The Philippines are a nation of more than 7,000 islands. They are well known for their beautiful beaches but the rice terraces of Ifugao are often overlooked and forgotten by visitors. It may be due to their proximity from Manila. A city people fly into but often choose not to stay for long. To reach the rice terraces on the island of Luzon one must start their journey with a 9-hour overnight bus ride to Banaue. After stopping at the viewpoint in Banaue there is only a short ride left to Batad.
Batad is a small village with no roads. One must hike 45 minutes into town from the saddle at the top of the town. From there the trek begins into the staircases carved from the green mountains of Ifugao. The viewpoints are amazing and the trek is rewarding. Here are some of my favorite photos from the rice terraces of Banaue and Batad.
