Planning your first Sagada trip? Here's a simple guide for you!

I've been to Sagada twice and I will be visiting again soon. My first trip was under a tour package where I joined a group of couples. Yes, I was alone. I know. And the second one was a DIY tour and I brought my friends with me. I must say, Sagada is, by far, my favorite domestic tourist spot and I would highly recommend you take a tour yourself to know more about this wonderful place in the North.

You can find a lot of travel agencies offering a Sagada tour package but if you want to take your adventure to a next level, I would highly recommend that you do a DIY visit so you can control your time, funds, and customize your own Sagada attractions trip.

Quick brief about Sagada

Sagada is a small town in the Cordillera Mountains and is full of wonders - nature and history. It is approximately 391.5 km away from the scorching Manila and is approximately 5000 ft above the sea level, and you would literally be able to reach the clouds. Temperature reaches as cold as 12 degrees in the evening and for me, it's colder than Baguio for the reason that it doesn't have that much pollution and trees are everywhere so better bring your finest jackets.

You will find yourself in a clean town with very friendly locals! If you are foreigner, do not worry because locals there (and tourist guides) are so fluent in the english language so you won't find it hard to communicate.

How to go to Sagada from Manila?

Going to Sagada is as easy as 1-2-3 and you would find a lot of terminals in the Metro that would best bring you to this place. However, I would highly recommend you take the Coda Lines as it is a direct trip going to Sagada. Expect that it would be a long trip, around 10 to 12 hours total travel time, but I assure you that you won't get bored especially if you're nearing the Northern part of the country as you will be able to see a lot of natural spots.

Coda Lines offers a direct trip from Manila to Sagada and it is via Banaue and Bontoc so you would be able to also see Banaue Rice Terraces. You can either ride a Semi Deluxe Bus which has no comfort room or if you have additional bucks to pay, I highly recommend you ride a Super Deluxe Bus which has more comfortable seats and it also has a comfort room. In our case, we always book a round trip Super Deluxe Bus ticket.

Terminal: HM Transport Inc. Monte de Piedad, Corner Maryland, Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Schedule: 8:00 PM, 9:00 PM (with CR), 10:00 PM (with CR), and 10:30 PM
Fare: Php 760.00 (no CR) and Php 980.00 (with CR)

You can also ride a bus going to Sagada if you are coming from Baguio. 

You may book online thru this link.

What to do as soon as you arrive in Sagada?

As soon as you arrive, immediately go to the Sagada Tourism Office to register and pay Php 50.00 for the environmental fee (important: always keep and bring with you your environmental fee receipt as you will be asked to present it when visiting attractions). You can also book and customize your tours in the Tourism Office too!

Always remember, touring around different attractions in Sagada would require a tourist guide.

Where to stay in Sagada?

You won't find it hard when looking for a place to stay in Sagada either via online booking or on the spot there. You can either book a shared room, a private room with shared CR, or a private room with own CR. Don't expect that inns and hostels there have aircons because it won't be necessary. I mean, if 12 degrees is not enough for you? 

Price usually ranges from Php 400/night up to Php 2,000/night and I suggest you book a place in advance because there's a lot of competition especially for inns that are strategically located near the main road. I highly recommend you visit Agoda to check for inns.

Recommended inns:

• Isabelo's Inn and Cafe
• Coffee Heritage House and Hostel
• Kanip Aw Pines View Lodge
• Rusty Nail Inn
• and many other small inns!

** Pictures from Agoda. Credits go to the rightful owners of the photos **

Where to eat in Sagada?

If there's one thing I fell in love with in Sagada, it's the food! They offer wide variety of cuisines from the common ones to their own local masterpieces. And more than just the attractions there, food is something that you would really love in this place!

I haven't had the chance to visit all of the restaurants there so I would just list down my top picks. I can assure that Sagada's foods won't disappoint you and your budget.

#1 - Salt & Pepper Diner 

Quick review: if you're planning where to go for your first breakfast in Sagada, Salt & Pepper is my top pick. They serve a lot of different cuisines and the serving size won't disappoint you.

Check out their menu here

#2 - Sagada Lemon Pie House

Quick review: If you want to try their very own lemon pie, Sagada Lemon Pie House is the best place to go to! You'll just spend Php 30/slice or Php 200/pan. They also serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner cuisines, and even hot beverages.

Check out their menu here.

#3 - Sagada Brew

Quick review: Home of the best pastas in town! You may choose between Sagada Brew Pasta, Pesto Pasta, Carbonara, Creamy Vegetable Pasta, and Vegetables in Olive Oil Pasta. They also serve other cuisines like sandwiches, hot beverages, soups, and breakfast meals (including american-style breakfast).

Check out their menu here.

What attractions to visit in Sagada?

Lumiang Cave, Sumaguing Cave, Bomod-Ok Falls, Marlboro Hills, and Echo Valley are only some of the top tourist spots in Sagada. There's a lot to explore and each has its own history so listen carefully to your tourist guide. Again, just a reminder, always bring your environmental fee receipt because you will have to present that when visiting attractions in Sagada.

If you are travelling solo, expect that you would be a "joiner" and would travel together with other groups. This would mean that the costs will be divided per person, but if you have enough funds, you can book a private tour guide and private transportation.

#1 - Cave Connection: Lumiang Cave to Sumaguing Cave

Lumiang Cave to Sumaguing Cave tour is the top pick if you're an adventurous tourist. In my experience, it took us 4 hours to get out of the Sumaguing Cave and it would require you strong determination, stamina, and trust in order for you to get out. Expect that you would go through small holes just to pass through the other side and also a cliff inside of it so you have to take this tour seriously. Don't worry though, the tip is to trust your tourist guide, they will guide you and even let you step on their shoulders just to pass through.

I wouldn't recommend the cave connection tour to people with claustrophobia though.

If you don't want to take a connecting tour, you can avail a tour in just one cave which would obviously cost you lesser.

Reminders: don't wear shoes! There are areas in the cave where water is present and is as high as your waist. Slippers or sandals with good sole grip would be good. Also, if you are bringing your cellphone inside, make sure to place it in a waterproof phone pouch. I made a mistake in bringing my DSLR with me so I ended up having it with few minor scratches.

Fee: Php 1000.00/1-2 pax and Php 500.00/additional pax

#2 - Echo Valley and the Hanging Coffins

In order to find the famous Hanging Coffins of Sagada, you must go through the Echo Valley. If you shout in Echo Valley, you would hear a solid echo of your voice and that's why it's called... ahm... Echo Valley. Heh.

It's a quick walk from the Church of St. Mary the Virgin and through the cemetery. The duration is from an hour up to 3 hours depending on the tour that you'll avail.

Fee: Price ranges from Php 300.00 for 1-10 pax, Php 400.00 for 11 pax, and Php 600.00 for 12-20 pax.

Update: I was told by a friend who just recently visited Sagada that shouting in the Eco Valley is no longer allowed but best to check again when you visit there.

#3 - Bomod-Ok Falls

Going to the Bomod-Ok Falls would require you to walk across the mountains and it's quite challenging especially if you just came from a cave connection tour (and if you did not stretch LOL). You'll also come across some houses there and since it would take few hours before your reach the actual falls, you have to bring a bottle of water, jacket, and also a stick to support you when you're already tired walking.

Fee: Php 500.00/1-7 pax + Php 10.00/pax for the barangay fee + Php 500.00-Php 600.00 for the transportation (divide it depending on how many are you in the group) which is needed in order for you to get back to the town. Total per person for a group of 5 is around Php 210.00.

#4 - Marlboro Hills + Blue Soil Trek

Sagada became famous because of the movie "That thing called tadhana" as it showcased the beautiful Kiltepan Peak (which is temporarily closed as far as I know) so let's focus on Marlboro Hills. Compared to Kiltepan, Marlboro would show a 360 degrees view of the sea of clouds. You can go through hills by hills and literally touch the clouds. Availing the Blue Soild Trek is optional and if you are the type of person who loves to hike, then this one's a good catch. Otherwise, you can just avail the Marlboro Hills without the Blue Soil Trek for a lesser fee.

Fee: Php 1,600.00 for 1-5 pax and Php 1300 per additional person. Two-way transportation fee is Php 1,350 (optional)

Other tourist spots to visit:

• Kiltepan Peak (I'm not sure tho if this is open for public again)
• Orange Picking at Rock Farm
• Sagada Pottery

Other pictures that I took in Sagada

And that's it! Your quick and brief guide for your Sagada trip. I hope you would enjoy the attractions and foods there. Please always be reminded to keep the town clean and avoid making noises especially at night, and the most important thing of all, always respect the locals especially the elders.

I will post another entry to provide you a sample Sagada itinerary.

Enjoy and have a safe trip!