Mountain Province

Mountain Province is an administrative province in northern Luzon, Philippines, spanning the central mountain range with deep valleys and upland plateaus above 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). The landscape shows terraced slopes, pine forests, and limestone cliffs where rivers carve routes toward lowlands.

The Philippine colonial administration created the territory in 1908 to unite several highland regions under a single administrative unit. In 1966, the sub-areas were divided into separate provinces, with the present-day territory receiving its current form.

Residents still speak their dialects and maintain craft traditions, with hand-woven textiles and carved woodwork continuing in villages following old patterns. Visitors can watch local families tending rice terraces that have been managed through communal labor across generations.

Overland buses depart daily from Manila and take around 11 hours on winding mountain roads with stops at higher elevation stations. Travelers should bring warm clothing, as temperatures at higher elevations remain cool even during daytime.

Ancient burial caves show wooden coffins hanging from cliff walls or resting in rock crevices where ancestors placed them centuries ago. These burial sites often lie in hard-to-reach areas and require guidance from local communities who continue to protect them.

Location: Cordillera Administrative Region

Inception: 1908

Capital city: Bontoc

Shares border with: Abra, Benguet

Website: http://mountainprovince.gov.ph

GPS coordinates: 17.08333,121.16667

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:31