Come over and indulge your whims, for active or passive pursuits...
Banaue is a place that will truly delight the most adventurous traveler. It boasts of numerous places of interest that will require you to put your hiking boots on...a trek in the paddies, a hike in the mountains, a swim in a natural pool...
While for travelers who prefer a more laid-back vacation, they can simply take a short trip to the various view points to take in the sights of the spectacular Banaue Rice Terraces, shop for Ifugao wood carvings, antiques and native weaves or simply relax & unwind at Sanafe's veranda with a cup of coffee, a cocktail or two perhaps, while enjoying the scenery and cool weather.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras have been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995. These include the Rice Terrace Clusters of Banaue - Batad, Banaue - Bangaan, Mayoyao, Kiangan - Nagacadan and Hungduan.
POINTS OF INTEREST - Banaue & Around
BATAD Rice Terraces & TAPPIYAH Falls - Batad is known for its amphitheater shaped rice terraces. This a whole day trip & is only recommended for strong hikers as the hike is uphill through mountain trails.
VIEW POINT - There are 3 view points in Banaue: NFA View Point, Dayanarra View Point (named after former Ms. Universe, Dayanarra Torres) and the Banaue View Point.
BANGA-AN Rice Terraces & Village - a cluster of rice terraces and a village that show the typical Ifugao livelihood activities within its surroundings. It's almost like BATAD but is by the roadside therefore easier to go to.
HAPAO Rice Terraces
- known for its stone-walled rice terraces that is shaped like a spider's web,
it can be found in the municipality of Hungduan. It can be reached within 55
kilometers from the capital town of Lagawe.
TAM-AN Village
- a typical Ifugao village located about 240 steps from the Banaue Hotel's
swimming pool where people still live the lifestyle of their ancestors, where
woodcarving and handwoven products are produced.
BOCOS
Village
- a village that boasts of huts adorned with heads and horns of carabaos and
skulls of wild pigs.
MATANG-LAG Blacksmith
- here they produce a
unique variety of bronze, silver and copper items using crude and almost
primitive hand tools, fire bellows and moulds made out of natural honey bee
nests.
GUIHOB Natural Pool
- 1 1/2 Kms from
Sanafe, ideal for picnics or a swim in spring waters.
PULA & CAMBULO Native Village - A rustic village in the first leg of the trekking route from Banaue viewpoint to Banga-an. This cobbled stone village offers native house stay. The ancient craft of bark cloth weaving thrives here.
DUCLIGAN Hot Spring - Banaue is present at the junction of two rivers, which falls from the depths of the terraces walls into the running river waters. The place has a swimming pool, toilets, hot tubs and other facilities. One can reach Ducligan Hot Spring in Banaue by car in 30 minutes from Poblacion (or town center), and is also a 20 minute walk to reach the spot of the hot spring.
TOWN CENTER
- where Sanafe is located. It is the center of activity in the town of Banaue.
There are several curio shops here where you can buy souvenirs like wood
carvings, hand-woven products, antiques, etc. Saturday is the big market day
from 9am to 12nn.
SAGADA
- famous for its hanging coffins, caves and indoor natural pools. 2 hours away
by jeep from Banaue. It is recommended to stay in Sagada overnight.
Mt. AMUYAO - The 8th highest peak in the Philippines, with an elevation of 2,702 meters above sea level, located between the boundary line of Banaue and Mayoyao and between Ifugao and Mountain Province. Its summit provides the climber with a breath-taking panorama of Mountain Province, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya, and Ifugao. Mayoyao legend says that the first Ifugao couple, Bugan and Wigan, took refuge in this mountain during the 40-day deluge that inundated the province. Being the only survivors, they became the first ancestors of the Ifugaos.
_________________________________
We will be more than happy to assist you with your tour itinerary
and we can also refer you to several of the best guides in Banaue.
_________________________________
GETTING THERE
Public Transport: Airconditioned buses leave daily for Banaue
10:45PM (Deluxe bus with on board comfort room) from the Florida Transport Terminal, Lacson St., Manila
10PM from the nearby Auto Bus Terminal, Dimasalang & Laong Laan Sts, Manila.
Private Transport:
From EDSA, take the North Luzon Expressway, then exit at Sta. Rita, Bulacan. Stay on the National Road that will go through Baliuag-San Miguel, Cabanatuan-San Jose-Santa Fe-, Nueva Ecija, Bayombong-Solano-Bagabag, Nueva Viscaya, at the junction in Bagabag, take the left road going towards Ifugao. (The road on the right goes to Isabela.) Follow the road through Lamut, Lagawe and it will lead you to Banaue. Sanafe Lodge is located at the Banaue Trade Center. The trip takes about 9 hours by car.
_________________________________
