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traveling across Cordillera Administrative Region towards Vigan?
September 3rd, 2010 
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Three weeks is enough. I have done this on a much shorter schedule. Let me suggest a travel plan after bringing up these points:
Your itinerary should start by visiting the Banaue Rice Terraces. If you are the adventurous type, you can travel from Banaue to Bontoc and then Sagada. I say “adventurous” because the road is from rough to very rough on very long stretches. On the maps you will get the impression that this is a national hi-way, first class, but in truth the road is practically non existent in a lot of portions. It doesn’t help that you will be negotiating zigzags with deep ravines on the edges. This is 4×4 territory. But the sturdy jeepneys that some tourists rent from Banaue to Bontoc can manage the road. Bring water and snacks because there are no stores, the long stretch is practically no man’s land.
If you want a safer route, go back to Nueva Viscaya and take the road from Aritao to Baguio. This is a 4-hour trip on a road that zigzags continuously, and you will never have a 10-minutes stretch of a straight road. before you see what’s ahead, the road curves. But this is safer than the Banaue-Bontoc route.
Don’t miss Sagada. It is the next town from Bontoc, but is best accessed from Baguio.
From Baguio, you can easily go to Vigan. Travel time is approx 3 hours.
You can also access Vigan from Bangued, which is part of the Cordilleras. But Banaue-Bangued-Vigan is not a schedule I will recommend. The road from Banaue to Abra is treacherous and unsafe.
So, your travel schedule should be:
Manila-Banaue-Baguio (via Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya) – Sagada – Baguio – Vigan – Manila
Recommended accommodations:
Banaue : Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel (best), or Sanafe Lodge (within your budget)
Baguio : El Cielito Inn (best within your budget)
Sagada : St Joseph, or any inn. Accommodations in Sagada are inexpensive.
Vigan: Cordillera Inn (best) or any other inns within your budget
Safest to arrange this with a Manila based travel agency who can assign a guide for your trip, plus arrange car rental. But you will end up paying for 2 rooms, including that for the guide and the driver. You do not need a bodyguard.
Budget P6,000 per day for car hire. Maybe higher since you will require a 4×4 vehicle. Plus food for your entire party.
Aloha Hotel is good. I have had guests staying there. Not 5-star, but decent.
Do not expect internet connection in hotel rooms within your budget range. Better arrange for a plug-it internet service available from the local telecom companies.
Safety : Not the safest routes, because you will be up in the mountains. The guide and driver will increase your “safety factor”.
People in Banaue and Sagada are generally poor (except those in business), but not homeless. In Vigan and Baguio, you will find poor, middle class, and very rich people/