Choosing correctly where to stay in Banaue will make it much easier to comfortably discover the area without needing to be walking uphill and downhill. Why? Well, as you’ll see on the map and in everything we’re going to tell you, your experience can change a lot from one hotel to another.
Banaue basically consists of a long main street with a steep gradient. This means that if you choose a hotel in a far‑off area, you’ll probably have to go up and down slopes every time you need to move to eat, visit somewhere or go out to buy something. In this guide to where to stay in Banaue we’re going to show you the best hotels and hostels and give you a few tips so that your experience here is perfect.
Areas to stay in Banaue and map
We don’t want to start talking to you about the best places to stay in Banaue without first giving you a bit of context.
Given Batad’s terrain, which doesn’t allow for massive hotel construction, once the millennia‑old rice terraces started attracting thousands of tourists, Banaue was the one that welcomed them. This small town made up of “four streets, give or take” was forced to branch out and grow in the only direction the valley allowed: its access roads. That’s why most hotels and guesthouses in the area are now on this steep road that connects to Bontoc and Manila.
Banaue’s attractions are mainly in its surroundings. So you don’t need to look for a hotel close to any particular sight. To sum up, the things it helps to have nearby are restaurants (if your hotel doesn’t have its own) and the Banaue Tourism Office. There you can get information, book tours at the official price and, in addition, it’s the place where the main transport arrives and departs. Being close makes things much easier.
As you’ll see below, the supply of places to stay in Banaue with a minimum level of quality isn’t actually very high. Therefore, the most recommendable places tend to fill up quickly and run out of availability. So it’s very important to book as far in advance as possible.
One extra tip. As in Sagada, many accommodations aren’t fully insulated against the cold. It doesn’t hurt to bring some warm clothing in case you have to face a “freezing” night. That said, most hotels usually let you request extra blankets.
On this map you can get an idea of what the area is like and see where the different accommodations we mention are located in relation to the Tourism Office:
One more option for staying in Banaue: Batad
Although staying in Banaue is very convenient because this is where the buses arrive and where there are more options for hotels and restaurants, we don’t want to fail to mention that another excellent alternative is to stay in the neighboring village of Batad. This is where, in our opinion, the most beautiful rice terraces are, with a wonderful amphitheater shape that you can admire from your accommodation at sunrise and sunset, which gives your trip an extra touch.
Just bear in mind that the road to Batad isn’t yet 100% paved, and you’ll have to walk about 15 minutes to the accommodations closest to the end of the trail, which can be quite tiring for some people, since the way back has a bit of an incline. In addition, since there are only 1 or 2 jeepneys a day, it’s common to have to hire private tricycles (around 700 pesos per trip).
We recommend taking a look at our article Where to stay in Batad and the Guide to Batad to choose what suits you best.
Best hotels in Banaue
And now, with the introductions to the area and its characteristics done, these are the hotels and hostels we recommend you check out to book:
1. 7th Heaven Lodge Café
This was our accommodation in Banaue on our last visit and, honestly, we couldn’t have left happier. Where do we start? First of all, it’s just 250 meters from the Tourism Office, which earns it a lot of points to begin with. The rooms, although simple, are really good for the low price they have and they all have a private bathroom (though it’s outside the room and they give you a key so only you can use it). If you’re lucky enough to get a room with valley views, you’ll be blown away by the gorgeous panorama in the morning.
The people who run it are lovely and also manage the restaurant on the main floor, where the food is really good and well‑priced. Two extra things we loved: on the day of our check‑out we visited the Batad rice terraces. We were able to use the hotel’s huge lockers to leave our things there and used the shower on the way back so we could take the bus to Manila nice and clean.
This hotel in Banaue is totally worth it and you can check prices and availability here:
Here are the prices for 7th Heaven Lodge
2. Banaue Homestay
Another one of those family‑run accommodations you find around the Philippines where you feel at home thanks to the hosts. Banaue Homestay is also right next to the tourism office. Facing the same direction as 7th Heaven Lodge Café, though a little farther downhill, it also offers very pretty views of the rice fields.
It has basic rooms, both with private and shared bathrooms, and its main asset is the owner, Beatriz. Besides being lovely and helping you as much as possible during your stay in Banaue, she’s a whiz in the kitchen and everyone leaves in love with her dishes. You won’t even need to go out to eat!
You can take a look at availability here:
3. Baleh Boble Guesthouse
Heads‑up on this option because, although a bit pricier than the previous ones, it has a lovely cultural imprint. This place to stay in Banaue has the main drawback of being almost 2 kilometers from the tourism office, the nerve center. But that’s something you can solve by taking a tricycle and, for many travelers, it isn’t even a problem (in fact, many go there looking precisely for that).
This accommodation has two types of stays. The first are small chalet‑style cabins worthy of any alpine destination. But the ones we love are those inspired by the traditional huts of the Ifugao tribes—the “pyramidal” ones, raised a few meters off the ground. This blend of tradition and modernity is a super interesting proposal for those looking for a place to stay in Banaue with greater comforts, run by Claire and Butch, the friendly owners who’ll lend you a hand with anything they can.
They tend to get snapped up and can be hard to book if you don’t do it in time. Try here:
Check out a special place to stay in Banaue
4. Banaue Pink Eco Hostel
Looking for a hostel in Banaue? A cheap and clean place to sleep? This is it! Don’t expect the best hostel in the Philippines, but it’s a good solution for those traveling on a tight budget or solo, and it ticks the box of being very close to the center.
The two main downsides are that the Wi‑Fi usually doesn’t work as you’d hope and that, in the shared rooms, there aren’t sockets to charge your devices. Other than that, being able to stay in Banaue for €5 is an option that appeals to many travelers.
A basic, central and cheap hostel you can check out here:
5. Hiwang Native House Inn & Viewdeck
We also want to include this accommodation—which we’ll warn you is about 3 km from the center—because we know that many of you travel to the Philippines in search of this kind of experience. If in point 3 we talked about Baleh Boble Guesthouse, which mimics the traditional Ifugao huts, this one takes it much further.
Here you won’t find a mix of those huts with a more conventional interior, because the interior is exactly what you’d expect from an Ifugao hut. Plus, you’ll be surrounded by 100% nature and brutal views of rice fields. You only have to take a look at the photo below to be amazed.
The food gets very good reviews and the downside of covering the 3 km to the center is offset by the staff, who help you contact tricycles that cover the route in 10 minutes. They’ll also help you organize excursions and outings without having to go through the tourism office.
If you’re looking for a place to disconnect with a unique touch, click here:
6. Bogah Lodge
Bogah Lodge only gets good reviews—and with good reason! Although what it offers is the typical basic Filipino accommodation, it’s run by hosts who’ll make you feel at home. Joel and his wife will do everything possible to help you with any tours you want to do, transport to get around the area or head to another destination, and they’ll cook you real delicacies.
Don’t expect luxury. A comfortable bed, the typical wall painted in green or “blandiblú” pink, a fan and a private shower with hot water. More than enough and well‑priced.
You’ll be a 10‑minute walk from the tourism office but, unlike most accommodations, the gradient here isn’t steep at all.
Check prices and availability here:
This is just a small part of our guide to this part of the Philippines—don’t miss everything we have to tell you in Things to do in Banaue.
What did you think of these places to stay in Banaue? Which one catches your eye the most? If you have any questions or suggestions, don’t be shy and leave them in the comments below.
