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Voykit pocket guide · Philippines
Bontoc
Give Bontoc 1 night as a Cordillera stop between Baguio, Banaue and Sagada; half a day covers the museum, cathedrals and market on foot.
Bontoc is a small, walkable town in Mountain Province and a road junction for Banaue, Sagada and Baguio. The town itself takes half a day; the rice terraces at Maligcong and the hot springs need a longer stay or a hired ride.
- Country
- Philippines
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Oct (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PHP
- Money
- Philippine pesos (₱) in small notes for jeepneys, market stalls, tips and taxis; malls and hotels take cards.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₱500–₱800 excl. bed · Mid ₱800–₱1,200 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Globe and Smart sell SIMs at airports; SIM registration with passport is required by law.
- Emergency
- Police 117 · Fire & ambulance 117 · National emergency 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C · 220 V · 60 Hz · US flat pins common; check your devices for 220 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% if no service charge.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Boat crew: ₱100–200 per tour.; Massage: ₱50–100.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations cheap.
- Toilets
- Called 'CR' (comfort room); bring tissue; many lack toilet seats.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ₱40–₱70 |
| Pancake (Arik) | ₱15 |
| Bontoc Museum entry | ₱60 |
| Jeepney ride | ₱45–₱150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BAG · Loakan Airport, Baguio
- Nearest airport with scheduled service; check current flights — most travellers reach Bontoc by bus from Baguio instead
- MNL · Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila
- Cabletours overnight bus from Cubao to Bontoc, about ₱600, departs 8:30 PM (check)Cabletours overnight bus from Cubao to Bontoc, about ₱600, departs 8:30 AM PM (check)
Typical fares
- Baguio → Bontoc (GL Lizardo)
- about ₱220, departs 3 AM–2:30 PM, 2 h (check)about ₱220, departs 3 AM–2:30 AM PM, 2 h (check)
- Manila → Bontoc (Cabletours)
- about ₱600, departs 8:30 PM, overnight (check)about ₱600, departs 8:30 AM PM, overnight (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The main street and Poblacion are walkable; tricycles charge a local rate for short hops. Jeepneys run hourly to Sagada (about 1 h, ₱45) and buses or vans to Banaue (about 2 h, ₱120–₱150).
See and do
Known for
- Maligcong Rice Terraces
- Mainit Hot Springs
- All Saints Cathedral
- Santa Rita Cathedral
- Bontoc Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Maligcong Rice Terraces | Tricycle or a walk from the town centre to Favarey, then a hike; Mount Kupapey above the terraces for the view | Half a day |
| Mainit Hot Springs | Jeepney north along the Halsema Highway, about 30 min | About 1 h |
| Bontoc Museum | Walk from the centre, about 5 min, Bontoc Capitol Road | 15 min |
| Sagada | Jeepney from Bontoc, hourly until 5:30 PMJeepney from Bontoc, hourly until 5:30 AM PM | About 1 h |
| Banaue | D'Rising Sun bus, jeepney or minivan | About 2 h |
| Cervantes (East Coast) | Bus from the market, departs 9:30 AM, ₱100, then a van to Tagudin over the Bessang Pass, ₱150Bus from the market, departs 9:30 AM AM, ₱100, then a van to Tagudin over the Bessang Pass, ₱150 | About 4 h |
Sleep
- Poblacion (town centre)
- Market, museum, cathedrals and most buses within walking distance; Churya-a single ₱250, double ₱500, Mountain Hotel ₱120/₱240.
- Samoki (across the Chico River)
- Quieter side of town on the Nueva Vizcaya–Ifugao–Mountain Province Road; Archog ₱800, Ridgebrooke ₱900–₱1,200.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pasensya napah-sen-sya na |
| Thank you | Salamatsa-la-mat |
| How much is it? | Magkano ito?mag-ka-no i-to |
| Where is the toilet? | Nasaan ang banyo?na-san ang ba-nyo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Smile, handshake; 'po' to elders; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Beckoning: Palm down, wave; avoid: Palm up (used for animals)
- Invitations: Accept food offered or decline politely; avoid: Refusing bluntly
- Time: Expect 'Filipino time' socially; avoid: Lateness for flights and boats
- Churches: Covered clothes; avoid: Loud tours during Mass
Scams and watch-outs
- Last Baguio-bound bus leaves in the afternoon (GL Lizardo departures listed 3–4 AM, 8 AM, 10 AM and 2:30 PM); plan the day around it.
- Roads can be slippery in the rainy season; check conditions before travel.
- Some karinderias serve dog meat; ask what is on the menu if that matters to you.
Bontoc is generally safe; keep valuables secure on buses and during night walks.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bontoc yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Maligcong Rice Terraces
- Mainit Hot Springs
- All Saints Cathedral
- Santa Rita Cathedral
- Bontoc Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Bontoc, revision 5280075 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5280075
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bontoc). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.