The Banaue Rice Terraces (Tagalog: Hagdan-hagdang Palayan ng Banawe) also called Payew, are 2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the "Eighth Wonder of the World"

It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters (5000 ft) above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put end to end it would encircle half the globe.

Aside from the Banaue Rice terraces there are 4 other similar terraces,[14][15] the Batad rice terraces, Mayoyao rice terraces, Hapao rice terraces and Kiangan rice terraces. The Batad rice terraces are located in Barangay Batad in Banaue, these terraces shaped resembles an amphitheatre. The Mayoyao rice terraces are for a rice variety called tinawon,[16] a rare type of organic rice which are grown in red and white variety in these terraces. The Hapao rice terraces are located in Hungduan, these terraces are stone-walled and date back to 650 AD.[17] The Kiangan rice terraces is similarly located in Banaue, here they grow the rice varieties of nagacadan and julungan.


Safari excerpts -

For PhP 500.00, (one way) a ride on an airconbus took us 9 hours to get to Banawe. Riding on Florida Bus is the best option (to taking your own SUV, cars wont make it) though because the legrooms (not my 5'9" frame) are wider and the seats are more comfortable (if you were a 4 foot 6 year old) while still getting the ride at basically the same price with other Aircon buses plying the same route Florida Bus follows a schedule by stopping at predetermined stops, hence, it will take about 10 hours to arrive at Banawe.

When we arrived in Banawe, we were greeted by half of the Safari group, Noli, Leah, Rene & Laurence who acted as our tour guide, concierge service. He was the go-to man of ace photographer Noli Gabilo, who in turn was out "light whisperer" for the Safari.

First thing's first: get breakfast! In the heart of Banaue in a little place called Viewpoint, formerly Mexicali. This is my favorite spots here in Banawe. I instantly fell in love with the quaint, we hit the ground shooting while waiting for our breakfast - longaniza and RED-organic rice! The view on the deck was also breath-taking. Next we were off to the Banaue poblacion market to gather food stuff before the long ride to Hungduan, where we will find Happy Homes Inn. For only PhP200.00 a night, one can enjoy the municipality and what it has to offer and expect a nice room to stay in as well as friendly services from Mother, the owner and former Vice Mayor of the town. She was also the ex-girlfriend of the Town Mayor, who is now her husband, Father.