Have you ever heard of a lost island? Does it really exist?
God’s creation is truly remarkable! Imagine discovering a geographic anomaly in one of the barangays of Sadanga, Mountain Province. Anabel, a small hilly area, appears as if an island has been misplaced amidst the towering mountains.

Anabel, a small hilly area, is nestled beneath the national highway leading to Kalinga via Bontoc. It’s a hidden gem, embraced by lush mountain, with rice paddies on one side and the Chico River on the other, amplifying its feeling of seclusion.

During rice planting season, vibrant green and golden yellow rice fields stand out in stark contrast to the hilly place. It creates a natural boundary that gives the impression of an island oasis amid a vast sea of rice paddies.

What sets the ‘lost island’ of Anabel apart from any other small island in the Philippines, besides its location, is its topographical features. With the river on one side, rice fields, and forest on the rest of its surroundings, the residents don’t experience sea breeze but are greeted by the refreshing scent of pines and mountain foliage.

Adding to its charm, the phone signal in Anabel is reminiscent of an island’s, often weak and unreliable. In this unique setting, Anabel residents and those in the nearby barangay (Betwagan) rely on portable VHF radios to transmit important messages within the community.

The lost island is picturesque, and it can be best viewed during the months where rice planted in their fields are in robust shape. This may begin in April and end in August.

How to Get There?

When you want to go to this place from Baguio, you may take the Rising Sun bus to Bontoc, the capital of Mountain Province, which usually takes 5-6 hours. You may also take the van for convenience and lesser transit time. From Bontoc, take the jeep that goes to Sadanga, Mountain Province. Then, ask the driver to drop you off at Anabel, Sadanga.

The fare from Baguio to Bontoc would cost you 350-400 depending on the vehicle you choose, then Bontoc to Anabel, Sadanga would cost you around 35-50 pesos.