The Cordillera Travel Guide
Situated in the north of Luzon, the Cordillera is an area of mountains covering almost 7,500 square miles with some of the tallest peaks reaching over 9,500 feet.
The native people of the region are collectively called the Igorot and are known for their colorful culture and history. Some of the indigenous natives were fierce head-hunter warriors up to just 30 years ago. There are many villages in the Cordillera still today that retain much of their heritage and culture.
The landscape of the Cordillera is breathtakingly beautiful with rolling hills, tall mountains covered with pine trees and flat grasslands in the valleys. Several rivers pass through the region providing opportunities for kayaking, swimming and fishing. Farming is a major part of the area, with rice being the main product.
One of the main attractions in the Cordillera is the famous rice terraces that have been constructed in the mountains. The most well-known are located in Banaue and have been listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site. You will see the rice terraces in various other provinces and municipalities including Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao and the Mountain Province.
Getting There & Away
Getting to the Cordillera region is relatively easy, with numerous airports located throughout the provinces including Vigan, Baguio and Tuguegarao. Flights generally come from Manila and take between 40 minutes and 1 hour. There are several bus companies that offer service from Manila to most provinces, although the mountain roads can be nerve racking and slow going, with journey times taking up to 14 hours to some destinations. There are also smaller buses and jeepneys that connect many of the villages and towns within the Cordillera.