Banaue - Pictures and travel information


Advertise on this site

Banaue village center

Banaue is high up in the Cordillera mountains, northern Luzon island, Philippines. Banaue is above all world famous for its rice terraces. The Banaue rice terraces are an "UNESCO world heritage area" and an"International historic civil engineering landmark". Yet Banaue has quiet little tourism compared to its beauty and extraordinary agriculture and landscape reputation.

In my photo gallery you find an album high resolution large format photos from Banaue rice terraces

Banaue neighborhood

Banaue is a large valley with several corners and millions of different and most spectacular views. Come along some of my photo sessions and enjoy the beautiful landscape and the results of this extraordinary efforts made by humans. Banaue rice terraces are an example of mankind's potential to create out of ordinary mountain area a mountain paradise! Let this example inspire you and remind you of your own potential to convert your poor or simple life in a successful life in happiness and joy among friends and family. Everything in life is possible - it is but a question of the needed total efforts invested during a sufficient amount of time until goal successfully achieved.

The rice terraces in Banaue are known as "Banaue rice terraces" or also under the local name "Ifugao rice terraces". Both names describe the same area.

Hard work in nature results in healthy and strong humans

Provincial population is stronger and happier than all city population I have seen on this planet. In addition - farm work amidst God created nature results in happy and beautiful smiling children.

Real work in a natural clean environment always is the easiest, cheapest and most efficient way to stay healthy and happy with all your family. In a village structure where all help all, all share with all, all love all - all people shall be happy and find all their wishes fulfilled for an entire life and beyond. The secret of a happy village is to have all people involved in all needed work and to have zero administration and zero paperwork. Life and work is totally focused on real life needs amidst a huge loving family. All village is ONE family.

How to get to Banaue ?

There are at least 2 major origins to get to Banaue:

From Baguio via Sagada to Banaue. This route usually is limited to the dry season. During rainy season the part from Sagada to Banaue often is blocked due to heavy and frequent landslides during rainy season. Landslides often block the road between Sagada and Banaue for up to several days. Buses From Baguio to Sagada are leaving early morning and arrive Sagada early evening. Next day you have to find a taxi or jeepney to get to Banaue provided the road is open.
From Baguio - down Kennon road and then along the plain to Banaue. This route is all clean concrete road and on this route it takes about one day by bus until Banaue or 7-8 hrs by car.
From Dau bus terminal (Angeles city) by bus. Ask the bus conductors which bus to take and where to change buses. Start early morning to arrive Banaue same day. Or take a taxi from Angeles or even from Manila. Approx 8 hrs.

Transportation in Banaue

Usually all walking - but you find amazingly some trikes strong enough to drive mountain roads in Banaue neighborhood. You also find large 4 wheel drive taxi or jeepney sometimes free for private trips.

Accommodation - Hotels and restaurants

You find several nice, clean and reasonable priced hotels in Banaue center as well as within easy walking distance from Banaue center. Typical room rates are in the range of 25-30 US$ per day, including shower. NO aircon needed - we are in the mountains. NO TV normally in hotels of that price range. You also find a few higher priced hotels with more comfort.

You have several small but fine restaurants in the Banaue village center. Food is typical Filipino and some western style as well. A specialty is the red rice !! Try it - it's unique to Banaue and red rice from Banaue rice terraces is either unavailable or approximately twice the normal price elsewhere in the Philippines. Red rice tastes totally different from the common white rice known around the world.

Local population is very friendly and some people may even speak english ... remember you are the guest and the local language is NOT "Filipino" NOR Tagalog ! Adapt to local customs.

Internet - eMail - cellphone coverage

There are several Internet cafes and also hotels with Internet in the lobby. The connection is OK and usually thru the Smart Bro network. The entire Banaue area also has an excellent cellphone coverage.

Click on any thumbnail picture below to see the full size image

Free Philippine
wallpapers

UNESCO world heritage area	International historic civil engineering landmark
Ifugao rice terraces Banaue	Ifugao rice terraces Banaue
Ifugao rice terraces Banaue	Ifugao rice terraces Banaue
Simple yet comfortable houses for the local farmers Banaue	Ifugao rice terraces Banaue
Ifugao rice terraces Banaue	Ifugao rice terraces Banaue

Banaue rice fields

Planting and harvesting rice is very work intense. Yet the wages a typical rice farmer has - or better income from selling rice - is a tiny fraction of what most city population earns. No one in cities is willing to pay equal wage to those providing life support and basic needs. Farmers however are rarely greedy if at all. Hence most farmers work to feed the world and know well that the final salary balance always is compensated by God after their life time on earth as heavy working farmer. Without farmers all world would die of starvation. Yet people easily spend multiple amounts for conveniences, luxury items and gadgets such as TV, radio, computer, car, vacation, fashion, beauty products, etc.

Banaue Rice field	Banaue Rice field
Banaue Rice field	Banaue Beautiful flowers all around the village and valley
Banaue Rice field	Banaue Rice field
Orange angel trumpet	Banaue Rice field
Banaue Farmers working in the rice fields all day long