Banaue (Ban-ow-ee)

After spending a few days in Manila, the trip escalates quickly with an exciting 3 day adventure up into the Banaue Rice Terraces in Northern Philippines. We’ll overnight on our own bus from Manila and wake up to winding roads as we elevate higher up into the mountains. This is traditional Philippines rice country and, in that respect, the way of life has hardly changed in 2000 years. Tiny mountain villages still harvest their rice off of terraces built high into the mountainside in seemingly impossible ways. It is truly a feat of engineering and absolutely stunning. We don’t just stick to the photo viewpoints, but instead go straight into the rice terraces and venture out on a 2-day trek through several villages, visit a waterfall, and spend the night on the side of the terraces in a cool, comfortable guesthouse. No better place for the Free & Easy festive spirit...and no better viewpoint for a sunrise wakeup! Truly awesome. No surprise that the terraces are often referred to as ‘the 8th Wonder of the World’.  

We’ll return back towards Manila on our night bus, and make our way straight for a beach! For more than one entire MONTH, the beach will never be more than a few minutes from your cottage.