Cordillera Awe inspiring… breathtaking… Administrative Region stairway to the skies Cordillera Administrative Region is the only LAOAG land-locked region, consisting of the six Cordillera Getting There provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, CordilleraCordillera The Cordillera is primarily accessible AdministrativeAdministrative Banaue Mountain Province and Apayao with Baguio by land via numerous bus companies, RegionRegion Luzon City serving as the region’s capital. garage cars and tour operators providing PHILIPPINE SEA transportation requirements from Cubao MANILAMANILA 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 Mindoro for its huge gold deposits, pure stands of Baguio is about six hours, while Ifugao, Banaue, Bontoc and Sagada are reachable Boracay Aklan Samar pine forest and rich soils and water in eight to ten hours through the province Visayas sources that have enabled its people to of Nueva Vizcaya. Palawan Panay Iloilo Cebu Leyte CEBUCEBU sustain agriculture on mountainside rice Weather permitting, domestic airlines terraces. The region is home to numerous mount regular flights to Baguio City or Negros Bohol indigenous tribes and offers one of the Tuguegarao City, cutting the travel time SULU SEA most extensive collectionsof cultural by land. Please check with the airlines for availability and scheduling. attractions found in the entire country. DAVAO Basilan Hotels and Resorts Mindanao Fast Facts Medium size hotels are available in the cities CELEBES SEA 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. To Claveria Major Attractions To Laoag 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 Kabugao 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 To Laoag APAYAO 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 To Tuguegarao SAGADA (MOUNTAIN PROVINCE) Apayao http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apayao & Airport 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 To Apam 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 Tuao this sacred site. Ifugao www.ifugao.gov.ph ABRA 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 To Ilagan 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 Bangued & Airport the treck to the Falls is a real test of fortitude. Bontoc (Provincial Capital), Canduyan Museum, Mountain_Province excellent cottages, golf courses, bowling lanes, Mayoyao Rice Terraces – this spot is 44 A KALINGA 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. River bra 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 To Narvacan terraces and a quaint village. Tabuk Department of Tourism Offices: Mines View Park – provides breathtaking views of of these rice terraces thus upon arrival in the er iv 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 R o 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 hic C 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 Sagada MOUNTAIN 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 Bontoc PROVINCE 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. To Bangar Mt. that is clean, unspoiled and crystal clear. Baguio City +63 (0) 74 442 6708 municipality and is 55 kilometres from the Amuyao This cave should be traversed with an Asin-an Sulfur Springs. Baguio Market – famous for its wide array of locally capital, Lagawe. Mt. Airlines: Mayoyao experienced local guide. sourced goods and products, from colourful woven Data Apayao Province: Kabugao (Provincial Capital), Tappiya Waterfalls – about 30 minutes from Banaue 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 Mankayan IFUGAO www.airjuan.com cut flowers, strawberries and vegetables. Lagawe of Sumaguing Cave, the entrance to River, Agamata National Park & Wildlife enormous natural pool for swimming. A visit Mt. 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 Tabayac 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 Mt.