The Girl Behind the Pen

The Banaue Rice Terraces, locally known as the Hagdan-Hagdang Palayan, are undoubtedly a source of pride for the Ifugaos and also for the Filipinos all over the world.

Because of its magnificence, it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995. Since then, the world has noticed and never stopped talking about the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras.

Located at the foot of the Cordillera mountain ranges in the northern island of Luzon, this destination will definitely take your breath away as you get lost by the astounding view of these rice paddies.

Read on if you want to get to know more about the Banaue Rice Terraces. This travel guide might come in handy for you! :)

Banaue Rice Terraces being a UNESCO World Heritage Site

According to UNESCO, the Rice Terraces Philippines are the priceless contribution of Philippine ancestors to humanity. Among the reasons for its recognition is that the terraces illustrate a persistence of cultural traditions and remarkable continuity and endurance, since archaeological evidence reveals that this technique has been in use in the region for 2,000 years virtually unchanged.

UNESCO also noted that the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras are a memorial to the history and labor of more than a thousand generations of small-scale farmers who—working together as a community—have created a landscape based on a delicate and sustainable use of natural resources.

Things you need to know before traveling to Banaue Rice Terraces

The Locals

The Ifugaos are very accommodating and they are always smiling. One thing you might notice when you meet Ifugaos is that their mouth and teeth are red. This is because of nganga or betel nuts. Nganga is like an alternative to tobacco or cigarettes. However, this isn’t smoked but chewed and to be spit afterwards. It is part of the Ifugaos’ culture so expect that most of them, even women, are chewing nganga.

The Food

The food here isn’t cheap but not too expensive. Basically, a regular meal will already cost you around P150 but the serving is generous. You must try their native rice and the Banaue longganisa! They’re a perfect combination, especially with a hot choco or coffee for breakfast.

Traveling Rice Terraces Philippines won’t be easy

Sure there are vans and other transportation services available to tour you around but when you’re already going to the rice terraces, expect a lot of hiking trips, some are easy and some are challenging but definitely worth the sweat and effort!

Places you can visit near the Banaue Rice Terraces

Tappiya Falls

Unlike other waterfalls that are accessible and easy to reach, Tappiya Falls is a challenge but definitely worth it. Expect a not so easy trek by any stretch, the path to the falls will take you up and down steep uneven steps, narrow rice terraces, and muddy slippery trails. The trek will take about an hour or two depending on your pace. Also, the water here is freezing cold! But that’s what you’ll be needing after the tiring trek.

Bogyah Hot Spring

Like the trek to Tappiya Falls, you’ll be in for another challenge going to Bogyah Hot Spring. You will have to pass through narrow rice terraces and uneven steps for about an hour but all these will be worth it when you finally reach Bogyah Hot Spring for a dip.

Ducligan Snake River and Mountains

After the endless rice terraces in Ifugao, Ducligan Snake River and Mountain should be your next stop. This will be your breather during the trip. It’s among the most beautiful mountains in the Philippines featuring a snake-shaped river, hence the name.

Hungduan Rice Terraces

Among all the rice terraces I've seen in the province, Hungduan Rice Terraces captivated me the most. It's so different from the usual rice paddies in Ifugao. Hungduan features rice terraces that uniquely emerges into a spider web.

How to get to Banaue Rice Terraces

From Manila or Cubao, you can ride a bus bound for Banaue/Sagada. The bus you should take are either Ohayami Trans or Coda Lines. Travel time from Manila takes about 9 to 10 hours. 

Best time to visit Banaue Rice Terraces

During summer and fall abundant rains can sometimes cloud views of the slopes. Winter may be a more reliable period for sightseeing. June is harvest time, so the landscape is golden and activity levels are high.

If you're planning to travel here, you should know first these five surprising facts about the Banaue Rice Terraces so you can have a meaningful trip. 

This is one of the most surprising things I learned about the Banaue Rice Terraces. Our local tour guide told us that the rice harvested here are for pure family consumption. The harvested rice are enough to feed the family for six months. Given the enormous land of rice terraces, it's hard for me to believe that they don't sell the rice in the market. They don't even export to Metro Manila. But when you go to souvenir shops, you'd see Banaue rice sold everywhere so how come? Our tour guide said, it happens only when there is an excess for family consumption.

Most often than not, prices of goods and commodities in the province are cheaper than in the metro. But in Banaue, rice is more expensive. It amounts to P120 per kilo compared to Manila's cheapest rice that's P30 per kilo. The explanation behind it is that, rice in Banaue is organic. 

The structures of the Banaue Rice Terraces are of only two kinds: the stone wall and mud wall. They used it to carefully carve and construct terraces that could hold flooded pond fields for the cultivation of rice. These incredible rice terraces were done by hand as was (and is) the farming itself.

The Banaue rice is so famous because of its organic quality. The two types of rice harvested here are sticky and non-sticky rice, all organic. 

While the historic terraces cover an extensive area, the inscribed property consists of five clusters of the most impressive terraces: 1.) the Nagacadan terrace cluster in Kiangan, a rice terrace cluster manifested in two distinct ascending rows of terraces bisected by a river; 2.) the Hungduan terraces that uniquely emerges into a spider web; 3.) the central Mayoyao terraces which is characterized by terraces scattered with traditional farmers’ bale (houses) and alang (granaries); 4.) the Bangaan terrace cluster in the municipality of Banaue that backdrops a typical Ifugao traditional village; and 5.) the Batad rice terraces in Banaue that is nestled in amphitheater-like semi-circular terraces with a village at its base.

Then come February this year, I decided to take the leap and finally go out of my comfort zone. I went on a 9-hour bus ride to Banaue only to find out that we'll be hiking almost three-fourths of our trip. From our home-stay and hot spring to the cold waterfalls and the famed rice terraces, name it, there's always hiking. 

Whenever I'm in a new place that involves a lot of stairs and going ups, I make sure to count the steps but this time, I lost track while catching my breath. The numbers aren't important that time, I just want to rest already. For a woman who has never been to the mountains and not physically prepared, hiking is a challenge. 

But I'm already there. I can't just go home, waste the money I paid for the trip, and leave the adventure that could have been the greatest one. I don't want to go back to Manila wondering what if I pushed through?

So, I embraced the challenge. I braved the thousands of steps—mostly steep and narrow paths—while being baked under the sun, wearing the wrong set of clothes just to see what the world has been talking about. And they are right, Banaue Rice Terraces is majestic! It's like a spot straight out from a postcard. All the hours of hiking, trekking, and countless catching of breath moments are totally worth it. Because with a view like this, how can you resist?

Taking a leap and going out of your comfort zone has risks, as does anything in life, but it's a great way to discover yourself and push yourself to the limit.

There's one thing I regret though... I regret not doing this sooner.

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