Rice Terraces

14 Things to Know when Visiting Batad, Banaue, Ifugao

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Most people know the popular Banaue Rice Terraces but never heard of Batad Rice Terraces. In my personal opinion, you should know Batad as the Rice Terraces there is my favorite among my favorites.

This post will list down things that you need to know when you visit Batad. In short this is my Batad Travel Guide.

The amphitheatre-like Rice Terraces of Batad. #Batad #Banaue #Ifugao #Philippines #TravelPH

A photo posted by Lakas ng Trip (@lakasngtrip) on

1. Where is Batad?

Banaue is a municipality of Ifugao. Batad is a barangay of Banaue. In short Batad is inside Banaue. In reality Batad Rice Terraces is actually a part of the Banaue Rice Terraces.

Travel from Banaue to Batad

During our transit from Banaue to Batad

2. Going to Batad

You will first have to reach Banaue. To do that you should read about my bus ride from Manila to Banaue. At Banaue you can either ride the Public Jeepney to Batad or you can hire a Jeepney or a Tricycle.

Batad Rice Terraces & Tappiya Waterfalls in Batad, Banaue, Ifugao

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On my first visit to Batad I was only around 140 Pounds and I learned how much muscle aches my body could achieve. On my second visit I brought along an additional weight of 20 pounds in the form of muscle and body fat (mostly body fat) and my muscle ached to the point that I think that fat aches also exist.

On my third visit to Batad, I added 50 pounds from my previous visit because I can. If you think about it, my body is like a barbell bar which I could add weights to it. I’m weirdly cool like that.

It was harvest season when we visited #Batad #RiceTerraces. #Banaue #Ifugao #Philippines

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The original plan was just to visit the Highest Viewpoint of Batad Rice Terraces and the next day we would visit Tappia Falls because I do not want to abruptly stress my body from the additional weight. When my brother heard that we could still head to Hapao Rice Terraces if we visit Tappia Waterfalls on the same day, he encouraged us to do everything we can in Batad and move on to another destination the next day. And that was when we did not follow my workout schedule.

8:27 AM We arrived at our accommodation in Batad – Simon’s Viewpoint Inn and ordered the tasty Porkchop with Rice for breakfast (highly recommended). We decided over breakfast that we would start our trek around Batad at 1:00 PM so that we could still get enough sleep and have lunch before the trek.

Going around Batad Rice Terraces and Tappia Falls

12:00 NN We decided not to have lunch since we did not really do anything but sleep. Got ready for the trek and asked for a guide from the Batad Tourist Information Center to guide us to 3 main points of Batad Rice Terraces.

  • Highest Viewpoint
  • Tappia Waterfalls
  • Main Village

Guide fee is 800 Pesos/guide for the three points of interest above.

Simon’s Viewpoint Inn at Batad, Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines

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On my three times visit to Batad in Banaue, Ifugao this is the second time that I stayed in Simon’s Viewpoint Inn.

My first visit last 2009 in Batad Simon’s made a good impression on me that I wanted to stay here when I get back to Batad.

On my second visit, a friend of mine arranged the trip so I left the decision making to her and she arranged us to stay at Hillside Inn.

On my third visit (which is this visit) I was able to stay in Simon’s again.

Why did I go back?

Mainly because of all the view in Batad, Simon’s is one of the best views to see the Batad Rice Terraces. Imagine I get to see a great view from sunrise to sunset.

Simon's Viewpoint Inn in Batad, Banaue, Ifugao

But let me be more detailed on why I love staying at Simon’s Viewpoint.

Expense Report: Batad, Hungduan & Banaue Trip last June 2015

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Walking in Hapao Rice Terraces in Hungduan, Ifugao, Philippines

Originally, our plan was just to visit Batad and some viewpoints of Banaue Rice Terraces but destiny had other plans for us as we also went to Hungduan. Together with Lai of PinayTravelista.com and Kuya Dane, my brother, it was a perfect vacation with imperfect logistics and imperfect events.

It was harvest season when we visited #Batad #RiceTerraces. #Banaue #Ifugao #Philippines

A photo posted by Lakas ng Trip (@lakasngtrip) on

Two weeks before the trip Kuya Dane was asking me to provide the itinerary and budget for our travel, unfortunately, for the past months I have been too busy to create our budget and itinerary. All I can say that time was the budget was 5,000 Pesos per person and we are leaving on the night of June 11 and arriving in the early morning of June 15.

In the end the budget was not followed, so did the planned dates for our travel. The details of these unfortunate events will not be written on this post as it will be too long to write them all here.

Hungduan, Ifugao Budget and Itinerary

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This budget and itinerary is made to help travellers plan their trip to Hungduan, Ifugao.

Summary

No. of Pax: 4 pax
Budget: P3,200
Duration: 3 days – 4 nights
Estimated Start: Day 0 – 9:00 PM Assembly at Ohayami Station in Manila
Estimated End: Day 4 – 03:45 PM Arrival of bus at Manila
Lodging: Lodging in the middle of Hapao Rice Terraces. No fan. The weather is cool up there.
Activities: Viewing and walking on the Rice Terraces, Bogyah Hot Spring, Hapao River, Heritage Village, Hungduan Weaving Center, Balentimol Falls, Sitio Awa Native House

Suggested Itinerary

Day 0
0900 PM Assembly at Ohayami Trans, Manila
0930 PM ETD to Banaue, Ifugao
Day 1
0630 AM ETA Banaue, Ifugao; Buy bus tickets to go back to Manila
0700 AM Breakfast at the Karinderya’s of Banaue
0800 AM Tricycle tour to the viewpoints of Banaue Rice Terraces
1130 AM End of Tricycle Tour; Lunch at Banaue
1230 PM Walk to the front of Ohayami Station for jeeps to Hapao
0100 PM ETD to Hapao; tell the driver to drop you at Balenga Residence
0200 PM ETA Hapao; Buy supplies at the sari-sari store
0215 PM Start walking to Giovanni’s Place
0230 PM ETA Giovanni’s Place; Check-in; Rest
0400 PM Hire guide to Bogyah Hot Spring; Bring flashlight & water
0415 PM Start walking to Bogyah Hot Spring
0500 PM Arrival at Bogyah Hot Spring; Dip and relax
0600 PM Walk back to lodging
0630 PM Back at lodging; Rest; Order dinner
0730 PM Dinner
Day 2
0600 AM Wake-up
0630 AM Breakfast at Hapao Lodging
0730 AM Get ready for tricycle tour
0800 AM Walk to the road in Hapao