The Philippines: Baguio & Cordillera Mountains

Rice terraces in the Cordillera mountains. Image copyright © George Tapan.

The Cordillera in northern Luzon is the highest and largest mountain range in the Philippines. The scenery, culture and environment in the Cordillera mountains are very different from other parts of the country. Whilst most of the Philippines is dominated by sandy beaches, small tropical islands and warm weather, the Cordillera mountains have cool weather, alpine vegetation, and stunning rice terraces inhabited by tribal people called Igorots (literally translated as "people from the mountains").

The Cordillera region is divided into six provinces and seven ethno-linguistic groups:

• Kalinga (home of the Kalinga and the Isneg)
• Apayao (Isneg)
• Abra (Tinggian)
• Mountain Province (Kankanaey)
• Ifugao (Ifugao)
• Benguet (Kankanaey and Ibaloi)

The largest city in the Cordillera mountains is Baguio City – known as the summer capital of the Philippines. Other popular tourist destinations in the region include: Banaue (famous for its ancient rice terraces), Sagada (famous for hanging coffins and burial caves), Bontoc (home to an extensive collection of tribal artifacts in the Museum of Mountain Culture), and Mount Data.

Blue Horizons Travel and Tours operates guided tours from Manila to the mountains of the north. These tours include all of the places listed in the previous paragraph, and can be booked on a private or sit-in-coach basis. Additionally, for those who would prefer to explore on their own, Blue Horizons provides car hire and hotel accommodation.