Banaue Rice Terraces
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The Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, Philippines, are said to be the 8th wonder of the world. Banaue is located in the Cordillera area (north and central) of the island of Luzon. It is a tourist attraction and for good reason. Rainforests above the terraces irrigate them, and not only are they breathtakingly beautiful, the culture surrounding them is as well.
If you’d like to visit, the following information may help you design your own trip:
Getting to Banaue from the Airport
Upon exiting the airport in Manila, there should be a green kiosk for GRAB taxis on the curb. These taxis are recommended by many as they are fixed price and are said to be cheaper than the regular taxis. You can also get the GRAB app on your phone ahead if you like, but it is easy enough to get a taxi on the curb as soon as you exit the airport. You will tell them the address ahead of time, then they will hand you a receipt. Keep this until you get to your destination, and then pay the driver the price on the receipt.
It is possible to go straight to the bus station. Two bus lines which go straight from Manila to Banaue are Ohayami Trans, located at: Monte de Piedad, corner Maryland street. Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila, And Coda Lines, located at: Lacson Avenue Corner Fajardo Street Sampaloc, Manila.
If you want to visit other towns in northern Luzon first, then sometimes you can find transportation to Banaue by local bus from another place, as in Isabela where I stayed.
It is possible to call the bus station ahead of time just in case, but the easiest way to get a ticket is to go in person. Here are the phone numbers for Coda Lines and Ohayami if you would like to call ahead:
Ohayami Trans, Manila Office: (02) 516 0501, +63 927 649 3055
Coda Lines, Quezon City, Manila Office: +63 927 559 2197
(Note: if you do not get a sim card in the Philippines [it is certainly worth it] then loading a Skype account with money before you travel is an option, then you can call anywhere you like as long as there is wifi. The airport seems to have consistent wifi and of course you can generally get wifi at your hotel or on some busses, as well as 7-11.)
Hotels in Banaue
In Banaue, there are many great resorts and hotels and a few different ones with a native theme, some even overlooking the rice terraces. It should not be hard to find a hotel when you get there.
The Pine Forest Resort is about 2 kilometers from the main Banaue viewpoint. This was a fabulous option, because of the native village replica. You can get a meal and do karaoke for very good prices.
If you would like to stay at the Pine Forest Resort, here is the telephone number:
(074) 386 4082
Some other tips for the Philippines:
CR stands for Comfort Room (this is the restroom). Some do not have toilet paper, so if you want, keep tissues handy. Many times you may need to pour water in the toilet to flush it (there is water usually marked for this use).
I got a little car sick on the bus ride to Ifugao. It may be helpful to bring some medication for motion sickness, motion sickness wrist bands, or make sure you sit with a friend that will let you lie your head in their lap!
Local food is my favorite. Many eating establishments look like this:
Usually, there are a few choices of stew containing chicken or fish, and rice to go with it (as you can see there are several pots). Sometimes there are noodles or rice.
(And the food is delicious)!
Some interesting flavors I experienced in the Philippines include the following:
Ube
Ube is a purple yam and I had never seen it before I went to the Philippines.
We had a delicious Ube ice cream while in Banaue, and in grocery stores you can find Ube puto (a soft, delicious steamed cake).
Adobo
Another dish of the Philippines that I greatly enjoyed was Adobo.
This dish is made with chicken, seafood, pork, or any of your favorite vegetables in a special adobo sauce (which you can make yourself or purchase).
One of my favorite things about travel is trying the unique flavors of the area. I like to “taste” the country where I am going and also to cook those exotic dishes while I am at home.
I had never tried the foods of the Philippines before I went. If you can, I recommend trying this simple Adobo sauce and dish.
Happy Travels!
