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Batad Rice Terraces

Still in use today, the Ifugao Rice Terraces were carved into the hillsides of Ifugao Province by hand some 2,000 years ago, and are fed by an elaborate irrigation system that captures water from the forests above.

Batad Rice Terraces

While many people explore this famed landscape from the town of Banaue, the Banaue Rice Terraces cluster here isn’t technically part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras UNESCO World Heritage site. These terraces are, however, designated a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government and are undeniably spectacular.

But probably the most impressive of all the terraces are at Batad, a tiny, remote village in the municipality of Banaue that is only accessible by foot. Thanks to their pristine condition, these terraces—along with four other clusters—are included in the UNESCO inscription. The reward for your hike up is a panorama of a kind of enormous amphitheater where each level is actually a rice paddy and where the village of Batad takes the place of the central stage at its base. Maximize your experience by staying in one of the indigenous huts and wake up to a view of the terraces before you even get out of your cot.

This is a lovely trek although steep in parts to a wonderful little guesthouse with a viewing platform of the terraces. Continue walking through the village and you can walk across the rice terrace walls. The views are spectacular and worth the effort. our guide was great and really helped on some of the narrow sections.

Irina Nikiforova

Tourist

The rice terraces here at Batad were originally built 2000 years ago and have stone walls, unlike others in the region that have mud walls. For centuries, farmers have worked these fields, using pretty much the same methods now as they did when they were first constructed. It’s quite incredible to see the continuity in the farming practices over such a long period. And it’s amazing to think that something their ancestors built so long ago is still paying dividends now. An impressive inheritance for scores of generations.

How to Reach Batad Rice Terraces: To get to the Batad Rice Terraces, you need to take a bus bound for Banaue first. There are two bus companies that operate a Manila to Banaue route. Coda Lines in Cubao, Quezon City and Ohayami Trans in Sampaloc, Manila. Bring a jacket or a small pillow to make yourself more comfortable on the 9-hour trip

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