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Five Recommended Places to Visit in the Philippine Cordillera

Posted by Paul Xymon Garcia

There is no denying it. The Philippine Cordilleras located in the northern part of the Philippines is one of
my favorite travel destinations in my country. With the prospect of there being a Grand Cordillera Trail
established, I’m getting more excited about having a tea house trekking route in the region. The
Philippine Cordilleras occupy about a sixth of the landmass of the entirety of Luzon Island, the largest of
the 7,000 plus islands of the Philippines. There are so many places and people to see along the winding
mountain roads of the Philippine Cordilleras. Here are five which I think are the most recommendable
places to visit in the Philippines Cordilleras.

1. Baguio City

Baguio City perched on top of mountains and among the clouds

Baguio City, the de facto capital of the Philippine Cordilleras, is a city I

have grown to love. Though much of it is being rapidly developed, it is
still quite a travel experience being in a city perched on top of
mountains and among the clouds with an elevation of 1,600 meters
above sea level. It certainly helps that the city’s climate is cooler than
any other city in the country and that it is home to a number of
fantastic restaurants, one of which is the vegetarian restaurant cum art gallery Oh My Gulay. If only for
Oh My Gulay, Baguio is worth a visit.

2. The Halsema Highway

Crop terraces viewed from the highest highway in the Philippines, the Halsema Highway

The highest mountain range in the Philippines happens to have one of the
most scenic drives in the country. The Halsema Highway begins in La
Trinidad, Benguet right outside Baguio City and winds through the
gorgeous mountain scenery of the Philippine Cordilleras featuring rice
terraces, verdant valleys, deep gorges and dizzying cliffs. The highway even
climbs up to 2,200 meters above sea level in a section of the road near Atok in Benguet. Views from up
here are stunning. The road passes through the capital of Mountain Province Bontoc before winding
down to Tabuk in Kalinga. Many hours later, you suddenly find 800 new photos in your camera.
3. Mount Pulag

Mount Pulag rewards trekkers with the most spectacular view of its sea of clouds.

Being the highest peak in the Philippine Cordilleras and on Luzon island and the
second highest peak (or third, depending on which survey you follow) in the
Philippines, Mount Pulag attracts trekkers far and wide. The peak features
seemingly barren terrain full of dwarf bamboo and no tall trees or shrubs. Hence,
its name: pulag or pulog, which in the local language means kalbo or barren.
Mount Pulag’s peak is a trekking peak, so no specialized equipment or skill necessary to reach the
highest point at 2,900 meters above sea level. I have climbed to the peak of Mount Pulag a rainy first
time and a relatively pleasant second time. If you are lucky enough, you get to see what Mount Pulag is
famous for—the sea of clouds. It is undeniably breathtaking.

4. Sagada

The small town of Sagada in the Philippine Cordilleras has often been described
as Baguio many years ago. I cannot say that for certain as I never saw what they
were many years ago. What I can say is that the distinctive customs of the locals
of Sagada here such as hanging the coffins of their dead on the side of the cliff
are worth coming here. It helps that Sagada is also an outdoorsman’s paradise.
Here, there’s trekking, swimming by the waterfalls, rafting, spelunking and a
ton of

other stuff to do.

5. Banaue (pronounced bah-nah-weh)

Banaue’s signature landscape: a rice stairway to heaven

No other image best represents the Philippine Cordilleras other than the rice
terraces which generations of local Ifugao people have constructed here in a
bid to temper the land that they have been given. The grand green terraces are
indeed a sight to behold that UNESCO noticed and named it a World Heritage
Site. Banaue is just the jump-off point. There are many rice terraces here such
as Batad and Mayaoyao to last you your whole trip.

There is a reason for which I am writing about the Philippine Cordilleras at this point. By the time this
post is published, I will actually be in the Philippine Cordilleras. The first three in the list, I have done.
The final two should be easy. I hope.

WHAT TO SEE IN THE CITY OF PINES

Burnham Park

Burnham Park is located within the heart of the city. It’s probably the city’s prime tourists spot. Here we
enjoyed rowing our boat in Burnham lake, played chess with the locals,
interacted with the people enjoying their early morning exercises, went
biking and had our first taste of strawberry taho.

Tam-awan Village

Tam-awan Village was built to restore the Ifugao and Kalinga villages in
Baguio City to give those people who haven’t been to the Cordilleras the
experience of living immersed through the cultures of these natives. It has
become an artists village as it is host to several art exhibits for artists from all
over the city and beyond. It has an art gallery which houses paintings and
other art pieces.

Chinese Bell Church

Bell church is a beautiful place of worship. The structures of the buildings are of classic Chinese
architecture. There is an intricately landscaped garden going up the hill. If
you want solitude and a place where there are less crowd of people
around, then you would love to pay the Bell Church a visit.

Dominican Hill

Found in Dominican Hill are the Diplomat Hotel Ruins which is an old abandoned building used to be a
first class hotel in the city and the World’s Largest 10 Commandments plus a
panoramic view of the entire Baguio City.
Strawberry Farm

Located in La Trinidad, a nearby town in the outskirts of Baguio City are the
vast strawberry farms. Here you can choose the type of strawberries you
want from small to big ones or from half ripened to the fully ripened ones
as you are picking them yourselves. Be careful though not to be too excited
to pick every strawberry you see as the cost is triple times higher than the
price of strawberries sold in the market, but getting to pick your own
strawberries which you can bring home to families and friends with the touch of love is priceless.

Mountain Province

The province is situated at the heart of the Cordillera Mountain, the Philippines highest and largest
range of mountain. It is bounded by Abra and Ilocos Sur in the west; Isabela in the east, Ifugao and
Benguet in the south and Kalinga in the north. The province total land area is 209,733 where seventy-
seven percent is forest lands and the rest is categorized as disposable lands.

Barlig

This is a village which is popular for its basket weaving. Other weaving houses
found in Mt. Province are the Samoki Weaving House, Sabanagan Loom Weaving
and Sagada Weaving House.

Mini Museum in Kalinga

This museum was established by Kalinga Special Development Authority and is

located at Bulano Tabuk.
Buaya Caves

This cave is just similar to that of Sagada caves where you find ample of
stalagmite and stalactites formation. The caves here are linked together and
practically cover the whole mountain slope.

Kabayan mummy burial caves

The Kabayan mummy burial caves are officiall proclaimed Philippine National
Cultural Treasures pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 374 which has to be
preserved protect and maintain for future generation as a manifestation of the
skills and ingenuity associated with religious belief of the Ibaloi culture and
tradition.

Abra River

This is the famous Abra River which passes through its six municipalities. It is
by far the longest river in the province. It is ideal for swimming and fishing.

Apayao River

Untouched and pure water that pass through six Apayao municipalities. You
can ride a motorboat and you will see fishes in the water and some wildlife.
You can also see beautiful waterfalls in different sizes along the Apayao River.

Guihob Natural Swimming Pool

If you want to experience a refreshing and cool swim then this is the
perfect place for you. It might be quite far but it sure will be worth
it. It is four kilometer from Banaue, Poblacion.