Sagada is now one of the famous places to visit in North Luzon aside from Baguio City. The cold weather, great scenery and warm people are things to look forward to in this wonderful city of Mountain Province.
5 Things you can do in Sagada:
1. TREKKING
Sagada has a lot of parks, hills and mountain to offer for your trekking adventure. I have a list here that I have visited already and it is a must-see destinations.
- Hanging Coffin trail and Echo Valley
The traditional way of burying the elders of Sagada people is still a phenomenon until now. There was a last coffin that was hung here before I visited last 2023. It was more than a decade on my recent visit, and that coffin is not yet there. One should be a local, meaning born in Sagada with mothers and fathers, who are locals too, are only eligible to have this kind of ritual. One should be married to a local and bear a child. And of course, the elder would have to be good abiding citizen who contributed much in their culture.
To get to the hanging coffins, it’ll take about a half an hour hike from start of the Echo valley. Trekkers can also drop by on small caves where some of the elder’s coffin are situated. You can extend your trek in the Echo valley for one and a half hour.
Coffee stop in the middle of the trek
Another cave in the Sagada mountain
This is a long trek with ascending and descending on the hills and mountain. The sunrise is such a majestic moment to experience with the sea of clouds. The trail is not that hard but it will take about 4 to 5 hours from Marlboro Hills traversing to Blue Soil with short snacks and breaks.
A view from Marlboro Hills
2. FOOD TRIP
An exquisite choices of food that you must try in Sagada province.
- Pinikpikan. A chicken soup dish from people of Cordillera mountain region. The live native chicken is killed by beating a stick slowly until it is dead. This method produced blood to its flesh that improves the flavour of the cooked chicken. It is served with ginger, and vegetables such as sayote, celery, etc.
- Smoked Tapa or Itag or Etag. The locals have a traditional method of preserving pork, through salting and smoking. This dish below is served in The Log Cabin which is famous for their smoked ham.
Smoked pork with rice
- Local beer in Sagada wine cellar. There's a selection of well-crafted beers and wine made in Sagada. Try one of the famous dining restaurant and bar, that serves dinner buffet in different cuisine. The Sagada Cellar Door has an amazing location surrounded by pine trees. If you want to dine, you need to make a reservation. For drinks and bar, it is open with a fee but consumable. I tried mango and guave ale which are both very good.
Sagada Cellar Door bar
- Local Yogurt. You must try the local yogurt specially made by the Sagada locals. There are already few stores selling their own yogurts but the Yogurt House is still a must-visit spot. It has cozy ambiance and serving other great food and drinks.
3. POTTERY
There are pottery workshop in Manila, but the Sagada Pottery place is authentic, surrounded by variety of clay potteries and ceramics. You can have your short training with the renowned ceramic artists with a fee for about 300 pesos total ( Demonstration fee of 200 pesos plus individual training for 100 pesos). The experience is so amazing. They actually deliver what you just made for yourself with your design on it after 3 months. You have to pay a fixed delivery fee wherever you are in Metro Manila for 2,250 pesos. The package was packed properly, sealed, and got my own hand-made ceramic all the way from Sagada.
Potter's wheel
4. STROLLING
Sagada town is walkable to the main bus station, market, and a line of restaurants to choose from. There are some uphill during the walk, but take pleasure on new sceneries that the town can offer.
- Sagada Weaving. For souvenirs of the locally made products.
- Anglican church. Church of St. Mary the Virgin is an Episcopal church where most locals come for service.
- The Shire in Sagada. This is one good pricy hotel for the look and feel of a hobbit-style design that looks like the Shire of Lord of the Rings. It has a great view of hills, and terraces, and a restaurant. You can drop by and try their dishes where some ingredients are freshly picked from their farm.
- Local market. It is just beside the tourist information station to buy for souvenirs, and pasalubong.
- Catholic church. If you happen to visit on a Sunday or Wednesday, you can attend a morning mass in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. The church is open for private prayers.
Catholic church in Sagada
5. CAVE EXPEDITION.
There are many caves and caverns in Sagada. If you want a more exciting and thrilling adventure, try the different cave exploration package of Sumaguing cave. Get ready to stretched your body on climbing the cave rocks with balancing skills and concentration, and dip your body into the cold waters inside the cave. You will be stunned by the beauty of the rock formations that have been tranformed throughout the years.
Sumaguing cave rock formations
The best season to visit Sagada is between October to March where temperature is still low. Walking and trekking in the province is refreshing, and lighter with the cool weather.
To visit Sagada, Mountain Province from Manila is to take a bus in HM Transport bus station in Cubao. You may check schedule and reserve a seat on their site codalinesbus.com or via Facebook messenger. Check out also Manila to Sagada bus transfer in Klook for 250 pesos discount. There are also other offers with discounts on day trips, and hotel accomodations in Klook.
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