Sagada: Summary, Expenses, and Contacts

SUMMARY:

I didn't stop with Baguio. As someone not from Manila, I have always said that I want to go to Baguio as I've seen numerous movies with Baguio as location, and have read a lot of things about the city. After my vacation there, I discovered within myself that I want to explore our country further. Hence, I truly did not stop with Baguio.

I first read about Sagada in a local travel magazine (I think its name is Go! Just Travel!). After reading testimonials from backpackers, I fell in love with Sagada right away.

We toured Sagada last April 24 to 26, 2010. I was with my workmate (Karla), her brother (Norman), and their aunt (Tita Dada). We took the Manila-Banaue-Bontoc-Sagada route since we wanted to take a look at Banaue Rice Terraces. 

April 24 (Day 1)

We arrived in Sagada just in time for lunch. After settling at the Residential Lodge, we then proceeded to Yoghurt House for lunch. We immediately went to SAGGAS office right after, and looked for our guide, Gareth. There were revisions on our original itinerary, but basically it covered the spots we wanted to visit.

• Residential Lodge
• Yoghurt House
• Lumiang-Sumaguing Cave Connection
• Salt and Pepper Diner

Although the Lumiang-Sumaguing Cave Connection is the only activity for the day, it lasted for more or less four hours. It was my first time to go spelunking, and I have to say that future travelers should place this at the top of their Sagada list of activities.

Believe me, the entrance of the cave is a bit scary.

It was already dark when we exited the cave. Mud in our feet and shirts full of stain, we decided to look for a restaurant which was still open. Salt and Pepper Diner opened their doors for us.

We had these for dinner at Salt and Pepper Diner.

April 25 (Day 2)

For our morning activity, we hired a jeep from SAGGAS which took us to the drop off point for our trek to Bomod-ok Falls. It was not an easy trek but passing through Aguid Rice Terraces is a memorable experience for all of us.

• Aguid Rice Terraces
• Bomod-ok Falls
• Bana's Cafe
• Mount Ampacao
• Lake Danum
• Sagada Pottery
• Masferre Inn

Aguid Rice Terraces

Bomod-ok Falls a.k.a. Big Falls 

We had a quick lunch at Bana's Cafe, and then we headed to our second activity: hike to Mount Ampacao. It was a long walk until we reached the summit (not! well, almost.). On our descent, we passed by Lake Danum and Sagada Pottery before having our dinner at Masferre Inn.

The ranch at Mount Ampacao. Had we walked 20-30 minutes more, we would have reached the summit. 

April 26 (Day 3)

We woke up really early on our last day because of our motivation to see a sea of clouds at Kiltepan Viewpoint. The view at the top made our day, actually. After our lunch at Rock Inn and Cafe, we proceeded to the Underground River. After that, we saw the hanging coffins in Echo Valley. We tried shouting our names, and it echoed, of course.

After less than an hour of walk, we passed by Calvary Hill where we learned from our guide the practices and beliefs of Sagadans. Near the cemetery is an Episcopalian church, St. Mary the Virgin Church. Our last stop is Ganduyan Museum.

Sea of clouds at Kiltepan Viewpoint. 

Inside St. Mary the Virgin Church.

• Kiltepan Viewpoint
• Rock Inn and Cafe
• Underground River
• Hanging Coffins at Echo Valley
• Calvary Hill 
• St. Mary the Virgin Church
• Ganduyan Museum

After a quick lunch at the town proper, we crammed buying souvenir items in some stalls near the bus terminal. The bus that we took at 1 PM is the last bus going to Baguio for the day.

We had a quick stop at Baguio to buy dinner, then we boarded the Victory Liner bus going to Manila.

I was feeling ambivalent when we left Sagada. Given more spare days, I would have wanted to stay longer there for a day or two. Well, some good things just have to end. But of course, I will be bringing with me the fun memories, the newly-discovered adventurer in me, and the mystery that makes Sagada a favorite destination for thrill-seekers and adventurers, and a refuge to the stressed and worn-out Manila-based individuals.

EXPENSES:

I got this list from the site of SAGGAS for your reference:

Spelunking at Sumaguing Cave
1 to 4     persons	500 pesos	1 guide
5            persons	600 pesos	1 guide
6 to 9     persons	1,000 pesos	2 guides
10          persons	1,200 pesos	2 guides
11 to 14 persons	1,500 pesos	3 guides
15          persons	1,800 pesos	3 guides
16 to 20 persons	2,400 pesos	4 guides
125 pesos/pax for groups of 21 persons or more		1:5 ratio

  

Lumiang-Sumaguing Cave Connection
1 person	800 pesos	1 guide
2 persons	800 pesos	1 guide
3persons	1,200 pesos	1 guide
400 pesos/pax for groups of 4 persons or more		1:3

Hiking at Marlboro Mountain and Pongas Falls
1-10       persons	600 pesos	1 guide
11-15     persons	800 pesos	1 guide
16-20     persons	1,200 pesos	2 guides
21-30     persons	1,600 pesos	2 guides
31-40     persons	1,800 pesos	3 guides
41-45     persons	2,400 pesos	3 guides

Mount Ampacao to Lake Danum Trek
1-10    persons	800 pesos	1 guide
11-15 persons	1,000 pesos	1 guide

  

Crystal Cave (Extreme Spelunking)
1     person	2,500 pesos	2 guides
2     persons	3,200 pesos	2 guides
3 persons and above	1,500 pesos/pax

Sight Seeing Tour (Three Spots)
1-10       persons	400 pesos	1 guide
11-15     persons	600 pesos	1 guide
16-20     persons	800 pesos	2 guides
21-30     persons	1,200 pesos	2 guides
31-40     persons	1,800 pesos	3 guides
41-45     persons	2,400 pesos	3 guides

Tourist Spots for the Sight Seeing Tour:

Dokiw/Sugong Coffins

Lumiang Burial Cave

Sumaguing Cave Entrance

Kiltepan Peak

Echo Valley

Underground River Entrance

Bokong Falls

Sagada Pottery 

Standard Vehicle Hire Rates (Van or Jeep)
Cave
One way	250 pesos
Waiting	350 pesos
Waiting (Cave Connection Tour)	400 pesos
Pongas Falls (Suyo Drop Off)
One way	400 pesos
Waiting	650 pesos
Balangagan Cave (Maduto Drop Off)
One way	500 pesos
Waiting	700 pesos
Bokong Falls
One Way	150 pesos
Waiting	200 pesos
Lumiang Burial Cave
Waiting	250 pesos
Echo Valley
Waiting	150 pesos
Mount Ampacao Base
One way (Bitin Village Drop Off)	350 pesos
Lake Danum
Waiting	500 pesos
Marloboro Mountain Drop Off	550 pesos
Kiltepan Viewpoint	500 pesos
Bontoc	1,500 pesos
Banaue	4,500 pesos
Baguio	7,000 pesos
One day tour package for vehicle	1,800 pesos

CONTACTS:

Tour Guide: Gareth

Contact Number: (0929) 556-9553

Tour Guide: David Justo

Contact Number: inquire about him at SAGGAS office

Rock Inn and Cafe             Residential Lodge

Batalao, Patay, Sagada                  (0929) 625-7419

(0920) 909-5899                             (0919) 672-8744

(0920) 902-8608

Log Cabin

*Saturday dinner buffet costs 250 pesos; reservation needed

(0920) 520-0463

+1201-399-2723

Cable Tours

E. Rodriguez Sr., Quezon City
(near Trinity University of Asia and St. Luke's Medical Center;
 right side of Garcia's supermarket)
Manila reservation: (0929) 819-4688 / (+6374) 774-1290
Bontoc reservation: (0918) 521-5790 / (0927) 265-3929
Note: There is only a single bus trip everyday.
          Manila to Bontoc: 8PM
          Bontoc to Manila: 3PM

Autobus
Dimasalang cor. Laong-Laan St.
Sampaloc, Manila (in front of the University of Sto. Tomas)
Manila to Banaue reservation: (+632) 493-4111; 743-3227; 735-8096;
     736-2831; 735-8098 / (0921) 268-5526
Banaue to Manila reservation: (0926) 730-1931 / (0915) 984-9266

Florida Bus
Earnshaw St., Sampaloc, Manila
Manila to Banaue reservation: (+632) 743-3808; 731-5358
Banaue to Manila reservation: (+6374) 386-4042 / (0918) 522-5049
Note: There is only a single trip everyday.
           Manila to Banaue: 10:45PM
           Banaue to Manila: 8PM

Here is the list of entries on our 3-Day Sagada Tour:

I.              How to go to Sagada

II.            Yoghurt House and Residential Lodge

III.           Lumiang-Sumaging Cave Connection

IV.          Aguid Rice Terraces, Bomod-ok Falls, Mount Ampacao

V.            Kiltepan Viewpoint, Rock Inn’s Café Bodega

VI.          Hanging Coffins at Echo Valley, Calvary Hill, St. Mary’s Church, Ganduyan Museum

VII.         Summary, Expenses, Contacts