HAPAO RICE PADDIES

Located at about 20 kilometers from Banaue, Hungduan is a small village of 1,000 inhabitants renowned for its rice fields. Their visit, accompanied by a local guide, can be easily organized through your Banaue guesthouse. The place is simply sublime. Accompanied by a guide who will provide you with a lot of information, we cross the rice fields by walking on the low stone walls that separate the plots. These rice fields are also about 2,000 years old and are part of the Unesco site. It is a magical experience. They spread out in a staircase on both sides of the river, in the hollow of the mountains. The best time to visit is from January to May. July and August is the rainy season, but if you go in August you can attend the Punnuk festival (no specific day because it marks the end of the rainy season). It takes place in the rice fields and in the rivers, the three villages of the valley including Hapao compete in games and parade in traditional costumes.

It takes about 2 hours to walk in the rice fields with the explanations of your guide on the process of planting and harvesting rice. The rice fields of Hapao unlike those of Banaue are still used by the different owners and therefore maintained, which makes them particularly beautiful. Be careful if you are afraid of heights, there are some paths that are not as high and narrow as others, but tell your guide in advance because it might not be very pleasant for you.