BONTOC: Travel Guide, Tourist Spots + Trip Schedules & Accommodation

You probably have encountered Bontoc in the many times you have scanned the internet about Sagada or Buscalan. But did it occur to you to bother knowing more about this quaint little town in the Mountain Province? Most people consider this town a side trip or a stopover spot. But, you might be surprised to learn that Bontoc has things up its sleeves other than being a stopover or a jump-off point to your main destinations. In this article, let me tell you a few things about Bontoc, what you might see within or around this town and where it can possibly take you.

WHAT I HAVE OBSERVED IN BONTOC

• I spent five (5) hours roaming around Bontoc while waiting for my trip to Buscalan. I enjoyed the scenery, the food, and some things I observed during my brief stay.
• Bontoc is probably one of the busiest towns in the Cordilleras. It is where people from nearby towns and villages go to replenish their supplies, sell their goods, seek medical help and take care of business matters such as bank transactions and cash remittances.
• The town has hundreds of tricycles as the main mode of transportation. It’s useful for traveling from one spot to another or for exploring nearby tourist spots. Since its roads are bustling with small vehicles, designated lanes and overpasses are provided for pedestrians.
• Commercial and rural banks are available in Bontoc. BDO, Landbank, and PNB have ATMs that allow cash withdrawals from both local and international bank accounts.
• Restaurants and local eateries abound in Bontoc. They serve both the usual Filipino dishes and traditional foods. Some restaurants are also a fusion of Filipino and foreign cuisines. One good restaurant I got to try was Cable Cafe.
• Commercial establishments in the town range from dry good stores, grocery stores, pharmacy, school supplies stores, hardware, etc. They also have an alley full of thrift shops selling pre-loved clothes (ukay-ukay) and other household merchandise.
• A handful of shops in Bontoc sell bags, pouches and coin purses made from the traditional handwoven clothes of the Igorots.
• Some of the big schools and colleges in the Cordilleras are in Bontoc. Students in uniforms are seen walking the streets or flocking a street food stall.
• Bontoc is pretty much the gateway to other secluded destinations and villages in the Cordilleras such as Sadanga and Lagawe. If you like to go on a spontaneous adventure into the unknown, then you can simply hop on one of the monster jeepneys in the numerous terminals around town. Let it surprise you with a journey into the most offbeat roads of this mountainous region.

TOURIST SPOTS IN BONTOC

Imagine yourself coming from a long journey in the mountains where you have endured days of hardship and you will finally emerge from the woods. But before that, you stood on a mountain peak where you saw a village from afar. This is what Bontoc looked like to me when we were approaching the town from Buscalan. It’s intriguing and will make you excited to know what you can find there. So here are some spots you might want to consider on your next trip to the Cordilleras.

Around Town

• Bontoc Museum – A museum founded by a Belgian nun to preserve the heritage of the people in the Cordillera mountains. It houses a collection of traditional costumes, hunting and farming tools, and numerous photos of the Ifugaos.
• Central Bontoc Viewpoint – Here you will witness local houses built along the Chico River and vast rice fields surrounded by formidable mountains.
• Kadchog Rice Terraces – This is one of the nearest rice terraces in downtown Bontoc. You can take a tric in going here or walk your way around. It is easy to spot and locals can give your directions as to its location.

Riverside Spots

• Mt. Kalawitan – One of the 10 highest mountains in The Philippines, a hike to its summit is definitely rewarding. It has challenging trails, enchanting mossy forest, blood-sucking leeches and a heavenly sea of clouds.
• Bayyo Rice Terraces – If you are going to Bontoc from Banaue, Bayyo Rice Terraces is one of the most spectacular sights you’ll ever see. This spot is hard to miss and the scenery will surely get you giddy.
• Humuyo Falls – This is considered as the highest waterfall in Bontoc. It can be reached after a moderately difficult hike along the riverbanks, overcoming huge rocks, crossing streams and walking along unpaved roads that are sometimes obscured by thick bushes.

Upland Areas

• Maligcong – Home to one of the most reserved villages and magnificent rice terraces in the Cordilleras after Batad, Maligcong is an underrated destination not many people know about.
• Dalican – A not so distant barangay in downtown Bontoc, it is known for being one of the best spots to witness a glorious sunrise over an endless horizon of white fluffy clouds.
• Dalican Lake – There is no denying that lakes are one of the most enchanting bodies of water. The more they are unexplored, the more beguiling their beauty becomes. Such is the case of Lakes Holon and Balinsasayao. There is no doubt Dalican Lake is the same.
• Mainit Hot Spring – If you need a place to beat the freezing temperature of the Cordilleras, this is the best place to be.

HOW TO GO THERE

From Manila – In Cubao, ride a Coda Lines bus going to Bontoc (10Hrs ; P700). They have trips daily at 8PM. Alternatively, you can ride a Dangwa/Ohayami bus and alight in Banaue (8Hrs ; P550). From there, ride another bus or a jeep or a passenger van going to Bontoc (1.5Hrs : P150).

From Baguio – GL Trans and Lizardo Lines have daily trips to Bontoc starting at 3AM. Travel time is 7 hours and fare is P250 to P300.

From Tabuk – Jeeps and buses have daily trips to Bontoc from Tabuk. They are available as early as 6AM until 4PM.

Book Your Trip

TRIP SCHEDULES FROM BONTOC TO NEARBY TOWNS, VILLAGES, ETC

WHERE TO STAY

There you go, folks! I hope you found this guide helpful. Let me know what you think in the comments. Please also share this with your friends and travel buddies. Until next time! Ciao!