Batad Rice Terraces is one of UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed rice terraces in the Philippines located in Batad, Banaue in Ifugao Province. Unlike the world-famous mud-walled Banaue Rice Terraces (not a UNESCO site) carved out by the Ifugao‘s some 2,000 years ago (located in Banaue town proper), the grandeur of Batad Rice terraces is owed to its amphitheater-like stone-walled terraces which is a favorite subject of snap happy tourists.
Batad being an isolated enclave with breathtaking views of the lush green surroundings and rice terraces, the warmth of the Ifugaos and interesting culture makes it a favorite tourist destination in Banaue by local and foreign travelers alike.
This Batad travel blog hopes to guide you in planning your trip to Batad and Banaue this 2017.
TRAVEL BLOG CONTENTS
HOW TO GET TO BATAD FROM MANILA
You can ride a bus en route to Banaue from Manila. Ohayami Bus located at Sampaloc, Manila near UST (University of Sto. Thomas) has 2 daily trips to Banaue at 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM only. Travel time is 9 hours, fare is PHP 450 (EURO 7/ USD 9/ SGD 12/ MYR 38). Make sure to be there early as it gets fully booked quickly. Buying a ticket in advance is also recommended especially during weekend and holidays.
At Banaue town proper, you need to register first at Banaue tourism office and pay the Php 20 environmental fee. Then, you can charter a tricycle to Batad Saddle Point for PHP 500 (EURO 8/USD 10/ SGD 13/ MYR 42), good for 3 people or charter a jeep for PHP 2,800 (EURO 46/ USD 55/ SGD 74/ MYR 236 ), good for 20 pax. Chartered jeep to Baddle Junction is PHP 2,300 (EURO 38/ USD 46/ SGD 61/ MYR 194).
At Batad Saddle Point, hire a guide to take you to Batad Rice Terraces and Batad town.
Schedule of Ohayami Bus Trips to Banaue
Ohayami Trans
Corner J. Fajardo A.H Lacson Sampaloc, Manila
Contact Number: 917- 506-0817 / 0927-6493-0355 or (02) 5160-501
MANILA TO BANAUE OHAYAMI BUS SCHEDULE
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | DEPARTURE | BUS NO. | ARRIVAL | FARE |
| MANILA | BANAUE | 09:00 PM | 1 | 06:00 AM | PHP 450 (EURO 7/ USD 9/ SGD 12/ MYR 38) |
| MANILA | BANAUE | 10:00 PM | 3 | 07:00 AM | PHP 450 (EURO 7/ USD 9/ SGD 12/ MYR 38) |
| MANILA | BANAUE | 10:15 PM | 4 | 07:15 AM | PHP 450 (EURO 7/ USD 9/ SGD 12/ MYR 38) |
| MANILA | LAGAWE/KIANGAN | 09:30 PM | 2 | 06:30 AM | PHP 450 (EURO 7/ USD 9/ SGD 12/ MYR 38) |
BANAUE TO MANILA OHAYAMI BUS SCHEDULE
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | DEPARTURE | BUS NO. | ARRIVAL | FARE |
| BANAUE | MANILA | 06:30 PM | 2 | 04:30 AM | PHP 450 (EURO 7/ USD 9/ SGD 12/ MYR 38) |
| BANAUE | MANILA | 06:45 PM | 3 | 04:45 AM | PHP 450 (EURO 7/ USD 9/ SGD 12/ MYR 38) |
| BANAUE | MANILA | 07:00 PM | 1 | 05:00 AM | PHP 450 (EURO 7/ USD 9/ SGD 12/ MYR 38) |
| LAGAWE | MANILA | 07:30 PM | 2 | 05:30 AM | PHP 450 (EURO 7/ USD 9/ SGD 12/ MYR 38) |
| LAGAWE | MANILA | 07:45 PM | 3 | 05:45 AM | PHP 450 (EURO 7/ USD 9/ SGD 12/ MYR 38) |
| LAGAWE | MANILA | 08:00 PM | 1 | 06:00 AM | PHP 450 (EURO 7/ USD 9/ SGD 12/ MYR 38) |
BANAUE TO BAGUIO OHAYAMI BUS SCHEDULE
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | DEPARTURE |
| BANAUE | BAGUIO | 05:00 PM |
| LAGAWE | BANAUE | 06:00 PM |
BAGUIO TO BANAUE OHAYAMI BUS SCHEDULE
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | DEPARTURE |
| BAGUIO | BANAUE | 08:00 PM |
| BAGUIO | LAGAWE | 09:00 PM |
HOW TO GET TO BATAD FROM BAGUIO
From Baguio, take the Ohayami bus bound for Banaue at 9:00 PM. Alternatively, you may also ride the Lagawe bound bus and once you are in Lagawe, just transfer to a jeep bound for Banaue. Fare is Php 30, travel time is 30 minutes.
At Banaue, pay the Php 20 environmental fee at Banaue Tourism Office. Hire a tricycle to Batad Saddle Point for PHP 500 (EURO / USD 10/ SGD 13/ MYR 42) , good for 3 person or if you have a large group, charter a jeep for PHP 2,800 (EURO 46/ USD 55/ SGD 74/ MYR 236 ), good for 20 persons to Batad Saddle Point or to Batad Junction for PHP 2,300 (EURO 38/ USD 46/ SGD 61/ MYR 194).
At Batad Saddle Point, hire a guide to take you to Batad Rice Terraces at Batad town.
HOW TO GET TO BATAD FROM LAGAWE
If you miss the Manila to Banaue bus at 9:00 PM, you can take the Oahayami bus bound for Kiangan/Lagawe at 9:30 PM. Then at Lagawe, take a jeep bound for Banaue. Travel time is 30 minutes. Fare is PHP 30 (EURO 0.50/ USD 0.59/ SGD0.80/ MYR 2.53)
.
Pay the Php 20 environmental fee at Banaue Tourism Office in Banaue. Hire a tricycle to Batad Saddle Point for PHP 500 (EURO / USD 10/ SGD 13/ MYR 42), good for 3 persons or if you have a large group, charter a jeep for PHP 2,800 (EURO 46/ USD 55/ SGD 74/ MYR 236 ), good for 20 persons to Baddle Saddle Point.
At Batad Saddle Point, hire a guide to take you to Batad Rice Terraces at Batad town.
HOW TO GET TO BATAD FROM SAGADA VIA BONTOC
From Sagada you can go to Banaue by taking a jeep to Bontoc. The earliest jeep to Bontoc leaves at 6:30 a.m and they have every 30 minutes after that until 9:30 AM only. Travel time from Sagada to Bontoc is 40 minutes and fare is around PHP 45 (EURO 0.75/ USD 0.88/ SGD 1.20/ MYR 4).
From Bontoc you can ride a van bound for Banaue at the Bontoc Tourism Office. Van trips en route to Sagada from Bontoc leaves at 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM only. Travel time to Banaue from Bontoc is 2 hours and fare is about PHP 150 (EURO 2.48/ USD 3/ SGD 4/ MYR 13).
At Banaue townproper, you need to register first at Banaue tourism office and pay the HP 20 (EURO 0.33/ USD 0.39/ SGD 0.53/ MYR 2) environmental fee. Then, you can charter a tricycle to Batad Saddle Point for PHP 500 (EURO / USD 10/ SGD 13/ MYR 42, good for 3 people or charter a jeep for PHP 2,800 (EURO 46/ USD 55/ SGD 74/ MYR 236 ), good for 20 persons,
At Batad Saddle Point, hire a guide to take you to Batad Rice Terraces at Batad town.
GETTING OUT OF BATAD, BANAUE
Once you are in Banaue, buy the bus ticket for your return to Manila or Baguio before going on tour as buses also gets full quickly. Bus trip from Banaue to Manila is at 6:30 PM and 7:00 PM only. Ohayami Bus in Banaue leaves for Baguio at 5:30 PM.
GETTING AROUND BATAD
Since Batad is largely mountainous, trekking is the only way to get around. You can hire a guide if you want to trek to Tappia/Tappiya Falls.
Tappiya Falls in Batad
THINGS TO DO IN BATAD, BANAUE
⊗ Walk around Batad Rice Terraces
⊗ Trek to Tappiya (Tappia) Falls
⊗ Trek to Awa View Deck
⊗ Hike to Kinakin and Cambulo
⊗ Try the the local dish – pinikpikan and other traditional delicacies
⊗ Drink the native rice wine
⊗ Buy local handcrafted souvenirs to support the local economy
WHERE TO STAY IN BATAD
Mobile signal in Batad is unreliable, you can book your accommodation ahead via the links provided below.
Ramon Homestay
Main Village, Batad, Banaue
Batad View Inn and Restaurant
Chungchung Batad, Batad, Banaue
Batad Top View Point and Restaurant
Upper Village Area, Batad, Banaue
Hillside Inn and Restaurant
Viewpoint, Upper Batad, Batad, Banaue
BANAUE – BATAD TRIP ITINERARY
| Day 0 | |
| 09:00 PM | Depart from Manila by Ohayami bus |
| Day 1 | ACTIVITIES |
| 7:00 AM | Estimated arrival in Banaue |
| 7:05 AM | Buy return tickets to Manila |
| 7:10 AM | Breakfast |
| 7:40 AM | Register at Banaue tourism office and pay the Php 20 environmental fee |
| 08:00 AM | Ride tricycle/ jeep to Batad saddle point |
| 09:30 AM | Estimated arrival at Batad Saddle Point |
| 09:35 AM | Trek to Batad proper |
| 11:30 AM | Estimated arrival in Batad |
| 11:40 AM | Check in at hotel |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch / Freshen up |
| 12:40 PM | Trek to Awa Viewdeck + Tappiya Falls |
| 03:00 PM | Return to Batad proper |
| 07:00 PM | Dinner |
| Day 2 | ACTIVITIES |
| 07:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 07:35 AM | Check out of Homestay |
| 08:00 AM | Start trek back to Batad Saddle point |
| 09:30 AM | Estimated arrival at Batad Saddle Point |
| 09:40 AM | Tricycle back to Banaue |
| 10:30 AM | Estimated arrival in Banaue |
| 10:40 AM | Hire a tricycle to Banaue Rice Terraces Viewing Dec |
| 11:30 AM | Lunch |
| 12:00 PM | Explore town/buy souvenirs |
| 06:30 PM | Back to Manila |
BATAD TRIP BUDGET
Here’s a sample travel budget for Batad to help you in planning your trek to Batad. This is good for 1 person. If you are traveling with someone or with a group, it will be cheaper as you can share the guide fee and tricycle or jeep fee to Batad saddle point.
| ACTIVITIES | EXPENSES |
| Bus Fare – Manila to Banaue (roundtrip) | PHP 450 (EURO 7/ USD 9/ SGD 12/ MYR 38)x 2 = PHP 940 (EURO 16/ USD 18.42/ SGD 25/ MYR 79) |
| Environmental Fee | PHP 20 (EURO 0.33/ USD 0.39/ SGD 0.53/ MYR 2) |
| Tricycle to Batad Saddle Point (roundtrip) | PHP 500 (EURO / USD 10/ SGD 13/ MYR 42) = PHP 1,000 (EURO 17/ USD 20/ SGD 27/ MYR 84) |
| Guide Fee to Batad/ Tappiya and Viewdeck | PHP 1,400(EURO 23/ USD 27/ SGD 37/ MYR 118) + Tip |
| Homestay – overnight | PHP 250 (EURO 4/ USD 5/ SGD 7/ MYR 21) |
| Meal (x # of meals) | PHP 300 (EURO 5/ USD 6/ SGD 8/ MYR 25) x 3 = PHP 900 (EURO 15/ USD 18/ SGD 24/ MYR 76) |
| Grand Total | PHP 4,510(EURO 75/ USD 88.37/ SGD 120.38/ MYR 380) |
BATAD TRAVEL TIPS
⊗ Stack up cash (Philippine peso) as there is no ATM nor money changer in Batad.
⊗ Everything is on cash basis.
⊗ There is only one ATM in Banaue which is Landbank and two in Lagawe (Landbank and PNB). I suggest you bring enough cash before you head to Banaue Batad.
⊗ Mobile signal in Batad is unreliable, therefore booking your accommodation ahead via the links provided above is recommended.
⊗ Get a local guide to avoid getting lost ( you also help the local economy by doing this).
⊗ Buy local hand-crafted souvenirs.
⊗ Buy your bus return tickets as soon as you arrive in Banaue.
⊗ Leave no trace. Do not collect plants or soil as souvenirs.
⊗ Bring jacket as weather can get really cold. Ask for blankets from your homestay before going to bed as it can get even colder at night.
⊗ Wear proper trekking outfit.
⊗ Order your food ahead of time.
⊗ Respect the local culture.
ALSO READ
SAGADA TRAVEL GUIDE
KIANGAN, IFUGAO TRAVEL GUIDE
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