Batad Rice Terraces, Banaue, Ifugao

The Batad Rice Terraces in Banaue, Ifugao is considered as the best rice terraces in the country because of its amphitheatre-like rice fields. Part of UNESCO Heritage Site, Batad Rice Terraces is a must visit!

50 Shades of Green. View from the highest point in Batad Rice Terraces

Getting to Batad Rice Terraces isn't easy. It's physically demanding but very rewarding. Easyhan lang sa pag akyat. Take it one step at a time. Masakit sa binti. Mahirap. Pero pag nasa taas ka na, sulit naman!

Travel time from Manila to Banaue may take from 9-10hours. Ohayami bus in Sampaloc, Manila has daily trips to Banaue. Fare is 450. Our bus left 9:30PM on a Sunday night and we reached Banaue before 7:00AM Monday. Its best if you can book you bus tix at least 1 day before your trip. In our case, puno na ung bus so we had no choice but to take the center seats using monobloc chairs. Sakit sa pwet grabe! Pero mas masakit yung lokohin ka, saktan ka, at iwan ka diba?

Once you reach Banaue, you have to pay 20 pesos for the registration fee. Bago ka bumaba ng bus, an Ohayami employee will offer tour guides and transpos - wag nyong kunin. We were charged 1600 (two way for two) from Banaue - Batad - Banaue via trike where as you can hire trikes around the area for only 500/way for two. Tour guide is standard (i think) at 1,200pesos (max pax 10).

Viewpoint in Banaue before going to Batad

Travel time from Banaue to Batad may take about an hour. Try top-loading if jeep ang mode of transpo nyo. You will see more rice terraces and views are just amazing! Instantly mong makakalimutan ang panggagago na ginawa ng ex mo.

Trek from the last point to the village where you can stay overnight takes about 20 minutes. I-enjoy nyo yung view. There's a viewdeck there kung saan pwede kayong humugot.

We stayed at Hillside Inn. Room costs 250/head/night. Mahal ang food. As in. Chicken adobo costs 170 pesos. Magbaon na ng mga canned goods, etc.

It took us about 45minutes to an hour to reach the highest point in Batad. Ingat lang sa pag akyat. From the highest point, we trekked down to the other side of the mountain to visit Tappia Falls. Mejo mahirap. Matarik though sementado na hagdan naman ang dadaanan.

Tappia Falls. Tubig na kasing lamig ng pagmamahal nn ex mo.

If going to the highest point and Tappia Falls was difficult, its waaaaay more difficult pabalik ng room. But you know what they say, no pain, no gain.

There was nothing much to do in Batad but to appreciate the beauty of this place created by the hands of our Katutubong Pinoy. There was no mobile signal as well. Pero mas okay yun. Disconnect yourself from social media and embrace the beauty of the place.

Yung dati na sa postcards, project nung elementary, or social media ko lang nakikita, eto ngayon, narating ko na sya.

It is possible to tour Batad Rice Terraces and Tappia Waterfalls in one day. But if time permits you, I would suggest that you stay overnight and have a good chat with the locals and other tourists.

Sample Itinerary
Day01
9:30PM - 7:00AM Byahe from Manila to Banaue via Ohayami Bus Trans. Ticket costs 450php
7:00AM - 8:00AM Register for 20pesos/head, have your breakfast and book your tourguide,transpo,etc.
8:00AM - 9:00AM Travel from Banaue view point to Batad
9:00AM - 9:30AM Trek to Hillside Inn
10:00AM -2:00PM Trek to Highest point and Tappia Falls
2:00PM - xx Socials

Night bus leaving Banaue to Manila is at 7pm. You may book your ticket pagdating pa lang.

Reminders:
Bring your own food kung kaya. Mahal masyado ang food sa Banaue and Batad.
Maghanda na ng Bonamin sa mahabang byahe. Haha.
Be physically prepared. Nakakapagod umakyat at bumaba ng bundok.
Leave no trace.
Mag-ingat. Sobra.
Enjoy!

*Special thank you to Deon for travelling to Banaue with me! Mwah!