Northern Philippines 5-day Tour
Day 1: Manila - Banaue
We'll start this 5-day tour of the northern Philippines by picking you up at your hotel in Manila at the agreed time. Our first stop will be at Dos Castillas Street, where we'll see the Dimasalang Flower Market. Near this avenue is the La Loma district, where we'll find a variety of stalls with Filipino culinary specialties such as lechon a la brasa.
Next, we'll leave Manila behind to enter the Philippine countryside. We'll see the extensive rice plantations and pass through towns such as Nueva Ecija or Nueva Vizcaya, where we'll see the typical architecture of their bamboo huts.
Afterwards, we'll cross the meandering Cagayan Valley through the Dalton Pass, where we'll stop to admire the spectacular view of Sierra Madre and the Caraballo Mountains. Did you know that this pass is named after the American general who led the siege against the Japanese troops in World War II?
We'll continue ascending until we reach Banaue, passing through Lagawe, home of the Ifugao people. You'll get a chance to see the typical wooden handicrafts made by the people of this ethnic group. Then finally, we'll arrive in Banaue in the late afternoon and have dinner and rest until the next day.
Day 2: Banaue
First, we'll start the day with breakfast and then board a yipni, a peculiar urban transport in which we'll take a fascinating tour of the culture of Banaue. In this municipality, we'll see some typical Ifugao architecture and travel to the rice fields of Banaue, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
We'll enjoy a panoramic view of these terraces from the Barangay viewpoint and discover how the ancient local tribes built this marvel of agricultural engineering. We'll also find out why these structures are known as the stairway to heaven.
Then, we'll get out of the yipni for a walk on the terraces and visit a local village. Afterwards, we'll return to Banaue and finish the tour at an artisan market.
Day 3: Banaue - Sagada
On this day, after breakfast, we'll go to explore Mount Polis and make a stop at Bayyo. In this village, we'll enjoy a beautiful view of rice terraces and other crops forming a mosaic of green hues, dotted with thatched huts called allang.
Then we'll enter the Bontoc Museum, which holds an interesting collection of photographs, old maps, and artifacts of the Igorot tribe. After the museum, we'll continue by road to Sagada, a limestone valley famous for its hanging coffins. We'll explain what this peculiar funeral rite–which is very characteristic of this area of the northern Philippines–consists of. In addition, we'll visit the Lumiang Cave, one of the caves that serve as a cemetery.
We'll also visit the Sagada Weaving House, where we'll see how women make textiles on handmade looms. To end the day on a high note, we'll enjoy a typical Igorot dinner at a local restaurant and, weather permitting, we'll gather around a bonfire for a refreshing craft beer.
Day 4: Sagada - Baguio
After breakfast, we'll take the Halsema Highway towards the province of Benguet. Along the way, we'll be able to admire the endless rows of rice fields and the cable car cabins used by the Filipinos to transport vegetables from the top of the terraces to the bottom.
Our journey will take us through La Trinidad, the capital of the province and known for its wild fruit crops, and the city of Baguio. We'll take the opportunity to take a panoramic tour of this popular summer destination, touring its parks, gardens, and mansions. Finally, we'll visit the Baguio Public Market, one of the most important in the country, where you'll find a multitude of locally produced products.
Day 5: Baguio - Manila
On this last day of our tour of the northern Philippines, we'll say goodbye to Baguio and take the Kennon Highway, built by the Americans in the early 20th century.
Before arriving in Manila, we'll make a stop at the Pangasinan market and then another stop in Bacolor, a city hard hit by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. You'll be shocked by the buildings half-buried under hardened volcanic debris and amazed at how the locals rebuilt the city on top of the debris. Finally, we'll arrive in Manila in the early afternoon and we'll drop you off at the hotel you booked for that night.
Accommodation
The tour includes 4 nights accommodation in double room with full board. The hotels provided are as follows:
- Banaue: Banaue Hotel
- Sagada: Mr. Data Hotel or similar
- Baguio: El Cielito Inn or similar
Children
Children must be accompanied by 2 adults or more for the child rate to apply. If there is only one adult traveling with a child, the adult rate will be applied to the child.
