“Batad Rice Terraces is one of the coolest, relaxing and laid-back mountain vibes with a mixture of thrills and adventure. Truly a magnificent natural treasure indeed; no wonder it was tagged as the 8th wonder of the world
As a Filipino who was born and raised in the Philippines, I am always wondering; what the rice terraces in Banaue looks like up-close? Mostly, I only sighted it imprinted in our 20 & 1000 peso bill as well as pictures during our discussion in History class, particularly in the subject of Sibika and kultura. Since this site was considered a natural treasure of the Philippines, and listed as UNESCO World Heritage site, it becomes more popular and even tag as the 8th Wonder of the world by locals. Subsequently, it makes me eager to marvel more to this place. To make a long story short, after so many years, at last, in 2024, I was able to grasp this stunning rice terraces and experience the thrill, culture and adventure. And I must say that it is one of most mesmerizing place I have been so far, and shouldn’t be missed when you are traveling in the Philippines. Photos and videos are not enough to describe how amazing this natural treasure is; you should experience it.
About Batad Rice Terraces – Banaue
Banaue Rice Terraces in the town
Just a quick bit of trivia: the five clusters inscribed as part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, which are rightfully deemed UNESCO World Heritage site are Batad, Bangaan, Hungduan, Mayoyao Central and Nagacadan. All are situated in the remote village of Banaue. Basically, the Rice Terraces that we see in the center town of Banaue that were imprinted on the 20 & 1000 peso bills are not already included in the UNESCO inscription due to the presence of several modern structures, making them less appealing and scoring low in the integrity criterion. Nevertheless, it is still a Cultural Heritage Site of the Philippines.
Batad Rice Terraces
Out of the five clusters, Batad is considered to be the most striking of all the terraces, which forms an amphitheatre of agriculture that has lasted for more than two thousand years ago. It is a product of the Ifugao ethnic group, a minority community that lives on these mountains. The rice terraces here have stone walls, which makes them unique from other regions that have mud walls. Consequently, it is the most visited rice terrace out of the five clusters.
When is the best time to visit Batad & Banaue Rice Terraces
Batad Rice Terraces
Rice Terraces in Banuae are amazing all year round, however, each season looks differently, so it’s good to plan accordingly. For me, the best time to visit Batad Rice Terraces is when the rice terraces are at their greenest, starting from Mid-March to May, when the weather is mostly sunny with a clear blue sky. In addition to that, Tappiya waterfalls is very clear and beautiful at this time, with a greenish-blue color, which is one of my top considerations when traveling to Batad since I am fascinated with waterfalls. In case you want to see the rice terraces like a golden paradise, visit from Mid-June to August, when the harvest season is approaching. I heard the view is also magnificent.
Although still beautiful, I would suggest avoiding the wet season during the months of September to February. In some cases, where heavy rain is coming in some months, the area is prone to landslides. On the other side, since Batad stone walls are plain and there are no rice plants, it creates a beautiful reflection in the brown pool.
Journey to Batad
How to travel from Manila to Banaue (DIY)
Take a night bus, either from Coda Lines Transport or Ohayami Trans. The schedule starts around 7 p.m. and ends at 10 pm, so better choose which fits for you. So far, for me, Ohayami is popular among tourists to travel in Banaue, so I opted to book with this company and chose the 10 pm schedule since the travel time is 9 hours, so expect the bus to arrive in Banuae around 7 a.m. Be sure to book before coming to the Bus station, as the seats are always full at the time of departure. It is best to book online 3 days before your travel.
Where to stay in Batad
Hotels in Banaue town and village of Batad are everywhere, so you have numerous selections of accommodations, from standard to medium hotels. You can check on agoda, Booking.com, or Airbnb; if you are on a budget, a hostel option is also available.
Since this is the first time I will see Batad upclose, I chose Batad Hillside Inn, which I believe has the best view of the rice terraces, even just in the balcony of your room or while eating breakfast in their restaurant.
Activities to do in Batad Rice Terraces
Trek to Awwa View Deck
There is no better place to see the amazing view of Batad rice terraces than by reaching the peak of the Awwa View Deck. You will have an overlooking view of the whole Rice Terraces, it is a magical feeling.
Swim in Tappiyah Waterfalls
Trekking in Batad will not be complete without waterfall adventures, so make sure you are able to visit Tappiyah Falls. Prepare yourself for an exhausting up-and-down trek. Make a stop whenever you feel tired, don’t rush because the trek is really tiring, but once you reach the waterfalls, all your efforts are worth it because the view is really beautiful and amazing. At first glance, your tiredness will be gone.
Experience Local Massage
If you have a spare budget, why not try the local massage to relax after a tiring day of hiking, as well as to relieve muscle pain in your body? For 250 pesos, you can experience a full-body massage in 30 minutes. It is best after dinner and before sleeping time.
Explore Banaue Rice Terraces in the town
Upon returning to the town of Banuae, arrange a tricycle to tour around the Banaue rice terraces for only 300 pesos. It’s about time to explore the rice terraces in the center of the town and see up-close the rice terraces imprinted on the 20 & 1000 Philippine peso bills.
How many days to stay?
A one-night stay in Batad is enough to experience the Trek and the waterfalls. But if you are planning to hike the other clusters of Banuae Rice Terraces, 3 Days is recommended.
Itinerary in Batad from Manila
1st Day
10:00 pm to 7 am- Travel from Manila to Banaue (Be sure to be in Bus station 30 minutes before departure)
2nd Day
7:30 am- Ride a Tricycle and inform the driver that you’re planning to Eat Breakfast before going Batad. He will drop you off at the restaurant and wait until you finish
8:00 am-Travel going to Batad, buy bread for snacks if possible, as well as a water bottle. (Note: Since Batad is remote, expect some items to be slightly expensive, so better buy essentials in the town of Banaue.
9:30 am- Early Check-in Hotel, take order for a packed lunch and bring it to the waterfalls in Trek
10:00 am-Start the trek going Awwa View deck (arrange a tour guide with the hotel; in some cases, locals will come near you to offer a guide; otherwise, Do it on your own if you’re a good navigator or familiar with the place)
12:00 pm- Reach Waterfalls, relax, enjoy, take many photos and videos, and swim
1:00 pm-Take your lunch at Tappayah
2:00 pm- Start trekking back to your Hotel
4:00 pm- Take a rest
6:00 pm-Take Early Dinner
7:00 pm- Experience Local Massage for 30 minutes (250 pesos) (Optional)
8:00 pm- Sleep
3rd Day
6:30 am- Wake up, Take a bath
7:00 am- Take Breakfast then Pack-Up
8:00 am- Check out in your hotel then start walking at the highway
9:00 am- Ride a jeep (Note: If you want to save money, ride a jeep going back to Banaue Town (150 pesos), Jeepney Departs in the morning around 9:00 am from Batad, no other schedule so be sure to be there before that time; otherwise you need to hire tricycle which cost around 800 to 1000 pesos depends on your negotiation)
10:30 am- Tour around Banaue Rice Terraces with arrange tricycle in the town
12:00 pm- Take your lunch
1:00-3:30 pm- Roam around the town, buy souvenir or take a coffee
4:30 pm- Ride a Bus going back to Manila (Make sure you booked your returned ticket)
Budget in Batad Rice Terraces
The cost of traveling to Batad Rice Terraces is considerably budget-friendly, especially if you are not picky with accommodation as well as if you are a good navigator. Based on my experience, most tourists spend around PHP 3000 to PHP 6000 from Manila. Please see below list of my actual consolidated costs with notes in case you want to reduce your budget. This can vary if you are traveling with friends, as the cost will be divided as well; especially for the hotel, tour guide and tricycle.
- Bus Ticket Back & Forth from Banuae to Manila-PHP 1600
- Banaue Environmental Fee-PHP 20 (to be paid upon arrival at the Ohayami Bus Station in Banuae)
- Batad Environmental Fee-PHP 50 (To be paid once you arrive in Batad )
- Tricycle from Banauae to Batad- PHP 500 up to view deck then walk going to Batad village for 10-15 minutes otherwise pay 800 or 1000 PHP.
- Hotel Accomodation- PHP 2200 (One night in Batad Hillside Inn) (Note: You can also choose a hostel with a lesser price of around 500 in the area if you are on a budget like Batad Christina’s Main Village Inn & Restaurant)
- Tour Guide Cost-1200 pesos (they will first tell you 1500, but insist on 1200 for a discount); otherwise, if you are a good navigator, you can do it your own; just follow the trail that others are going)
- Tour Tricycle around Banaue Rice Terraces Town- PHP 300
- Food-PHP 700 per person (for 2 days and 1 night) (Note: good meal price range between PHP 100 and PHP 200)
- My Over-all Budget– PHP 6570 (for solo traveler)
Note: If you choose hostel accommodation, you will only spend overall around PHP 4000 to PHP 5000, and if you are familiar with the place or good navigator or have a friend with you who have been there before then no need for tour guide, thus, some spend only around PHP 3000 to PHP 4000. Please be aware of dogs, bring stick if necessary.
Essential things to bring in Batad
- Money in Cash (Note that ATM machines in Banaue are very few; some are not working, so it is better to bring cash; not all stores accept credit cards.)
- hiking shoes or any running shoes will do, otherwise sandals for hiking
- Slipper
- Sunblock
- Bottle of water for trekking
- Hygiene Kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc.)
- Insect Repellant lotion (since you are in the mountain area, better to bring at least lotion for protection against insects bite)
- Sun glass
- Cap for head & face sun protection
- Swimming attire in case you are planning to swim in Tappiyah Waterfalls
Additional Note: Since Batad is a remote village, expect low signal or no signal at all in some area. Although some hotels, like Batad Hillside Inn, offer a 1-hour Wi-Fi connection for 10 pesos.
Anyhow, forget about the signal, you are in the Mountain so just enjoy and relax your mind away from social media, “Be at the moment”.
So, have you been to Batad Rice Terraces? Please share your thoughts and experience.
BATAD Rice Terraces-BANAUE TRAVEL VIDEO
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