PART 2: SAGADA
We set our alarm to 6 o‘clock to prep for Sagada. Batad was a great start for our trip although i wish we could still explore the Hanai Rice Terraces and visit other attractions in the area. If we weren't doing a province-hopping, I wouldn‘t mind staying here for the rest of the week.
There are two ways of transportation from Batad to Sagada: (1) P150 jeepney ride from Batad to Bontoc and P100 jeepney ride from Bontoc to Sagada, (2) P300 L300 ride from Batad going straight to Sagada. We took the latter choice and got ours for P250 each. It was a 6-hour trip full foggy roads, cold faces and mini-heart attacks due to my fear of heights. This was definitely a memorable roadtrip.
We arrived in Sagada just in time for lunch. We were restricting our budget— Sagada was just a stopover on our original plan going to Baguio. Since the only bus from Sagada to Baguio was scheduled at 6pm, we decided to use our spare time to eat and visit one or two sites in Sagada. We registered at the Tourism Office and got a free map (this made it easier to explore the sites even more, no need for guides!) The admins were helpful enough to let us leave our backpacks at their office since we weren't checked in any hotels in the area.
SAGADA ECHO VALLEY
We decided to visit the Sagada Echo Valley and its Hanging Coffins. It is one of the famous tourist spots here in Sagada (and one of the cheapest finds yet.) It involves a beginner-friendly hike and a well-established flight of stairs. After an hour of trekking, we reached the Hanging Coffins.
HANGING COFFINS
It is easy to guess why Sagada Echo Valley got its name. Shout at the top of your lungs and hear the echo across the valley. The valley has this impressive rock formation good for rock climbing.
SAGADA WEAVING AND THE POTTERY
The Pottery was a fun experience. Cheloi got to try it for only P100. For beginners, they let them make bowls. Going to the pottery took us roughly an hour and another hour going back. The bus going to Baguio is already taking in passengers.
I still want to explore Sagada! The Bomod-ok Falls was on my bucketlist, although the lack of time hindered us. Sagada offers a lot of adventures from thrilling spelunking to chill view at Mount Kiltepan. Here‘s the list of some of it:
Cave Connection – 4-hour spelunking from Lumiang Burial Cave to Sumaguing. Tour fee is ₱400/pax (for 3pax and up) while the optional two-way transport costs ₱400/group.
Sumaguing Cave – Lumiang Cave entrance and a tour within Sumaguing Cave. Guide Fee starts at ₱500 (4 visitors or less).
Balangagan Cave Spelunking – Guide Fee is ₱650 for 4 pax or less while the two-way jeepney ride cost ₱650 good for 20 persons
Kiltepan Sunrise – a jeepney for ₱500 or jog to the view point to get a peek of the sunrise.
Bomod-ok Falls – 1.5 hour-trek going to the falls. Guide fee is ₱600/group of 10. Central Sagaga Eco Tour – Includes Echo Valley Hanging Coffins, Sagada Underground River, St. Mary’s Church, and Bokong Natural Swimming Pool. Guide fee is ₱600/group of 10.
IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS
Tourism Information Center: +63 999 400 0088
Municipal Tourism Office: +63 999 991 1801
Office of the Mayor: +63 999 991 1800
Sagada PNP: +63 908 225 8115
ITINERARY & DAMAGE
DAY 1: IFUGAO
DAY 2: BANAUE TO SAGADA TO BAGUIO
Check out Accommodations
↠ Breakfast: inclusive
Batad to Sagada: Roughly 4-5 hours via van | 250PHP | Head to the town proper, specifically the market. You have the option to ride a van, that will get you straight to Sagada, or a jeepney bound to Bontoc (150PHP) and another jeepney going to Sagada (100PHP). We picked the latter part.
↠ Breakfast: inclusive
Batad to Sagada: Roughly 4-5 hours via van | 250PHP | Head to the town proper, specifically the market. You have the option to ride a van, that will get you straight to Sagada, or a jeepney bound to Bontoc (150PHP) and another jeepney going to Sagada (100PHP). We picked the latter part.
Environmental Fee: 35PHP | Once you arrive in Sagada, look for the Tourism office near the barangay Hall. From there, you can get tours for different tourist spots and fix your own itineraries depending on your liking.
Sagada Echo Valley Tour: Roughly 1 hour of hiking | 100PHP | This is the only tour we took because we only have a limited time in Sagada.
Church of Saint Mary the Virgin: free
↠ Lunch: 50-100PHP for a complete meal
Church of Saint Mary the Virgin: free
↠ Lunch: 50-100PHP for a complete meal
Pottery Entrance Fee: Roughly 1 hour of walking | 50PHP | We didnt get a tour here. We mainly followed the map.
Pottery Tutorial: 100PHP | This is optional. We were intrigued and had Cheloi try this one out.
Sagada Weaving: free
↠ Dinner: 50-100PHP for a complete meal
Sagada Weaving: free
↠ Dinner: 50-100PHP for a complete meal
Sagada to Baguio: 5-6 hours via bus | 182PHP | We waited for the Lizardo Bus headed to Baguio City. It is the only bus going to Baguio that time and it will leave at 6pm.
Baguio to Tam-awan Village: 15 minutes via taxi | 70PHP | This is where we booked our accommodation.
Check in Accommodations: Tam-awan Village | 1000PHP | We booked an Anaba Hut at Tam-awan Heritage Village.
Check in Accommodations: Tam-awan Village | 1000PHP | We booked an Anaba Hut at Tam-awan Heritage Village.
Total: 1887PHP for solo-travelers; 1352PHP per pax for 2-pax travelers
DAY 3: BAGUIO
For the complete itinerary, click here.
DAY 3: BAGUIO
For the complete itinerary, click here.
*Prices may change and travel time may vary.
Here’s a compilation of our 5-day trip to Batad-Sagada-Baguio. More on our Batad-Sagada-Baguio Province Hopping.
FOOTNOTES:
Photos taken with Sony Xperia M2 and GoPro Hero 4. Some shot by Cheloi Marasigan | Sagada, Mt. Province | March 2016; Updated August 2018
RAESCAPE contains affiliate links in the website. By clicking and purchasing through this links, I get to earn a small commission to help me run this website without extra cost to you. Thank you for helping a fellow traveler and say yes to adventures!
Read about the Disclosure here.
RAESCAPE contains affiliate links in the website. By clicking and purchasing through this links, I get to earn a small commission to help me run this website without extra cost to you. Thank you for helping a fellow traveler and say yes to adventures!
Read about the Disclosure here.
Comments
Post a Comment