Sagada
Day 0 & Day 1
We started our journey to Sagada Thursday night. We rode the Coda Lines bus, and left their terminal in Quezon City by 9 PM. The fare was Php 720/person. We had 3 stops along the way for merienda and wee break ( Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, and Ifugao). We also had another stop over in Ifugao, and this was the highlight of our road trip to Sagada. Coda Lines stopped at Dyannara Viewpoint. It is a best place to view the famous Banaue Rice Terraces. They gave us some minutes to take our selfies & souvenir photos. That’s why riding Coda Lines is highly recommended.
Coda Lines buses stopped at Dyannara Viewpoint
Banaue Rice Terraces
Mandatory photo 🙂
View when you enter the Ifugao & Mt. Province
View when you enter the Ifugao & Mt. Province
View when you enter the Ifugao & Mt. Province
View when you enter the Ifugao & Mt. Province
View when you enter the Ifugao & Mt. Province
View when you enter the Ifugao & Mt. Province
View when you enter the Ifugao & Mt. Province
By 9 AM, we finally reached Sagada. We had a total of 12 hours of journey from Quezon City to Sagada.
Upon arrival, we went immediately to Municipal Tourism Center to register, and paid the environmental fee for Php 35.00 per person. It was also in the Tourism Center where we took our tour package that fitted our schedule.
We checked in to our lodge, Kanip-Aw Pines View Lodge, to leave our things before we went to our tour.
Echo Valley Adventure Trail & Sumaguing Cave
Our adventure started by 1 PM. We chose the Echo Valley Adventure Trail as this fitted our schedule. We hiked to Echo Valley, Hanging Coffins, Underground River, and Bokong Falls. We began our walk from St. Mary Church, and we climbed our way up to their cemetery.
Most of the tombs we saw had charcoals on top. In Sagada, they are not using candles during All Souls Day but instead they burn woods.
Ashes and charcoals on the tomb
When we reached the Echo Valley, we heard girls shouting their hearts out and it echoed several times. That’s where they got the name of the valley. I didn’t shout by the way. I was just fascinated by the view.
Echo Valley. There is hidden trail inside this forest.
Along our way, we also passed by the climbing area. You can avail this one for Php 450.00, and keep on climbing until you get tired.
Climb your way up to this rock formation
After passing by the climbing area, we reached the famous hanging coffins. 10% percent of the locals are still choosing this kind of burial. According to our tour guide they were hanged above the ground to not carry the burden of the earth, and all corpses were in fatal position as they were returned to mother’s earth womb.
They bring the coffin first before the corpse.
Spotted hanging coffins beside the rock formation
From hanging coffins, we walked 10-15 minutes more to underground river. It was a rocky road but the place was enchanting.
Finally, we reached the entrance to the Underground River. It is actually a cave where the river passes by. Luckily, it was summer already the water was not high.
Once we were inside, the temperature was getting colder. We saw some rock formations as well.
Rock Formation
Entrance: View from inside
Inside the underground river, we only heard the flow of the water and our voices. By the way there is no crocodile here.
We finally saw our way out. The view was so surreal.
Our way out
20 minutes from Underground River was Bokong Falls. We had a rocky way up there and closed up view of rice terraces.
crossing this bed of rocks is not easy
We also passed by the rice terraces. Kuya Pokwa was leading us.
magtanim ay di biro
We reached the last stop of Echo Valley Adventure Trail after 1.5 hours. It was almost 2 pm in the afternoon and the children were enjoying the cool water. I dipped my feet after a long walk.
Bokong Falls
This is how they chill in the afternoon
Sumaguing Cave
On our way to Sumaguing cave, we rode a jeep and put ourselves on the top load. We felt the cold air of SAGADA.
Top Load
Reminder
As we started to go down, the temperature was starting to go down as well. We noticed smoke was coming out from our mouth.
It was my first time to do spelunking. It was quite challenging but worth it.
challenging to go up
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We’re happy that were able to pass the challenge of Sumaguing Cave.
Day 2
Kiltepan View
We woke up as early as 3 AM in the morning because our call time was 4:30 AM. We’re at the site before 5 AM so we’re able to get a good spot. We waited until 6 AM to see the sunrise.
Kiltepan was our last stop in Sagada because we were heading to Buscalan before lunch. The costs were the following for our Sagada trip.
- Coda Lines: Php 720/head
- Kanip-Aw Pines View Lodge: Php 1000/3 persons
- Environmental Fee: Php 35/head
- Echo Valley Adventure Trail: Php 1000
- Sumaguing Cave: Php 500
- Kiltepan View: Php 500
- Shuttle for Sumaguing Cave AND Kiltepan: Php 350
3 Days and 2 Nights: Sagada and Buscalan Adventure…Buscalan Journey
