That Thing Called Tadhana (the movie) didn't influence our Sagada trip. I've always wanted to visit the place when I worked and lived in Baguio City years ago but have never really had the chance to do so. When I did, it's beyond words! But let me share a few tips on how you too can come up with your own Sagada trip itinerary when visiting this captivating place upland. But first, the usual story time. :)
Picturesque Places En Route
My eyes were already feasting with the scenery while en route to Sagada.
Baguio to Sagada
We traveled by bus from Pangasinan (not Metro Manila) at around 4:00 AM and reached Baguio just in time for the first trip to Sagada via GL Liner. A bus leaves almost by the hour but only until around 1:00 PM. Take note that there are different destinations and not all will pass by Sagada so better ask the drivers/conductors before you hop aboard a bus to be sure.
The trip may last for as long as 6 hours including bus stops. It's safer that way anyway since the bus clutch burns from the constant uphill climb.
Touchdown was almost noon.
Registration, Tour Offices, and Lodges
Register at the tourism office before anything else when you arrive; not unless, you are staying elsewhere so you can drop your things first.
If you haven't booked a place to stay yet, there are numerous lodges from a walking distance near the tourism office. You'd past by them downhill. The same applies to tour agencies offering various trips. You can choose and book your itinerary from tour offices.
We booked a place to stay online beforehand but chose tour packages through a tour booking office near the hotel.
Sagada Trip Itinerary
The easiest means to come up with an itinerary of activities is still through a travel agency. There are numerous offices all over the town proper. You can also ask the tourism office when you register.
But you can always come up with your own activities. Make a list of ideal places to visit and schedule them based on your availability as well as the weather's.
Note that some activities are not available throughout the year though such as water rafting, which is only possible around June to December. Some areas are also off limits without a guide too.
As for our three days and two nights itinerary, here it goes.
Day 1
Arrival is past lunch. We were dead tired so we took a nap after a meal.
Waking up in the afternoon, we walked around the town proper including the Episcopal Church of Saint Mary the Virgin.
A group of tour guides were seated past the church vicinity. This is where we booked a tour for Echo Valley. We started the trek towards the valley but it drizzled so we were only able to reach Sagada's cemetery.
It's interesting to know that one of the heroic SAF44 troopers was buried here.
We took shelter in one of the shaded tombstones and headed back to the inn for the night.
Day 2
Second day is jam packed. We wake up very early in the morning and walked from downtown towards Kiltepan Peak from past 4am till about almost 6, just in time for the sunrise.
We were used to an uphill/downhill walk since we worked in Baguio in the past. But it's the dogs which bothered me a lot. I love cats and dogs and they seem to love me too (or so I think). It was too much liking though that one of the dogs was following me around and tried to get a bite of my hand when I attempted to pat it's head.
To avoid walking, it may help to book a van. Most tour packages offer this service but it's 500 pesos just to drive you to and from Kiltepan. That may work for a group so you can divide the fee amongst yourselves but we preferred walking to enjoy the refreshing morning breeze.
Kiltepan Peak
The ordeal was worth it. The view from atop the mountain is spectacular. Among several shots of the place, this angle below is my favorite. I remember someone describing the scene as if its from Mordor.
It was another tiring descend/ascend after soaking in all that "halleluJah" moment from Kiltepan peak.
No one was talking during brunch and we headed off to another adventure after a nap.
During the walk back to town, we spotted Sagada Weaving but didn't drop by. It's popular for local weaved products but cameras are off limits inside.
Lumiang-Sumaguing Cave
We had a good head start through the brunch and nap because we never thought the next part of the trip was very challenging, specially for people like us who are not too physically active.
Dubbed as the "cave connection" tour, you can experience spelunking through both Lumiang and Sumaguing caves. You can book these separately but it's better to enjoy the long underground trek both at once.
The old coffins will greet you at the entrance to Lumiang.
The entire exploration experience of these caves take about 4-6 hours. Experienced spelunkers can complete the trip in less time but you can only enjoy the challenge through several photo stops; and of course, to catch your breath too.
Food and Pasalubong
It was a tiring destination; possibly, the most challenging among all destinations in Sagada so we enjoyed a good meal after taking a bath.
Sagada Yoghurt House
For food tripping, the Yoghurt House is one of the best places in Sagada. You'll find good reviews about it through various sites like Trip Advisor. It's very affordable too. You won't find beef as affordable as this anywhere in Baguio City.
Other must try for food tripping in Sagada also include their own coffee brew and brown rice which you can find almost anywhere, including small food stalls around the town proper and the local market.
Lake Danum Sunset
We planned to visit Lake Danum for the sunset as well but it was rainy that day so you can't expect a good view of the sun nor picture perfect glistening lake water. We just strolled around town instead.
But for the sake of reference, this is how beautiful Lake Danum is during sunset.
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Photo by Bong Bajo/Flickr |
Night Out
There are small bars you can visit for a drink at night but we're too exhausted from the caves to even bother. They close very early too.
Day 3
Last day and we spent it well walking through the Echo Valley trail. The trip encompasses Echo Valley, Hanging Coffins, Latang underground river, and Bokong falls.
Other Sagada Tour Options
More tour options include Bomod-ok Falls, Marlboro Country, and Chico river rafting. The latter is only available during the rainy months of June to November.
Bomod-ok is literally translated as "big falls" and can be reached through a separate trail tour package.
Marlboro Country is in Kamanbaneng Peak and also offers an awesome view of the sunrise, like Kiltepan.
Sagada Trip Itinerary in Video
Here's a video of the entire trip:
Overview
In a nutshell, here's what transpired during our trip for three days and two nights (3D2N).
Day 1
Travel from Baguio to Sagada from 6 am to almost lunch
Episcopal Church of Saint Mary the Virgin and the Sagada cemetery in the afternoon
Day 2
Kiltepan Peak sunrise (to and fro) from 4am to brunch
Cave connection tour (Lumiang-Sumaguing caves) later that day
Day 3
Echo Trail trip (Echo Valley, Hanging Coffins, Latang underground river, and Bokong falls)
Sagada Yogurt House and pasalubong search
Transportation
Transportation costs will vary depending on where you're coming from. The bus fare from Baguio to Sagada is around 400 pesos through the Dangwa terminal.
Accomodation
We found a hotel just through a Facebook travel group. Word of mouth still works; or at least social media recommendations in this case. You can also choose from options available through sites like Agoda. Cost will start from just over 1,000+ pesos (or even less) overnight.
Food
Allowance for food is entirely up to you. But food is affordable in general, even through restaurants. But the cheapest are through the public market stalls. You can get a good meal for less than 100 pesos.
Fees
Don't forget to set aside budget for fees including registration at the tourism office as soon as you arrive in town. There are also marshals which cover non-DIY tour areas so you still need to pay for a tour guide through local booking agencies even if you plan to do a DIY.
Kudos to Sagada Police
And before I conclude this post, let me just commend the Sagada police station for sending back one of our bags. It's a laptop bag which contains some tech gadget stuff as indicated in the paper they wrote. I left it in the public shed while waiting for our bus back to Baguio. An old lady who lives in a nearby town brought the bag to the police station. We found the police post contact number online and was able to contact them.
We stayed in Baguio for the rest of the day so they can ship the item through bus cargo the following day since trips are from Baguio to Sagada and vice-versa is limited based on schedule.
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What a great and informative post! It made me think that I have to travel around the Philippines after I get insured. This helps me a lot by the way. Thank you for the inspiration!
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