Shoestring Travelers

Cordillera Region


Banaue rice terraces, Ifugao

To most foreigners a typical Philippine landscape includes sun, sand and sea. This is true for the most part and then there are places such as the Cordillera region of northern Luzon with its cool climate, mountainous terrain and landlocked geography. (It is the only landlocked region in the country.) Nestled among the Cordillera mountains, the region has its share of spectacular sceneries.

rice terraces in Batad, Banaue, Ifugao
The Batad Rice Terraces in Ifugao: a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The most famous are the rice terraces centered around the town of Banaue in Ifugao. Although there are many other rice terraces in the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, Benguet and Mountain Province only five have been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are all in Ifugao namely the rice terraces of Batad, Bangaan, Hungduan, Mayoyao and Nagacadan. Curiously, the rice terraces in Banaue town proper are not part of the list of five. What makes these 2,000 year old terraces all the more remarkable is that they are still very much in use today.

a residential area in Baguio City with Marcos Highway in the background
Baguio City has urbanized rapidly in recent years.

Economically, the most important municipalities in the region are Baguio City and La Trinidad in Benguet. Both are located fairly close to each other. We worked and lived in the City of Pines from 1998 to 2004 while getting to enjoy its cool climate and green scenery. Decades ago Baguio was a charming, slower-paced highland city of pine trees known as the country's summer capital. It has become highly urbanized in recent years, most especially after the devastating 1990 earthquake that caused major damage to the city. Baguio has recovered from this disaster quite remarkably, even cementing its hold as the region's business, commercial and educational center. La Trinidad is home to the regional branches of government institutions and is also famous for its vegetable and strawberry farms.

horn players in colorful costumes at a Panagbenga Festival parade
Baguio explodes in a blaze of colors during the Panagbenga Festival in February.

Mount Pulag, the highest peak in Luzon and the third highest in the country is located in the Cordilleras and can be accessed using trails from Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya. It has attracted a big number of mountain climbers. Further up north, Kalinga also offers world-class white water rafting along the Chico River.

limestone or karst formation on one of the hillsides in Sagada
One of the numerous limestone or karst formations dotting the hillsides of Sagada.

Picturesque and charming Sagada in Mountain Province has been drawing in a lot of visitors in recent years. Many local artists have also settled in this town. Sagada has often been compared to 1960's-era Baguio when the city was not yet as urbanized and congested as it is today. Tourist attractions include the "hanging coffins," Sagada's many caves, Echo Valley, waterfalls and rice terraces. Visitors can go trekking, spelunking, nature hiking, visiting historical sites and joining tribal celebrations.

Bay-yo rice terraces near Bontoc on the road to Sagada
The Bay-yo rice terraces near Bontoc as viewed from the highway to Sagada.

Travel to the Cordillera region is not so easy since the road network in the region is not so well-developed for obvious reasons. Landslides have been a perennial concern for all three roads going to Baguio from the lowlands especially during the rainy season. The Halsema Highway (some say Halsema Trail) from Baguio to Bontoc has even made it to a few lists of the most dangerous roads in the world but goes through perhaps the most spectacular scenery of any major highway in the country. (The Baguio to Sagada section has also been completely paved recently.) Which is what makes the Cordillera region special to us. The scent of pine trees, the cool mountain air and the towering peaks shrouded in mist will always make this region a place to keep coming back to.


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More Philippine destinations:

Bais Dolphin-Watching
Baler, Part 1
Baler, Part 2
Balite Falls, Amadeo
Baras: Palo Alto Falls
Biliran
    Biliran's Waterfalls
    Higatangan & Dalutan Islands
Boracay, Aklan
Candaba Bird Sanctuary
Caramoan Part 1
Caramoan Part 2
Cordillera Region
    Baguio City
    Banaue
    Batad Rice Terraces
    Sagada
Coron, Palawan
    Banol Beach
    Bulog Dos & Banana Islands
    Kayangan Lake & Twin Lagoon
    Malcapuya Island
Davao City
Dumaguete City
El Nido, Inland Beaches
El Nido, Tour A
El Nido, Tour C
Gigantes Islands
Guimaras Part 1
Guimaras Part 2
Gumasa Beach
Ilocos Region
    Pagudpud
    Vigan
    Paoay & Currimao
Laguna
    Dampalit Falls, Los Baños
    Kalayaan Twin Falls
    Liliw
    Majayjay
    Nagcarlan
    Nagcarlan & Majayjay: Waterfalls
    San Pablo's Seven Lakes
Lake Sebu
Lake Sebu's Waterfalls
Leyte
    Cuatro Islas
    Kalanggaman Island
    Ormoc & Lake Danao
    Tacloban City
Mayon Volcano
Negros Oriental Waterfalls
Oslob, Cebu
Pangasinan
    Patar Beach, Bolinao
    Cabongaoan Beach
    Dasol 1
    Dasol 2
    Hundred Islands
    Tondol Beach
Quezon
    Cagbalete Island
    Mauban's Waterfalls
    Padre Burgos
    Pagbilao
    Real
Siquijor
    Maria's Beaches
    Lazi & Cambugahay Falls
    San Juan & Siquijor Town's Beaches
    Larena & Sandugan Beach
Sorsogon
    Bulusan Lake
    Juag Lagoon
    Subic Beach
    Tikling Island
Taal Town, Batangas
Talicud Island
Tanay: Daranak & Batlag Falls
Zambales
    Anawangin Cove
    Capones Island
    Magalawa Island
    Nagsasa Cove
    Potipot Island