Sagada

Sagada is a small town in the Mountain Province of Luzon, Philippines. It is famous for its beautiful caves, hanging coffins, and the serene mountains.

Get in
Upon arriving in Sagada, tourists are required to register at the Municipal Tourism Office across the road from the Municipal Hall and pay an environmental fee of. The receipt given is then required to be presented at all sites in order to access them. The Municipal Tourism Office is also where all official tours can be arranged, with many also starting here,


 * From Baguio: several buses a day, starting at 6AM with several trips until 1PM. The ride on a GL Trans/Lizardo Trans bus takes around 6 hours and costs . If you will be traveling on a Holy Friday, only one bus will travel and it will operate on a first come, first served basis. The way back to Baguio also has a near-hourly connection in the morning by local bus and costs.
 * From Bontoc: local jeepneys ply this route throughout the day (first one 8:30AM and last one 5PM) for.
 * From Manila: There's a nightly bus service operated by Coda Lines, leaving at 9PM from Cubao, and arriving around 6:30AM. The same bus also passes through Banaue. It costs . They have a booking office in Sagada.

Get around

 * On foot - explore the beautiful mountains around Sagada. There's a number of sights that can be seen within a 15-20 minute walk from the town center and the tourist office, although the caves can (with good reason) only be explored with the help of a guide.
 * Jeepney - can be hired.

See
Popular sites include: the Mission Comp, Kiltepan Rice Terraces, Echo Valley Cliffs and Hanging Coffins, Sumaging (the Big Cave), Bokong and Bomod-ok Waterfalls, Burial Cave, Mount Ampakaw, Underground River, Lake Danum.

Do



 * Caving: A 2-3 hour cave connection trip including a visit of the Sumaguing Cave, the burial cave/ Lumiang Cave and the hanging coffins goes for for 1 person,  more for an additional person. The group goes in from Burial Cave and comes out from Sumaging cave. Book at the tourist information counter. Prepare to get wet and ziplock all the belongings. Normal caving costs  for a group of 1-4 person,  for a group of 5, other changes for a larger group.
 * Hiking: There are lots of opportunities for short and long hikes around the area. Bumud-ok Falls (Big Falls): take a jeep near the Municipio, one heading for Bangaan, or walk (~2 hours). You are not required to have a guide to go to the big falls, but the small tourist info in Bangaan will make you hire one ( per group). The walk to the falls is along a well-established path through a small traditional village, ~1½ hours total. The village asks for a fee for the development of the path. Make sure to try jumping from the ledge.
 * Rock Climbing: in Echo Valley, near the hanging coffins. It costs per person including all gear and guide fee. No time limit. Two routes: right one for beginners (5.7ish), left one for intermediates (5.9 or 5.10a); parts are dirty.
 * White water rafting: White Water rafting is available on the Upper Chico River, typically from July to early January, but that may vary slightly with rainfall.  The sections of the river being rafted are downstream from Bontoc, except in unusually high water when rafting above Bontoc is possible.  Most sections have numerous class 3 to 3+ rapids and several class 4 rapids.  Equipment is international standard and guides are trained by U.S. rafting professionals.  Cost ranges from /person depending on group size and section being rafted.  Inquire at Sagada Outdoors, in the white commercial building across from the jeepney stop or see www.luzonoutdoors.com.

Eat
There are several places along the main road.



Drink
Many of the guesthouses have an attached bar or restaurant. The city has a late-night curfew and is dark at night, so don't anticipate a night of bar-hopping.



Sleep

 * Residential Lodge: various rooms, no dormitory. cooking facilities, Free coffee & hot or cold water, hot shower, wifi included, lots of info on local area. good views. per person.
 * Residential Lodge: various rooms, no dormitory. cooking facilities, Free coffee & hot or cold water, hot shower, wifi included, lots of info on local area. good views. per person.
 * Residential Lodge: various rooms, no dormitory. cooking facilities, Free coffee & hot or cold water, hot shower, wifi included, lots of info on local area. good views. per person.

Go next

 * The Rice Terraces at Banaue and en route to Banaue are truly spectacular and not to be missed. The road between Bontoc and Banaue has dramatic mountain scenery, worth sitting on top of the jeepney for.
 * Bontoc has an interesting museum of Bontoc Igorot culture.
 * Traveling to Laoag will likely take you a whole day. The limiting factor is a minivan from Bontoc to Cervantes that departs only once in the morning (9 or 9:30AM). The road is extremely scenic. Once in Cervantes, another minivan will take you across the last (and very steep) mountain range before going down to the coast and dropping you off at the coastal highway junction near Tagudin. From there, either wait for the bus directly there, or, better, catch a frequent local minivan to Candon bus station, as it's much more comfortable to wait for the (air-conditioned) bus there, plus you won't miss it because the buses to Laoag stop there for lunch. If you have a couple more days, it makes sense to stop over in Vigan, which is a destination by itself and is 2 hours earlier than Laoag (Laoag-bound buses will stop there, probably before it's dark, if you use this route).