Banaue Rice Terraces

One of the nine (9) towns of Ifugao Province, Banaue, is world-famous and a must-see place. Its Rice Terraces considered as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" and declared as a World Heritage Site, are beautiful stairways to the sky that ascend steep mountain sides. The guest in this hiker's paradise will have an outstanding preview of the beautiful countryside, surrounded by mountains and tribal villages. These rice terraces were built by the Ifugao tribes 2000 years ago using only their bare hands and the most primitive tools. It is said that the length of the terraces, if connected end to end would encircle half of the globe.  Etched along the contours of the hills and mountains around the province, you will find a 2,000-year-old man-made engineering feat—and it looks like a staircase built for the gods.  So brilliant is this terracing tradition – it even has its own irrigation system – that UNESCO deemed the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras as a World Heritage Site, calling it “an outstanding example of a living cultural landscape.” Batad is the most famous of these terraces with its amphitheater shape. Be prepared for a nice steady hike, and an overnight stay in a native hut; it’s as far away from city life as you can get, but you’ll find nice surprises, like a pizza restaurant that serves fresh highland vegetables. Terraces abound in this province – and they come in all shapes and sizes.