“Some places slip into your story quietly—not with grand gestures, but with rice terraces over breakfast and fog-touched hellos. Banaue, for me, became less of a destination and more of a gentle reminder that even short stops can shape long memories.”

🌌 A View Worth the Ache

It was just a breakfast stop—but one worth remembering. We left Manila on a Friday night, heading for Sagada via the Manila–Banaue–Bontoc route. Traffic was brutal. Inside the packed van, my neck stiffened and my legs begged for mercy. But in between restroom breaks, the joy of a hot meal and a quick stretch made everything bearable.

By 5 AM, the bumpy roads stirred me awake, and despite the discomfort, the countryside outside the window was calm—gentle and green in the early light. At 7:30 AM, we arrived in Banaue and settled into a Php135.00 breakfast of red rice, egg, hotdog, and a cup of coffee. That morning view—the sweeping Banaue Rice Terraces paired with laughter and quiet conversations—reminded me why this place always pulls me back.

🧣 Souvenirs and Sagada Bound

After a few souvenirs and lingering glances at the terraces, it was time to move again. Banaue became the gateway once more, this time leading us toward Sagada—a four-hour ride ahead through winding roads and pine-laced mountain air.

The fog that day was thick, stubborn, and strangely poetic. It clung to the road as we made our way to the main viewpoints for a quick look before the clouds swallowed the ridgelines.

Our driver took things slow, navigating through mist and winding thoughts. The road curled like a question, each bend revealing a glimpse of goodbye. Then, just like that, Banaue faded behind us once again.

💚 The Town That Stays

Whether I’ve lingered for days or paused for an hour, Banaue has always been more than a town on a map—it’s been a feeling. A gateway. A pause between adventures. Its quiet charisma settles into memory like soil hugging a terrace: steady, grounding, unforgettable.

☁️ Misty Hellos, Swift Goodbyes

2015 marked my most fleeting visit to Banaue. Another northern journey brought me to Sagada in the Mountain Province, but not before a breakfast pit stop at the iconic “Welcome to Banaue” arch—a landmark forever etched in travel photos and memory.

🔗 More from the Cordillera Chronicles

The Cordillera has a way of staying with me—its quiet mornings, winding trails, and stories etched into stone and soil. If you’d like to explore more of my reflections from this region, here’s where the trail continues:

📍 Backpacking Banaue Part 1

📍 Backpacking Banaue Part 2

“Thanks for walking with me through these mountain memories. May your own journeys be just as grounding.”