The trip from Manila to Banawe is best made by an air conditioned tour bus. The Dangwa bus company has a bus which leaves at 7:00 am from Cubao, Quezon City, which was 30 miles from our hotel. We asked the desk clerk at the Malate Pensionne to give us a wake-up call at 5:00 AM and have a cab waiting for us downstairs at 5:30. At 5:42, the desk clerk knocked on our door to let us know the cab was here and waiting. Some quick packing got us in the cab by 6:10 and at the bus station by 6:30. Fortunately, the bus was not crowded and we were able to get seats without a problem.
The hotel arranged for the taxi. It cost P150, however, we could have gotten the fair for P100 by flagging a taxi down on the street. I observed the taxi driver slip the hotel doorman the extra P50 as a kickback. As soon as I got in, the driver tried to tell me the ride would cost P200. I politely told him P150 was all we were paying and he responded politely by scratching his nose with one finger; his middle one! (Funny that Americans would interpret this as a nasty sign - to Filipinos, this is as innocent as scratching your head! -Lani)
The bus ride to Banawe cost P160 per person. It was a large touring style bus which seemed nice for the area yet low on comforts compared to the Greyhound buses we see in the United States. It had a functional air conditioner which maintained brisk cabin temperatures in the morning but failed to prevent sweltering temperatures in the afternoon. The plastic side windows of the bus were cracked in several places and mended with tape. The seats were sized for much shorter riders than myself so I was cramped to the point of being miserable. A conductor came by checking tickets once the bus was under way but did little else on the trip after that.
The road to Banaue is a paved two-lane highway which winds its
way up into the Mountain Province. Expect delays for slow moving
traffic and numerous other obstructions. This trip is well worth
the effort, but be ready to spend 10 or 12 hours on the bus.
We took two bathroom breaks every two hours of 10 minutes each
and a thirty minute lunch break at a place in which I didn't want to eat.
Bringing your own food and water along would be a good idea.
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