Travel Guide: Sagada
For love of Sagada, Lakwatsero is featuring this place:
Fifteen hundred feet above the sea is a small and tranquil town of Sagada in Mountain Province, 275 Kilometers north of Manila. A remote town with so much to offer to anyone who chooses to experience its distinct appeal. With its temperate weather, wondrous caves and cliffs, lofty rice terraces and waterfalls, luscious foods and delicacies, rich heritage and traditions, Sagada promises everyone an unforgettable and truly remarkable experience with nature and culture.
Sagada also embraces its visitors with the warm hospitality of the locals that complements the beauty of the place. Undoubtedly, the charm of this mountain town is still incomparable to most tourist destinations in the country, making it one of Lakwatsero’s favorite destinations and thus calling it home away from home, like most local and foreign tourists do.
Whether you are a laid back traveler or more into adventure, young or old, Lakwatsero of any backgrounds and ages, you definitely have a place here.
There are no direct trips to Sagada from Manila, it can only be reached either via Baguio, Bontoc or Banawe with almost the same travel time and fare.
Most bus companies heading to Northern Philippines have trips to Baguio. But Lakwatsero prefers Victory Liner, their Baguio bound busses leave the terminal (Manila, Pasay, Cubao and Caloocan) every hour. It is a five to six hours travel for P450.00 (~$10). The most ideal time to travel is around 10:00 to 11:00 PM for you to reach their Baguio Terminal by 5:00AM the next day. Other bus Lines that ply to Baguio are:
- Dagupan Bus (EDSA cor. New York, Cubao , Quezon City/ Contact No: (02)727-2330) – P355.00
- Philippine Rabbit (Rizal Ave., Sta. Cruz, Manila)
From Victory Baguio Terminal, catch a cab to Dangwa Terminal where the buses to Sagada can be found. It is a short taxi ride (around 10 minutes) for approximately P40.00 (~1USD). Then ride a Lizardo or GL Transit bus to Sagada, the earliest leaving Dangwa around six in the morning. The fare is P220.00 (~$5.50) for a 6 to 7 hour ride passing to some rough roads. The Sagada bus will stop in front of the Municipal Hall.
Bontoc, the capital of Mountain province is a 12 hours ride from Manila. Cable Tours (Contact No: 074-6021068, +639185216790, +639214488814) and Kasilen Transport (Contact No: +639178629574; +639163603483) have daily trips to Bontoc, leaving Manila at night. Fare is P500.00 (~$12.50).
From Bontoc catch a jeepney to Sagada. These jeepneys leave Bontoc every hour. It is around an hour bumpy ride for P35.00 (~$1).
Banaue route is a good choice if you plan to drop by to the famous Rice Terraces of Banawe. Autobus Lines (Contact No: 7358096) and Florida Bus Lines (Contact No: 7433809/7315358/4933667) in Sampaloc, Manila has daily trips to Banaue that leaves the terminal at 10:00PM and 10:45PM respectively. It is a nine (9) hour bus ride for P460.00 (~$11).
From Banaue, ride a tricycle (P20.00/~$0.50) from the terminal to the Banaue town proper and catch Immanuel Bus Line to Bontoc for P100.00 (~2.5 USD) that will drop you off near the Bontoc Municipal Hall. From there, ride a jeepney to Sagada for P35.00 (<1 USD). You may opt to ride on the jeepney rooftop to enjoy the view and the sea of clouds of Sagada.
Where to Stay
Since Sagada embraced tourism, a couple of inns and lodges sprouted in almost every corner of the town proper and surrounding area. But Lakwatsero’s top pick of course is the Residential Lodge, owned by very kind and accomodating Tita Mary Daoas (Contact No: +639296257419/+639196728744). It is a two-storey lodge with a common area per floor where guests could watch TV or interact with other people. The room rate is as low as P200.00 (~$5) per head per night for a dormitory type room and P250.00 (~$6) per head per night for a room with toilet and bath.
Other notable places to stay are: Travellers Inn (Contact No: +639207992960); George Guest House (Contact No:+639185480405/+639206070994); Rock Inn Cafe (Contact No: +639209095899).
Activities
There are so much to do and so much to see in Sagada:
- Spelunking in Sumaguing and Lumiang Caves or try the three hour Cave Connection
- Tour Echo Valley, Underground River, Bokong Falls
- Visit the hanging coffins and other ancient burial sites
- Rock climbing in Echo Valley Cliffs
- Walk through Rice Terraces
- Trek to Bomod-ok Falls
- Commune with nature and culture of Sagada
- Try the mountain tea and the famous yoghurt of the Yoghurt House
- Look for the wildhorses in Sagada’s Marlboro Country
- See the sunset at Kiltepan Viewpoint
- See Lake Danum and Mt. Ampacao
Lakwatsero Experience
Lakwatsero has been to Sagada in 2006 and 2007. Watch put for the narrative, itineraries and photos of his journeys in his favorite Philippine getaway.
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For more information about Sagada, go to VisitSagada, your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about Sagada.
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hi,
i hhave set a plan of travelling to the northern part of luzon. like laoag, vigan and pagudpud by plane.
i was wondering if the plan of taking the bus from manila to laoag is possible with stopovers is doable.
the plan is:
manila- zambales (anawangin and the other coves)
zambales to baguio
baguio to sagada
sagada to pagudpud
pagudpud to laoag+vigan
and then back to laoag to manila by plane.
i was thinking setting a one travel schedule all the way to the north instead of seting an apart tour of pagudpud and sagada.
please need your advice.
Hi Bleue,
Been there with my officemate last Sept 6. The long trip was really tiring we even encountered a landslide along the way. But thank God it was all worth it. We stayed at Tita Mary’s Residential lodge (truly highly recommended). The caves were awesome, especially the rock formations inside Sumaguing Cave. Its just sad we missed the Lemon Pie house.
We’re planning to go back summer next year to try the cave connection and Mt. Ampacao trek. This time i’ll make sure we’ll never miss the Lemon Pie house.
Thanks Bleue for the info posted here. It really helped us a lot. More tours and more blogs to you!
hi po…am planning to go to sagada this OCTOBER??is it wise for this time of year??
Hi, me and my friends are planning a road trip on Sept. But we will be in Laoag first then travel down to Sagada. Can you give us tips on how to get there? Bus rides, schedules, fare rates and those stuff. Some of the sights and places we wanted to see in Mt. Province are Bontoc, Banaue – the rice terraces and Sagada itself.
Can you recommend an itinerary for us? That we would be able to cover these places. Thanks!
hi sir. ask ko lang po which is the best and easiest way to go to sagada, via baguio, banaue or bontoc? im planning a trip in june 5-8 sana. thanks =)
Hi! Thanks so much…will follow your advice.
Looking forward to communing with nature!
Regards,
just to let you know, the sagada lemon pie house quoted you on this post. you can check the url below to see what we wrote:
http://sagadalemonpiehouse.blogspot.com/2009/02/our-comments.html
Hi.
Which is the easiest and cheapest way to get to these places: sagada, baguio, and pagudpud?
Thanks..
Hi!
Thanks for the response. I intend to stay for 3D/2N exclusive of the bus travel from and to Manila.
thanks in advance for the advice. God bless u
is it okey to go for sagada from baguio by saturday 6am, then go back for baguio the following day around 11am? do you the group can already enjoy? thanks
Hi!
Need an advice/idea for itinerary for a female solo traveler.
Thanks a lot!
hai, actually im pure sagadanian but im living here in america. . .. .your column is great that you are making our place more exciteful
maybe we will go their this vacation. .
I mis Sagada. . . thank you very much.
Matago tao tako amin..hehe its hard to pronounce now!
hi, ask ko lang if safe pumunta sa kin sa sagada with a heart problem, kasi its a long walk daw and matataas and mga roads. problem ko kasi madali ako hingalin… is there a way na di ako maglakad? hows the tranportation there?
thanks and have a great day…
Hi, Lakwatsero. We are planning to go to Sagada this Christmas Season. Do you think it is wise to go there considering it’s going to be sooooo cold? Our group consists of 8 adults, 1 teenager, 1 10-year old and a 4 year old. What’s the best place for our group to stay? Can we already make a reservation for the hotel and tourist guide? How much do you think will we spend for a 5 day stay there (hotel, food, guide, entrance fees to the spots, etc.)? Thanks so much. We are so excited to visit Sagada especially after reading this site.
atwzzz…………coool
I am planning to go to Sagada and stay at the best possible accommdations – with best view and complete amenities. Also, who should I contact to serve as my tour guide? Thanks so much for all your help!