The Cordillera Banaue (Conclusion)

Who would have imagined some 2000 years ago (when the world renowned Banaue Rice Terraces were created), that this secluded part of Luzon would somehow attract millions of visitors worldwide?

Getting more acquainted with the traditional life of the Ifugaos (an attraction apart from the Rice Terraces), we stepped into the Banaue Museum to give us a better understanding of local life in the past. The inside of the museum houses a collection of sculptures, maps, beads, baskets, photos and so many other remarkable artifacts and written/photographic documentation. This museum is located up on a hill directly beside the Banaue View Inn, another wonderful place to stay when visiting Banaue.

Other places to visit are The Patina Artist Gallery for paintings and sculptures of a native background and the Banaue Town Hall, which to locals isn’t much of a major attraction, but makes a good walk down the hill, close to the Public Market and Post Office.

A little outside the town center, you will find the Banaue Ethnic Village and Pine Forest Resort. These are the newest attractions in Banaue so ensure to fit this into your itinerary, as well!

For a bit of refuge, we visited the Banaue View Hotel and Hostel for lunch and had a tour around the hotel, where we personally met the ever so friendly Ma. Zenaida Quinahan, (who happens to be a Cebuano from Mandaue City) the hotel’s resident manager. Lunch was a mixture of Ifugao cuisine – Ifugao Adobo and Ifugao Beefsteak, which was similar to traditional cooking yet special in its very own way. Overlooking the rice terraces, this hotel/hostel is probably the best place to stay in Banaue and it looks even more attractive inside than it is on the outside. The hotel pool and Totam-an Village/Souvenir Shop make it a plus!

You can never go wrong with food, as there are many other eateries around the area. The Banaue Heritage Café, serving traditional food, is one I would recommend for its food and fantastic prices!

Officially named as one of the eight wonders of the world, the world heritage Rice Terraces are complete with fantastic view points plus locals wearing the traditional Igorot outfits, local huts and endless souvenir shops. Make a purchase of their sweet wine, a local favorite, as well as some interesting hand-made crafts made out of wood. Don’t forget to take some photographs with the locals for an added extra, making a wonderful souvenir to take home.

This trip up to this part of the Cordillera mountain region overall has truly has given me so much inspiration and I’m happy to return again one of these days!

How to get there: You may choose to drive directly from Manila, which is a 12-hour journey. We took the via Baguio route (for an overnight stay) and made the trip in two halves.