From Manila, there are two ways to get to Sagada. One is via Baguio, victory liner travels 24hrs every hour to Baguio, then from there take another bus ride (ordinary bus) going to Sagada. the trip will take about 13hrs, 6hrs from Manila to Baguio then another 7 hrs from Baguio to Sagada. The next option, and the one that we chose, is via Bontoc. Cable Tours Bus Line is the only bus company that travels to Bontoc, Mt. Province. They have a daily trip that leaves the terminal (terminal located along E. Rodriguez Ave., near St. Lukes Medical Center) at 8:30 in the evening and arrives Bontoc at around 8am the next day.
CABLE TOURS BUS
CABLE TOURS OFFICE AT BONTOC
Since, most of the passengers are going to Sagada, they offered to drive us straight to Sagada for an additional Php100 fare so from Php650 to Pho750, not bad.
The reason why we opted to travel via Bontoc is because it will pass by the famous Banaue rice Terraces (via Baguio route doesn't pass by there) and so we asked the driver to make a quick stopover for some picture taking. They were kind enough to allow us.
Accommodation:
There are lots of Inns and Guesthouse you can choose from.. We booked a reservation at George Guest House at Php900/night for 4 persons. All fan rooms since you will not be needing air condition because of the cold weather (extra cold during night time).
The Food
with Php150, you can enjoy a big serving of yoghurt house's pasta.. plus their yoghurt, super sarap.. :)
you can also check the food at haddeku's and ganduyan.. Ganduyan's sagada coffee is a must.. :)
too bad we didn't try masferre's pancake and the buffet at rock inn.. i heard they're a hit too.. so you should try it.. :)
And the Adventure Begins
First stop, the tourism information center. This is where Sagada guests register and arrange a tour packages.
it's half past 2 in the afternoon so our 1st and only destination for the day will be the Sumaguing Cave (Php650).. Our tour guide will be kuya peter.. it's a 30mins walk from the tourist information Center and the cave connection proper will take about three hours.
ON OUR WAY TO SUMAGUING CAVE
THE CAVE CONNECTION EXPERIENCE
That is one heck of an experience. Very tiring but super worth it. After coming out of the cave alive, we no longer have the energy to walk back at the lodge. Good thing a private jeepney pass by the area and were kind enough to give us a ride for free.
The Great Sagada Adventure- Day 2
We went back to the tourism center to arrange our tour for the day.. Our destination for the day, Bomod-ok Falls (big waterfalls) and Echo Valley (hanging coffins). We had to rent a van for this next destination. Again, kuya peter accompanied us on our 2nd day.
To reach the waterfalls, we have to walk 1 hr 45 minutes passing by the rice terraces and literally trek the edge of the mountain. wrong move and we're dead.. After walking like forever, the view of the waterfalls took the tiredness away. We splashed into the water and uh-oh, it was as cold as ice.. But of course, we had so much fun.. :)
The Great Sagada Adventure- Day 2
We went back to the tourism center to arrange our tour for the day.. Our destination for the day, Bomod-ok Falls (big waterfalls) and Echo Valley (hanging coffins). We had to rent a van for this next destination. Again, kuya peter accompanied us on our 2nd day.
To reach the waterfalls, we have to walk 1 hr 45 minutes passing by the rice terraces and literally trek the edge of the mountain. wrong move and we're dead.. After walking like forever, the view of the waterfalls took the tiredness away. We splashed into the water and uh-oh, it was as cold as ice.. But of course, we had so much fun.. :)
ON OUR WAY TO BOMOD-OK FALLS
GUESS WHAT WE SAW ALONG THE WAY?
BOMOD-OK FALLS
SWIMMING TIME
After enjoying the waters of Bomod-ok, we went back to the jump off point (another 1hr45mins trek) and ride the van back to the town proper. We don't need to worry on wet clothes for it's all dry when we reach the jump off point.. :) we headed back to the lodge to have lunch and rest for a bit. At around 5 in the afternoon we went back to the tourist center and meet kuya peter then went straight to echo valley.
Echo Valley is just 15mins away from the town. We walk passed a church and a cemetery on our way to Echo Valley where the hanging coffins were located.
ECHO VALLEY
THE CHURCH
The Great Sagada Adventue-Day 3
The 3rd day of our stay in Sagada was supposed to be just half of the day then we're leaving for Manila already. But the last trip going to Baguio or Bontoc was 11am so we have a very minimal time and we haven't seen the lake and the mountain we're part of the sound of music was filmed. So we decided to just extend another night and leave early morning of next day.
This time a different tour guide, Kuya Joseph, will take us to Lake Danom and Mt. Ampacao. We had a side trip at Sagada Pottery wherein we met a mountaineering team headed by the broadcaster, Abner Mercado.
SAGADA POTTERY
WITH ABNER MERCADO AND THE REST OF HIS TEAM
LAKE DANOM
you can also reach lake danom from Mt. Ampacao by trekking but since we do not have much time, we just used a car to reach the two remaining destinations.
TREK GOING TO MT. AMPACAO
WHERE ON TOP OF THE WORLD
(ON TOP OF MT. AMPACAO)
That ended our super fun Sagada adventure.7am the next day, we ride an ordinary bus going to baguio.. Had lunch at SM Baguio, visited Baguio Cathedral then off to Victory Liner terminal bound for Manila.. :)
This is a budget friendly trip, with 5,000pesos you can enjoy the whole of Sagada.. :) Have fun on you Sagada adventure too.. :)
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