TRAVEL OPTIONS TO BANAUE

Davao (Airport code: DVO)
Davao City is in the far southeast corner of the nation and on its largest island, Mindanao. At present its international flights are limited to those of Silk Air with flights from Singapore. Other airlines may soon offer service from Malaysia and Indonesia. One of Davao's attractions is nearby Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines and which can be hiked even by those of moderate physical condition.

Cebu (Airport code: CEB)
Cebu City is in the central group of islands called the Visayas and has many international flights from all around Asia. It was the first capital of the nation and remains a vibrant hub of transport to other areas via air, sea, and land. It is in fact the logical capital of the nation due to its central location and ease of transport compared to Manila. There is some history to be appreciated here because it's the site where the Filipinos killed Magellan (Hey, in spite of what your teacher told you Magellan was NOT the first to circumnavigate the earth! His portion of the trip ended here and so only a remnant of his crew finished the voyage to Spain). He also left a cross and a statue of the Holy Child Jesus, both of which are now revered icons to Cebuanos and many other Filipinos. Take some time to see these relics of history before going north to see the Banaue Rice Terraces. Cebu's airport is an attractive option to enter the Philippines because it also has regular service directly to Clark via Cebu Pacific and Air Phil Express and that allows you to bypass Manila with all its chaotic traffic and general disorder.

Manila (Airport code: MNL)
Manila is of course on the same northern island, Luzon, as is Banaue so that makes it a gateway to see the Rice Terraces. If you arrive in the Philippines at Manila's airport you might want to take a day or two to see Rizal Park (also called Luneta), the old Spanish-era central park with its large grassy areas, statue of Lapu-Lapu (the Filipino who killed Magellan), statue of Jose Rizal who's the national hero. Manila also has the Walled City (Intramuros) built by the Spanish as a fortress to protect themselves from Moro pirates and rebellious Chinese traders. The National Museum, alongside Luneta, is also worth a visit. See the section below about Manila's airport and its four terminals for dealing with local travel.

Clark (Airport code: CRK)
Clark is about 80 km north of Manila and is also a growing and vibrant air gateway into the Philippines with more international flights added each year. This is of course the old American air base that was abandoned after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991. This airport is near Angeles City where the famous bar zone exists on Fields Avenue. If you arrive in the Philippines at this airport you can spend a day or so experiencing the bar scene or doing some historical tours like the nearby Capas Shrine, site of the former concentration camp where the Death March survivors were held by the Japanese in World War II.

TERMINAL 1 (click map to enlarge)
T1 is served by most foreign carriers. This is the terminal which has gotten the recent bad press as one of the world's worst. It's not as bad as the press would have us believe but it's true that it's not the most comfortable place to hang out.
GOING TO T1:
Many buses on EDSA, marked either MIA (the old name for Manila International Airport) or NAIA (the new name, Ninoy Aquino International Airport) serve this terminal.
LEAVING T1:
Those same buses can get you back to Metro Manila via EDSA. The buses pass frequently and there are stops just outside the terminal and across the road. The buses leaving T1 will say Cubao.

TERMINAL 2 (click map to enlarge)
T2 is served by Philippine Airlines (PAL) for both their international and domestic flights. Caution! Some of PAL's domestic flights are actually operated by their subsidiary budget airline, AirPhilExpress, so some of those flights may leave and arrive at T3. Check your ticket carefully to avoid a mixup.
GOING TO T2:
Many buses on EDSA, marked either MIA (the old name for Manila International Airport) or NAIA (the new name, Ninoy Aquino International Airport) serve this terminal.
LEAVING T2:
Those same buses can get you back to Metro Manila via EDSA. The buses pass frequently and there are stops just outside the terminal and across the road. The buses leaving T2 will say Cubao.

TERMINAL 3
Used by Cebu Pacific and Air Phil Express.
GOING TO T3:
The MIA / NAIA buses along EDSA do not go to T3 but only to T1 and T2. You can take one of those buses to T2, exit the bus and then walk to Bay 14, then at that point you can find a shuttle (if you have plenty of time and patience!) that goes to T3 and T4 for only 20 pesos.
LEAVING T3:
As you exit T3 cross the road and walk to your right and you'll see a bus stop where you'll find shuttle buses that go to T2 and T1. Get out at T2 (it will stop at Bay 14) and then walk about 200 meters to the highway and take a the MIA bus that follows the entire length of EDSA Avenue.

TERMINAL 4 (also called Old Domestic)
Used only by Zest Air and Sea Air.
GOING TO T4:
Access to this terminal can be gotten by taking the above mentioned MIA bus on EDSA and then on arrival at T2, transfer (for another 20 pesos) to the shuttle that goes to T3 and T4.
LEAVING T4:
One way into Manila from T4 is to go out the terminal and walk 300 meters north (to your right) to the gasoline station, cross the street and catch any jeepney that says MRT. Cost is only 8 pesos.

COMMENTS ABOUT TAXIS
Access to and from any terminal is of course available with taxis. Bear in mind however that Manila's taxi drivers are among the most shameless and exploitive on the planet (and quite possibly this entire sector of our galaxy!). For more detailed information please read these cautions about taxis.

A CIRCLE TRIP is possible if you wish to include other Cordillera destinations in your travel plans. Here are some estimated travel times (Depending of course on weather, form of transport, time of day, and road conditions. Manila-Banaue: 9 hours / Banaue-Bontoc: 2 hours / Bontoc-Sagada: 1 hour / Sagada-Baguio: 8 hours / Baguio-Manila: 7 hours.

Manila, day buses
If you are a person who simply cannot sleep on buses or for other reasons prefers to travel in the daytime, it can be done. Florida offers day service with many departures to Bagabag Junction (Nueva Vizcaya province) from both their Sampaloc and Cubao terminals. Victory Liner does as well from their Kamias/Cubao terminal (note that Victory has two terminals in the Cubao area; you need the one at Kamias, opposite the GMA TV studios). Other bus companies , Baliwag, and others) in the Cubao area of Metro Manila have many departures daily to Tuguegarao in Cagayan province. Purchase fare only to Bagabag Junction (Nueva Vizcaya province). At the junction there are frequent jeepneys to Banaue. All the buses that travel the Baguio-Banaue route (Ohayami and KMS Lines) pass through that point as well so you could wait for one, although they are not as frequent as jeepneys. Manila-Bagabag travel takes 6-7 hours. Bagabag-Banaue travel time is about 2 1/2 hours.

Angeles City, day buses
If you're in the Angeles City area (especially handy if you arrive in the Philippines via Clark instead of Manila) you can very easily take a Victory Liner bus from the Dau terminal with several departures daily beginning at 8:20 AM (look for the bus saying Tuguegarao as the final destination). Buy a ticket only to Bagabag Junction and then at that intersection you can take the next available jeepney or bus to Banaue. If you take the first daily bus you should arrive at Bagabag by 4PM and Banaue by 6PM. The last bus departing Dau is at 11PM so that too is a good option (this service only available on Friday and Saturday); you'll arrive at Bagabag around 5AM and then the next leg of your journey will get you into Banaue before 8AM. Remember however that these buses originate in Manila and already have passengers on board. On heavy traffic days like weekends and holidays the bus may not have seats available when it reaches Dau. On ordinary days, however, seats are easily obtained in Dau.

Angeles City, night buses
You can easily take the Ohayami overnight bus from Manila even if you're in Angeles. First, go to the Dau, Mabalacat bus terminal near Angeles and take the Philippine Rabbit bus which has "Avenida" as its destination (there is one every 10 or 15 minutes). Fare is 150 pesos and tell the conductor you will get out in Manila on Espaņa Avenue. From there you can walk about 1 km east to Lacson Avenue and then the 300 meters south to Fajardo where you'll find the Ohayami bus terminal.

North Luzon
Many buses and jeepneys offer service between Baguio and Banaue, either via Sagada or Solano/Bagabag. Many others travel between Dagupan (Pangasinan province) and Bagabag junction.

NOTE: If you're new to bus travel in this country, we advise you to always carry a jacket or sweater. Filipino bus drivers really love to keep the aircon on its coldest setting!

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