Mountain Province: How to Get to Sagada: Map, Bus Fare, Tour Itinerary, Places to See

Some sort of slightly unplanned trip, or so it was, that we had to buy our tickets at Victory Liner in Cubao and for the Baguio-bound bus rather than the faster and shorter route via Banaue Autobus but we made it since it's a season where many tourists flock to Sagada.

I was afterall travelling with Ferdz, the man behind Ironwulf.com and co-moderator of Explore Philippines Yahoogroups-- the prolific blogger, backpacker and photographer that he is!

Our trip to Baguio was a breeze arrived early in the morning when the cold foggy air of the city of pines welcomed us. We proceeded to the Dangwa bus terminal ( the namesake of the strip in Manila famous for dirt cheap flowers) to catch our connecting flight to Sagada via Lizardo Trans

The bus ride took us around 7 hours of dusty, unpaved and tortuous road on Halsema Highway where every turn of the long and winding road made us hang on to dear life wishing we won't fall down the valley below---after all Halsema Highway claims to have the highest point of the Philippine highway system.

Arriving in Sagada 7 hours later and still breathing, we jumped out of the the non-airconditioned bus to inhale my first lung-full of fresh Sagada air-- the tutubi finally flapped his wings in Sagada!

We checked-in at Sagada Guest House where we only shelled out P150 per night with communal toilets typical of backpacker inns and after eating we went immediately to explore the sights. ‘Twas my first time in Sagada, a wish come true, and it was Ferdz’s second or maybe third.



We went to usual Sagada attractions with Ferdz as my able guide: Echo Valley, Big Falls, Kiltepan, Lake Danum (a disappointment), a tour of its various villages, hanging coffins and the virtually unknown Festival of Lights.

the newly-paved Sagada road with Sagada Weavers in view
echo valley senti mode
Ironwulf tinkering with his shutters
at Lumiang cave

for whom the old bell tolled?
Ironwulf admiring view of Kiltepan
Bomod-ok: the big falls
hanging coffins of Echo valley
The Skull, the one we found in Echo Valley where we also met Manny, another co-moderator of Explore Philippines yahoogroups. Ferdz even re-arranged the skull to have a better "pose" ;)





the tilapia- a prized find high up in the mountains



Travel Information:

Sights to see: Hanging Coffins, Bomod-ok Falls, Sumaguing Cave, Lumiang Cave, Kiltepan Rice Terraces, Lake Danum, Echo Valley,

Where to stay:

You can just drop in and inquire once you get there. You need reservations though on peak days. The hospital opens its doors to people without a place to stay.

How to get to Sagada:

Sagada can be reached in two ways: commute via Baguio for a 6 hour bus trip of Lizardo Trans at Dangwa Terminal passing through Halsema Highway; and via Banaue after a two hour jeepney ride.


Related Posts:

Sagada Festival of Lights, Bontoc