Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
N
ORTH
L
UZON
RICE TERRACES
Landscape
For many travellers the most desirable location in the Philippines is the emerald rice ter-
races of the Cordillera. Banaue's renowned rice terraces have been dubbed 'the eighth won-
der of the world', and they thoroughly deserve the label. No less spectacular terraces exist
throughout Ifugao, Mountain Province and Kalinga.
MT TAPULAO
Trekking
The main trek in this region is the ascent up mist-shrouded Mt Tapulao (2037m), the
highest mountain in the Zambales range. You can walk or take a sturdy 4WD most of the
way up the mountain along a mining road that terminates about an hour's walk from the
summit.
SUBA SAND DUNES
Sand Dunes
Grab a sandboard and hit the rolling Suba Sand Dunes, which have been made famous by
films such as
Mad Max
and
Born on the Fourth of July.
Alternatively, you can tear it up
with an all-terrain vehicle or, more elegantly, see it from above in a hot-air balloon.
MT PULAG NATIONAL PARK
Trekking
Mt Pulag (2922m), considered sacred ground to the Ibaloi and Kalanguya, is the third-
highest peak in the Philippines and anchors the Cordillera's largest national park. One of
the most interesting two- to-three-day hikes is the Akiki Trail - also known as the 'killer
trail'.
SAGADA
Trekking
Sagada has a wealth of top-notch hikes. The best walk here is Echo Valley, where many of
Sagada's famous hanging coffins can be found high on the limestone cliffs. Some hanging
coffins are centuries old and others are newer, entombing the Applai tribal elders in the
caves surrounding Sagada.
