Ever wonder how it feels like to wake up every morning and feel like in a coffee commercial?
A long weekend in Batad is definitely not your usual escape from the daily grind. I have been eyeing Batad for some time now, itching to finally check this on my list of places to go to up north. A legit photo beside the famous amphitheater of rice fields is a must to the typical tourist. And people come, hike for a good one hour from saddle camp to the main view deck, take pictures, but leave the next day.
Batad was my home for three days. And waking up to beautiful mornings stuck to me - a cup of mountain tea on one hand, and a trusty camera to capture the vastness of layers and layers of rice fields on the other. I try my best to get up early to witness the sunrise - the sun gradually peeks from the mountain range and slowly illuminates the rest of Batad. The combination of cold morning breeze and heat from the cup is just soothing. The small town of Batad makes you want to linger, go back to basics and spend a few days of quiet.
Dubbed as the "8th Wonder of the World" is the Banaue Rice Terraces which is the most well known of Ifugao's terraces. But, personally, Batad's Rice Terraces should be aptly claimed as the 9th. The rice terraces of Batad are better preserved compared with its famous counterpart. The province of Batad can be reached through a 12-kilometer jeep ride (P50) from Banaue - highly recommend to request for a topload ride. For the adventurous, the Ifugao terrain offers good mountain trails. Upon arrival to the saddle camp, you will immediately see mostly foreigners, gathering and preparing their cameras and tripods for the hike. The saddle camp offers walking sticks (P10), buko (P50) and the usual trail food. Locals will approach you and will ask if you need a tour guide to the area. Luckily, I was with mountaineer friends who can read trails and are equipped with cook sets, so we were able to save a couple of hundreds. Tour guides usually ask around P800 to tour you around Batad.
From the saddle camp to the main view deck, one has to rough up for an hour or two. The hike only requires you to walk a few kilometers, with pit-stops, where you can buy cold drinks and buy souvenirs. Locals will greet you in English (mind you), and offer you their famous wooden carvings of Rice God called Bulol. I bought a small version that was made into a necklace for only P50, to add to my growing number of keepsakes.
To complete the experience, we decided to ditch the typical inns, and stayed over at an authentic Ifugao hut. Mang Ramon, known as a former tour guide around Batad, now owns Ramon's Homestay, offering 5 Ifugao huts located further down the crowded inns uphill. One is even a century-old hut owned by his ancestors. Mang Ramon charges guests per head at P250. A typical hut can comfortably accommodate 4 to 5 guests.
Mang Ramon warmly greeted and introduced us to the other guests as family and makes sure guests are well acquainted. He offered complimentary mountain tea (regularly priced at P45 per cup) and started telling us stories about the ancestral huts and even offered free bonfire later that night. I could not help but think that the huts were really made for hibernation and rest after a nesting for a few days in our humble abode.
Nestled at the heart of Batad is the famous Tappiya Waterfalls, 30 minutes from Batad Village. A hike to the falls would mean you have to get your feet dirty and experience the terraces upclose. Although, a little balancing is required, once you get pass the rice fields, the view from the stops will leave you at awe. The waterfalls reminded me of the opening sequence of Jurassic Park, the enormous waterfall scene with big splashes of water at the end. The rock formation at the foot of the falls form small jacuzzi-like pools, perfect for a dip after the rigorous trail. Fortunately, and unfortunately, the micro-climate of Batad did not cooperate, and so, we have to hike back to the village bearing the rain. What at first may look like an unfortunate event, turned into a challenge. My friends and I had a grand time taking on the slippery rocks and making it back to the village before dawn.
When visiting a province, as they always say, never fail to bring home pasalubong - as it speaks volumes about its place of origin. Batad offers just that. It prides itself with their harvested rice - all organic, with the choice of red and white. Known as the rice capital of the Philippines, they offer quality and affordable pasalubong-worthy treats. Mang Ramon even let us experience the process of pagbabayo to complete the whole Ifugao experience. They charge P120/kilo for both types of rice.
A place to reconnect and be once again, one with nature, Batad will surely fill your senses with its authenticity that's truly Filipino. A look outside the window and I'm always reminded of Batad mornings - a cup on one hand and a camera on the other. Because how else do you want to spend every waking morning but in a place called Batad.
For reservations at Ramon's Homestay, email bireneann@yahoo.com or text +63916-984-8380 a few days before your trip.
--
How to get to Batad:
By car: Take North Luzon Expressway and exit through Sta.Rita to Banaue, Ifugao. It will take you approximately 8-9 hours to get to Banaue. From Banaue, ride a jeepney to Saddle Point and from Saddle, take a one to two hour trek to Batad.
By bus: Take the Victory Liner bus in Kamuning, Quezon City bound for Banaue or go to Autobus terminal (between University of Sto. Thomas and McDo on Espana) or Florida bus station (corner of Espana and Lacson). From Banaue, ride a jeepney to Saddle Point and from Saddle, take a one to two hour trek to Batad.
A long weekend in Batad is definitely not your usual escape from the daily grind. I have been eyeing Batad for some time now, itching to finally check this on my list of places to go to up north. A legit photo beside the famous amphitheater of rice fields is a must to the typical tourist. And people come, hike for a good one hour from saddle camp to the main view deck, take pictures, but leave the next day.
Batad was my home for three days. And waking up to beautiful mornings stuck to me - a cup of mountain tea on one hand, and a trusty camera to capture the vastness of layers and layers of rice fields on the other. I try my best to get up early to witness the sunrise - the sun gradually peeks from the mountain range and slowly illuminates the rest of Batad. The combination of cold morning breeze and heat from the cup is just soothing. The small town of Batad makes you want to linger, go back to basics and spend a few days of quiet.
Dubbed as the "8th Wonder of the World" is the Banaue Rice Terraces which is the most well known of Ifugao's terraces. But, personally, Batad's Rice Terraces should be aptly claimed as the 9th. The rice terraces of Batad are better preserved compared with its famous counterpart. The province of Batad can be reached through a 12-kilometer jeep ride (P50) from Banaue - highly recommend to request for a topload ride. For the adventurous, the Ifugao terrain offers good mountain trails. Upon arrival to the saddle camp, you will immediately see mostly foreigners, gathering and preparing their cameras and tripods for the hike. The saddle camp offers walking sticks (P10), buko (P50) and the usual trail food. Locals will approach you and will ask if you need a tour guide to the area. Luckily, I was with mountaineer friends who can read trails and are equipped with cook sets, so we were able to save a couple of hundreds. Tour guides usually ask around P800 to tour you around Batad.
From the saddle camp to the main view deck, one has to rough up for an hour or two. The hike only requires you to walk a few kilometers, with pit-stops, where you can buy cold drinks and buy souvenirs. Locals will greet you in English (mind you), and offer you their famous wooden carvings of Rice God called Bulol. I bought a small version that was made into a necklace for only P50, to add to my growing number of keepsakes.
To complete the experience, we decided to ditch the typical inns, and stayed over at an authentic Ifugao hut. Mang Ramon, known as a former tour guide around Batad, now owns Ramon's Homestay, offering 5 Ifugao huts located further down the crowded inns uphill. One is even a century-old hut owned by his ancestors. Mang Ramon charges guests per head at P250. A typical hut can comfortably accommodate 4 to 5 guests.
Mang Ramon warmly greeted and introduced us to the other guests as family and makes sure guests are well acquainted. He offered complimentary mountain tea (regularly priced at P45 per cup) and started telling us stories about the ancestral huts and even offered free bonfire later that night. I could not help but think that the huts were really made for hibernation and rest after a nesting for a few days in our humble abode.
Nestled at the heart of Batad is the famous Tappiya Waterfalls, 30 minutes from Batad Village. A hike to the falls would mean you have to get your feet dirty and experience the terraces upclose. Although, a little balancing is required, once you get pass the rice fields, the view from the stops will leave you at awe. The waterfalls reminded me of the opening sequence of Jurassic Park, the enormous waterfall scene with big splashes of water at the end. The rock formation at the foot of the falls form small jacuzzi-like pools, perfect for a dip after the rigorous trail. Fortunately, and unfortunately, the micro-climate of Batad did not cooperate, and so, we have to hike back to the village bearing the rain. What at first may look like an unfortunate event, turned into a challenge. My friends and I had a grand time taking on the slippery rocks and making it back to the village before dawn.
When visiting a province, as they always say, never fail to bring home pasalubong - as it speaks volumes about its place of origin. Batad offers just that. It prides itself with their harvested rice - all organic, with the choice of red and white. Known as the rice capital of the Philippines, they offer quality and affordable pasalubong-worthy treats. Mang Ramon even let us experience the process of pagbabayo to complete the whole Ifugao experience. They charge P120/kilo for both types of rice.
A place to reconnect and be once again, one with nature, Batad will surely fill your senses with its authenticity that's truly Filipino. A look outside the window and I'm always reminded of Batad mornings - a cup on one hand and a camera on the other. Because how else do you want to spend every waking morning but in a place called Batad.
For reservations at Ramon's Homestay, email bireneann@yahoo.com or text +63916-984-8380 a few days before your trip.
--
How to get to Batad:
By car: Take North Luzon Expressway and exit through Sta.Rita to Banaue, Ifugao. It will take you approximately 8-9 hours to get to Banaue. From Banaue, ride a jeepney to Saddle Point and from Saddle, take a one to two hour trek to Batad.
By bus: Take the Victory Liner bus in Kamuning, Quezon City bound for Banaue or go to Autobus terminal (between University of Sto. Thomas and McDo on Espana) or Florida bus station (corner of Espana and Lacson). From Banaue, ride a jeepney to Saddle Point and from Saddle, take a one to two hour trek to Batad.
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