The
Banaue terraces, which have drawn awe-struck tourists from all
over the globe, have merited a place in the World Heritage
List and are regarded by many, with good reason, as the Eight Wonder
of the World. A long hard trek through the "Stairway to the
Sky" is best rewarded by a refreshing dip in the spring-fed
stream of Guihob or the magnificent Tappiya Waterfalls, which has
an enormous basin for swimming.
Banaue is a hiker's paradise. You can walk for minutes, hours,
or days, depending upon your desires, but this is not for people
with acrophobia, as much hiking is along terrace edges. It is easiest
to get around and get a feel for the culture if you have a good
guide. Non-walkers can enjoy the scenery by hiring a jeepney to
Viewpoint, Hapao, Banga-an, Batad, and Mayoyao, as the views along
the roads are terrific.
Bontoc, not to be outdone, features such picturesque attractions
as Tucucan, with its hanging bridges of vines and logs, Mainit
Hot Springs, with its medicinal sulphuric waters, and the petroglyphs
of Alab, which have been declared as a national cultural treasure.