkeep. A big reason is some of the young tribespeople are abandoning their family lands to find less arduous jobs elsewhere.