A First-timer’s Guide to Banaue
Banaue lies in the mountainous region of the Cordillera located in the Province of Ifugao. Going here is like a dance for your life, there are a lot of sharp turns, downhill, and uphill roads. The only way to reach it is taking the challenge of traveling by land via private car or taking the 9 to 10-hour bus ride via Ohiyami Bus, the only Banaue local bus company that offers direct trips from Manila to Banaue. It offers only two night trips daily and is located along Lacson Avenue, Manila near University of Santo Tomas.
- Stay at The Banaue View Inn
The only hotel in Banaue is the Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel, which offers accommodations at premium prices. If you’re a backpacker, one of the best choices you have is the Banaue View Inn.
It’s a 2-storey house perched above the mountain giving you a full view of the whole town. Get the room at the veranda on the 2nd floor for a relaxing view, the perfect spot for sipping a hot cup of Ifugao coffee blend.
Contact details : 0916-694-4511 or 0928-304-6463
Email Address : banaueviewinn_1984@yahoo.com
- Explore Native Artifacts at Banaue Museum
Located in the same compound as Banaue View Inn is the Banaue Museum, which houses a collection of artifacts by Otley Beyer, the Father of Philippine Anthropology.
The Banaue View Inn and Banaue Museum are operated by the descendants of Otley Beyer. Lily B. Luglug, granddaughter of Otley Beyer, said that she sometimes acts as a curator of the museum when she has free time, especially after finishing a bead necklace.
She also pointed some of the highlights of the museum: the ritual boxes, said to be the oldest among the collection,
and her favourite bead necklaces, the most expensive items in the collection.
Banaue Museum
Entrance Fee : 50 Pesos
Address : Banaue View Inn, Poblacion, Banaue, Ifugao
- Make a Detour at Lagawe
Exploring the nearby towns like Lagawe, Ifugao Province’s capital, is a good way to learn more about the local culture.
Just an hour ride away from Banaue, Lagawe’s streets turn into a big market during market day with freshly harvested fruits and vegetables scattered and lined up on the ground sold at very affordable prices.
You can grab a quick snack at Pedro’s, which serves comfort food dishes like pasta, fries, and pizzas. One must-try dish is the Smoked Pork Pinunog Pizza, which is topped with flavorful pinunog, the Ifuago’s version of smoked sausage.
Pedro’s
Address: 3rd flr The Deck Kitikit rd corner Rizal Avenue Dullagan, Lagawe, Ifugao
Contact Number : 0917 631 9777
- And of course, Take in the View of The Farmed Banaue Rice Terraces
Aside from the breath-taking view of the Banaue Rice Terraces at the viewpoint, challenge yourself and walk along the rice paddies, which has only about a foot in width, towards the view deck.
The rice paddies are knee-deep while the edges of the pathways are almost 10 feet deep. There are no railings on the pathways so focus and balance must be kept in mind while walking towards the deck.
How to Get Here: Rent a tricycle at the town center and ask the driver to bring you to the view point.
- Meet the Locals
Most of the locals on every corner of the town chew moma or nga nga, a combination of betel nut, betel powder, lime, and sometimes with tobacco leaves.
Marilyn Maglihan, a local and a polymer clay art maker, shared that chewing moma is a vice just like cigarettes for others.
Weaving of traditional cloth and carving are the common sources of living of the locals.
Most of the carvings in Banaue represent the Bul-ul, the rice guardian of the Igorot.
The House of Ekolife Pasalubong Center, Coffee and Bake Shop and Tours
Ground Floor, Banaue Museum, Banaue, Ifugao.
0996-667-3809 / 0930-835-9944