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    Recommended Reviews - Igorot Stone Kingdom

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    1 year ago

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    Banaue Rice Terraces - Breakfast views!

    Banaue Rice Terraces

    4.8(4 reviews)
    77.0 km

    This place is truly incredible! I'm so glad I visited. If I can suggest, if you're visiting Banaue,…read moredon't stay in the main city. Look it up. Hire guides. Venture out to the other rice fields in the area! Make a day trip to Sagada. Specifically, I spent a day in Banaue, visited a few other rice fields, and then proceeded to Batad(I'll review it in another review). In my opinion, if you're visiting Banaue, Batad is a must but it requires a 45-minute ride away, you're dropped off, and then have to hike 45-60 minutes into the village. There are no roads in/out of Batad and it's one of the Unesco-protected sites. Back to Banaue; After the long overnight bus ride from Manila... there are a ton of guides waiting at the main area when you arrive. You don't have to hire a guide but I did... and this is one time where I'm so happy that I did. I was able to see so much more of the area because of the tour company I hired for the 4 days of being there. To my surprise, when checking in, one of the tour companies already knew my name. They were aware that I had a reservation in Batad. Banaue is a neat place but I did love seeing the other rice terraces. Banaue has more businesses and a much larger town that has sprouted up amongst the terraces. Banaue is also the main place you're going to see the Ifugao people... some of them still wear their traditional clothing. I'd also suggest making your way uphill to the Banaue Museum. When we mentioned it to some of our tour guides, they gave us a weird look like 'Why do you want to go there?' It was full of useful information and historical artifacts from the area. It's definitely worth your time if you like learning about the places you visit. After finding a place to snag breakfast... our trike shuttled us to a few viewpoints before taking us to Hapao Rice Terraces. The lady that guided us around Hapao was so kind. I probably learned more from her than anyone I chatted with in the area. She had all the information. Hapao was worth the visit because it's immediately obvious that they're blessed with all the water. The terraces are green and they have so much water in the area that they have other food growing as well. There was also some homemade cheese bread being sold near one of the local's homes. IT WAS TASTY! The government has a small area near the church in Hapao that's for experimentation. It's a new thing but they're trying to see if they can produce different results in growing rice. Hapao also has a hot spring along with a cold swimming area. The cold swimming area was WAY TOO COLD so I spent most of my time in the hot spring with the locals! It was so much fun and I'll never forget the people I met there. After leaving Hapao, we had lunch back in Banaue and then started to make our way to Batad. One last stop before Batad was to an overlook to see Bangaan Rice Terraces. It was a good view but our guide mentioned that we couldn't go any closer. It's full of many old people and they don't like anyone that's not local coming to their village. It seemed like the main guide that we had also knew everyone around the area. Our route to Batad even included a stop by his parent's home(he was just dropping off a package), but I still loved the vibe of feeling included in the community while I was there. That feeling was even more enhanced while in Batad but I'll save that for the Batad review. Banaue is amazing in itself and it's totally worth the long trip to get there but as I said before, definitely use it as a springboard to other rice terraces and areas in North Luzon.

    Visiting Banaue Rice Terraces as a kid made me realize as an adult what a beautiful place this…read morereally is. I remember being lucky enough seeing it in all its pure and untouched glory: once during almost harvest time when the golden sprigs swayed with the wind, and another when it was all just plain and beautiful green. Fast forward to adulthood, I have been lucky enough to showcase it many times to many friends and family touring Nueva Vizcaya. Only a couple of hours away from home, it was something not to be missed. It was still beautiful then. Fast forward a few more years (and visits) later, I started noticing structures being built. And then more. And more. And more...? To the point the views during part of the drive were blocked by various buildings. Some of the view points I know and familiar with we're even gone. I wondered why this was allowed to happen. It's been called the eight wonder of the world, why wasn't it more regulated...? I was told by a lot of locals that the number of tourists have waned down because of this exact reason. "It isn't as pretty or attractive as it used to be, thanks to these kinds of developments..." But despite this, it really does still hold its natural beauty - one just has to find a way to get behind said structures. You succeed this, and the view is breathtaking. Plenty of eateries to find, most people are really nice and friendly, and it really is like nothing else in the world. Here's hoping it doesn't get developed too much... it'd be a shame to lose this gift nature had bestowed upon this province.

    Photos
    Banaue Rice Terraces - Breakfast views!

    Breakfast views!

    Banaue Rice Terraces - Breakfast views!

    Breakfast views!

    Banaue Rice Terraces - Church in the center of Hapao!

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    Church in the center of Hapao!

    Baguio City

    Baguio City

    4.0(3 reviews)
    1.0 km

    Famously called the Summer Capital of the Philippines…read more But maybe not anytime soon. Climate change is evidently happening. People don't usually wear shorts during the month of November and December but when I was there recently I was wearing shorts. It was warm. This is not how I remember the city. It is very congested and polluted nowadays. Traffic is at its worst. You're better off walking around to places. Especially during long weekends, expect a lot of crowd. So better not head to the city. Visitors usually come during Flower Festival - that is the whole month of February. While they're here they visit the land marks - Mines View Park, Mansion House, Burnham Park & Lake, Botanical Garden, Camp John Hay and other places outside the city. They usually close Session road every Sunday for Farmers Market. Every night from 9pm to 2am, they close a section of the Harrison Road to give way for the market vendors.

    The Mansion. Mine's View Park. Good Shepherd Convent. SM City Baguio. Burnham Park. Mount Costa…read more Night Market. Penagbenga festival (if you time it right.) Just some of the places to hit during a visit. And it's a great city to go to if the heat of the lowlands are just too overwhelming. I'm blessed to have friends and family to stay with during a visit. For those who aren't as lucky as me, there is a variety of accommodations with reasonable prices. I love this city. I'd visit again at first opp.

    Photos
    Baguio City - T. Claudio St & Calderon St

    T. Claudio St & Calderon St

    Baguio City - Farmers market and others

    Farmers market and others

    Baguio City - Ben picked up a can of Pili Nuts at a roadside stall exiting Baguio. Naturally oily, he also loved the soft and mild nutty texture.

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    Ben picked up a can of Pili Nuts at a roadside stall exiting Baguio. Naturally oily, he also loved the soft and mild nutty texture.

    Igorot Stone Kingdom - landmarks - Updated June 2026

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