How to Get From Manila to Banaue

3Options

5h 40mFastest

$16From

Written by Abegail · Reviewed by Ela, Faye·

Bus · Flight · Private Transport

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Map showing route from Manila to Banaue - 258 km

Manila → Banaue258 km

Banaue is a mountain town 258 kilometres (160 miles) north of Manila, famous for its rice terraces. Carved into the hillsides by the Ifugao people, they're one of the country's great sights. By road, the bus is the cheapest way to get from Manila to Banaue at $16 (1,000 PHP). Flying is the quickest option, taking 5h 40m - 6h 10m. A private transfer takes about as long as the bus.

Distance from Manila to Banaue

Manila and Banaue are about 258 km (160 miles) apart, and the journey itself covers around 351 km by road. The quickest way to get from Manila to Banaue is by taking the flight, which takes around 5h 40m - 6h 10m.

~258 km

Distance

~351 km

Road distance

5h 40m

Fastest

Travelling the other way?Banaue to Manila→

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3 ways to travel from Manila to Banaue

There are three ways to travel from Manila to Banaue. You can choose between the bus, flight, and private transport. The journey takes 5h 40m–10h and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at $16 (1,000 PHP).

TransportDurationPrice

Bus2 companiesWith transfers9h+from$161,000 PHP

The bus is the most common mode of transport when travelling from Manila to Banaue.

There are two well-known bus companies that service this route: Coda Lines and Ohayami Trans.

We recommend travelling overnight so that you won’t have to spend your valuable daytime on the long journey. You also save a night on accommodation considering the bus trip can take between 9h - 10h 30m, depending on the traffic when heading out of Manila.

Tourist or Standard buses for this route do not have onboard toilets and aren’t very spacious. They do make at least two stops along the way for toilet and meal breaks. Overall, don’t expect too much from buses operating from Manila to Banaue.

Bus schedule from Manila to Banaue

9h20mCoda LinesTouristQuezon CityBanaue Coda Lines20:00$15900 PHPTickets

9hOhayami TransStandardOhayami Trans officeOhayami Bus Ticketing Office22:00$16990 PHPTickets

9h20mCoda LinesVIP 35 SeatsQuezon CityBanaue Coda Lines21:00$171,020 PHPTickets

Bus tickets are available on Bookaway.

Ohayami Trans

Departs from Ohayami Bus Terminal in Sampaloc, Manila, 9 km northwest of Makati
Arrives at Poblacion Bus Terminal in Banaue town centre

Note that Ohayami buses often operate older models than Coda Lines.

Coda Lines

Departs from Coda Lines Bus Terminal in Cubao, about 12 km northeast of Makati
Arrives at Banaue Bus Stop in the town centre

There are no direct bus day trips from Manila to Banaue, but thanks to a tip from a reader, we found an alternative route. After additional research, we are happy to share this route option in more detail with you below.

First, you need to take a morning bus from Manila to Solano in Nueva Vizcaya. Note that there are no buses bound for Solano specifically. Instead, you need to take a bus going to Cagayan or Isabela. You can check the websites of GV Florida, Victory Liner, and Five Star for their schedules and stations.

Tell the conductor to drop you off at Solano. Travel time by bus takes around 5-6 hours, with rates starting from $10 (630 PHP).

Second, you need to take a tricycle to Runruno Jeepney Terminal for about $0.30 (20 PHP). This is where you’ll find the jeepneys bound for Banaue. The jeepney ride from Solano to Banaue is about 2.5 hours and costs $2.40 (150 PHP). Jeepneys are available every hour from 08:30 to 16:30 daily.

Banaue

FlightVia Cauayan5h 40m+from$965,900 PHP

There is no direct flight from Manila to Banaue. First, you’ll need to take a flight from Manila to Cauayan Airport (CYZ), from where it’s still a 130 km ride to Banaue.

From Cauayan, you can take a private van to Banaue, which will take around 4 hours. There is also a way to travel by a combination of a bus and jeepneys, but we wouldn’t recommend this option. It’s quite complicated and includes many transfers.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Step 1: Manila City Centre to Manila Airport

30m -1h$2.40 (150 PHP)

The easiest way to get to Manila Airport from anywhere in Metro Manila is by Grab car. Rates start from $3.80 (230 PHP) to Terminal 3 and $6 (370 PHP) to Terminal 2, depending on where you're coming from. You can also hail a taxi from the street. Just make sure the driver turns on the meter!

If you want to pre-book your transfer, Klook offers private rides with prices from $19 (1,160 PHP) for a 4-seater.

Alternatively, UBE Express operates point-to-point buses to several locations across Metro Manila to Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Here are the ticket prices:

$2.40 (150 PHP) - from Pasay, Parañaque and Robinsons Manila
$3.30 (200 PHP) - from Araneta City and Alabang

Check out our guide for Manila Airport for more details.

Step 2: Manila to Cauayan by Flight

1h10m$29 (1,760 PHP)

Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines offer flights from Manila to Cauayan. There are 3 departures every day at 09:25, 12:10, and 13:45. Flights depart from Manila Airport Terminal 2 and 3 and travel time is just a little over an hour.

Airfares start at $29 (1,760 PHP), but they can go lower during sale periods. We recommend checking Skyscanner for the best deals.

Check Flights on Skyscanner

Step 3: Cauayan to Banaue by Van

4h$65 - $82 (4,000 - 5,000 PHP)

Once you arrive at Cauayan Airport, there will be drivers waiting for passengers to arrive. They will probably come up to you and offer you a ride to Banaue. Use your negotiation skills to obtain a good deal as they will always quote a higher price.

A private van typically costs about $65 (4,000 PHP). If you can get this at a lower price, then better. Hiring a private van is a great option if travelling in a group.

TIP: If you also need convenient transport for going around Banaue, you can try and make a deal with the driver. You have a high chance of getting a discount if you book them for the duration of your stay.

From Cauayan Airport to Banaue by Bus and Jeepney (not recommended)

Private transportation is by far the easiest way to get from Cauayan Airport to Banaue. However, if you want to save money, there is also a way to travel this leg of the journey with a combination of the bus, tricycle and jeepney.

First, you’ll need to take a 5-minute tricycle going to Cauayan Bus Terminal. The tricycle ride costs about $1.60 (100 PHP). Just don’t expect the tricycle to be very spacious. You can ask for the tricycle driver’s help in hailing a bus that passes through Bagabag Junction.

Once you get on the bus, tell the driver or conductor to drop you off at Bagabag Junction. A ticket costs around $3.60 (220 PHP), and the bus ride takes about 2.5 hours. Next, you’ll have to take 2 jeepney rides.

At Bagabag Junction, take a jeepney bound for Lagawe. This leg should take about 1 hour. In Lagawe, transfer to another jeepney for a 1h 45m ride to Banaue. You will be dropped off at the town centre. The entire jeepney trip costs around $2.40 (150 PHP).

Total commute time from Cauayan Airport to Banaue would be about 5.5 hours. As you can see, it’s not an easy trip at all. We just wanted to show you how complicated it can be and why we wouldn’t really recommend taking public transportation from Cauayan to Banaue.

Banaue

Private Transport1 companyDirect10hfrom$34521,200 PHP

Private transport from Manila to Banaue is the easiest and most convenient option. The journey takes 10h, and you’ll be dropped off right at your accommodation — no need to worry about extra transfers.

Prices for private cars start at $345 (21,200 PHP) for a 3-seater. Split it with your group, and it’s about $115 (7,100 PHP) each.

Manila

Flyeast

Standard Car 3 PAX

$345 (21,200 PHP)

$115 (7,100 PHP) per person

Tickets

Flyeast

SUV Minivan 6 PAX

$385 (23,600 PHP)

$64 (3,950 PHP) per person

Tickets

Available atBookaway

Banaue

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Richard · October 2022

I would like to suggest another option for this route. I suggest breaking the journey at Solano. There are jeepneys which go between Banaue and Solano every 30 minutes. The two and a half hour journey costs 150 peso. Then there are buses which go between Solano and Manila which are about one an hour. Cost is about 700 peso for the 8 hour journey. The whole journey could be done in a day, or you could stop for the night in Solano if preferred. In Solano, the jeepney terminal is about 1Km from where the buses stop, but there are plenty of tricycles around which which could take you between the two for 20 peso. The buses stop by the side of the road outside McDonald's which is next door to Meaco Royal Hotel. They always stop there, so it shouldn't be necessary to flag them down. You will probably find other people waiting for the bus. The destination on the front of the bus may not say Manila, but the district within Manila where the bus terminates. This option avoids travelling through the night. I did the above journey from Banaue to Manila in October 2022. I haven't tried it from Manila to Banaue, but I think it should work just as well in the other direction.

Maarten: Hello Richard. Thank you so much for sharing this incredibly valuable information, offering an alternative to travel to Banaue during the day. In the next days,

MaartenGeckoRoutes team

Hello Richard. Thank you so much for sharing this incredibly valuable information, offering an alternative to travel to Banaue during the day. In the next days, we will research your suggested route and add it to the Manila to Banaue and probably also the VV route. Have a great trip and many thanks for your contribution.

Where to StayWhere we'd stay in Banaue3 places we've picked out, for every budget

STAY

Our favourite places to stay in Banaue

Banaue is a special place where nature feels alive around you. To match this vibe, the accommodations need to be pretty unique too. And they are!

A lot of people visit Banaue to embark on overnight adventures into the rice paddies. The wooden huts offering spectacular views over the rice fields are the perfect places to stay before and after your adventure. Here are our favourite stays for every budget:

Mid-Range

Baleh Boble Guesthouse

Area: 5-minute drive from Banaue Town

Baleh Boble Guesthouse offers similar accommodation to Hiwang, but with more comfort and finishing touches. They also offer cabin-style accommodation where their creativity with wood is fantastic.

It’s clear that the hosts have poured their hearts into creating this place, and their love continues with their huge effort to make sure that every guest has the best time possible.

Unique and creative huts
Amazing hosts
Incredible views
Garden, terrace and shared kitchen

Double rooms cost $30-$60 (1,840-3,650 PHP) per night

Check availability

Mid-Range

Hiwang Native House

Area: Approx. 15-minute drive from Banaue Town

If you’re willing to spend a little more money, you can get incredible views at Hiwang Native House Inn, plus a unique sleeping experience. Situated at the top of the hill are a number of stilted thatch-roofed huts.

You even have your own little open-air dining area under your bedroom. Here you can enjoy food from the onsite restaurant or eat it around the campfire they frequently arrange.

Panoramic views
Unique accommodation
Onsite restaurant
Nightly campfires

Double rooms cost $30-$60 (1,840-3,650 PHP) per night

Check availability

Budget

Banaue Evergreen Hostel

Area: Approx. 5-minute drive from Banaue Town

Banaue is blessed with incredible views, and Banaue Evergreen Hostel really makes the most of its landscapes. Open your curtains or head out to the terrace and you’ll be greeted with panoramic views of the rice fields all around.

Inside, the hotel is bursting with colour. Made even brighter by the friendliness and smiles of the amazing hosts.

Incredible views
Great hosts
Complimentary pick-up/drop-off from bus terminals
Delicious on-site restaurant

Double rooms cost $15-$30 (920-1,840 PHP) per night

Check availability

ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION

Why Visit Banaue?

Banaue is a popular tourist destination in the Philippines' Cordillera mountain range. It's famous for the Banaue Rice Terraces — built over 2,000 years ago and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Home to the Ifugao people, a visit to Banaue gives one a glimpse of their unique customs, beliefs and traditions.

Plenty of activities are on offer for tourists to experience the Ifugao's way of life first-hand. But we think the touristy town centre doesn't really give them justice. We recommend exploring other villages like that of Cambulao and Pula to better appreciate the Ifugao culture in Banaue.

Rounding it up

That's the full picture for getting from Manila to Banaue, roughly 258 kilometres (160 miles) apart. In all, there are 3 ways to make the trip. The cheapest fare is $16 (1,000 PHP). The quickest trip takes 5h 40m.

Prices and timetables change, so it's worth a quick check before you travel. Have a question, or travelled this route recently? Ask the community below and we'll do our best to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the distance from Manila to Banaue?

The distance from Manila to Banaue is 258 kilometres (160 miles).

What is the fastest way to get from Manila to Banaue?

The fastest way to get from Manila to Banaue is by flight and takes 5h 40m - 6h 10m.

What is the cheapest way to get from Manila to Banaue?

The cheapest way to get from Manila to Banaue is by bus with ticket costs starting from 1,000 PHP.

About the Authors

Abegail

Travel Writer

Abby is a writer who finds joy in mountains, beaches, and road trips. She considers her solo backpacking trip to the rice terraces of Bontoc one of the most fulfilling moments in her life. She's loyal to the islands of her home country, the Philippines, but Thailand's beaches also have a special place in her heart.

ElaReviewer

Senior Travel Writer

Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she's not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines. Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she'll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.

FayeReviewer

Travel Writer

A writer and full-time mom who loves planning beach trips. London is her favourite destination.

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How to Get From Manila to Banaue

Distance from Manila to Banaue