What to expect when visiting 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.
2 ways to get from Manila to Banaue
There are two ways to travel the distance of 385 km (239 miles) from Manila to Banaue: by bus (9h-10h) and flight (4h10m). The journey takes between 4h10m - 10h and the quickest way is by flight. The lowest priced tickets start from 850 PHP ($15.00) for the bus.Where to stay in Banaue?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Banaue at the bottom of this page.
Manila to Banaue by Bus
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. These are Coda Lines and Ohayami Trans, both of which only provide night trips.
The advantage of travelling at night is 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 9-10 hours, depending on the traffic when heading out of Manila.
Only tourist buses are available for this route. This means that they do not have onboard toilets and aren’t very spacious. They do make at least two stops along the way for bathroom and meal breaks. Overall, don’t expect too much from the buses operating in the Philippines.
Bus schedule from Manila to Banaue
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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 Hotel and Youth Hostel in the town centre (5-min walk from the bus station)
Manila to Banaue by Flight
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 to Cauayan by Flight
Cebu Pacific offers the only flight from Manila to Cauayan. This flight leaves every day at 10:25 and on Tue, Thu and Sat there is an additional departure at 14:15. Flights depart from Manila Airport Terminal 3 and travel time is just a little over an hour.
Airfares range between 1,700 PHP ($29.50) – 2,400 PHP ($42.00), but they can go as low as 910 PHP ($16.00) during sale periods. We recommend booking your ticket at least 2 months in advance for the best prices.
Step 2: Cauayan to Banaue by Van
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.
Usually, hiring a private van costs about 4,000 PHP ($70.00). 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 ask the driver to make a deal. 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 100 PHP ($1.70). 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 100 PHP ($1.70) and the bus ride takes about 2.5 hours. Next, you’ll have to take 2 jeepney rides.
At Bagabag Junction, wait for a jeepney bound for Lagawe. This leg should take about 1 hour. In Lagawe, transfer to another jeepney for a 1hr 45m ride to Banaue. You will be dropped off at the town centre. The entire jeepney trip costs around 150 PHP ($2.60).
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 for this route.
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:
Baleh Boble Guesthouse - Mid Range
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 per night
Hiwang Native House - Mid Range
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 per night
Banaue Evergreen Hostel - Budget Friendly
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 per night
Frequently Asked Questions about Manila to Banaue
What is the distance from Manila to Banaue?
The distance from Manila to Banaue is 385 km (239 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 4h10m.
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 850 PHP ($15.00).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Manila to Banaue. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Thanks Maarten for adding the Solano option for anyone wanting to travel by day.
I noticed a typo in the instructions. “The jeepney ride from Manila to Banaue is about 2.5 hours and costs 150 PHP” should be from Solano not Manila.
Best wishes
Richard
Hi , Cannot get to your Instagram page somehow? Thanks
Hello Kevin, unfortunately, we are experiencing an issue with Instagram. We hope to be back soon! Thanks for noticing!