Palawan Day 4: Ending with a Splash

When I was 9, I collected Lisa Frank stickers (and other designs of course). I remember that being the spark of my fascination for dolphins. My sister also liked dolphins, and because of this, we got hold of a book; a directory actually, of the kinds of whales and dolphins in the Philippines and where they can be found. Ever since, I've had on my mental bucket list that I must 1.) see dolphins in the wild and 2.) if possible swim with a dolphin.

A fisherman/watcher and a pair of spinner dolphins

Fast forward to 2009, I was a wink away to crossing one more item off my bucket list.

Last, but definitely not the least on our Puerto Princesa itinerary was dolphin watching in Puerto Princesa Bay. Our tour van picked us up from our hotel at 7 am to bring us to the Port of Palawan. Even while we were still in the van, I was already praying really hard there would be a sighting. As soon as we arrived, we boarded the outrigger boat along with another group. Along the trip out to the deep blue sea, we learned that they were a group of teachers who also went on vacation before school started.

We were given a briefing by the accredited guide, and gave us a few reasonable reminders and rules – to not feed and not swim with the dolphins isn't too difficult to follow, right? After about an hour, we saw a smaller boat and initially thought the "boat boss" was a fisherman. He then pointed to a direction, and there we went. We later on figured he was a watcher. After about 5 minutes, lo and behold! We got our first glimpse of Palawan's dolphins. We were all ecstatic at the sight of the large school of dolphins jumping around, spinning in mid air as if showing off their skills and tricks to us humans.

Dolphins swimming freely in the open sea 

Some of the last few groups we saw before heading back to the Puerto Princesa Port

We were out at sea for almost two hours seeing mostly spinner dolphins, roaming around, following directions from watchers, possibly even going around in circles and making criss-crossed paths with the other boats set to get a glimpse of these amazing creatures. I didn't get a chance to get close-up photos because the boats weren't allowed to intersect the path of the dolphins and the dolphins didn't go near the boat either. During the only instance the dolphins came very close to the boat, I was too shocked with the sight to even snap away.

Just some of the possibly hundreds of dolphins we saw that morning

Puerto Princesa Bay is conveniently located just right beside Honda Bay so you can actually do dolphin watching in the morning then proceed to Honda Bay Island hopping after.

This trip made me realize how great He really is, and how we humans are but one fraction of the earth's inhabitants. This trip also made me realize that there are even more places in the Philippines for us to discover.

I didn’t “leave my heart in Palawan”. Rather, I took home with me a happier heart and a mind at peace and filled with memories to last a lifetime. 

Flora at Daluyon

Palawan Part 3: Just Keep Swimming

HONDA VS HUNDA

So what is it really: Honda or Hunda?

On our third day in Puerto Princesa, we left Sabang early in the morning and transferred to Legend
Palawan, a hotel in the city proper. We just checked-in, deposited our bags, and hopped onto the van. It took about 30 minutes for us to get to Santa Lourdes Warf, Tagbanua, Puerto Princesa City from the hotel. Because we have already paid for our tour in advance, our tour operator arranged for everything including the fees and registration needed.

Tip: bring your own snorkel and mask if possible, packed lunch, sea-sickness meds and other basic medication. If you can, bring water-proofing for your gadgets so your can take photos and videos of the beautiful underwater life.

Pambato = Bet

Our first stop in Honda Bay was Pambato Reef. It's a protected area discovered by local fishermen in 2006. The following year, ABS-CBN's environmental foundation gave them a helping hand and formed Dalub Karagatan or "School in the Seas", which is the ultimate goal of the facility - to enlighten visitors on the marine ecosystem, it's current condition, and educate us as to how we can help preserve, save and protect it in our own way. With the existence of a proper structure and rules, it is best that you wear the required life jacket, stay within the designated area, do not feed the marine life and leave your footwear in the floating house. You wouldn't want to swim after you slippers or worse, have the fish feeding on your slippers, right? Wear your snorkel and mask, hold onto the pawikan-shaped floater and enjoy the swim around the area. What astounded me was the size of the fish in the area. Some were the size of both my hands with fingers spread wide apart. We even saw a giant clam!

The Dalub Karagatan, with its sea turtle roof

After Pambato Reef, we headed over to Starfish Island. En route, we saw Luli Island and Snake Island. We didn't make stops there because we wanted quality versus quantity, thus choosing to go to fewer islands but having more time there. Starfish Island, locally known as Tabuan Island, was named as such because there used to be a lot of starfish in the area. There still were quite a number when we went, but the boatman said there used to be even more. We stayed to take photos, check-out the mangrove patch, and have lunch.

Mangroves at Starfish Island

View from Starfish Island

After stuffing ourselves with the glorious lunch prepared for us by our guide, we got some rest and headed over to the final stop: Pandan Island. The island was packed with beach-goers when we went, so we docked, and just went straight into the water. We didn't find the need to rent a cottage, since all our belongings were in the boat anyway.

Pandan Island is great for those who are new to snorkeling because from the shore, you can swim to a depth comfortable to you. At about 7 to 8 feet deep, there are already schools of different kinds of fish. Unlike Pambato Reef, they allow fish feeding in Pandan Island. Many enjoy this, but I chose to just snorkel and swim around. At around 3pm, we headed back to the city to get some rest as most of us were tired from swimming all day.

We were supposed to go for Firefly watching early that evening, but because of some hoolabaloo our travel agent was apparently doing, the tour guide and van driver refused to bring us to the Iwahig River. We were still thankful to them because they explained it to us properly that it was the travel agency's wrongdoing and even told us how much we should ask for as refund.

Immaculate Concepcion Church

Since, we had nothing in our itinerary, we just asked them if they could bring us to the church to hear mass. We went to Immaculate Concepcion Church and said a few prayers. Then, our van driver suggested for us to have dinner at Bilao at Palayok along Rizal Avenue (yes, same street as KaLui). They serve mostly Filipino dishes and seafood, which was all that we have been having the past couple of days. So at that point, we were just a bit tired of it. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the food as it was not bad at all, our meal was still very affordable and cheap, the ambience was pleasing also. Just like in some relationships, there wasn't anything wrong with Bilao at Palayok; there was probably just something wrong with us. Hahaha!

I couldn't write much about Legend Hotel as we were only there to shower and sleep. What I distinctly remember was that I got rashes from what may have been bed mites. Breakfast wasn't bad, but it was nothing great either. Overall, our stay was pretty okay.

Palawan Part 2: Making the Most of of Sabang

Early to bed, early to rise.

We hopped on our banca early to avoid the numerous tourists expected to arrive in the late morning. As we were headed to the underground river, I saw a sea turtle pass under our boat and even some egrets resting on some rock formations. We also passed a few amazing limestone formations and cliffs. As our boat dropped its anchor, we were greeted by a welcome signage to the underground river.

A map showing the location of the underground river

The underground or subterranean river used to be called the St. Paul Underground River because it is part of the St. Paul Mountain range. At 21 kilometers long, it was the world’s longest, until the underground river in Mexico was discovered. They changed the name to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999.

Along the path, our guide Rene explained to us the rules we would have to abide by:

> Do not feed the monkeys.

> Do not touch or pet the monkeys.

> Do not leave belongings unattended as the monkeys might steal them.

> When you see a bayawak or monitor lizard, do not mind them because they don't mind you.

> Take care of your belongings during the cruise in the underground river as, well, the water's pretty deep.

A monkey we spotted along the trail heading to the underground river

I was glad to actually see monkeys in the wild, climbing trees. We finally got to the "pier" and boarded our banca for the underground river tour. Our guide was very funny and informative, he kept all of us giggling the entire time while keeping us informed. I learned that they are all trained for their spiels and even trade jokes or punchlines with one another so they can get the tourists' attention. The formations inside the underground river/cave were really beautiful.

Clockwise from bottom right: Formations of Sagrada Familia, Mushrooms, a Crocodile, a Lady's Behind and Wizard

We then hopped on our boat again to head to the cove nearest to the Sabang Mangroves. We had to take 2 bancas as one would only accommodate 4 persons, plus the guide. The mangrove or bawakan tour along the Sabang river is a livelihood project of the Sabang community, and stretches long enough for a 45-minute to an hour-long tour. It was refreshing to see how vast and rich the forests in Palawan still are. As proof, I even spotted snakes twice along the way.

A snake crawling on the branches of a tree and bakawan branches kissing the water

A piece of the vast forest of Sabang, Palawan

After the mangrove tour, we took the trail and walked back to Daluyon. It gave us a good feel of the coastal village and their way of life. We had lunch as part of the package in one of the restaurants along the beach.

A peek into the simple yet very beautiful life in Sabang

That was just about it for our second day in Puerto Princesa. We spent the rest of the day playing in the beach, frolicking in the pool and just lounging around. 

The sunset from Daluyon

I believe that soon after we visited the underground River, they have implemented rules as to booking for a tour as they now only accommodate a certain number of people at a time. This is actually good because when we were on our way out and when we got out of the cave during our trip, there were just too many people and it was slightly ruining the experience. See more information here.

Palawan: The Last Frontier

It has been a while, so this might be quite a struggle. I'm writing about a trip we took in 2009, so please bear with me as I write all that I remember from that adventure. There are so many highlights from this trip, so I have decided to break it down into four entries.

A young saltwater crocodile guests can hold and have photos with.

It has been a long time since our entire family has come together for a trip like this, so we tried to make the most, and the best out of it.

We took the first flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa via Cebu Pacific, a good idea if you plan to make the most out of your trip. Since a half-day city tour was included in our itinerary, we started our adventure with it to maximize the day. First on the list was the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center more popularly known as the Crocodile Farm.

Guests are welcomed by a display of the skeleton and leather from the largest crocodile they've had so far. Then, we were led into a large, but well-organized collection of crocodiles. They had young crocodiles in a separate facility, which I appreciated because rarely are these babies seen in other zoos or parks. Aside from saltwater crocodiles, they also have other wildlife in the facility like a pony, some wild birds, the Philippine serpent eagle, bearded pigs, and the Palawan binturong or bearcat - a subspecie endemic to Palawan. 

We then headed to Baker's Hill, which is, well, a "compound" of restaurants and shops selling various items such as local delicacies, handicrafts, and other souvenirs. Aside from having photos taken with the various statues and figures, and checking out the bonsai display, we weren’t too keen on eating there so we decided to head to Mitra Ranch. 

Rancho Sta. Monica as it is otherwise known is owner by former Senator Ramon Mitra, Jr., which they have opened to the public as it has a beautiful view of the ocean, including the islands that comprise Honda Bay. We didn't stay too long because we had a couple more things in our itinerary - the Iwahig Penal Farm and of course, lunch. We decided to skip the former and just spent more time on the latter.

We had lunch at KaLui in Rizal Avenue, within the city proper. In KaLui, they request guests to take off their footwear upon entering the dining area. Quite nice and interesting, but can be odd for others, too. I remember having Stingray in Coconut Cream and having their dessert in "original cut" version. We were so happy about the food and service, we decided to come back for more before leaving for Manila on our last day. Not to mention, all 9 of us were so full and satisfied, at a very affordable price of P1,800!

KaLui's "Original Cut" Dessert by request.

Tired and drained from the heat, full from our feast, we headed straight to Sabang, a town most famous for the Underground River. The road trip took about an hour and a half. Some parts of the trip at that time were still rough roads as it was several months before the Underground River was pegged as part of the New 7 Wonders of the World. It was totally fine, as we were all able to still take a nap and have our first glimpse of the St. Paul Mountain Range and some limestone formations along the way. Palawan really is the last frontier.

Daluyon's Facade

Daluyon's Pool, with a view of St. Paul Mountain Range

We stayed at Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort. I stumbled upon Daluyon when I was looking around the internet for reviews of accommodation by the beach. I also saw that it was very near the Underground River and walking distance from the mangroves - a definite plus. I then remembered that a friend of ours stayed in Daluyon the year before and found it wonderful. They may be a bit pricey compared to the homestays and other resorts nearby, but you get what you pay for. You get a view of the St. Paul Mountain from the pool, and Sabang beach which, we find very similar to Boracay. The terrain very slowly rolls deeper and the sand is also very fine. The only difference is that the sand here is beige, though it's (a lot) more peaceful and secluded. Definitely good for families or couples looking for a getaway.

Right after we checked-in, we changed into "resort wear" (versus travel and city tour wear) and absorbed the relaxed vibe. Overall, our stay in Daluyon was very, very wonderful.

The Great Sagada Adventure

Sagada is Kabunyan.

Kabunyan is Heaven.

Sagada IS Heaven.

Along the Banga-an trail from the Big Falls.

Sagada is heaven for those who enjoy the outdoors and the adventures that come with it, for those who love cool to chilly weather, for those who love fresh blueberry or strawberry yoghurt, for those who like mysterious, enchanting places, and for those who just love to relax and absorb the peace and silence.

A farmer form Banga-an

HOW WE GOT THERE:
The first time we went to Sagada, we rented the van, which took us around Banaue and Bontoc to take us to Sagada. I believe you can also take public transport from Banaue to Bontoc, then Bontoc to Sagada.
You can also take the bus to Baguio and go to Sagada from there. When in Baguio, ask to be brought to the central terminal where the Lizardo or GL Liner buses to Sagada are. Travel time takes about 6 hours. Bring something to do in case you get bored looking at the seemingly-endless view of mountains, terraces and wild flowers and lush trees. Bring knick-knacks in case you get hungry between stop-overs, though the bus stops every two hours between Baguio and Sagada.

WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO SEE THERE
Hire a guide! Not only will it be very convenient for you, it will also help the locals and encourage them to preserve the natural wonders in their area. When you hire transportation service, make sure to agree on a rate and the inclusions of the package price you agree upon, to avoid further inconvenience and unnecessary haggling at the end of the trip. Accredited guides can be hired at the tourist center for an affordable rate, depending on the sites you will visit.

Shout out loud at Echo Valley. Walk through town and head to Echo Valley to hear your voice (or your companion’s) echo throughout the mountains. You’ll pass a chapel and a cemetery while headed to Echo Valley so try to keep unnecessary noise to a minimum. If you have no time or energy to spare to get closer, you can also see some hanging coffins from here. It’s also a very nice area to sit and meditate. The cliff isn’t a good place to goof around, as there have already been numerous accidents and two fatalities in this area.

Some hanging coffins and Echo Valley

Go spelunking at the Sumaguing Cave (and the rest of the cave system). Stretch well and be prepared to get wet as in Sumaguing, your limbs will be challenged, you might slip a little, get wet with sweat or get soaked in ice-cold water. The temperature inside the cave is low enough for you to see your breath. Our guide Joy (yes, a man given a woman’s name) gave us an amusing and funny tour and was very helpful whilst giving us challenging routes from time to time. Do make sure that you don’t leave any of your group members behind, as well as ensure everyone’s safety first before proceeding forward. The only light source inside the cave will be the guide’s gas lamp and your headlamps (that is if you brought). This is why everyone must stay close to each other and be ready to assist each other should anything untoward happen.

Above: Two photos of the sunrise at Kiltepan

The Sagada Crew including Kuya Jun our driver/tour guide (in red)

Witness the insanely beautiful Kiltepan sunrise. I’ve only been able to watch the sun rise once in my life and that happened in Bolabog in Boracay. So when I found out that there’s a perfect spot for watching the sun rise in Sagada, I jumped at the opportunity. We left the homestay at around 4:30 in the morning. Kiltepan is about 5 to 15 minutes from the town proper, depending on what you’re riding to get there. Seeing the sun rise above the clouds below me was one of the most incredible experiences ever. The view of the sun slowly giving light to show the river of clouds between the peaks of the mountains is indeed astonishing.

Full shot of Big Falls

See the Big Falls. Stretch well, especially your legs as the walk down to the Big Falls and the hike up will take you about 4 hours total. The Bomod-ok Falls or more popularly know as the Big Falls is “big” in relation to the “small” falls in Bokong. It is 200 feet high and best seen when there has been some rain a few days before heading there. We were very lucky that there was enough rainfall for the falls to have “enough water”, without making the paths slippery and muddy. The best route to take going down is through Aguid then hike back up taking the Banga-an trail. It would be very useful to ask your guide this so you see and appreciate both routes. Don’t forget to bring an extra shirt, a hat, sunscreen, lots of water, water protection for your gadgets, and swimwear if you’re brave enough to take a dip or swim in the über cold small pool at the foot of the waterfall.

Lake Danum, Ganduyan Museum and Mt. Ampacao are some of the sights I haven’t been to. Thankfully, I have “enough” reason to go back.

WHERE TO EAT
Yoghurt House – The Yoghurt House is very popular for their fresh yoghurt and meals. Our group tried a variety of items, but my favorite has to be the vegetable pasta with eggplants, zucchini and bell peppers. It was very interesting to my palate. Their rice toppings and set meals are also hits.
The Log Cabin – The Log Cabin is a very cozy and intimate place good for couples or small families to dine. They were the most expensive option for meals in Sagada in 2011. You can read up more on our dinner at the Log Cabin at Ate D.B.’s blog.
Masferré’s – At the time we went, they weren’t serving anything out of the ordinary. It’s probably better during the peak season when they bake their own bread, etc. It was just interesting to dine there as the walls are adorned with interesting, eye-catching photographs Eduardo Masferré (People Of The Philippine Cordillera, Photographs 1934-1956) took of the Cordilleras and its people at a time when the people of the Cordilleras were very wary of outsiders.
Strawberry Café – We kept walking past Strawberry Café until that morning we came from Kiltepan. We all went in to try and we were very surprised at how incredibly comforting their porridge (arrozcaldo) was. Their chicken noodle soup (mami) was also very good. We also ordered fresh strawberry shake and yoghurt, which in our opinion, makes this joint better than Yoghurt House. Even Ate D.B. says so here! They use strawberries fresh from their own backyard. When you get the chance, head to Strawberry Café and decide for yourself.
The Co-Op for their Pies – The Co-Op Pie is a classic Sagada favorite for some. A fresh batch is baked every day and stocks are limited so best if you go early in the afternoon or make a reservation in advance.Etag and Mountain Tea! Etag is smoked meat, similar to jerky, and is indigenous to Sagada. We were also able to try the tea from the market. It was so cheap at just PhP 10.00 per pack. One pack can probably make about 80 to 100 cups of tea. It’s light and we found that it’s very good to use in making freshly-brewed iced tea and can help in regulating bowel movement.
Try Civet Coffee. That is if you’re brave enough. Read more on this here. A known manufacturer and distributor of Civet coffee in the Philippines and abroad is Arengga Coffee Alamid.
Try Pinikpikan. This is a local delicacy comprised on chicken beaten with a stick so that the blood stays in the bones and gives a distinct taste to the broth. This is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

The view from Sagada Homestay

WHERE WE STAYED
Sagada Homestay – They are also known as Karen Homestay because the owner’s name is Karen. They have a couple of rooms in the second floor of their house for guests with a common bathroom down the hallway. They also have a few small houses that groups of 4 and up can rent. One of the houses also has a kitchen so you can opt to cook. If not, you can eat out or request Ate Karen to prepare your meals.
Though, more popular accommodations are St. Joseph Resthouse and the more posh Rock Inn, which we haven’t tried yet. If you have, let me know how you found it.

It may be useful to know:
Outfit and weather protection – Make sure you bring clothing options that vary from cold weather clothing to hot weather clothing and rainy weather clothing. When we were there, it was hot during late morning until early afternoon, raining late afternoon and chilly in the evening. Also best to bring small towels, sunblock, hats, extra clothing and comfortable footwear when going on treks.

Public display of affection is frowned-upon by the locals, especially the elders in Sagada, as men are expected to be warriors and not show any sign of affection. Women on the other hand are expected to be reserved, almost aloof. Don’t get me wrong – people in Sagada are very friendly and helpful. However, just like in all places and cultures, there are certain local practices, beliefs, and teachings that we must respect and abide.

Photo taken at the rice paddies in Banga-an

Our Bontoc Stop-Over and Halsema Highway

Bontoc is the first town in the Mountain Province from Ifugao. The town of 
Bontoc is a less popular destination compared to Banaue and Sagada. However, should you be interested to stay in this town, you’ll be interested to know that there are guides you can hire to show you around, as the tribes in Bontoc are still generally cautious of tourists, especially foreigners.

The Bay-yo Terraces from the viewpoint along Halsema Highway

HOW WE GOT THERE

From Banaue or Sagada, Bontoc is about 1.5 to 2 hours away. We took a van from Banaue, had a toilet stopover in Bontoc en route to Sagada.

WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO SEE THERE

Stop at the Bay-yo Viewpoint. The Bay-yo Terraces is probably my favorite. Can you see why?
Stop at the Bontoc Museum. There are traditional items like clothing, ancestral weapons for headhunting, agricultural items and photos of the killings the ancestors did when foreign missionaries tried to preach to the tribes. There are also a couple of photos displayed which were taken by Mas Ferré.

View from Halsema Highway

HALSEMA HIGHWAY

Halsema Highway is the 240-kilometer road that connects Baguio to Sagada until Bontoc. It is the highest highway in the entire Philippines at 2,255 meters above sea level. It is named after the Former Mayor of Baguio Julius Halsema who opened the highway in the 1930s. The views are awesome in most parts and gets interesting when you get to see the lives the locals live. It can also get scary as most parts of the highway have only two lanes and no railings making it very possible for the vehicles to drop down the cliffs.

Some flowers at the Bontoc Stopover

Blissfully Banaue

Sometimes called by locals as the "Eighth Wonder of the World", 

the Ifugao Rice Terraces begin at the base of the mountain range and 

extend several thousand feet upwards. 

Two of the terrace clusters in Banaue, namely Bangaan and Batad, 

are part of the UNESCO World Heritage inscription. 

It is said that their length, if put end to end, would encircle half of the globe. 

Built 2,000 years ago, the rice terraces manifest the engineering skill and 

ingenuity of the sturdy Ifugaos. They are irrigated by means of mountain 
streams and springs that have been tapped and
channeled into canals that run downhill through the rice terraces. 

(From Wikipedia)

One of the indigenous people in the Batad Viewpoint 

HOW WE GOT THERE

We took the one and only trip of Florida Bus Lines from their Manila station with a PhP450.00 fare. We left at approximately 10:30 pm and arrived in Banaue at 6:30 am. The trip was relatively pleasant, with occasional stops for toilet breaks and a quick cup of coffee. You can also try Ohayami Trans which serves the same route during peak season.

WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO SEE THERE

Hire a guide! Not only will it be very convenient for you, it will also help the locals and encourage them to stay. We were told that there have already been several instances when the “young ones” would rather go to Manila or Baguio and experience the city life – abandoning their culture and practices. By showing them that their culture and heritage is precious enough, we help them realize that their practices are worth learning and keeping alive. When you hire a guide and/or transportation service, make sure to agree on a rate and the inclusions of the package price you agree upon, to avoid further inconvenience and unnecessary haggling at the end of the trip.

Hap-ao Terraces at Hungduan

See the various rice terraces in the several municipalities in the Ifugao Province (Lagawe, Hungduan, Banaue, etc.) The terraces you will be able to see will depend on the season you will go. When we went, the ones we saw “green” were Ba-ang and Hap-ao in Hungduan town and Bay-yo in Bontoc. The reason behind this is that they alternate the planting season for the areas so that in essence, they have rice available for harvest all year round. They also let the soil rest by planting other crops like sweet potatoes, vegetables, or not plant at all so the soil can replenish its minerals.

Try riding the wooden bike/scooter. The wooden bikes are quite amusing as the kids still use them for fun. Every April, during the Imbayah Festival, they have a downhill race using these wooden scooters.

Some items that can be found in the native house

See or even stay in a native house. Have your guide explain to you why the house is structured the way it is and you’ll realize how agriculture plays a huge and crucial part in their lives, even influencing how their homes are structured. Be amazed at the skulls and ancient weaponry used by their elders who take pride in being warriors of their land and family.

Watch the cultural show at the Banaue Hotel. Be entertained and educated on how the natives go on about their daily lives and milestones in their lives including birth, marriage, death and other celebrations in their lives.

Buy wooden souvenirs carved by the indigenous people. Buy interesting sculptures and carvings made by locals. Each design has a meaning and story so try to see which one you can relate best to or what design appeals to you the most.

Buy locally weaved items. The patterns of their weaving are generally different from the weaving of the rest of the tribes throughout the country. The patterns differ from each tribe and the number of colors used in the weave defines the position or standing of the person in the tribe. These would be nice to bring home as souvenirs for yourself or to bring home to relatives and friends.

Have lunch at People’s Lodge. The food isn’t anything special or spectacular, but the view is! Have Chicken rice for lunch while soaking-in the spectacular view of the terraces.

View from our room

WHERE WE STAYED

We stayed at the Banaue Hotel, which is government-owned and managed by the Philippine Tourism Authority, an agency under the Department of Tourism. The hotel is pretty old and so are the rooms. However, it is relatively well kept and facilities are basic but good enough, considering how far out in the mountains it is.

If you want to go backpacker style, you can also stay at People’s Lodge where they have rooms at very affordable rates.

There is generally not much to see in Banaue, except for the rice terraces and some waterfalls we weren't able to see. However, given the grandeur and how marvelous the construction of the terraces are, the totality of the Ifugao Rice Terraces is definitely one of the sites you must see in your lifetime. Merely trying to imagine how their ancestors were able to carve out the terraces out of the mountains will make jaws drop and generate more than enough oohs, aahs, wows, and other exclamatory expressions. After all, these weren't enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for nothing, right?

The Banaue Rice Terraces