Four days trekking experience in Ifugao province, Philippines. First, we arrived in Banaue on a night bus from Manila and met Adam, who organized the trek, transportation, and introduced us to our mountain guide, Amigo.
On the first day, we went to Hapao village with Adam's father Victor, a legend who guided Chuck Norris on the same route years ago. The hike between the beautiful rice terraces took us 4 hours, and it was pouring down on us. On Google, we read that December is the beginning of the dry season... Well, apparently it is not; it is March here in Luzon. Also, the terraces are now brown; in March and April, they will become green again.
On the second day, we started our three-day trekking tour with Amigo, Adam's best friend. We couldn't have gotten a better guide; he was smiling all the time and explained all kinds of stuff: about different plants, rice terraces and culture. The first day of the trek, we started with a hike and then proceeded through the jungle. It was my first jungle expedition, and it was amazing. That day, we covered 22 km, mostly through the jungle.
In the late afternoon, we arrived at Cambulo village where we slept the night. The next day, we started our second day of trekking from Cambulo to Batad village, where the rice terraces are also under UNESCO protection. The hike was shorter in terms of hours but steeper. Countless stairs, the steepest I have ever climbed, especially down to Tappiya waterfalls. But also countless breathtaking views, that made every step worth it.
We spent the night in Batad, and the next day, we finished our trek in the village of Anaba, and then took a ride to Bangaan village and then back to Banaue where we started.
If you ever travel to the Philippines, I really recommend you to go on a 3-4 day trek in the province of Ifugao, because it was the most local, pure, fun and adventurous experience. You can find Amigo on Facebook as Ka Amigo and contact Adam Dumawol for more information.
