The amphitheatre
Terraces like a theatre.
Ericmontalban — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 4.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bien02 — CC BY 4.0 · Vinnie Cartabiano — CC BY 2.0 · Tyrel Fang-asan Faniswa — CC BY-SA 4.0
The most beautiful rice terraces in the Philippines: a vast natural amphitheatre in a half-circle, where green terraces climb from a small village at the bottom to the mountain tops, like the tiers of a Roman theatre carved by nature and people together. They are one of the five clusters on UNESCO's World Heritage list since 1995. Cars do not reach the village, so you walk down from the road junction on a mountain path of half an hour to an hour, then walk among the terraces along their narrow stone edges. The village has simple guesthouses with direct views, and many visitors stay a night to see the mist at dawn. From the village another trail of about an hour leads to Tappiya Falls, a tall waterfall dropping into a broad pool where hikers swim after the effort. The trail climbs and drops on stone steps, so it suits those of moderate fitness. Hire a local guide, as the edges are narrow and the paths branch, and the fee supports the village. Wear good walking shoes and carry cash, as there are no cash machines in the village.
Terraces like a theatre.
A pool after the hike.
Dawn mist on the terraces.
Batad village, about an hour by road from Banaue town, then a walk from the road's end
Yes, but it is a long day of walking, especially with Tappiya Falls. Better to spend a night in the village and see the terraces at dawn without hurrying.