Ifugao rice terraces: how water connects a mountain landscape

On the slopes of the Philippine Cordillera, rice fields rise in steps following the relief. Terraces are beautiful in photographs, but their main meaning is revealed when you notice the water, the canals and the daily work of the people who continue to cultivate them.

More than a viewing platform

The Ifugao Rice Terraces are a living cultural landscape. The UNESCO list includes five distinct terrace groups, including Batad and Bangaan. Their stone or earthen walls hold fields on steep slopes, and their shape follows the lines of the mountains.

How does water come here?

A complex irrigation system collects water from the forested headwaters and directs it to the fields. The forest, canals and terraces are interconnected: the work of one part affects the rest. The landscape changes during the growing season, so the appearance of green fields is not guaranteed on any given date.

How to watch with respect

Choose marked paths and viewing platforms, do not enter fields and walls without permission. Villages here remain places of life and work, so photographing people should only be done with their consent. On mountain roads and trails, leave plenty of time and check the local weather.