BANAUE ~ Having more time in your hands, about 8-9 hours away from Baguio is the world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces... a World Heritage Site. The Banaue terraces, sometimes known as the "stairway to the sky", were curved out of mountain ranges centuries ago by the old mountain tribes, the Ifugao's and was their major source of food. Until now, descendants of these same people are still there tilling their rice terraces and living as their ancestors did, some still in the same low native houses on stilts. Measured from end to end, the terraces would stretch some 22,400 kilometers. There are three major areas where these rice terraces are found: Banaue Viewpoint, Banga-an and Batad.
SAGADA ~ Another 4-5 hours away from Banaue could take you to Sagada. This is a very interesting small town in the middle of the same Cordillera mountain range. Sagada is famous for the hanging coffins along it's mountain walls, and the many caves and waterfalls in the area, which are also sometimes used as burial grounds. Many artists have come and stayed here getting much inspiration from the area. From Sagada, it is just another 6 hours away to Baguio.Baguio is a year-round destination, but Banaue and Sagada are only best seen and enjoyed in summer. Unfortunately, the "magical cave" has now been closed after a couple of foreign tourists went in on their own without guides and met a fatal accident.