Cordillera Awe inspiring… breathtaking… Administrative Region stairway to the skies Cordillera Administrative Region is the only land-locked region, consisting of the six Cordillera Getting There provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, The Cordillera is primarily accessible Mountain Province and Apayao with Baguio by land via numerous bus companies, City serving as the region’s capital. garage cars and tour operators providing transportation requirements from Cubao The Cordillera region is very rich in and other terminals in Metro Manila. natural resources. It is especially famed The average journey time from Manila to for its huge gold deposits, pure stands of Baguio is about six hours, while Ifugao, Banaue, Bontoc and Sagada are reachable pine forest and rich soils and water in eight to ten hours through the province sources that have enabled its people to of Nueva Vizcaya. sustain agriculture on mountainside rice Weather permitting, domestic airlines terraces. The region is home to numerous mount regular flights to Baguio City or indigenous tribes and offers one of the Tuguegarao City, cutting the travel time most extensive collectionsof cultural by land. Please check with the airlines for availability and scheduling. attractions found in the entire country. Hotels and Resorts Fast Facts Medium size hotels are available in the cities Time Zone: GMT + 8 of Baguio, Bontoc and Banaue. In more remote areas, hostels, lodges and pension houses Visa: Only required if staying more than 30 days Sports Activities and Exploration provide basic yet clean accommodation options. Climate: The best time to see the marvellous Homestays can also be arranged. The Cordillera Autonomous Region offers landscape of the region in its entirety, particularly breath-taking scenery and a chance for some if you want to see the green terraces is February rugged mountain exploration and challenges. - June; rainy season July - January Shops, Markets and Crafts In Baguio, local bikers will be happy to guide Average Temperature Year-round: 14°C – 28°C The Cordillera is a bargain hunter’s paradise you along routes ranging from a quick run up Average Humidity Year-round: 77% where the cost of goods in the flea markets Mount Santo Tomas to a lung-busting full day and souvenir shops depend on your haggling Attire: Light casual clothes all year round down to Ambuklao Dam. Or perhaps climb skills. Souvenir shops can be found near each Mount Pulag, the second highest mountain in Money: Philippine Pesos. Check with the local tourist attraction where a myriad of ethnic the Philippines. Further north, spelunkers will banks for current exchange rates. All major arts, crafts and furniture can be found. credit cards accepted be thrilled to explore the many underground Baguio City is the original trading post of the caves and streams in Sagada, sacred burial Water: Bottled water available in resorts, grounds of the local tribes. Learn more of restaurants and convenience stores mountain region, where tribal communities converge and sell various indigenous arts and Igorot culture by visiting the Village Museum Communications: International and direct dial Philippines Department of Tourism 10 -11 Suffolk Street London, SW1Y 4HG crafts during market and festival days. There in Bontoc. Go wet and wild by embarking on phone and fax. Internet cafes are widely available Tel: 020 7321 0668 Fax: 020 7925 2920 is an abundance of items to buy, from food to a white water rafting expedition down the What to Bring: Warm insulating clothing E-mail: [email protected] furniture, from hand-woven products to works Chico River in Kalinga. Or simply be fascinated and appropriate gear if planning to do any www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk of art, from first-rate to second-hand, but by the dozens of rice terraces you will encounter mountain climbing certainly value-for-money. every step of the way. Major Attractions Useful Websites for the Region: Baguio City www.baguio.gov.ph BAGUIO CITY BANAUE (IFUGAO PROVINCE) www.baguiocityonline.com Baguio City is the capital of the Cordilleras. Banaue is home to a thriving ancient culture www.gobaguio.com But with its cool mountain air and cosmopolitan and host to the most picturesque rice terraces http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baguio_City flair, Baguio City is also known as “the Summer in the Cordilleras. Carved from the base of the Banaue www.banaue.gov.ph www.lakbaypilipinas.com/travel_banaue.html Capital of the Philippines.” mountainsides to the top, they appear to be massive green stairways reaching to the sky. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaue_Rice_ Botanical Gardens – or so-called “the Igorot Terraces Village,” which feature native huts typical of Banaue Rice Terraces – declared as a Sagada www.sagada.gov.ph Cordillera architecture. This village captures the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagada ethnic spirit and cultural legacy of the Igorot dubbed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” dweller. The garden is also a site of cultural the 2,000-year-old terraces manifest the Abra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abra_(province) presentations and other tribal meetings. engineering skill and ingenuity of the sturdy SAGADA (MOUNTAIN PROVINCE) Apayao http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apayao Burnham Park – is the oldest of all Baguio parks. Ifugao people, who with bare hands carved this Kalinga http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalinga stair-like monument out of the Cordillera Hanging coffins, underground streams and caves, Bokong Waterfalls – though it is a smaller One can unwind from the tension of the daily Benguet www.benguet.gov.ph mountainside. beautiful waterfalls and clear mountain lakes are waterfall compared with Bomod-ok, the gush of grind by biking, skating or simply reflecting on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benguet just some of the key words that aptly describe its waters are very strong. The pool of water is the day’s experiences amidst a soothing backdrop Batad Rice Terraces – these terraces are shaped this sacred site. Ifugao www.ifugao.gov.ph cold and refreshing with a depth of 25 feet. of colourful flowers. like an amphitheatre and can be reached by a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ifugao 12 kilometre ride from Banaue Hotel and a Bomod-ok Waterfalls – reached by a 20 minute Camp John Hay – a former American military Other Points of Interest: Mountain Province http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 2 hour hike uphill through mountain trails. jeepney ride or a two-hour walk from Poblacion, base which is now open to the public. Its Bontoc (Provincial Capital), Canduyan Museum, Mountain_Province the treck to the Falls is a real test of fortitude. excellent cottages, golf courses, bowling lanes, Mayoyao Rice Terraces – this spot is 44 While the falls itself is breathtaking, the trek to Crystal Cave, Sagada Weaving Shop, Matangkig dining places and natural ambience are all kilometres away from Poblacion Banaue. it is equally amazing, passing through rice Cave, Latang Underground River, Danom Lake. Useful Contacts: preserved and well maintained. The Poblacion of Mayoyao lies in the midst terraces and a quaint village. Department of Tourism Offices: Mines View Park – provides breathtaking views of of these rice terraces thus upon arrival in the Sumaguing Cave – also known as the “big cave,” MORE PLACES TO VISIT WITHIN London +44 (0) 20 7321 0668 mountain ranges and Baguio’s “mineral bowl” where town, one is awed by a breathtaking view of explorers will be able to observe the bizzare THE REGION [email protected] gold, silver and other ores were once quarried. the rice terraces where all the dikes are tiered limestone formations earning names like “pig www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk with flat stones. Benguet Province: La Trinidad (Provincial Wright Park – a pine tree park reserve offering pens” and “pregnant woman.” There is Cordillera Administrative +63 (0) 74 442 7014 kiddy horse rides and tranquil strolls in and out Hapao Rice Terraces – this is another even a waterfall inside with a deep pool Capital), Ambuklao and Kabinga Dams, the Region Office [email protected] stone-walled rice terraces located in Hungduan Kabayan Mummies, Mount Pulag, Madayamen, of mist-shrouded hillsides. that is clean, unspoiled and crystal clear. Baguio City +63 (0) 74 442 6708 municipality and is 55 kilometres from the This cave should be traversed with an Asin-an Sulfur Springs. Baguio Market – famous for its wide array of locally capital, Lagawe. Airlines: experienced local guide. sourced goods and products, from colourful woven Apayao Province: Kabugao (Provincial Capital), Tappiya Waterfalls – about 30 minutes from Air Juan Aviation, Inc. +63 (0) 2 718 8111 fabrics and strung beads to primitive wood carvings, Lumiang Cave – located just north Apayao River, Malabisin Lake and Underground Batad Village is a cascading waterfall with its www.airjuan.com cut flowers, strawberries and vegetables. of Sumaguing Cave, the entrance to enormous natural pool for swimming. A visit River, Agamata National Park & Wildlife Air Asia +63 (0) 2 722 2742 Baguio Cathedral – this most familiar landmark Lumiang is lined with multiple coffin Sanctuary. www.airasia.com to Batad is incomplete without seeing these in the city with its twin spires and one hundred formations. The uniqueness of the magnificent waterfalls. Bus Companies: steps sits atop a small hill in the heart of the city, coffins here are in the arrangement Kalinga Province: Tabuk (Provincial Capital), Auto Bus +63 (0) 2 735 8096 offering churchgoers and visitors an unparalleled Ducligan Hot Springs – these hot springs are where they are fixed wherever space Chico River and Dam, Sungang Viewpoint, found atthe bank of Ducligan River and is available. Aguinaldo Hill, Tinglayan Rice Terraces, Lubo Victory Liner Pasay City +63 (0) 2 833 0293 view of the entire commercial hub. adjacent to a deep pool. Duncligan is 21 and Mangali Rice Terraces.