SAGADA, Mt Province Philippines

Sagada is about 400 kilometers north of the Philippine capital of Manila. It is in the middle of the Luzon landmass and is nestled in a valley along the Cordillera Mountain Range. There are two major routes to Sagada – one on the western and more developed side via Baguio City and the other along the east via Banaue.

 

Places you should go when you go to Sagada. 

Sumaguing Cave

The Sumaguing Cave (AKA The Big Cave) is arguably the best known attraction of Sagada. Caving is one of the more exciting and unique experiences that visitors can do in town. There are various cave systems and routes but Sumaguing gets the most traffic because of its big chambers and notable rock formations. As one would expect, it is pitch black in the deeper parts of the cave (the guide will be carrying a lamp) and you will be heavily reliant on your guide for directions and the proper foot holds. You may choose to do the “simple caving” which is a in-and-out course through Sumaguing. It could take from two to three hours to finish the entire route.  The cave connection takes spelunkers from the Lumiang Burial Cave entrance to the main chambers of the Sumaguing Cave. When done in a steady pace, the entire activity can take 3-4 hours. Balance and presence of mind will be critical.  The entrance to the Sumaguing Cave along with other caves like the Lumiang Burial Cave are all downhill from the center of town. It’s a nice 15-20 minute stroll along the road. From the road, you can see some of Sagada’s rice terraces and in the rainy season, you can also see some waterfalls. Some people rent a van for this but if you’re fine with walking for a few minutes, you can definitely skip the car.

Bomod-ok Falls

The Bomod-ok Falls (AKA The Big Falls) is located north of the town center. Most people would find the hike to the village a bit far so it’s best to rent a van or a jeep for this one. The falls can be reached after trekking through stretches of rice terraces. For those who usually do cardio, the hike will be a piece of cake (30-40 minutes each way) but those who are not that active will find this to be extremely difficult. Some people might find the trek to the falls to be easier since it’s almost all downhill. Make sure you leave something in the tank for the ascent.  There is a very cold water pool just under the falls and a quick dip can definitely rejuvenate a hiker for the hike back up the hill. The Northern Sagada Indigenous Guides Association (NoSIGA) has jurisdiction of this area. They charge 500 per group of 10.

For more places you can visit in Sagada: 

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Tips  

• To maximize your time, leave Manila during late night. This allows you to evade the heavy rush hour traffic and ensures that you’ll get the first trip out of Baguio to Sagada. 
• Instead of buying food and drinks from the concessionaires, stock up on snacks before boarding the bus. The prices are a bit jacked up so you’ll end up saving more if you come prepared.

If you want to do it as back packer then here's what you need to do.
Here is the summary of the entire travel.

MANILA-BANAUE (9 hours) 

Bus: Autobus Line (España corner Cataluna, Sampaloc, Manila)
ETD: 10PM Daily
Contact No: 7358096
Fare: P462.00

Bus: Florida Bus Line (Sampaloc, Manila)
ETD: 1045PM Daily
Contact No: 7433809/7315358/4933667
Fare: P450.00

AUTOBUS TERMINAL-BANAUE TOWN PROPER
Tricycle Fare: P20.00

BANAUE-BONTOC (2 hours)
Bus: Immanuel Bus Fare: P100.00

BONTOC-SAGADA (45 minutes)
Jeepney Fare: P35.00

From Baguio To Sagada  

Upon arriving at Baguio, you may take a cab to the Dangwa Bus Station.
The cab fare will cost about 40-50 Php (~1+ USD). Locate the Lizardo Transit station – facing the station, it’s on the LEFT side. They have a small ticket booth where you could buy tickets minutes before the bus leaves. The first trip

Price: 220 Php ~ 5.50 USD
Schedule: First bus leaves at 630AM. The last bus leaves at 1 PM.
Trip Duration: 6-7 hours (The roads are pretty rough) Stops: The bus makes two stops. There are restrooms and food stalls in the vicinity as well.

SAGADA – BAGUIO (for the way back)  
Schedule: First bus leaves at 5 AM. Last bus leaves at 1 PM. One bus every hour, on the hours.

Tips
Be prepared. Take medication for motion sickness if necessary. The buses are not air-conditioned and even if the region is known for cold weather, the sun could prove to be quite an adversary at mid-day. Don’t forget to apply sunblock. the bus conductor will honor student and senior citizen’s discounts! Have your IDs ready for 20% off the ticket cost. :)