Banaue to Manila

Banaue is famed for its UNESCO listed rice terraces and gets plenty of foreign and domestic visitors. Despite this popularity, the only way one can get in and out of there is by bus. The distance between Banaue and Manila is estimated to be around 470 kilometres via the Pan-Philippine Hwy/AH26. Expect to spend on the move about 10–12 hours as the road is serpentine in part.

Buses from Banaue to Manila

As per se there is no bus station in Banaue. Most buses bound for Manila are stationed near the tourist information office located right in the town centre.

Ohayami Trans is a popular option and their bus leaves Banaue at 7pm and arrives to Manila early the next morning between 4.30am and 5.30am. On peak days, they have an additional bus scheduled for 6.30pm. Bus fare as of this writing is PHP700. You can catch the same bus for Manila at Lagawe, too: it departs at 7.45 pm. The bus ticket cost PHP650.

Similarly, Coda Lines tourist buses ply the Banaue to Manila route regularly. They offer one of the most convenient and comfortable options as their buses do not have aisle seats to accommodate more passengers. They have air-conditioned and more expensive deluxe buses that cost between PHP650 to PHP750 and operate 4 departures a day.

In addition to the two bus companies listed above, there are other bus companies that you can ride on your way to Manila from Banaue, including GV Florida Transport and An Autobus. GV Florida Transport or Dangwa Transport Co. have deluxe buses that leave for Manila at 6pm and 8pm. Their terminal is situated right across Hall of Justice in Banaue. The bus fare should be around PHP650. There's also An Autobus that sets off for Manila at 5.30pm. Schedules and prices should be confirmed at the tourist information centre in Banaue.

Though there is a choice of daily bus departures from Banaue, we highly recommend booking your ticket in advance.

Bus types, onboard service and road conditions between Banaue and Manila

Both Ohayami Trans and Coda Lines have quite an impressive safety record and judging on our own experience their drivers are usually very careful. There are usually two drivers per bus.

Deluxe buses are equipped with toilets onboard, otherwise, buses usually make 2 to 3 stops to allow passengers to use the toilet or grab a meal. Most buses have TV and video facilities as well as WiFi. The connection can be a hit or miss though so we recommend getting things you need to do online done while you have phone signal before you board the bus.