SAGADA, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE – Sagada is a small town in Mountain Province, Philippines, and a municipality in the Cordillera Administrative Region where most cold places in the country can be found. I first visited Sagada in 2011 and explored Sumaguing Cave and Bomod-Ok Falls on a 3-day trip with my cousin. Since then, I had been to Sagada four times with friends for spelunking and hiking, and three times alone for meditation. Sagada is a 12-hour bus ride or a 10-hour car ride from Manila and once you reached Benguet, you will be amazed throughout the trip to Mountain Province. You will see a lot of rice terraces, trees, creeks, falls, and even some rock formations.
Once you arrived in Sagada, make sure to register your stay and itinerary in its Municipal Hall. This is to protect and respect its local ordinances and would give visitors a sense of security since you are acknowledged to be in the vicinity of Sagada. You can also find different tour packages that local tour guides are offering in the Municipal Hall and in Saggas Office. Some of the popular tourist attractions in Sagada are Sumaguing-Lumiang Caves, The Hanging Coffins in Echo Valley, Bomod-Ok Falls, Pongas Falls, Sunrise in Kiltepan, and Sunset in Lake Danum.
Spelunking in Sumaguing Cave is the best experience you can get especially if you are just a beginner. The rock formations and majestic colours inside the cave are so worth it. It will take you 3-4 hours, depending on your pace and grip, to finish this adventure. Although, there are some parts inside the cave where rocks are not that slippery. It is advisable to use headlamps if you want to maximise your adventure inside the cave as it would be easier for you to move around without depending on the tour guide’s lamp. You can also try the cave connection spelunking, which includes the Lumiang Burial Cave. You can see several ancient coffins at the entrance of the cave. The cave connection adventure usually takes 4-5 hours since there are more obstacles, water, small passages, and ropes involve.
Bomod-Ok Falls
Pongas Falls
If you want to have a relaxing walk nearby, you may consider getting the short tour to see the popular hanging coffins and hear your voice echoing as you shout in The Echo Valley. There are some other places and things that you will see in this short walk like the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. In 2017, I did a short hike in the Echo Valley and noticed that there was a rock-climbing activity available there, but I didn’t inquire about its fees.
The Kiltepan Viewpoint
Lake Danum
If you are not looking for an adventure, you can just go to Kiltepan Viewpoint and wait for the sunrise as this is one of the best spots to see the sunrise. If it is hard for you to wake up early, you can go to Lake Danum and wait for the sunset. You can also have a picnic or ask a local guide for a specialty dish in Sagada then have your dinner in the lake with a bonfire. You can also try the local cafes and restaurants to unwind and eat. Here are some of the local cafes and restaurants that I had tried before but still looking forward to trying some other dishes on their menu. My all-time favourite is the Gaia Café and Crafts because you can borrow books while enjoying their organic and naturally-grown food.
Gaia Café and Crafts
Sagada Brew
Sagada Lemon Pie House