dark_horse Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 The 5-minute briefing on Sagada — the Cordillera's most atmospheric mountain town. Hanging coffins on Echo Valley cliffs, Sumaguing Cave's underground river crawl, Kiltepan sunrise over the rice terraces, and the country's strongest mountain food scene. The 12-hour Manila trip that affluent Filipinos make at least once. Sagada sits at 1,500–1,800 m elevation in Mountain Province in the heart of the Cordillera. The town is famous for the hanging coffins on the cliffs of Echo Valley (the Kankana-ey Igorot traditional burial practice, still observed by elders), Sumaguing Cave (the country's signature spelunking experience), Kiltepan sunrise over the rice terraces, and a mountain food scene built around Sagada lemon, Sagada coffee, and traditional Igorot dishes. The town gained mainstream popularity after the 2014 Filipino film That Thing Called Tadhana — it's been a busy weekend destination for affluent Manileños and the Cordillera circuit's anchor stop ever since. For broader Cordillera trip planning (combining Baguio + Sagada + Banaue + Kalinga), see the Cordillera Travel Guide parent thread. Why Sagada matters (and how it differs from Baguio and Banaue) The Cordillera's three Big Three destinations have distinct identities: Sagada = atmospheric mountain town, hanging coffins, caves, indigenous Igorot culture still actively lived. The contemplative pick. Baguio City = the summer capital, urban Cordillera, family-friendly, easiest access from Manila (4–6 hr drive). Banaue Rice Terraces = the UNESCO World Heritage rice terraces, the postcard scene. Pilgrimage destination. Most affluent visitors combine all three across a 5–7 night Cordillera trip. If you only have time for one and want the atmospheric mountain experience, Sagada is the choice. The hanging coffins of Echo Valley The Kankana-ey Igorot practice of suspending coffins on limestone cliffs is the headline cultural experience: Echo Valley — short 30-minute hike from the town center past the Anglican church. Coffins are visible from a designated viewing area; no climbing required. Local guides are required — register at the Sagada Tourism Office. Hiring a guide is both regulation and proper respect (these are active burial sites, not a tourist museum). The practice continues — Igorot elders are still buried this way; you may see freshly-placed coffins. Be respectful. Sumaguing Cave and the Cave Connection The country's signature spelunking experience: Sumaguing Cave — the "Big Cave," accessible from the town center. ~3-hour scramble through chambers, underground river crossings, rope-assisted climbs over rock formations (the King's Curtain, the Elephant, the Pregnant Woman). Wet, muddy, exhilarating. Cave Connection (Sumaguing → Lumiang) — for serious cavers: a 4-hour traverse connecting Sumaguing to the older Lumiang Cave, which contains stacked Igorot coffins from a different era. More demanding, requires advanced caving experience. Required gear — wear clothes you don't mind ruining; bring water shoes or sandals with grip. The local guides provide oil lamps (yes, real ones). Important: All cave tours require registered local guides through the Sagada Genuine Guides Association (SaGGAs). The cave is dangerous without one. The other Sagada experiences Kiltepan Viewpoint — the sunrise spot over the Sagada rice terraces. Early-morning trike ride (~30 min from town); on clear mornings, the sea of clouds settles in the valleys below. Bomod-Ok Falls (Big Falls) — half-day hike from Banga-an village; ~200 ft waterfall with swimming pool at the base. Lake Danum — late afternoon sunset spot, peaceful walk. Sagada Pottery — traditional ceramics workshop near the church, free to visit. Mt. Ampacao — half-day hike for views over the Cordillera. Where to stay Sagada accommodation is small-scale and atmospheric — no luxury chains here. The recognized properties: Sagada Heritage Village — heritage-style lodges, the recognized upper-tier stay. Misty Lodge & Cafe — boutique mid-tier, walking distance to town center. Coffee Heritage House & Hostel — coffee-farm property, mid-tier, popular with the affluent backpacker scene. Inandako's Bed & Breakfast — boutique B&B with character. Kanip-Aw Pines View Inn — pine forest setting on the way to Kiltepan. Bana's Cafe & Pinetree Lodge — mid-tier inn with the town's signature cafe attached. Sagada Homestay — original homestay-style accommodation, the budget option. For ultra-luxury Cordillera stays, members head back to Baguio (Manor at Camp John Hay, Forest Lodge) and pair with Sagada day-trip or short overnight. Where to eat — the Sagada food scene Sagada has one of the country's strongest small-town food cultures: Yoghurt House — the legendary Sagada institution. Homemade yogurt, lemon pie, mountain breakfasts. Always queued. Sagada Lemon Pie House — the namesake lemon pie + Sagada coffee. Cozy mountain cafe vibe. Bana's Cafe — Filipino breakfast and pinikpikan, mountain dining. Salt and Pepper Diner — casual dining, locally beloved. Misty Cafe — attached to Misty Lodge, breakfast scene. Sagada Brew Cafe — Sagada-grown coffee, the local roastery. The signature flavors: Sagada lemon — the local citrus, used in pies, marmalade, and dressings. Sagada coffee — locally grown Arabica, the country's recognized mountain-coffee origin. Pinikpikan — traditional ritual chicken (the ethical asterisk: the preparation method is controversial; some restaurants prepare it humanely). Etag — cured smoked pork, the Cordillera mountain protein. Sourdough — Sagada Pottery's sourdough bread is a quiet legend. Getting there Sagada is one of the country's more demanding destinations to reach — the ~12-hour journey is part of the experience: Manila to Sagada direct — Coda Lines overnight bus, ~12 hours. Departs from Cubao around 9pm, arrives Sagada around 9am. The most efficient route. Manila to Baguio + Baguio to Sagada — Victory Liner to Baguio (4–6 hr), then GL Trans bus to Sagada (~6 hr). Total ~12 hours but with stops. Private van with driver — ~₱8,000–12,000 from Manila, faster (8–10 hr) and more comfortable. Once in Sagada — the town is walkable; for outlying spots (Kiltepan, Bomod-Ok trailhead, Lumiang), hire a local trike (~₱150–300 per trip). Cross-thread links Pair this thread with: Baguio City (Benguet): Burnham Park & Strawberry Farm — for the Cordillera entry point and easiest access from Manila Banaue Rice Terraces (Ifugao): UNESCO Site & Batad Amphitheater — the UNESCO rice terraces, often combined with Sagada in a single Cordillera trip Kalinga / Buscalan (Kalinga): Apo Whang-Od Tattoo & Tribal Culture — for the traditional Whang-Od tattoo experience Vigan (Ilocos Sur) — heritage Spanish-colonial town, sometimes paired in a longer Northern Luzon trip (link TBD) For broader Cordillera trip planning, see the Cordillera Travel Guide parent thread. When to go November to February — the coldest months, 5–10°C overnight, sweater weather, peak holiday season. Christmas–New Year is the busiest window; expect Manila-style traffic on Sagada's narrow roads. March to May — pleasant cool weather (15–22°C daytime), the affluent summer-escape window. Holy Week is very busy. June to October — wet season; landslides possible on Cordillera mountain roads, cave tours occasionally suspended after heavy rains. Insider tips Book accommodation early for long weekends and Holy Week. Sagada has limited rooms; the affluent crowd books months ahead. Cave tours require registered SaGGAs guides — register at the Sagada Tourism Office on arrival. Wear clothes you don't mind destroying in Sumaguing Cave — mud, water, scraping rock. Bring a change of clothes for after. Kiltepan sunrise — leave the lodge by 5am to be at the viewpoint before sunrise (~5:45–6:15 depending on season). Bring warm layers; pre-dawn is genuinely cold. Sagada lemon pie at Lemon Pie House is a non-negotiable. Yoghurt House yogurt is a non-negotiable. No nightlife scene — Sagada quiets down by 9pm. This is the appeal. Cellular signal is spotty outside the town center. Most lodges have WiFi but it's slow. Bring cash — many spots are cash-only; ATMs are limited. Respect the burial sites — Echo Valley and Lumiang Cave are sacred Igorot spaces. No selfies on or near the coffins. Your turn. Current cave tour conditions, guide recommendations, Sagada lemon pie debates, recent road condition reports, accommodation tips, food scene updates, photography ethics around the hanging coffins. Sagada regulars — fill in. — MTC Mods Quote Link to comment
tricy_25 Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 please post infos how to get there and best places to visit.... include also the total amount to be prepared... everything about sagada... u have plan went to sagada?boondockers is going there this coming feb 14 to 18 Quote Link to comment
Equus Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 just came from here last weekend.......... GANDA!!! lots of places to see... and it was COLD!!! caveing... do the cave connection. (not for the faint of heart or weak of body..) sleep in Saint Joseph's.. right in the middle of everything.. nice accomodations. friendly people. great bonfire. big falls and small falls are a great sight to see... Best thing that i loved sa place na toh was the ddrive.. BEAUTIFUL!!!! whether from baguio or banawe... simply beautiful... just relax, take your time, and go around. have fun guys. Quote Link to comment
dark_horse Posted January 28, 2007 Author Share Posted January 28, 2007 u have plan went to sagada?boondockers is going there this coming feb 14 to 18 di po kame pwd ng ganung days... available lang po kami by thursday... just came from here last weekend.......... GANDA!!! lots of places to see... and it was COLD!!! caveing... do the cave connection. (not for the faint of heart or weak of body..) sleep in Saint Joseph's.. right in the middle of everything.. nice accomodations. friendly people. great bonfire. big falls and small falls are a great sight to see... Best thing that i loved sa place na toh was the ddrive.. BEAUTIFUL!!!! whether from baguio or banawe... simply beautiful... just relax, take your time, and go around. have fun guys.dude, can you please post the total estimated cost and your IT.. thnx... Quote Link to comment
dark_horse Posted February 7, 2007 Author Share Posted February 7, 2007 we're planning to go to sagada this feb 22-25.. baka may gustong sumama, onte lang kasi kami... Quote Link to comment
jason5678 Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 The central and eastern mountain towns of Bontoc, Sagada, Besao, and Basuko can be reached by bus or car through the Halsema Highway. The Dangwa Tranco or Lizardo bus lines in Baguio make at least two trips daily to the capital town of Bontoc, Sagada, Bauko, and Besao. No reservations are taken so travelers are advised to be at the bus station as early as 6:00 a.m. From Manila, buses travel only up to Banawe, Ifugao. From there, jeepneys are available for the 3 to 4 hour ride to Bontoc or Sagada. Quote Link to comment
mr.bukol Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 (edited) magkano hotels rates dun? pa post namn na pic. , planning to go there by june pa after my assignment here in la union, how long yung drive from baguio? how was the food there? thanks for the info guys Edited February 11, 2007 by mr.bukol Quote Link to comment
kingphilip Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 ano ba meron dyan sa sagada, diba kabundokan na yan. Quote Link to comment
tawiskaron Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 Just wanna give you guys what to expect in Sagada........ Hope you will like my shots..... Quote Link to comment
tawiskaron Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 Just wanna give you guys what to expect in Sagada........ 6hours drive by bus from Manila to Baguio via Victory Liner - 480php per person6hours to 7hours by bus from Baguio to Sagada via Lizardo Trans in Dangwa Terminal - 220php per person St Joseph Dormitory - 1,200php good for 6 persons pics to follow.......... Quote Link to comment
tawiskaron Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 If you are planning to go to Sagada here are the estimated expenses (Travelling in two) Estimated Budget per Person - 4500phpexcluding tour guide fee caving tour guide fee - 450php (good for 5 tourist) big falls tour guide fee - 600php (good for 5 tourist) note: mas madami mas maliit ang ambag.....kaya dapat madami kayo punta para masaya... Quote Link to comment
tawiskaron Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 (edited) Here are our pictures from Sagada..... First the highlight of our tour.....FOODS!!!! Hikers Bfast w/toast http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/71/74/59/8/859747166108_0_ALB.jpg Yummy Youghart http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/71/91/90/9/990917166108_0_ALB.jpg Chicken in Barbeque sauce w/ vegies http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/61/98/48/6/648986166108_0_ALB.jpg Vegie Rice http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/71/25/66/6/666257166108_0_ALB.jpg Chicken in Spicy Indian Curry http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/2/97/4/6/604970266108_0_ALB.jpg Tuna Salad http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/12/20/90/4/490201266108_0_ALB.jpg Tuna Salad Sandwich http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/2/27/64/4/464270266108_0_ALB.jpg Finally.....ang pinakamasarap sa lahat..... "Embryo" aka One Day Old Chick http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3077/1/76/40/95/86/7/786954076108_0_ALB.jpg Edited February 19, 2007 by tawiskaron Quote Link to comment
tawiskaron Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 The Small Falls, Hanging Coffins and the Burial Cave On the way to the small falls http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/71/80/69/9/969807166108_0_ALB.jpg The Small Falls http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/71/4/29/1/129047166108_0_ALB.jpg Another shot of small falls http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/71/14/22/1/122147166108_0_ALB.jpg Hanging Coffins http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/81/41/4/1/104418166108_0_ALB.jpg another shot of hanging coffins http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/81/50/26/1/126508166108_0_ALB.jpg Entrance to the Burial Cave http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/81/51/61/9/961518166108_0_ALB.jpg http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/81/52/17/2/217528166108_0_ALB.jpg The Burial Cave http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/81/32/16/5/516328166108_0_ALB.jpg Quote Link to comment
tawiskaron Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 The Sumaguing Cave The magnificent entrance http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/81/84/69/8/869848166108_0_ALB.jpg http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/81/18/24/8/824188166108_0_ALB.jpg http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/81/33/58/5/558338166108_0_ALB.jpg The Rock Formations in Sumaguing Cave http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/91/90/87/1/187909166108_0_ALB.jpg http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/91/12/92/3/392129166108_0_ALB.jpg http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/91/21/2/5/502219166108_0_ALB.jpg http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/91/11/89/8/889119166108_0_ALB.jpg http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/81/98/30/8/830988166108_0_ALB.jpg and the most controversial rock formation.......Looks family! hehehe http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/81/64/57/5/557648166108_0_ALB.jpg Quote Link to comment
tawiskaron Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 The Big Falls The ride going to the falls is already an adventure....take a look at this...we are on the top of the jeep http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/91/45/50/3/350459166108_0_ALB.jpg Start of the 45minutes trek going to the Big Falls http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/91/7/85/8/885079166108_0_ALB.jpg After 20minutes of trekking... http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/91/87/16/5/516879166108_0_ALB.jpg And finally the Big Falls http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/91/28/13/5/513289166108_0_ALB.jpg http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3080/1/66/91/29/75/1/175299166108_0_ALB.jpg http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3077/1/76/20/32/57/4/457322076108_0_ALB.jpg Quote Link to comment
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