Carbon Neutral 100%
Destinations
Top destinations of the moment in Asia
  • Tour Ideas
Other destinations in Asia
An update from Evaneos
Banaue

Banaue (The Philippines)

Practical information on Banaue

  • Viewpoint
  • Hiking / Trekking
  • Culture (paddy field, coffee, tea ...)
  • Handicraft
  • Unesco World Heritage
4 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
Nine hours from Manila by night bus
When to go
All year round, though the best time is just before the harvest (from March to May), when the rice fields turn emerald green in colour.
Minimum stay
One day

Reviews of Banaue

Arthur Joffrin Seasoned Traveller
38 written opinions

The gateway to the mountains and home to the Ifugao culture, and one of the most beautiful collections of rice terraces in the whole country.  

My suggestion:
The possibility of seeing the majestic views of these rice fields is greatly dependant on the clouds, which can be quite capricious in this high-altitude region. To ensure you find one of the view points at just the right moment, be patient and keep a close eye on the conditions.
My review

During my trip to the northern part of the Philippines, I stopped off at Banaue, a small town popular for its location, the range of accommodation it has to offer (most of it with views of the rice fields), its local guides and its hiking.

The town sits at the foot of a whole series of vast rice terraces; so don't miss the opportunity to admire the views from one of the main view points, which can be reached by motorised tricycle from the centre in around 10 minutes. Lying at various points between two adjacent mountain slopes and along a route that winds its way to the town, I consider them to be among the most impressive in the whole area!  

Finally, curious as I was about the local culture, a visit to the local sculpture museum gave me the opportunity to explore the wooden forms of artwork, which is one of the aspects in which the local region takes pride. I also went hiking in the area around Banaue so I could see some these artisans at work, as well as walk by the sides of the rice fields, and seek out some traditional local houses. It is possible to hire a guide to make things a bit more practical and easy (though this is not essential). Personally, however, I preferred going it alone, giving a friendly smile and asking for directions whenever I lost my way. 

The Banaue rice terraces
Arthur Joffrin Seasoned Traveller
38 written opinions

The gateway to the mountains and home to the Ifugao culture, and one of the most beautiful collections of rice terraces in the whole country.  

My suggestion:
The possibility of seeing the majestic views of these rice fields is greatly dependant on the clouds, which can be quite capricious in this high-altitude region. To ensure you find one of the view points at just the right moment, be patient and keep a close eye on the conditions.
My review

During my trip to the northern part of the Philippines, I stopped off at Banaue, a small town popular for its location, the range of accommodation it has to offer (most of it with views of the rice fields), its local guides and its hiking.

The town sits at the foot of a whole series of vast rice terraces; so don't miss the opportunity to admire the views from one of the main view points, which can be reached by motorised tricycle from the centre in around 10 minutes. Lying at various points between two adjacent mountain slopes and along a route that winds its way to the town, I consider them to be among the most impressive in the whole area!  

Finally, curious as I was about the local culture, a visit to the local sculpture museum gave me the opportunity to explore the wooden forms of artwork, which is one of the aspects in which the local region takes pride. I also went hiking in the area around Banaue so I could see some these artisans at work, as well as walk by the sides of the rice fields, and seek out some traditional local houses. It is possible to hire a guide to make things a bit more practical and easy (though this is not essential). Personally, however, I preferred going it alone, giving a friendly smile and asking for directions whenever I lost my way. 

The Banaue rice terraces