An adventure in Sagada

Last February of 2010, while net surfing, I stumbled upon Manila-Banaue-Sagada-Baguio-Manila tour package through Travel Advocate.  Some of my officemates and friends were also interested so I booked for a travel tour for six people.  This package included transportation, overnight accomodation, tour and food.  I thought this was a steal for P4,800.00/person.

me and hubby at echo valley

Initial agreement seems well since they told me that there will be no overloading of passengers for the van.  We will only be 8, so I thought it was a comfortable travel.  15 hours of travel on a rough and winding road is no joke!  But to our dismay, we were 12 in the van, excluding the driver.  Some of us must sit on the extra small seat.  I'm trying to ask our guide about this arrangement  but he can't give me an answer.  I called my contact person and still no response to my calls.  This is disappointment #1.  But I don't want to ruin this adventure, so I let it pass.  Just enjoy the tour I told myself.

So here's our three-day-itinerary (this is not advisable):

1. Sight seeing and breakfast in Banaue

After almost 11 hrs. of grueling land travel, we stopped by Halfway Lodge for breakfast.   On this place, there are already some rice terraces to be seen. The weather is already cold.  We were quite amazed with the organic black rice served for breakfast, with matching brewed coffee.  It was a great way to start the day.

organic black rice, daing na bangus, omelet, banana and tomato..but with lime?

After breakfast we went to the a viewing area.  Just like other tourist spots, a lot of souvenir shops adorn the place which lessen the  beauty of the natural scenery.

This is my 2nd time to see Banaue and it struck me like the first time.  It's just so amazing how our forefathers were able to create these rice terraces. If only we can all be like them - determined and patient, maybe our country is more progressive now.

the magnificent man-made creation

yup, that's me...@ 30 lbs lighter : )

shopping started here...

We also passed by Bay-yo Rice Terraces Viewing Point.  This is a mountain with rice terraces and a community.  From here, you can imagine how different mountain life is from city life.

with dearest Roan

the community

I thought that going to Baguio is the most challenging road to travel and I was so wrong.  Going to Sagada from Banaue is way too challenging!

the  high, long and winding road

a differently made  (but nice) rice terraces..notice how far the adjacent road is and how big the rice terraces are!

the rough and challenging road

yes! we're near to our destination

2. Mt. Kiltepan Peak

Another stop-over is the Mt. Kiltepan Peak.  At this site, you can almost touch the clouds.  It's so cold up here but the view is also breath taking!

in level with the clouds

with officemate and travel buddy Christian

3. Check-in at George Guest House

All 6 of us were allocated with a single small room with four beds and a single rest room at the penthouse (disappointment #2).  Good thing the view from the top is nice.  You can see the whole town from here.  It is so cold during the night.

our room at the penthouse

view below..small community of Sagada

the main road and parking area as well

4. A little town tour

While some of our travel buddies were taking their rest, the three of us decided to take a tour of the town.  Never mind if we didn't have enough sleep and will do spelunking later.  The town is so tiny.  An hour is enough to roam around.  We checked the souvenir shops, the well reviewed Yoghurt House and tried the alamid coffee.

All the reviews and blogs were true for this cozy resto.  It looks like a log cabin.  The pine wood furniture gives a fresh smell. I decided to try the plain yoghurt, thinking that it will taste like Yakult.  Nagpahealthy concious "kuno" ako.  After one spoonful, I found it too bland and sour.  Strawberry toppings to the rescue! This is the pure version pala - the real healthy stuff.  But it was good.  Maybe I'm just not accustomed to that healthy taste hehehe.

the famous Yoghurt House

me and my plain yoghurt, which i can't consume all

so i asked for some flavor...this is more enticing

the interiors, with roan and darwin

After yoghurt, it's coffee time!  We tried the alamid coffee, only Php 80.00/cup (so affordable compared to Tagaytay's version).  For me, it tasted the same as other coffee since I'm not  a coffee lover.  Every food here in Sagada is so affordable.  


I noticed that there are a lot foreigners (mostly Europeans) here.  Maybe this is due to the weather and environment here. 

the coffee house that serves alamid coffee

5. Burial Cave (entrance of Lumiang Cave)

Upon our return to the guest house, they were already waiting for us for some time.  Due to this, I was not able to get my camera, change clothes, dry bag and sports shoes (haist!).  So off we go to Lumiang cave.

The place is quite eerie.  I got goosebumps while being here.  Thanks to the tour guide, we were briefed of their culture. He informed us that this is the traditional practice of the tribes then.  The dead were placed in a small wooden coffin, usually in a fetal position and then left inside the cave and not buried deep down the ground.  The design at the edge of the coffin looks like a human face. We also learned that in this cave, only the ones that died without illnesses are being placed.  The others that died of illnesses are placed in a different place.  We saw some under the road, in the canal side.

going down to Lumiang Cave

the centuries old coffins

the end is like a human face 

the dead with illnesses are placed here

We went up again to the viewing deck.  On this site, you will have a glimpse of the limerock with hanging coffins.  It was a practice then to hang the coffin, with a belief that the dead is closer to heaven if the coffin is in a higher place.  I just wonder how hard it was to carry the coffin and hang at the mountain side.

the centuries old hanging coffins

i must have a souvenir shot

6. A very challenging Sumaguing Cave

Now, with the most challenging part of the tour.  You didn't go to Sagada if you will not experience this - spelunking in Sumaguing Cave!  Since I don't have my camera (I just borrowed Roan's), I don't have a shot of all the beautiful rock formations here. 

Warning: Don't even think of doing this unless you have a strong heart, mind and body!  This is a no-no for achluophobics and claustrophobics.

I learned from my friends that spelunking in this cave is a great challenge but I didn't think that it is "that " difficult and hard!  Upon completing this cave, I should have bought a shirt with a large banner "I survived Sumaguing Cave".  I will be having not just second thoughts in doing this again in the future.

Spelunking will took at least 3-4 hrs. or even longer depending on your pace.  It has a lot of porn looking rock formations and tricky paths but with breath taking views.

hmm what does it looks like?

our group

it took a lot of guts, determination and energy reaching this stage

surviving Sumaging Cave

The worst part is when you are near the end of the adventure.  Feeling so tired and with fatigue, you will face another more than 200 steps in going up before completing the activity.

My tip?  Please don't even try if you think you can't endure it because once you enter the cave, there's no turning back as you will exit to another place.  However, if you decided to go spelunking, ensure that you have a good footwear to prevent accidents or slips.  Also water is a must.

7. Sagada Weaving

We started our 2nd day in Sagada here - observing how the women weave.  I took home some of their products.  I just love anything tribal!

another must to be visited in Sagada

8. The Cemetery

Before reaching Echo valley, you have to pass by the cemetery.   From this, it can be seen that Sagada has a small population since only a few are also buried here.

the cemetery..during All Saint's Day, instead of using candles, the locals make bonfires

9. St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church

It was so dumb of me to think that this church is same with R.Catholic Church.  Anyway, I still love this church - its architecture and interiors.  It is so simple and classic.  It was so solemn inside.  I can't even see how it differs with our church.

the Episcopal Church

the facade

mass schedule

10. Echo Valley

The Sagada tour ended in seeing the hanging coffins.  The path way going here is so nerve wrecking as it is on the edge of a cliff.  There is no barrier or any sort to protect you while walking.  One miss and you will surely die!

see how the stiff the pathway is?

the centuries old hanging coffins

10. Flea Market

Since it's a Saturday - it's Sagada's market day!  Yipee, I so love flea markets so I'm quite delighted to find some goodies to take home.  I was able to buy some second hand clothes (ukay) for my kids at super cheap prices.  A roxy jeans for P75.00.

the goodies spread, let's dig in!

with one of the kind vendors

Roan and Darwin seeking good finds

the local produce

another souvenir shop

11. Baguio side trip

On our way back home, we took the Sagada-Baguio-Manila route.  We passed by the highest road.  It is also quite nerve wrecking passing this road as there are no barriers also and the road is so stiff. 

During this travel, I was already in high fever.  It's a very hard travel for me as we travel on a very rough road.

2nd to the highest peak mountain

strawberry farm in la trinidad

Travel tips for Sagada adventure:
1.  Don't book at Travel Advocate as they are not so attentive to their client needs.  We were left out during the Saturday breakfast and was not even told that they will go ahead.  Their driver is kinda reckless as well though he's so familiar with the route.
2. Book for at least 3 days stay so you will not be so tired.  Day 1 should be rest day and town tour in Sagada.  Don't do spelunking upon your arrival.
3. If you are on the adventurous side, don't book for a tour, create your own.  There are buses going to Sagada. First timer? No problem!  Just read travel blogs. You can be guided correctly and very well from these blogs.
4. Sagada is a cold place, so you really need to bring warm clothes.
5. Don't forget your sunblock, medicines, a good foot wear and a dry bag (for spelunking).
6. With the long travel on the road, ensure to have some food with you.
7. Don't forget to try the local produce - oranges, black berries and strawberries.  It's better to  be there on a Saturday to experience the Market Day.