BATAD: Travel Guide, Budget, Itinerary & Useful Tips

Batad is a secluded community up in the heart of The Cordilleras. It is home to the remarkable amphitheater rice terraces which is one of the UNESCO Heritage Sites in the World. Surrounded by formidable mountains such as Aya and Amuyao, Batad for a long time is a paradise safely tucked away from the prying eyes of the outside world and only those who brave the unknown knew what an exquisite beauty it once was. It still is a marvelous sight today and what made it so interesting is that their culture has remained untouched. The locals still practice their olden rituals, speak their olden tongue and remained unchanged amidst the surge of foreign influence.

Batad is definitely a priceless treasure, a remnant of a great culture that has once thrived in the mountainous Ifugao province and is a vital part of our civilization. In the moments when the bright light of our cities make you lose sight of your essence as a proud Filipino, look beyond the skyscrapers obscuring the evening stars and simply remember that up in our mountains, our cultural heritage lives on.

HOW TO GO TO BATAD

• From Manila – Ride an Oyahami Bus from their Sampaloc Terminal to Banaue (P450; 10hrs). Once in Banaue, charter a tricycle or a van whichever suits you to take you to Batad (1hr). Another option is to wait for the public jeep which ply Banaue-Batad scheduled to depart at 3PM everyday (P150). From the drop off point, walk for 20 minutes to Batad village.
• From Sagada – Ride a jeep to Bontoc (P45; 1hr). Once in Bontoc, ride a bus or a jeep to Banaue (P150; 2hrs) then follow remaining instructions above.
• From Baguio – Ride a bus to Banaue (P450; 7hrs) then once in Banaue, just follow remaining instructions above.
• From Tabuk – Ride a jeep going to Bontoc and get off in Banaue. Follow remaining instructions above.
• From Tuguegarao – Ride a bus going to Baguio and get off at Bagabac Junction. Ride a jeep going to Banaue. Follow remaining instructions above.

THINGS TO DO IN BATAD

• Trek to the view deck – A trek for over an hour will enable you to marvel at one of the best views you’ll ever see in your lifetime which features the genius of the Ifugaos.
• Trek to Tappiya Falls – A 2-hour trek to this gem may be the toughest you’ll ever experienced while in Batad but I assure you it is totally worthwhile.
• Visit the main village – A great way to know more about the people and traditions of Batad.
• Trek Mt. Aya or Mt. Amuyao –  If you are craving for some wild but rewarding adventure then a trek to these two mountains is certainly the answer.
• Join the bonfire session with the natives  – Learn more about their culture by interacting closely with the natives as they narrate some of their interesting folklore through a cultural show over a bottle of beer and the blazing bonfire.
• Sleep in the Batad’s traditional hut – Go local and spend the night in the traditional huts made of cogon and other native materials.

WHERE TO STAY IN BATAD

Cellular signal in Batad is weak and there are parts wherein it is completely not available so you would do best to reserve you accommodation in advance with booking websites such as AGODA especially if you are going on high season. Here are the list of budget accommodations and their corresponding contact details.

IN BATAD

Mang Ramon Homestay

Contact #: 0975615541 | 09975683317

Check Rates & Book with AGODA

Hillside Inn and Restaurant

Contact #: 0917 757 4411

Check Rates & Book with AGODA

Batad Transient House

Contact #: 09351302911

Check Rates & Book with AGODA

Batad Top View Point Homestay and Restaurant
Contact #: 09975683317
Check Rates & Book with AGODA

Batad View Inn and Restaurant
Contact #: 09169848380
Check Rates & Book with AGODA

Batad Pension and Restaurant
Contact #: 09177574411
Check Rates & Book with AGODA

IN BANAUE

Uyami’s Green View Lodge
Contact #: 09175910981
Check Rates & Book with AGODA

Banaue Wonder Lodge
Contact #: 09991813031
Check Rates & Book with AGODA

Terraceville Inn
Contact #: 099165070126

Check Rates & Book with AGODA

Banaue Hotel
Contact #: (074) 386 4088
Check Rates & Book with AGODA

USEFUL INFO

• Ayangan is the local dialect in Batad but Tagalog and English are also widely spoken.
• You might find the prices in Batad over the top but please bear in mind the tremendous effort the locals put just to make these commodities available for you.
• Activities in Batad require a great deal of trekking and can be physically demanding so make sure to prepare in advance.
• Public jeep leaves Batad at 9AM and returns from Banaue at 3PM so make sure to take this into consideration while doing your itinerary unless you don’t mind paying for a more expensive transfer.
• Please consider dropping by the Tourism Office of Banaue so you will be assisted with arranging you Banaue-Batad transfer to avoid being overcharged as there are still some locals who have bad habits of exploiting tourists.
• Mobile signal in Batad is weak or worse may not be available in most areas so let your loved ones know where you’re headed and that you might be out of radar for a while before going there.
• The best time to go to Batad is during the summer months of March – May.

SUMMARY OF EXPENSES, ITINERARY & OTHER ESSENTIALS

Our trip to Batad was part of our 5-Day Cordillera Adventure which started in Baguio. You may refer to my other post ^^ for the full itinerary.

PROVINCES

There you have it folks. Batad is such an exceptional place. It surely is a must see place while you are in the mountains of Ifugao. If you are planning to visit Batad soon, feel free to ask me some questions.

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