BANAUE: How to Find the Banaue Rice Terraces View Point

BANAUE: How to Find the Banaue Rice Terraces View Point

The Banaue Rice Terraces that you will see at the Banaue View Point is the MOST FAMOUS of all the Banaue Rice Terraces. It's the most famous because it's the most accessible. The rice terraces at Barangay Viewpoint is nearest the town or poblacion of the municipality of Banaue. People also see its photo in Philippine peso bills.

When the the Banaue Rice Terraces is advertised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a photo of the the rice terraces near the poblacion, at Barangay View Point, is often attached to the advertisement. This is why there is some confusion as to whether the rice terraces near the poblacion is the World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO. IT IS NOT.

There are 2 rice terraces in the municipality of Banaue declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site: 

(1) the rice terraces in Barangay Batad, and

• How to go to Batad: see my post: My Trek to the Batad Rice Terraces with Kids 

(2) the rice terraces in Barangay Bangaan. 

The rice terraces at Barangay View Point is not the rice terraces declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The other World Heritage Site rice terraces are in the municipality of Mayoyao, Kiangan and Hungduan. (see  my post on Philippine World Heritage Sites) 

This is not to say that the Banaue Rice Terraces located at Barangay View Point is not magnificent. It is. It is a sight to behold and worth the 6-9 hour trip from Manila.

I'm making this post because it's not as easy as it seems to find the Banaue Rice terraces viewpoint, especially if you are particular about seeing it from a particular angle. It's along the road and so easy to pass by and miss the signs. So to guide you, I am posting photos of how it will look from the street as you pass by.

Map courtesy of banaue.gov.ph

As shown in the map, you should take the road going towards Bontoc. From the Tourism Center, pass by the Banaue Museum and proceed further until you see the following signs along the road to your right:

1. The FIRST viewpoint

Why stop at this viewpoint: From this viewpoint you can see the view shown on the new 20-peso bill

This is how you will see it from the road:

. 

THE VIEW

2. The SECOND viewpoint 

Why stop at this viewpoint: From this viewpoint you can see the view shown on the old 1000-peso bill

This is how you will see it from the road:

There is no sign at this viewpoint except the name written on the rails that says "NFA Aguian View Deck".
It's easy to miss this view deck especially if a lot of cars are parked in front

At the left side of the rails (the right side of this photo) is the entrance to the lower view deck

The stairs leading to the lower view deck

THE VIEW

3. The THIRD viewpoint

Why stop at this viewpoint: This is known as the Dyanarra Viewpoint. It was named by the locals after Dayanara Torres who was crowned Miss Universe in 1994 when the Philippines hosted the Miss Universe pageant. She posed for a Department of Tourism promotional photo before this view of the rice terraces.

This is how you will see it from the road:

THE VIEW

4. The FOURTH viewpoint

This is the main viewpoint. We couldn't stop at this viewpoint because there are too many stores along the road and no place to park.

Suggested Pit Stops for the Manila to Banaue Route

Suggested Pit Stops for the Manila to Banaue Route

Manila to Banaue is a very long drive that ranges from 9-12 hours depending on the speed of the vehicle. If you're bringing your own vehicle, I suggest the following pit stops for this route.  Making these pit stops will make the long drive less tiring for everyone, especially when you have restless kids with you. 

The pit stops are spaced every two (2) hours. It's designed with kids in mind. You can, however, choose not to make the pit stops as frequently as every two (2) hours. But knowing where the next pit stop may be will help you decide whether you need to make the current stop

The Manila to Banaue route is actually a very simple road to take. You can divide it in several major roads to make it easier to remember.

Manila to Banaue (367 km via SCTEX)

1. First, from Manila, you need to reach the Balintawak toll plaza.

View Larger Map

2. After passing through the Balintawak toll plaza, you are now at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

3. Continue along the North Luzon Expressway till you reach the SCTEX exit (Exit 85) (73km from the Balintawak toll plaza)

Balintawak Toll Plaza to San Fernando Exit. (53km)

San Fernando Exit to Petron Lake Shore Gas Station (5km)

7:00 AM:

First pit stop: Petron Lakeshore Gas Station (57 km until the 2nd Pit Stop)

• this is the last pit stop before you enter the SCTEX. The SCTEX is approximately 35 km long and there are no pit stops along that length so you need to make a stop at this station.

4. After exiting at the SCTEX exit of the NLEX, go straight ahead (around 3 km until you reach the  Mabalacat interchange. At the Mabalacat interchange, turn right to go to Tarlac. (If you turn left, you will reach Subic and Clark airport)

UPDATED ROUTE BECAUSE OF THE OPENING OF THE TPLEX!!!: 

5. Continue along the whole SCTEX till you reach Tarlac Exit/Toll Plaza (Exit 228) (35 km)

6. When you reach the Tarlac Exit, turn right to go towards La Paz town proper and to Nueva Ecija.

8:00 AM:

Second pit stop: La Paz, Tarlac (59 km till the 3rd pit stop)

A.  Park and Grill Traveller's  Complex, where the Five Star bus company stops

•  this pit stop is 5.5 km from the SCTEX Tarlac Terminal Toll Plaza

B. Gas Stations along the Santa Rosa-Tarlac Road

7. Continue along the Santa Rosa-Tarlac Road until you reach the Zaragosa Municipal Cemetery to your right (13km from entering the Santa-Rosa Tarlac Road). About 260 meters from the cemetery is a forked road. Take the left fork and pass by Zaragosa Central School. Then turn left to reach the Zaragosa-Aliaga Road.

7. Continue along the Zaragosa-Aliaga Road (for around 7km) until you reach a fork. Turn left at the fork to enter the Aliaga-Guimba Road

8. Traverse the Aliaga-Guimba Road (for around 7.6 km) until you reach the Sto. Domingo-Licab Road. Turn right at the Sto. Domingo-Licab Road.

9. Continue along the the Sto. Domingo-Licab Road (for around 8.1 km) until you reach the Shell Station at the corner of the Sicsican-Sto. Domingo Road. Turn left toward the Nueva-Ecija Pangasinan Road

10. Continue along the Nueva Ecija-Pangasinan Road (for around 6 km) until you reach the Maharlika Highway.

Check out this post: My Banaue and Sagada Itinerary with Kids (Day 1: Manila to Kiangan) for the updated route using the TPLEX.


11. Continue along the Maharlika Highway for 144 km until you reach the fork at Tuao, Bagabag. Turn left to continue along the Nueva Vizcaya-Ifugao-Mountain Province Road.

You pass by the following towns and provinces and landmarks along the stretch of 144 km:

• Science City of Munoz
• Central Luzon State University
• San Jose City
• Dalton Pass (the zigzag road that connects Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya)
• Sta. Fe
• Aritao
• Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital at Bambang
• Bayombong
• Solano
• Welcome to Bagabag Arch
• Tuao

10:00 AM:
Third pit stop: San Jose City, Nueva Ecija (113 km till the 4th pit stop)
A. Shell Gas Station at Bonifacio St., San Jose City , Nueva Ecija
B. Jollibee at Maharlika Highway corner Bonifacio St., San Jose City, Nueva Ecija 
C. Chowking along Maharlika Highway, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

Our pitstop: Marquez Restaurant in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija: A Great Meal Stop on the way to the Banaue Rice Terraces

1:00 PM-2:00 PM: LUNCH
Fourth pit stop: Solano town (69 km till Banaue)
A. McDonald's at Total Gas Station at Maharlika Highway, Solano
B. Mang Inasal at Maharlika Highway, Solano
C. Jollibee at Maharlika Highway corner Gaddang St., Solano
D. Greenwich at Centro Mall, Maharlika Highway corner Gaddang St., Solano
E. Chowking at Maharlika Highway corner A. Luna St., Solano

12. Continue along the Nueva Vizcaya-Ifugao-Mountain Province Road for 32 km until you reach a fork. Turn right to continue along the Nueva Vizcaya-Ifugao-Mountain Province Road.

You pass by the following towns and provinces and landmarks along the stretch of 58 km:

• Lamut
• Kiangan

Our accommodations in Kiangan: Ibulao Ibulao Bed and Breakfast at Kiangan, Ifugao: The Best Accommodations near the Banaue Rice Terraces

12. Continue along the Nueva Vizcaya-Ifugao-Mountain Province Road for 22 km until you reach Banaue.

You pass by the following towns and provinces and landmarks along the stretch of 22 km:

• Ifugao Provincial Capitol at Lagawe
• Ifugao Provincial Hospital

Our pitstop: The Gazebo Restaurant in Lagawe: A Great Meal Stop on the way to the Banaue Rice Terraces

4:00 PM:

arrival at Banaue

MAP

View Larger Map

   A    Balintawak Toll Barrier

   B    Petron Lakeshore

   C    SCTEX Exit

   D    SCTEX Mabalacat Interchange

   E   SCTEX Tarlac Terminal Toll Plaza

   F   Traveller's Complex, Santa-Rosa Tarlac Road

   G   San Jose City

   H   Solano town

   I   Banaue

BANAUE: Best time to visit the Banaue Rice Terraces

BANAUE: Best time to Visit the Banaue Rice Terraces

Lonely Planet Philippines (shown here) concludes that the best viewing time is one to two months before harvest because it is at its greenest.

Lonely Planet Philippines

UPDATE AS OF APRIL 2014!!!

We visited the Banaue Rice Terraces both in Banaue Viewpoint and Batad in April 2014. We were informed by the locals that due to climate change, they moved planting season from February/March to April to avoid the typhoons. I am therefore updating my old post shown below:

I am also sharing with you other information I got from the locals about current practices: 

• The rice terraces in Banaue, both in Barangay Viewpoint and Barangay Batad, plant the Tinawon variety of rice. Tinawon means once a year. 
• Tinawon takes 6 months to grow. They only plant tinawon once a year.
• They tried planting other varieties but it didn't flourish so they returned to Tinawon.
• The Tinawon is not commercially available because they only produce enough for their personal consumption.
• If you wish to taste Tinawon, they will sell you their personal stock still in stalks and will pound the grains and cook it for you.
• Since they changed planting season to April, harvest time will be in October. Based on Lonely Planet's recommendation, the best time to see it all green will be in August. But August weather in the Philippines is unpredictable so it's important to take it into consideration.

When is the best time to view the Ifugao rice terraces?

With the new planting season, I am color coding  the months in the same way as the old post to indicate what you most probably will see when you arrive at the Ifugao Rice Terraces on your chosen month. You get to decide when, in your opinion, is the best viewing time for this famous site.

January to March is not the best time to view the rice terraces, not unless you want to see it in its barren look. Some people appreciate the rice terraces and enjoy them as well during this time. 

April to May is planting season. It's slightly green but not lush. However, this is summer time in the Philippines so it's a nice time to visit because the weather is fairly predictable and there is less chance of rain. 

June to July is a good time to see green rice terraces.

August to September is the best time to see the rice terraces at its greenest. 

October to November is the best time to see the rice terraces in its golden color.

December is not the best time to view the rice terraces, not unless you want to see it in its barren look. Some people appreciate the rice terraces and enjoy them as well during this time because of the cold weather. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

BELOW IS MY OLD POST FOR REFERENCE:

• Banaue plants rice only once a year. Harvest time is in August. So best viewing time is June and July.
• Batad (a few kilometers from Banaue) plants rice twice a year. Harvest time is June and December. So the best viewing time is April to May and October to November.

When is the best time to view the Ifugao rice terraces?

I have color-coded the months to indicate what you most probably will see when you arrive at the Ifugao Rice Terraces on your chosen month. You get to decide when, in your opinion, is the best viewing time for this famous site.

January to March is not the best time to view the rice terraces, not unless you want to see it in its barren look. Some people appreciate the rice terraces and enjoy them as well during this time. 

April to May is the best time to see the Batad rice terraces at its greenest.  

June to July is the best time to see the Banaue rice terraces at its greenest. 

June is harvest time at Batad so you can see it in its golden color. 

August is harvest time in Banaue. 

September is planting season in Batad. 

October to November is the best time to see the Batad rice terraces at its greenest.  

December is harvest time in Batad

To help you decide when to view the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras, photos below (not mine) will show you what to expect at any time of the year.

January

Photo courtesy of ironwulf.net

February

Photo courtesy of Sahlee Camposano

March 

Photo courtesy of Jen Salegumba

April

Photo courtesy of Marcos Chymera

May

Photo courtesy of stlrams, tripadvisor forum member

June

Photo courtesy of colatwist

July

Photo courtesy of ferdibee

August

Photo courtesy of Bobby Wong