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Located in the north central part of Luzon, the Cordillera Administrative Region is a landlocked area composed of six provinces: Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. It is bounded on the north by the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Cagayan, on the east by Cagayan Valley, on the south by the province of Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya, and on the west by Ilocos Region. Terrain is mostly mountainous with small scattered valleys especially in the province of Abra. Highest peak is the 2,930 meter Mt. Pulog located in the boundary of Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya provinces.

Cordillera landscape

Temperature is cool and refreshing in the upland areas but the lowland areas are warmer. November to April is dry while May to October is wet.

The cordillera Region is the least populated region with only 1.5 million people in 2007. Population dencity is only 78 per square kilometer as against the national population dencity of 258. Different cultural groups live in the region: Tingguians and Ilocanos in Abra, Kalingas and Isneys in Kalinga and Apayao, Ibalois and Kankanaeys in Benguet, Ifugaos in Ifugao, and Bontocs in Mt. province. The population of Baguio City, the largest city in the north, is a mix of various cultural groups from differnt parts of the country and even foreigners.

Baguio City is the center of Cordillera culture

Agriculture is the main economic activity in the region with upland rice, root crops, and vegetables as the main products. Mining is a major industry in the province of Benguet producing gold, silver, and copper. Except for the factories in the Baguio Export Processing Zone, there are no other large scale manufacturing industry. However, many people are engaged in cottage industries like wood carving and weaving. Tourism is an alternative source of livelihood of the people particularly in Benguet where Baguio City is located, in Ifugao where the Rice Terraces is found, and in Bontoc and Sagada, Mt. Province.

Due to its many rivers, the region is a major source of hydroelectric power. Two of the oldest dams in the country, namely, Ambuklao and Binga Dams, are found in the region. Still, the vast hydroelectric potential of the region is largely untapped due to strong opposition from the Indigenous Peoples whose livelihood and cultural heritage would be greatly endangered by the building of dams.

Major Tourist spots in the Cordillera region

• Burnham, Wright, and Mine's View parks in Baguio City
• Mt. Pulog and La Trinidad Valley in Benguet
• Banaue Rice Terraces
• Sagada Caves and Hanging Coffins
• Chico River of Kalinga
• Victorias National Park in Abra
• Maton Underground River in Apayao

Food

• Pinikpikan - a viand prepared by beating chickens in the head and wings so the blood will clot in these parts. Once dead, it is grilled in open fire, then cut into pieces. The smoked meat is then boiled either with cabbages, sayyote or unripe papaya.