Sagada Post-Pandemic: A DIY Travel Guide to Changes in Mountain Province

Hi! It's been a while since we posted a travel blog due to travel restrictions imposed. And now, we are back to traveling again!

 

Discover Sagada's hidden gems: Echo Valley, Hanging Coffins, and Pongas Falls. Experience the history, culture, and natural beauty of this Philippine mountain town on our adventure-filled travel blog.

 

After years of lockdown and travel restrictions, it's time to get back to traveling with fewer protocols and restrictions. Our first trip of 2023 was to Sagada, Mountain Province, with a side trip to Baguio.

 

Sagada, located in the Mountain Province of the Philippines, is a popular destination known for its scenic valleys, rice fields, limestone caves, waterfalls, and cliffs that offer breathtaking views of the sea of clouds.

 

To start your journey, you can take a bus or drive from Manila, with the trip taking approximately 12-14 hours, or a UV or bus from Baguio City. We took the route through Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, and Ifugao to reach Mountain Province. Along the way, we stopped for dinner at a local fast-food chain.

We arrived in Banaue at 4 AM and stopped to take a picture at the arch before heading to the Banaue Rice Terraces Viewpoint. The sun rises around 5:45 AM, so we waited to see the terraces in the morning light.

 

The Banaue Rice Terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, often referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." These terraces were carved into the mountains by the ancestors of the Igorot people and are believed to have been built with minimal equipment, mostly by hand.

 

After breakfast and picture-taking at the viewpoint, we left at 7:30 AM and arrived in Sagada by 11 AM. Since then, the protocol of the Municipality of Sagada is to register at the town’s Tourism Information Center where you need to pay for a registration fee. After the pandemic, the town heightened its protocols for the safety of everyone around the community.

What to do once you arrived in Sagada:

·       Head to Tourism Information Center

·       Proceed to the table on the right side for Step 1 and pay for local tourist insurance (PHP 50/head for 1 to 2 days stay in Sagada; PHP 100/head for 3 to 4 days in Sagada)

·       Proceed to Step 2 for registration of names and accommodation (Please take note to book an accommodation prior to your visit)

·       The new protocol is step 3 where you need to register your tours/itinerary. Choose a destination on the list of recommended places and someone will assist and book a tour guide and a shuttle for you (Note: It is a must to have a tourist guide when visiting Sagada; price varies depending on the destinations to visit – e.g. Echo Valley costs PHP 300, Pongas Falls costs PHP 650, etc.)

Although they accept walk-in registration, they also encourage visitors to register online beforehand. You may register here. Please be informed that day tours are not allowed and are required to stay for at least 1 night.

For more questions, you may check their FAQs.

 

We stayed at the Lodge Labanet, which is located near the town market and in front of Gabay Souvenir. Our room had a capacity of 11 people, with 5 double beds and 1 single bed. The inn had amenities such as a restaurant downstairs, ample parking space, and a common kitchen and dining area for those who prefer to cook for themselves. They also accepted pets in the accommodation, as long as they wore diapers and did not make a mess.

We started our tour at Echo Valley, the most popular destination in Sagada, around 12 NN after our early lunch. Since we did not take the shuttle service, we used our own car to travel to the destination, but this destination is just a walk away from the Tourist Information Center. The Echo Valley has a PHP 50 parking fee and PHP 10 entrance fee. To reach the Sagada Hanging Coffins, there will be a short trek in the trails of the cemetery and a picturesque view of limestone and cliffs. The guide will discuss the history and facts about the destination after you reached the main area.

 

Afterward, we head straight to Pongas Falls with our guide. 

Pongas falls measures around 40 meters high, making it one of the grandest falls in Sagada. Segmented waterfall cascading over boulders into a plunge pool, reached by a 1-hour river trek going up, which adds to the mystique of the whole adventure.

Pongas Falls is NOT one of the most popular destinations in Sagada but we chose this because it has lesser tourists in the area (we’re actually alone in the area), and the hard trek is truly worth it. During this time, the falls are not as large as they should be since it’s almost dry season, but it is still as beautiful and you can explore more by reaching the top of the falls and swimming in the pool on it. Good thing that the road is slowly being built but you still need to walk beside the hills on some parts.

 

With only a 2-day trip to explore Sagada, we decided to visit three main destinations. Our final destination was the must-see Sumaguing Cave, also known as "The Big Cave".

Inside, you'll find countless rock formations shaped by nature over thousands of years. These rock formations mimic familiar shapes and are the highlight of this spelunking adventure. There is an individual-made staircase from the cave's entrance.

 

It is required to have one tour guide per every five people, and be prepared to get wet and possibly have body aches. We began our spelunking adventure at 4:50 PM and ended at 6:10 PM.

 

Since this was a DIY and budget-friendly trip, we didn't get to try restaurants in the area and instead cooked our own meals. However, if you plan to cook, make sure to visit the market before 6 PM as shops close early.

 

It takes several hours to travel from Sagada to Baguio City. After preparing in the morning, we left Sagada at 9:30 AM and took the Baguio-Bontoc Road. Due to recent rains, some roads were still closed, so we took a detour and were able to witness picturesque and peaceful towns along the way.

 

We also stopped at the Highest Point or Halsema Highway in Atok, Benguet, arriving at 1:10 PM. Expect to encounter winding roads that may make passengers dizzy.

 

Afterward, we headed straight to La Trinidad, Benguet to visit the Strawberry Farm. Since we only had a side trip to Baguio, we just bought souvenirs and left the area to eat at Good Taste Restaurant, a restaurant that offers Filipino and Chinese cuisines with big portions, in Baguio City.

 

We left Baguio at 8:30 PM, but before leaving, we couldn't resist taking a photo of the Lion's Head. We arrived back in Quezon City, Metro Manila around 3:00 AM the next day, tired but with unforgettable memories.

                                        

Sagada, a hidden gem in the Philippines, is a place of natural beauty, rich culture, and an abundance of adventure. From the iconic Echo Valley to the secluded Pongas Falls, every step of the way is a discovery. We can't wait to go back and explore more of what this beautiful mountain town has to offer. 

Till our next travels, let's keep exploring the world.