Philippines Day 19 Banaue : Self Tour at Batad Rice Terrance and Tapiyah Falls

0600 – Reached Banaue. The bus stop at the tourism office. We were called to registered and paid the environmental fee for PHP50/person. There are tour package in the tourism office. The tour package for day tour batad rice terrances for 2 person cost PHP2200 (Transportation PHP1000 + Tour Guide PHP1200). But we just considered for the transportation which is tricycle as they said the jeepney is only departed at 3pm from Banaue to Batad.

After that, we walked to the Rice Homestay as we booked a room at booking.com which only cost PHP605/night. To getting there from the Tourism office, we had to walked through a hanging bridge which look unstable and dangerous as it was a shortcut to here. We managed to walk through it with the big backpack. At the homestay, we were welcomed with the coffee or tea. We also hungry that time and call the meal to eat before do our planned activity today which is to go to Batad Rice Terrance. The owner allowed us to check in earlier which is so nice!

Breakfast at the Homestay, Each set of chicken and rice cost PHP155

0900 – Walked back to the Tourism office. We only paid for the transportation as I don’t think we need the tour guide as it is expensive and I had the path in my offline map. After they brought us to meet the tricycle driver, we called him to buy some bread and fruit as there are no cheap restaurant at the Batad. Then we started our journey to Batad. The journey really took around an hour time as there are many steep road and rock fallen road.

Tricycle stopped viewpoint 1

Tricycle stopped viewpoint 2

1030 – Reached the entrance of the Batad Rice Terrance. There are no many signage to show the direction to Batad. But I just follow my offline map path. The path condition from the entrance to the first viewpoint is quite easy as there are paved road. At the first viewpoint, the view of the rice terrance is very amazing! After that, we tried to follow other people tour guide as I heard there were three path towards the Tapiyah fall. We tried to took the easy one. After an elementary school, we lost the other people tour guide and I just took the way ourselves. There even a local people in the village pointing the hand towards the correct path which is good to us. After that, we were hiking on the rice terrance and saw other group people and tour guide were at far far away. We just continued walking.

At a T-junction, I decided to take the path that go up as I think the view will be better. However, the rock staircase that climbing up is getting tougher until I was told by a local farmer that this way was wrong and we should go down. At the moment I wanted to go down by go over the big gap between the rock, I was slipped and fall into the small canal, lucky that I can stand still in the canal and quickly climbed back to the rock way. My legs was hurt a big. After that, we just walked along the rice terrace wall and reached the proper staircase. We climbed up the staircase to a hut and rest there. The view is awesome too. After took many photos and eat some fruit, we went down and towards rest area which is obvious from anywhere. The path behind the rest area is going towards the waterfall direction. Hence, we followed the path with the green colour holder. The staircases are very steep. Going to the waterfall is climbing down only. After half hour, we reached the viewpoint of the waterfall. We didn’t wanted to climb down and swim in the waterfall as I think it was very cold and don’t want to climb down then up.

Batad rice terrance entrance

There is no obvious path since the road is under construction.

After the main road, it is the small pathed road with many signboard of homestay

First viewpoint

Continued the journey to the highest viewpoint

Going down is quite dangerous

Viewpoint at the T-junction

It is stone-walled rice terrance

From a higher point

The highest point that we climbed to rest and took breathtaking photo

Going downstair and a small canal for water flow

Add caption

Going towards the waterfall

View along the route to waterfall

Tapiyah Waterfall

1330 – We left the Tapiyah falls. Climbing up the steep staircase was very exhausting. After managed to go back to the rest area, we rest and eat there. After that, we took the path that go to the Batad center village. Walking the path is quite easy as It is just a flat path. However, after leaving the village, there are many steep staircase that need to climb up. This one is even more exhausting! Finally, we managed to walk back to the entrance at 3pm. Our tricycle was still waiting there.

The only paddy left

1510 – Left the Batad entrance. The driver stopped us at the Batad Saddle to have a view of the Batad again. We just took few photos here. After that, driver rode us to the Guihob Pool. There is an entrance fee of PHP25 but our driver said we can enter free of charge. However, we didn’t swim there as the water is very cool and even feel cool in the air.

Viewpoint at the Batad Saddle

Guihop Pool

1630 – Reached the Banaue town. We just walked around the town and shopped for some souvenirs. There are not much thing to do here. At 5:30pm, we were already sitting in the Las Vegas Restaurant ordering the dinner. This restaurant is very famous here and the meals are cheap.

Pinabek PHP75

Chicken Adobo PHP90

After dinner, We walked back to homestay and rest.

Expenses for two

Environmental fee : PHP100
Breakfast : PHP310
Bread and Banana : PHP59
Hired tricycle : PHP1000
Dinner : PHP250
Accomodation : PHP605
Total : PHP2324