Exactly a year ago today, I went on a trip to Banaue to see the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras-one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites here in the Philippines. It has been in my list of to-go local places for a long time so I made it a point not to miss it anymore after I've visited Vigan in 2014.
It wasn't a solo trip as planned as I sat down on the coach with one of my workmates (thanks to my convincing prowess). As far as I know there's only one bus company with a direct route to Banaue (Ohayami Trans). We boarded at around 10pm and arrived in Banaue at 7am. They'll provide you with a free transfer to Banaue town proper once you get there. Then, from the town, you have several options on how to get to Batad.
After breakfast, we decided to just take the jeep to Batad. It will take approximately another hour or so from the town to the heart of Batad or to the saddle point.
Since we only have a limited time or shall I say that we went there for a day trip, we decided to just take a trek to Tappiyah falls. This is one of the must-do when going to Batad. The hike was very challenging for me since I haven't had any daily exercise routine. Felt like my legs were not prepared to do it but I knew then that I can. It wasn't for sure an easy trek but it's all worth it. Truly one for the books! The views will just make you wander where you are and how beautiful the place is with its natural wonders. It was a good decision for us to hire a local guide as the balancing on the rice terraces and the climbing would be very hard. You can also rent a stick that you can use during the trek especially when the path ways gets muddy and slippery or else you'll end up on either side of the terraces which is a shallow, muddy pool or some feet of another muddy pool. The trek back was more difficult as it was like mountain climbing without any gears. To cut the story short, we survived the hours of trekking after seeing the beautiful Tappiyah falls up close.
We had an early dinner in town, bought a souvenir and headed back to Manila at around 7pm. I honestly had a great time during the entire trip and having a travel buddy made it less boring as anyone would agree. And that workmate of mine? He's now one of my best friends.
This is a view from the window while having breakfast in Banaue.
This photo was taken just outside our guide's house after a long and tiring hike from Tappiyah falls..
My photo of the trip, which can't be posted for privacy, shows me and my best friend together and still smiling after the trek with some fogs and the mountains of Batad on the background just adjacent to the photo above.
It wasn't a solo trip as planned as I sat down on the coach with one of my workmates (thanks to my convincing prowess). As far as I know there's only one bus company with a direct route to Banaue (Ohayami Trans). We boarded at around 10pm and arrived in Banaue at 7am. They'll provide you with a free transfer to Banaue town proper once you get there. Then, from the town, you have several options on how to get to Batad.
After breakfast, we decided to just take the jeep to Batad. It will take approximately another hour or so from the town to the heart of Batad or to the saddle point.
Since we only have a limited time or shall I say that we went there for a day trip, we decided to just take a trek to Tappiyah falls. This is one of the must-do when going to Batad. The hike was very challenging for me since I haven't had any daily exercise routine. Felt like my legs were not prepared to do it but I knew then that I can. It wasn't for sure an easy trek but it's all worth it. Truly one for the books! The views will just make you wander where you are and how beautiful the place is with its natural wonders. It was a good decision for us to hire a local guide as the balancing on the rice terraces and the climbing would be very hard. You can also rent a stick that you can use during the trek especially when the path ways gets muddy and slippery or else you'll end up on either side of the terraces which is a shallow, muddy pool or some feet of another muddy pool. The trek back was more difficult as it was like mountain climbing without any gears. To cut the story short, we survived the hours of trekking after seeing the beautiful Tappiyah falls up close.
We had an early dinner in town, bought a souvenir and headed back to Manila at around 7pm. I honestly had a great time during the entire trip and having a travel buddy made it less boring as anyone would agree. And that workmate of mine? He's now one of my best friends.
This is a view from the window while having breakfast in Banaue.
This photo was taken just outside our guide's house after a long and tiring hike from Tappiyah falls..
My photo of the trip, which can't be posted for privacy, shows me and my best friend together and still smiling after the trek with some fogs and the mountains of Batad on the background just adjacent to the photo above.
