Banaue Travel Guide

Located on the northern island of Luzon in the Philippines, in the Cordillera mountain range, Banaue is well known for its spectacular rice terraces, which are listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site.

The mountainous region provides a host of adventure activities to enjoy including trekking, mountaineering, rock climbing and nature watching. There are some fantastic waterfalls in Banuae, which provide breathtaking sightseeing and also a place for swimming.

The main attraction of Banaue is the 2,000-year-old rice terraces that were constructed with only primitive tools by the native Ifugaon people. There is also some museums and galleries to enjoy, including the Museum of Cordilleran Sculpture, which has a collection of traditional pieces carved from wood and composite materials.

Getting There & Away

The easiest way to get to Banaue is by bus from the nearby city of Baguio where daily flights arrive from Manila. The flight from Manila takes only 40 minutes and bus ride less than an hour. There are roads linking Banaue directly with Manila although the mountainous terrain makes the 350km journey slow, taking around nine hours by bus.

Things to Do

Banaue Attractions

Rice terraces

The ancient rice terraces are one of the world’s most amazing man-made wonders, which were built over 2,000 years ago by the ifugaon people. the terraces cover the valley for several miles from top to bottom, with channels irrigating the area coming from streams and mountain springs.

Museum of Cordilleran Sculpture

Check out traditional pieces carved from wood and composite materials at this interesting museum.

Side trips from Banaue

Tappiyah Waterfalls

These falls, a 30-minute walk from batad village, are 70m high and have great swimming at the bottom.