Well… I guess most people who go to Sagada would like to see/experience the usual- The Hanging Coffins, Cave Connection, Bomod-ok Waterfalls, Sagada Weaving, Lemon House, Yoghurt House, Salt and Pepper, Kapay-aw Rice Terraces, Echo Valley, Mt. Kiltepan, (do I hear hush/weed?) etc…
Kapay-aw Rice Terraces (you can see this on the right side of the road when going to Hanging Coffin and Sumagin Cave)
So did I! hahaha Well, not exactly, as I exchanged seeing the Hanging Coffins to partake in the rare ritual called “SENGA.”
So after the senga ceremony it was time to see what Sagada is famous for- Sumaging Cave, Burial Cave and the Hanging Coffins.
The famous Burial cave of Sagada
I’m not really into spelunking. I don’t know I guess I don’t want to walk into darkness for 4-5hours. But I was in Sagada and I want to experience the famous cave connection that I always read on blogs.
I was really looking forward for it but then I met this group of vacationers who planned to do the simple Sumaguing Cave Tour. So, instead of doing the cave connection, I joined them.
Before continuing, LET YOUR IMAGINATION WORK HERE, OKAY?
Ready?
Now, ENTER THE PORN CAVE!
The Queen
The King
The Princess
The Prince
For all the rock formations I saw, these four made a mark. These formations is hard to forget right?
Ohhh.. I learned a new type of formation (other than the stalagmites, stalactites and columns), which is called “FLOW.” I love to walk on those sand-paper-like-rock-formations. I really thought those were slimy and slippery.
The Flow
Rates for the Sagada Spelunking Tour:
Cave Connection: Php400/head, minimum of 4 persons (5-6 hours of cave exploration and hanging coffins tour)
Cave Tour: Php125/head, minimum of 4 persons (2hours of cave exploration and hanging coffins tour)
How to get to Sagada:
1. Easiest route coming from Manila-
Take any bus going to Tuguegarao (Florida, Victory Liner, Baliwag Transit, etc) and get off at Junction Bagabag (6-7hours travel time), Nueva Viscaya.
From Junction Bagabag there are buses going to Bontoc (3.5-4hours travel time).
From Bontoc, take the jeepney going to Sagada (45mins.), last trip is at 4pm. Nice view if you are toploading, amazing display of pine trees and fog.
2. Via Baguio
Take the bus going to Baguio (Victory Liner), at Dangwa Terminal, Baguio (6hours), there are buses (Lizardo and GL Trans) going straight to Sagada (6-7hours).
3. Via Bontoc (Cable Tours)
There are a minibus from Manila that goes directly to Bontoc. Call them- 09298194688. Their terminal is located at E. Rod St. QC, near Trinity College (at the back of Shakey’s). Bus leaves Manila at 8:30pm, reserve a seat before going there.
___ ___ ___
This happened during Day 18 of my ISANG DAAN Journey in Sagada, Mt. Province.
#ISANGDAAN is a personal journey and challenge to backpack around the Philippines the cheapest way possible for 100 days. “Isang Daan” is a Filipino term that can mean either “one way” or “one hundred.”
If you want real time updates, you can check my facebook page: www.facebook.com/journeyingjames or follow me on twitter: @journeyingjames
If you want to follow my steps, I have an interactive map- ISANGDAAN Journey map.
hahaha… you really need imagination.
of course sir jojo!
Haha. That 5-hour spelunking in the caves of Sagada (plus the loooooooooong walk to Bomod-ok Falls) made me sick for almost a week, my Mom had to have a chicken killed as “offering to the spirits”.
Sabi kasi ng guide namin, we have to shout at least once sa Echo Valley and we won’t leave daw hangga’t hindi kami sumisigaw isa-isa. I shouted more than 5 times ata, until the guide later on revealed na kelangan naming magpatay ng manok pag-uwi as offering sa mga spirits na nabulabog at posibleng sumama samin sa pag-uwi. Kung ilang beses ka sumigaw, ganun din karami ang manok na dapat patayin.
Syempre, hindi ko ginawa pag-uwi.
Kinwento ko sa Nanay ko on the third day na may sakit ako, kaya hayun, nagpatay ng manok. Pero isa lang.
Wala namang masama maniwala. Pero masarap yung adobong manok.
whew! thanks for sharing your experience.
are they really named, king queen, pricess and prince? or is it just you naming them?!!!lol.
visit the cave to find out! hahaha
nice! haha..haPPee familee inside the cave ^^
hahaha! thanks
the cave! na ang naalala ko ay: “Kuya, I need night vision!” at to the rescue naman ang mabait na kuya guide namin sa akin. galing ng imagination mo huh!
*peace!*
hi james! u could have tried cave connection. iv been to sagada twice, done the spelunking on my 1st visit and braved the cave connection on my 2nd. btw, i may be wrong but the one u r referring as hanging coffins are what they called there ‘burial cave’. or are the two the same? we saw though the hanging coffing on the cliff. Keep safe on your travel..
technically burial cave nga yan, yung hanging coffins nasa labas…
Iba ka talaga mag-isip James.. Like a white kwek kwek kaiba! Ahahahahahahaha..
wahahaha! di ko pa nga nakwento sayo yung barbecue.
LOL James I went to this cave a few years ago but I never thought of those formations as something more than rocks
) must go back and see them for myself again! Congrats pala on your isangdaan journey!
i have a very good guide, haha!
thanks maan!
My friends and I went to Sagada on the 1st week of May!..(“,)..We survived five hours of spelunking for the cave connection (Lumiang Burial Cave and Sumaging Cave), four hours of hiking to reach the Pongas Falls, and spent 2-3 hours of trekking to reach the Marlboro Hills. We will not also forget the Kiltepan Peak and the Echo Valley.
James, this is the best blog I have ever seen!..(“,)..
Congratulations!..(“,)..
thanks gieja! glad you enjoyed sagada too. i dont think kakayanin ko ung cave connection
Hi James! Nice blog you have! anyway, who are we going to contact for the tour? Thank you!
you can see the SAGGAS office as you enter sagada