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.

Saw many recommendations to visit Mine's View Park, so we made a quick stop during our trip to…read moreBaguio. Definitely a lot busier and a lot more crowded than we expected - at times, you are walking with wall-to-wall people. And A LOT of vendors everywhere, both inside and outside the park. If you get claustrophobic, just be aware. The view of Baguio is nice. The vista point area is PACKED and you'll have to both wait your turn and push your way to the front to get your chance of the view. The view is nice, but we did see some better ones on our trip. I can't remember how much admission was, but it was CHEAP. I think it was somewhere around $1 per person. Don't think I would return again nor would I make it a top recommendation for those visiting Baguio for the first time. There are so many other nice places to go with better views. So if you have plenty of time on your trip to Baguio, consider it. If you're strapped for time, maybe pick another place to visit.

Very popular and busy spot in Baguio. It is tricky to get around because of several odd steps. The…read moreview is nice when no one is in front of you. Was told before it was all green but now there are homes visible, ruining the view. Plenty of vendors trying to get your money. Also the close quarters will feel tight so be sure you keep the valuables and money close. We visited shops on the side and outside the park. Vendors doesn't seem to be knowledgeable of with making a deal but hey it's their loss. Some are outright rude so don't let them give you crap. Overall the park is just ok. You can skip it if you don'd have the time or inclination.

Thank you Gracious Angeli Travel and Tours for our very affordable Boracay and Palawan tour…read morepackage. Also, thanks to all the staff for being very helpful and friendly. See you on our next vacation.

If you are getting a bit restless in Manila, one weekend trip that you will surely enjoy if you…read morelove mountain climbing and hiking is the trek to Mt. Pulag's summit. Mt. Pulag's Ambangeng Trail is a fairly easy climb even for beginners, but what really makes it challenging is the extreme cold and the highly unpredictable weather. The elusive "sea of clouds" that all climbers hope for isn't a guarantee, and many a climber (including myself) has gone up and back down frustrated, because the famed sea of clouds didn't make an appearance. For what it's worth, though, Pulag is such a beautiful mountain and it has a great biosphere - the flora and fauna are just jaw-dropping. I'll have you know that there is a really great tour organizing company that will take care of your needs if you do decide to go up and attempt to summit Mt. Pulag. Edelweiss Tours is girl power to the highest level, as most of the organizers are strong, beautiful and very enthusiastic local women. Teacher Agot, Ate Odel and their team are dedicated to keeping the mountains safe, secure and ecologically balanced, that's why they promote responsible tourism in this side of the country. Teacher Agot and co. will help you with pretty much everything - from the tour permits, the passes, the fees, the tents and the food. All you need to do is muster up the courage and the stamina for the trek and you're all set. Teacher Agot has been doing the trek for several years now, and her list of clients include high profile celebrities and travelers. You can reserve your slots or book a special trip by getting in touch with the following people: Novelynne Sumakey- 0910-798-7005 (smart)/0906-951-4270 (globe)or Agot Baban -0930-363-1218(globe). Teacher Agot and Team Edelweiss also has a guest house in Kabayan, the Baban Homestay, where you can stay and enjoy the view of the misty mountains and foothills of Benguet. On a more personal note, Teacher Agot literally saved my life during my first Pulag climb. It was 2AM and I woke up shivering in the cold because it had rained during the night. Our tent got flooded despite our best waterproofing efforts, and I was almost in a state of hypothermia when my tent buddy roused Teacher Agot from her tent. She got up even though it was an ungodly hour, and tended to me in the mess tent while I warmed up. Her survival tips made the cold bearable, and I was energized and thawed from the brink of real danger in no time. She even sacrificed our store of butane tanks for the portable stove just to keep me warm. She's the kind of dedicated tour master who would even take off her own scarf and give it to you just so you'd stay warm and comfortable. I'd probably be dead by now if it weren't for Teacher Agot and Ate Odel, who kept my morale up and helped me through the night.

This is a dream come true for me! I've always dreamt about strawberry-picking in Benguet as a child…read morethat I even got a bit emotional. But yes, the experience is definitely worth it. The strawberries cost around 500 to 600 Php (outside is much cheaper) but the experience is amazing. No need to bring baskets too as they already have it there. Just be sure to suit up! I've posted some more useful information about my recent Baguio Trip at https://deartravellingknot.wordpress.com/ so if you want, you can read my article but if you guys have more questions you can also ask me here in Yelp.

I like how my taxi driver took us here and avoided the entrance fee to go into the field. We went…read moretowards the guy with paintings hung up by the gate and walked passed onions, lettuce, cabbage, sunflowers, tomatoes, chili peppers and of course what's in season right now were the strawberries! I filled up a green basket and used scissors provided to pick strawberries. I'm such a city kid and this was my first time ever in a strawberry field! I paid ₽650 to support the local farmers. Bring water since it does get pretty warm out there even though the elevation is high.

My friends and I somehow managed to drag all the way up to Baguio to "conquer Mt. Pulag"…read more After an overnight bus ride, and a 2 hour jeepney ride, we managed to get to the foot of the mountain. The hike itself took 4 hours. It was a slow ascent to the top. It takes a while, but suddenly you look out over the horizon and then you realize, hey, I've covered a lot of ground. It's not a difficult hike - mostly flat, but make sure to wear shoes with a good grip. I wore rubber shoes better suited for indoor courts which meant that it was really flat. I was literally slipping and sliding all over the place. Tip! Hire people to carry your bags and water. You will be embarrassed because they are older women in their 40s and 50s who climb faster and are stronger than you, but at least by not carrying your bags, you will for sure get to the top vs. collapsing midway from exhaustion.

I'm sure you've read a lot of reviews and visited their websites etc. But I thought I'd share my…read morepart of experience. Traveled on a Friday from Makati at around 12 PM and arrived at the DENR almost around 8 PM. Chose the Akiki Trail, stayed the night at one of their hotels that is 50 feet away from the DENR, woke up at 5:30 AM, drove to the AKIKI Ranger Station and got there by 6 AM and started trekking at 7 AM, seems late but had to deal with the fees first. As we start to trek up this trail, so far so good--all is normal, but once we passed the sketchy bridge the hike gets more intense and harder to climb. I'm sure, you can make it, (then our tour guide told us that some people have backed out) I mean we made it the whole way. It's definitely not-an-easy trail, we rested every 500 meters or less, on every large tree that we could rest our back on. Took us 8 hours plus my boyfriend and I fell asleep even our guide somewhere probably an hour away from the campsite. At last, reaching the campsite! We were all thrilled or I was at least, setted up our tent that we rented out (600 pesos per night), we suggest that you should bring more water because they don't have water up the campsite, so always refill your bottles at all water streams that you find, it'll keep you going and you need it! Also if you're with your partner, bring your own sleeping bag, we share ours and it was a little ridiculous decision. For food, I suggest you bring something light, because your backpack will get heavy the higher you go up. Did not see the sunset, we were in between the clouds so everything was cold and cloudy. The sky cleared up at around 9 PM and the stars look AMAZING! If you are camping the night, wear as much layers and warm clothes as you can, it gets colder at 2 to 4 AM. The sunrise on a Saturday at dawn, we woke up at 4:50 AM, packed and trekked to the SUMMIT by 5:30 AM, and the SKY WAS BEAUTIFUL! It was like twilight, loved it. By the way, there's more uphill for you to conquer if you want to see the sunrise (on time) to get to the summit. To achieve this trip and see everything you wanted to see, you must be motivated and push yourself. Even if you don't feel good (like how I was, I caught the FLU), but it felt more than good to be there and experience all of it. By the end of the day, you should be proud of yourself. I would be, too. So I'm rooting for you and I hope that you'll enjoy your trip to Mount Pulag either today or tomorrow, some time soon! GOOD LUCK.

This a well known park in Baguio. Many people recall their childhood years visiting Burnham park…read morelike the central park of New York. My parents recall their visits here seeing the man made lake. The family filled activities like riding the swan or paddle boats built for groups.. it will sure create memories for any visitor. It's a busy park during the day watching people, jog, work and work out. School grade children and teens come out to hang with their friends and walk the park, play games and get snack from the cart vendors. The playground has a separate portion to the park dividing the area where the bikes and pedal carts. My kids created memories riding the single and group carts with their cousins At night it's a central area near the Baguio Night market to eat street food and buy extensive cheap swap meet, knock up clothing and and apparel. The night doesn't stop at this park. You can get a great bargain to buy souvenirs, shoes and gifts.

Like Mine's View Park and the Mansion, Burnham Park is another stop to make during a tour of…read moreBaguio. Unlike my last visit, Big Bro, GodNiece and I got the chance to take our time to take everything this park has to offer. We did a lot of walking around and found too many interesting things. There are lots of activities being offered: bike and boat rentals, horseback riding and the like. There are lots of fruit vendors walking around as well (we lucked out and got lansones, which I haven't had for EVER.) There were also many souvenir vendors lined up along the sides of the park. As tourists, we were extra careful with making our purchases. Some WILL take advantage of non-locals. For example, GN found an Igorot costume she was interested in buying. She was quoted P3,800PHP (~$75US.) I already knew this was ridiculous, so I pulled her away. The one local we were with found another vendor and advised us to stay away from him until he can reasonably barter in our behalf. This time around?! P700PHP (~$13US) AND it included a headband and a belt. (Ooooh, he was so mad at that first vendor, he wanted to go back there and cuss them out!) But there are a variety of knick-knacks to look at and possibly buy: from shirts to keychains to backscratchers, etc... but don't jump on anything too quickly. The best way to avoid vendors who will not hesitate to pull a fast one on you is to walk around and compare, maybe haggle. If you're lucky enough to have a local with you (like we did), even better. The park was very clean. People are conscious about throwing trash in the proper bins. (I say this because I didn't see one maintenance worker the whole time we roamed. Kudos, Baguio peeps! Way to represent!) There wasn't a crowd since we were there on an off-peak season. I imagine it can get crazy during the summer. Great stop overall. Would return.

Apo Whang Od is "described as the "last" and oldest mambabatok (traditional Kalinga tattooist." She…read moreis 108 years old today (Oct 2025). Here are things to consider as you journey to see her. 1. Do your research and prepare your mind for a long drive / day. Pack light and bring a first aid kit. 2. Have a tour guide and a driver (service car) with experience rather than driving yourself (unless you have been before and is confident driving yourselves). 3. There are a couple ways to get to Buscalan Village that I know of. a. Drive from Manila to the drop off point. Which will take almost 12 hours with stops to restrooms, eating, and taking pictures. Then hike or take the one person tram. b. Fly to Baguio and then drive to the drop off point. Do the hike or take the tram. If you're scared of heights you may opt to hike. Note: if I ever go back I would choose B. Because from Baguio to Buscalan it will only take seven hours to drive up. With that said after we got to the drop off point, my group opted to hike vs. riding the tram. I did do my research and prepared my mind for a moderately challenging hike taking about 45 minutes to a one hour hike depending on individuals fitness. In my opinion, I did not think the hike was treacherous or too challenging. However, if you have not hiked or do not participate in any kind of exercise it might be challenging for you. I brought boots with me but I did not need it. A good pair of tennis shoes/sneakers or Tevas will work. You will have to cross a suspension bridge. The trail is paved and/or has cemented stairs. The hike took us about 35/40mins which was not bad considering we paused to rest for others in our group. As soon as we reached the village we checked in with the staff. We brought vegetables with us and they cooked it for us and they offered unlimited rice. After we finished eating we went ahead and got our tattoos. There were no people there besides our group so it's safe to say there was no line when we came (it was perfect). So come during weekdays vs. weekends. We had Apo Whang Od to ourselves and were able to spend ample time with her. To be in her presence and her energy was such a privilege. I was mesmerized and was having an out of body moment. I couldn't believe I was there. It was definitely one for the books. Bucket list checked! I'm so proud of myself for doing something I'd planned for years. If you love exploring, hiking and tattoos I would give this a go. 100 percent recommended. The views of the rice terraces, waterfalls, mountains, and of course meeting the legend is so worth the trip. Cost: In Philippine money some might say it's costly. You have US dollars, definitely affordable! Be prepared to pay for items separately such as: Homestay (Airbnb), WiFi, Tattoo, service car, tour guide and Tram ride. I hope I have written enough information for you all if not please feel free to ask me any questions.

I've known about Apo Whang Od (aka Maria Oggay) way before she became popular and I have always…read morewanted to make the trek to see her. (In all honesty, I just really wanted to see/meet her. The ink was was nothing more than a secondary bonus.) It shouldn't have taken this long even most especially since home is only 6 hours away (far better than the 13-15 coming from Manila.) But something always got in the way every time I visit the Philippines - more specifically the limits of time! (Ahhh, time can be so very VERY cruel!) So I promised myself that should I be given one more shot at it (more especially now that she's a young 106 years old): I AM THERE! A promise I kept. It really is like a rite of passage. Getting to her village is no joke. The drive alone isn't easy: the long and winding mountainous roads - some one way due to landslides - and then that 20-30 minute treacherous hike down and up mountains and crossing rivers with no safety protocols in place. There's danger lurking everywhere! But once my eyes set on her, none of that mattered. She really is stunning in person. I'm not sure if I was just star struck or honored, or...? Anyway. I was just happy to see her! And for the bargain price of 300PHP (approximately $5.50USD), Apo herself will ink you with her famous three dots of Kalinga. (It's the only one she does now.) One might be wondering what is there to expect and if I have any tips!? Here they are: 1) Go on a weekday. Weekends, I'm told, are incredibly busy and if you don't have a reservation, you most likely won't be seen until the next day (or two!) I went on a Thursday (no reservations.) Left home at 3am, got there at 9am, we were all good and done by noon. 2) Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. They don't need to be hiking shoes, but they need to be extra comfy. That hike is no joke - take as much breaks and time as you need during. 3) Bring bottled water. One should be good, no need to carry extra weight during the hike. You can always buy more when you get to her village. 4) Bring CASH. Cards are very useless here. When I went, it's 1kPHP (about $20USD) for registration and for the guide, another 100PHP (AROUND $2) per person once you get to the village, 300PHP per person for the ink (as mentioned earlier), of course you have to tip her AND your guide, and then moolah for souvenirs. Better to have too much money than never enough. 5) Try not to piss Apo off. She's known to deny inking people for reasons exclusively known only to her. 6) She does not use normal ink. It's a mix of charcoal and water. She does not use needles either: she uses a thorn from a pomelo tree. (This is the way it's been done for hundreds of years.) You get to keep the thorn she uses on you. So yes, an infection is very possible, so take good care of your ink as well as you can. (Let me know if you have any more questions about this and I'll try my best to answer 'em!) FUN FACT: Apo Whang Od/Maria Oggay is the oldest person to grace the cover of ANY Vogue magazine. (The Vogue article is available for your reading pleasure online. Just simply Google it.) She has also been deemed one of Philippines' National Treasures. Our guide, Wan-Nay, was a total BOSS. I think she can hike these mountains blindfolded. She put all of us to shame. One good thing that made me glad I waited is that the hike is much easier now compared to, let's say, a few years ago. The hike used to take 2-3 hours, trying to make climbs using ropes and the like. I was told no part of the route to her is cemented back then: some of it is now. Whew! It truly is an experience and a story to tell. I'm so glad I finally got to go. If you're planning on going, DO IT NOW. She isn't getting any younger. Although she still moves like a spring chicken, at 106, there's never any guarantees. (But like millions of others, I wish her a longer and more prosperous life!) One of my proudest moments... so happy and so honored I got to finally meet her!