Sagada Travel Guide: Go soul-searching!
Soul-searching in Sagada
Traveling to Sagada is a bit easy but scary! It is because you will be traversing the country’s most dangerous road complex – the Halsema Highway. But the trip is also as rewarding because you will get to see some spectacular views of the Cordilleras, its rice terraces, cloud formations and its incredible and breathtaking terrain. Drivers to this route are fast, expert, but careful. As the highway is popular for its sharp curves and deep ravines, going to Sagada and the rest of Mountain Province, I can say, is all worth the risk. It is part of the adventure, they say, so I might as well take it.
Sagada can be reached through its main passageway – Baguio City. There are several bus lines catering to the Baguio-Mountain Province route. The travel time when using this route will be around 5-6 hours, as roads can be dangerous and slippery especially during the rainy season.
As of this writing, GL Trans and Lizardo Trans are just two of the bus companies that offer regular trips to and from Sagada (or Besao) and the rest of Mountain Province via Baguio City. They are located at the Dangwa Bus Terminal behind the Baguio Centermall and at the Slaughterhouse Compound Bus Terminal respectively. Fare costs PhP 220 ($5)* for regular passengers and PhP 180 ($4)* for students, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and senior citizens with valid IDs.
*Note that prices are subject to change without prior notice and I will do my best to update this post as I soon as I can as I receive the updates.*
On the way, too, you will be seeing and passing through the highest point in the Philippine Highway System in Barangay Cattubo, Atok, Benguet but it is best seen and experienced when you have a private car going to Mountain Province. It has an elevation of 7,400 feet above sea level (2,256 meters) and it will give you a panoramic view of the mountains kissed by clouds especially in the morning.
Accommodations in Sagada are plenty. They sprouted near and around the town center and offer it at affordable and reasonable prices. See the brochure that will be given to you upon registering at the Municipal Tourism Office and check out what lodging house would best suit your needs.
TuristaBoy Tip: Prices of commodities and other buys in Sagada are a bit expensive mainly because of their location and terrain and because their goods are to be transported to and from Bontoc and other nearby towns in the province. Be sure to have some extra cash in case you fall short.
If you have plans of visiting Sagada, check out my personal, individual itinerary and expenses throughout the trip. Anyway, you still hold your schedule and you can go to places not found on my blog! (Base it from the available tourist spots found on the brochure given during registration at the Municipal Tourism Office.)
Sample Itinerary:
Day 1
0700 – 1200 | Travel time – Baguio-Sagada (Lizardo / GL Trans, Dangwa Bus Terminal) |
1200 | Registration at the Municipal Tourism Office + Payment of Environmental Fee |
1200 – 1300 | Lunch (Karinderya at Town Center) |
1300 – 1500 | Rest time |
1500 – 1700 | Trek at Cemetery, Calvary, and Echo Valley |
1700 – 1800 | Rest time, prepare for Dinner |
1800 – 2000 | Dinner (Yoghurt House) |
2000 | Sleeping time |
Day 2
0400 | Wake up time |
0400 – 0430 | Prepare for Sunrise trek |
0430 – 0530 | Sunrise trek (Town Center-Mount Kiltepan) |
0530 – 0700 | Sunrise and sea of clouds viewing (Mount Kiltepan) |
0700 – 0800 | Breakfast (bought from stores, cooked at home) |
0800 – 0900 | Prepare for Spelunking |
0900 – 1000 | Hike to Lumiang Cave (Town Center-Cave) |
1000 – 1430 | Spelunking (Lumiang-Sumaguing Cave Connection) |
1430 – 1500 | Rest time (Rust n’ Wood Restaurant) |
1500 – 1600 | Hike back to Town Center |
1600 – 1700 | Freshen up and prepare for Sunset viewing |
1700 – 1730 | Walk / Drive to Lake Danum for sunset viewing |
1730 – 1800 | Sunset viewing |
1800 – 1830 | Walk / Drive back to house |
1830 – 1900 | Rest time |
1900 – 2000 | Dinner (bought from stores, cooked at home) |
2000 | Sleeping time |
Day 3
0800 | Wake up time |
0800 – 1000 | Buy food for lunch, snacks, souvenirs (Saturday Market – Town Center) |
1000 – 1200 | Rest time, roam around the town center, and prepare for lunch |
1200 – 1300 | Lunch (bought from stores, cooked at home) |
1300 – 1330 | Rest time, prepare for trekking to Echo Valley, Hanging Coffins |
1330 – 1430 | Trekking at Echo Valley |
1430 – 1630 | Rock climbing (all you want!) |
1630 – 1700 | Trek to the Hanging Coffins |
1700 – 1730 | Trek back to house |
1730 – 1800 | Rest time and prepare for dinner |
1800 – 1900 | Dinner (bought from stores, cooked at home) |
1900 – 0000 | Nightlife (Sagada Pine Café / Bamboo Bar) |
0000 | Sleeping time |
Day 4
0800 | Wake up time |
0800 – 0830 | Prepare for Sunday Mass |
0830 – 0930 | Sunday Mass |
0930 – 1000 | Prepare for Brunch |
1000 – 1030 | Walk to Gaia Arts and Crafts Café |
1030 – 1200 | Brunch (Gaia Arts and Crafts Café) |
1200 – 1230 | Walk back to Town Center |
1230 – 1400 | Rest time |
1400 – 1500 | Snacks (Sagada Lemon Pie House) |
1500 – 1700 | Buy souvenirs at the Town Center |
1700 – 1800 | Prepare for Dinner |
1800 – 1900 | Dinner (bought from stores, cooked at home) |
1900 – 2200 | Free time / Nightlife / Fix things for departure |
2200 | Sleeping time |
Day 5
0500 | Wake up time |
0500 – 0600 | Prepare for breakfast |
0600 – 0700 | Breakfast (bought from stores, cooked at home) |
0700 – 0730 | Prepare, fix things for departure |
0730 – 0800 | Waiting time (for Baguio-bound bus, Town Center) |
0800 – 1300 | Travel time – Sagada-Baguio (Lizardo / GL Trans) |
1300 | ETA – Baguio City, Dangwa Bus Terminal |
Possible expenses:
Day 1
Taxi Fare (House-Dangwa Bus Terminal) | 65.00 |
Bus Fare (GL Trans) | 220.00 |
Registration, Environmental Fee (required) | 35.00 |
Lunch (Local Karinderya) | 100.00 |
Yoghurt House – Snacks, Dinner (120/3 + 100) | 140.00 |
560.00 |
Day 2
Breakfast – bought from stores, cooked at home (300/3) | 300.00 |
Cave Connection Guide Fee – minimum of 2 (800/2) | 400.00 |
Snacks (Rust n’ Wood) | 20.00 |
720.00 |
Day 3
Saturday Market for Breakfast – bought from stores, cooked at home (450/3) | 150.00 |
Lunch – bought from stores, cooked at home (300/3) | 100.00 |
Echo Valley Guide Fee | 200.00 |
Rock Climbing (all you want) | 400.00 |
Nightlife (Bamboo Bar, Town Center) | 50.00 |
900.00 |
Day 4
Breakfast – Gaia Arts and Crafts Café | 200.00 |
Snacks – Sagada Lemon Pie House | 30.00 |
Souvenirs | 1,000.00 |
1,230.00 |
Day 5
Bus Fare (Lizardo Trans) | 180.00 |
180.00 | |
Grand Total: |
3,590.00 (3,600.00) |
*We stayed at our friend’s house, who is a local of Sagada, so our accommodation’s free!
TuristaBoy Tip: You should plan your own itinerary and budget ahead of your trip. These are only guides in planning your vacation to Sagada. If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment!
We’re born to travel!