Sagada

Posted on 02. May, 2008 by Lakwatsero in Destinations, Luzon

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 destination 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.

How to Get There

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.

Via Baguio

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 P390.00 (~$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.

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.

Via Bontoc

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).

Via Banaue

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.

Share and Enjoy:

41 Comments to “Sagada”

Darknight

Sep 22nd, 2009

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!

Thanks Darknight! Reading your comment makes me wanna go back to Sagada NOW!!! hehehe!

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Jef

Sep 2nd, 2009

hi po…am planning to go to sagada this OCTOBER??is it wise for this time of year??

Sagada on October sounds great. Wag lang may typhoon affecting the area.

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cat

May 28th, 2009

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 cat, VisitSagada.com has an entry of going to Sagada from Ilocos region:
http://www.visitsagada.com/2009/04/27/ilocos-vigan-laoag-and-pagudpud-to-and-from-sagada/

You may also browse the other entries in the site for tips, suggested itineraries and everything you need to know about Sagada.

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anna

May 8th, 2009

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 anna, Baguio and Bontoc routes are my choices. Baguio route because the Manila-Baguio buses (Victory Line) have comfortable seats, though the six hours Baguio-Sagada ride are provincial bus type. Bontoc route because, it passes through Banaue, and the Cable Tours buses (from Manila to Bontoc) although not as good as Victory buses, offer a convenient ride straight to Bontoc that is just an hour or less jeepney ride to Sagada.

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Nicki

Feb 27th, 2009

Hi! Thanks so much…will follow your advice.

Looking forward to communing with nature!

Regards,

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biyahengpinoy

Feb 18th, 2009

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

Reply to this comment
Hazel

Feb 6th, 2009

Hi.
Which is the easiest and cheapest way to get to these places: sagada, baguio, and pagudpud?
Thanks..

Reply to this comment
Nicki

Jan 8th, 2009

Hi!

Thanks for the response. I intend to stay for 3D/2N exclusive of the bus travel from and to Manila.

I see, well since this is your first time in sagada, I suggest you go caving, trek to the big falls and tour of the area. For a 3 days/2nights, assuming you arrive Sagada at noon you can have your spelunking in the afternoon. You can go spelunking in Sumaguing or if you are into adventure try the cave connection from Lumiang Cave to Sumaguing Cave. The next day, you can trek to the big falls in the morning and tour in the afternoon – Underground River, Echo Valley, Cemetery, Burial Sites. On your third day, you can spend it exploring the area, by then you can be able to walk to the Church, cemetery and even Echo Valley alone, then shop for pasalubongs and try the famous lemon pie, yoghurt, cinnamon roll, etc and etc. By lunch time, catch the last bus to Baguio/Bontoc. P.S. Don’t forget to eat in yoghurt house. Hehehe! To summarize.

Day 1
Noon: Arrival
Afternoon: Caving

Day 2
Morning: Big Falls
Afternoon: Sagada Tour (Three spots)

Day 3
Morning: Explore the area/buy pasalubongs.
Noon: Departure

That is how I figure your itin, just play with it! Enjoy Sagada!

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albert

Jan 5th, 2009

thanks in advance for the advice. God bless u

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albert

Jan 5th, 2009

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

Hmm, quite tight sked, but yes that’s doable and enjoyable. If you depart from Baguio at 6AM, you’ll be in Sagada by noon, you can go Caving in the afternoon. If you take the cave connection, that would consume your entire afternoon but it is a must try, but if you will just go basic spelunking in Sumaguing, you can add tour of Echo Valley, Bokong Falls, Underground River and some burial sites. Then wake up early the next day to view sunrise at Kiltepan or early trekkking to Bomod-ok Falls. One more thing, don’t miss the yoghurt house. Hehe!

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