July 3, 2005
Banaue in the Philippines: Trekker’s Treat
Another guest entry - this one by an anonymous reader. Thank you, and keep submitting travel stories/plan/ideas to jtrotta@gmail.com
Banaue is in the province of Ifugao, which is located in the mountaenous Cordillera region of the Philippines. Because of its high altitude, Banaue is often described as "where land merges with the clouds to meet the heavens" with the rice terraces as "the stairway to the sky."
Banaue is a place for nature adventures and cultural immersion. Days are for indulging in such activities as strolling, biking, and trekking. Evenings are for campfire chats at a village or warm indoor cosseting at the lodges and inns.
Upon your arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International airport, you may opt to stay in Manila for two days to explore the city, or head straight for Banaue.
Banaue is eight to nine hours drive from Manila. It is advisable to take the bus from Manila to Banaue, because less experienced drivers may have difficulties in maneuvering in the zigzag roads.
In Banaue, there are many lodges and inns where one can stay. Your most appealing option is to stay in the Banaue Hotel, which provides a good view of the Banaue Rice Terraces.
Stop one: Viewpoint
It is located four kilometers north from the townproper. This is a perfect spot on top of a plateau for taking pictures of the rice terraces with much larger and deeper magnitude. One also has the option to trek the rice terraces from here. It will take you two to three hours to trek one of the pyramid-styled rice terraces.
Stop two: Guihob Natural Pool
It is located four kilometers east from the townproper. This is ideal for a cool, refreshing swim in crystal-clear spring water coming from a small waterfall. But one has to hop and jump over huge boulders to reach this place.
Stop three: Batad Village
You will need one whole day to visit the village of Batad. It is located 16 kilometers from the town proper. 12 kilometers of the way can be traveled by tricycle, car or jeepney, but one has to walk the rest of the distance on mountain trails. The hike will be approximately two hours. If you want to see the beautiful cascading waterfalls called Tappiyah, you will need another hour of hiking.
Stop four: Tam-an Village
This typical village is located approximately 300 steps from the Banaue Hotel. Interesting to see here are the locals who still practice the lifestyle of their ancestors. You may even see the bones of their ancestors that are preserved and bundled in handwoven cloth.
Alternative:
If you’re really in for an adventure, you can scale Mount Amuyao. It is the 8th highest peak in the Philippines with an elevation of 2,702 meters above sea level. It is located between the boundary of Banaue and Mayoyao, which is 41 kilometers from the townproper. Its summit provides a climber with a breathtaking panorama of the Mountain Province, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Ifugao.
Tourist guides and travel assistance can be found in the townproper, near the municipal hall.
Posted by James Trotta at July 3, 2005 5:14 PM