“Paradise found, forgotten and reborn” is the story of Maligcong, an upper barangay of Bontoc in Mountain Province, eight kilometers away from the town proper. It used to be the show window of the town but it went into a lull until social media triggered its recent reborn.

Maligcong is the Kankana-ey term that means “surrounded by rice paddies”, as the village sits in the middle of rice terraces, hailed as among the most beautiful in the entire Cordillera Region. The rice terraces are best viewed from the two vantage points – Mount Fato and Mount Kufafey.

How to Get to Maligcong

Make your way to Bontoc, the capital of Mountain Province. Coda Lines Corporation has daily trips from Cubao HM Terminal to Sagada via Banaue and Bontoc. Two buses leave daily at 8PM and 9PM (As of September 2023), arriving Bontoc after eleven hours of travel of the next day, regular fare is around P1,000. For more inquiries, contact +63927-5592197 or +63995-9620430, or visit their Facebook page. You may also book your seat from Manila to Bontoc or vice versa below:

BOOK YOUR BUS FROM MANILA TO BONTOC

If you are coming from Baguio, GL Liner and Lizardo Transit have multiple departures daily for a travel tieme of at least five (5) hours. From Banaue, there are local buses, jeepneys or vans going to Bontoc which is around two (2) hours away.

From Bontoc town proper, Maligcong is just a thirty-minute jeepney ride or 1.5-hour trek. Jeepneys depart at 8AM, 12NN, 2PM, 4PM and 5PM daily. Planting season usually starts in April so the rice paddies are beautifully green from May to July before the harvest season in August.

Maligcong Itinerary

While there are numerous tour groups organizing a Maligcong Package, a do-it-yourself trip to the village is possible. Here’s my weekend DIY itinerary to help you plan your Maligcong experience.

Day 0:
2100H – Departure from Quezon City (Coda Lines, advance reservation is advised)

Day 1:
0630H: Stopover in Banaue
0830H – Arrival in Bontoc / Breakfast
0900H – Trek to Maligcong (Option to take a jeepney ride, see schedule below)
1030H – Arrival in Maligcong / Check-in at Suzette’s Homestay
1130H – Trek to Mount Fato
1300H – Summit of Mount Fato
1430H – Back in homestay / Late Lunch / Tour Rice Terraces
1700H – Back in homestay / Dinner / Lights off

Day 2:
0300H – Call time / Light snacks
0330H – Start trek
0500H – Summit of Mount Kupapey
0730H – Trek down
0800H – Back at homestay / Breakfast
0900H – Tour Rice Terraces / Main Village
1100H – Back at homestay / Fix-up / Check-out / Proceed to Bontoc (Jeep or Trek)
1200H – Arrival in Bontoc / Lunch at Caja Pizza and Cupcakes
1330H – Proceed to Baguio bus Terminal
1400H – Bus departure from Bontoc to Baguio
1930H – Arrival in Baguio / Drop by at public market / Dinner
2100H – Proceed to Genesis Bus Terminal
2130H – Bus departure from Baguio to Manila (via TPLEX/SCTEX/NLEX)

Day 3:
0130H: Arrival in Manila

Logistics / Expenses

Cubao to Bontoc (Coda Lines) – P1,000
Bontoc to Maligcong (Jeep) – P40
Dormitory Accommodation (Suzette’s Homestay) – P500
Guide to Mt. Kupapey (P700 / 5 persons) – P140
Maligcong to Bontoc (Jeep) – P40
Food Budget – P1,000
Bontoc to Baguio – P275
Baguio to Manila – P650
Miscellaneous – P500
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Approximate Budget: P4,145

Tips

• Bontoc to Maligcong jeepney schedule: 8AM, 12NN, 2PM, 4PM and 5PM
• Maligcong to Bontoc jeepney schedule: 6AM, 8AM, 9AM, 2PM and 4PM
• Suzette’s Maligcong Homestay rate is P500 per night for a dormitory room, contact +639155463557 (advance reservation is advised)
• Guide to Mount Fato is advised but not required, rate is P500 for 1 to 5 persons
• Guide to Mount Kupapey is required, rate is P700 for 1 to 5 persons
• Guides are readily available at the homestay
• Homestays usually serve food too
• No ATM in the village; no establishment accepts credit card or traveler’s cheque
• Globe, Touch Mobile, Smart, Talk & Text and Sun 3G signals are present
• Best months to go: May to August when the rice terraces are green to yellow