Note: If you read the account slowly and imaginatively, you will hear a soft voice telling you to share this to your friends.
Enjoy masticating my Sagada travelogue! =)
Romancing Sagada. Bow.
GL Bus via Baguio. I was either half-awake or sleeping during the 6-hour bus ride from Baguio. I arrived early afternoon in one of the most touristic destination up North.
GL Bus Schedule (Baguio-Sagada) / View from the Bus (Fare: Php220)
Accommodation. Looking for a place to stay is not that hard, walk-in visitors like me could easily locate a cheap inn. For Php250 a night, it was a steal, plus their air-conditioning is natural, wifi-ready lobby and free over-flowing Sagada coffee, distinct because of its strong earthy aroma, drinking it was like tasting the highlands.
My big room for 2 nights because all are booked. (I stayed at Tita Mary’s Residential Lodge, contact her: 0919-672-8744 or 0908-166-1077) Php250/night/pax
Sunrise at Kiltepan. I wonder why people go here and witness the sunrise from Kiltepan? Don’t they like sunrises in Manila or in their hometowns? Will I be correct if I would say that ‘common things when experienced in a different (exotic) place can be magical‘? Not only a handful of tourist congregated on the edge of the mountain to wait for the breaking of the dawn, we were more than 100. Almost everyone anxious to take a snapshot back home to post on their Facebook timelines.
Witnessing the Sagada Sunrise at Kiltepan Viewpoint
Sunrise at Kiltepan. Throngs of people go up the mountain for as early as 4:30 to witness this touristic activity.
Igorots. Can I talk about the Igorots? Yes, the locals here are one of the warmest in the country. Manongs and manangs are always smiling, offering me either a cup of hot coffee or a shot of gin. Helpful and welcoming of strangers, I felt that they were trying to incorporate me to their community. They treat me not as a visitor but as a friend or an ‘ading‘ (young one). I felt safe in town.
Sense of Place. The smell of the cold air was a fusion of pine and lemon, I walked pass small cafés and I would not miss the invigorating scent of the arabica coffee brewing. It was a feast to my olfactory nerves. Then a gush of wind blow my neatly-trimmed hair; I looked for a hand to hold on, and poof, there was! Sagada was a place that tickled every part of my body and I enjoyed it. I also revisited their cemetery. I don’t know why but I really fancy visiting niches and reflecting on how fleeting our life is.
Enjoying the everything about Sagada
Walking pass white-washed tombs at the Sagada Cemetery
Unexpected Adventure. I guess you really have to be ‘out there’ to experience something cool, right? So there I was trekking towards the Echo Valley when I saw some SAGGAS playing with ropes and scarabs. I checked them out and started taking photos until someone told me that I can try it. Thanks to my belayer and to Sir John who assisted me as I navigated the 40ft deeep limestone karst. Talk about adrenaline rush! I really love this experience as I’m always on the lookout for things that not all tourists can do.
Inquire at www.saggas.net if you wish to try this too. They let me try this for free. Thanks Sir John!
Sagada Weaving. How I was treated by Manong Ezra while I was checking their crafts was heart-warming. I just love it when strangers like him share to me stories as if we were close. He toured me inside the workplace where the weavers intricately create one of Sagada’s icon: weaving.
Sagada Weaving
Running in Sagada. I checked out the hanging coffins, the Lumiang Burial cave and ran until I reached the entranced of Sumaguing Cave. It was short but it was a ‘rave run.’
Rave Run: Rolling Hills, Pine Trees, Cold Weather, Thin Fresh Air, Solo.
Cafés and Shops. The familiar shops were still there- Yogurt House, Lemon Pie House, Salt & Pepper, Masferre’s, Bana’s Café, Starwberry Café, Pinikpikan House, etc. There were new additions being built- stores, guesthouses, souvenir shops and cafes.
For the first time I checked out Gaia Café & Crafts*. I have mistaken this vegetarian cliffhanger café to be expensive because of its location. But I was wrong, its one of the cheapest you can find in town. The view of the Kapay-aw rice terraces was breath-taking. For a moment, I was silent, I was trying to focus on the music that the air makes coupled with the majestic mountains on the west slowly covering the sun as it sets. It was also nice to meet the owner Gawani whose vision and manifesto in building this shop I fully support. Plus, they have a library inside where guests can read as much as they want.
Gaia Café view; Log Cafe Hanging on the edge of a cliff; Gaia Café & Crafts; me with the local owner Gawani; Vegetarian Adobo; and Isis, Gawani’s sweet dog
*Gaia Café & Crafts serves organic and vegetarian dishes. They minimize their carbon imprint by not using straws and not allowing take-outs except if the guest brought a reusable plastic pack. Their rice is unpolished giving the diner all the nutrients available in every chew. This café should be on everyone’s list when visiting Sagada. The vibe is ♥.
Chill. On my last night, I was actually looking for some Cannabis to puff before I go to sleep, but I was afraid to ask around. I guess the blueberry wine I bought would suffice and give me a relaxing sleep for tomorrow’s trip back home.
Sagada is ♥. Oh Sagada, you will always be close to my heart. I haven’t explored everything you have to offer but do I need to if I plan of visiting you again and again? Ohhhh Sagada, you are sweeter the second time around. JourneyingJames loves you. Till we meet again!
How about you? Have you been to Sagada? Care to share your unforgettable experience? What’s your fave?
will be in Sagada next week, like your post James, will see the places you’ve been. I’m excited
posted this because sir ed ask for some tips in sagada 😉
Namiss ko bigla ang sagada! :))
Pinakamemorable sakin is also the Kitelpan sunrise. We left late sa guesthouse, mga 5:30am na and we had to run up to the viewpoint para maabutan ang sunrise. Ang aga aga adrenaline rush agad. 🙂
nice morning run then the sunrise, really amazing
Sagada is love.
I will visit Sagada first time in November, hope sunrise that beautiful will greet us!
good luck paula! enjoy
I ♥ Sagada too. Just been there last week and kahit pa-3rd time ko na dun hindi nakakasawa. It really feels like home. 🙂
Would you believe I haven’t been there? But I plan to change that end November. Wish me luck.
good luck tita lili 😉
hi James! 😀 when was the last time you were at SAGADA? hahaha. if only i have read this post before my adventure there, then i would not have let go kiltepan sunrise.. hehehe.. if only id know that was one of the most unforgettable. anyway, there can be second time, right?.. but i promised myself to go there not by bus but by cable cars the next time of if possible, by a helicopter! what a dream. Sagada is just another “bundok”, for me who grew up in the “kabundukan”. hehe, what make the differences are the people/locals and there cultures that make it special, and oh, of course the cave, spectacular sight! thanks for sharing your experience! more power!
november po.
thanks meryl, pa-hitch sa helicopter ride mo
Been planning to go there for a very long time kaso nagkakaron ng hadlang. 😛 Pero sana makapunta ako early next year. May post ka ba about sa Sagada Caves? Pero gusto ko puntahan lahat ng sinabi mo! 🙂
yep, i have a post “PORN CAVES of SAGADA” you can google it.
if you’ll go to sagada, dont forget to eat at lucky’s shanghai hauz located at lucky morels inn, dagdag, sagada(wd inn, resto, videoke bar n mini store…its the best foods in town, super yummy ang lumpiang shanghai nila, pls contact tita lily 09107078175
Sagada is awesome. I love this place so much, 2nd to my hometown I would say. One could never visit Sagada enough, NEVER. You have to keep coming back. 🙂
i agree with you. i wanna go back there soon
hi sir! ask ko lang po if you go on solo going to Kiltepan? im wondering if there’s a public jeep or public group tour to Kiltepan since the van rental plus guide fee is expensive for 2 persons only..thanks! =>
i walked there alone but managed to Hitchhiked along the way. if you want to trek, start at 5am
Hi James,
Are the tourist sites close enough to the town proper so we can just walk or ride puv if there are any? The van rental is quite expensive. Thanks!
I don’t know why, but LOVE best describes Sagada indeed. I just went there last month — my most memorable trip so far.
Hi James,
Nice blog site =) last I was in sagada I believe was 6-7 years ago, and I’ve always to go bak ever since. I have finally made arragemnets to go this December (I will spend Christmas there, can you reccomend inns, or places I can stay? Are there mountain bikes I can rent there?
Thanks for the help sir.
im havent seen mountain bikes for rent. i usually just walk around town. the one in this blog i recommend 🙂
Permission to post James. This is a warning to other tourists since marami naman talaga magandang accommodation sa Sagada…
If you want to have a fabulous vacation please stay away from Lucky Morel’s Inn!!! Our vacation turned into a nightmare after we stayed at their dugyot & crappy Inn last april 18. The owner Lily Bagtang(same owner of Lucky Shanghai Hauz) even cursed me thru a text message after we refused to stay for another night. Here’s the exact text:
“Ok sana di k mgaya sa florida!”
In my opinion anyone within their right of mind won’t wish this even to their worst enemy. Beware of fake lodgings nalang po sa lahat!!!
Hi,
We are plannig to go to SAGADA on Oct 4 2014 (Saturday). We are only a group of 7 and since it would cost us a lot to take an agency for the tour, we are having the idea of taking Do It Yourself Tour. Our problem is, when we get there in Sagada, are there any transportation we can rent, like multicab perhaps?
Looking forward to your answer.Thank you!!!
punta po kami sagada next week…ano po mai-recommend ninyo na pinaka-malapit na inn sa kiltepan?
Thanks.
i’ll be going to Sagada this april 18-20.
April 17 MNL to BAGUIO
April 18 morning BAGUIO to SAGADA
April 18 SAGADA ETA 12noon
April 18 roam with the place
April 18 before 6pm planning to treck/night stay at Mt. Kiltepan via tent
April 19 sunrise view
let me know if you want to join/backpackers mode.
FB: emjey paperbrew
April 19 ETA back to town, before 10am
April 19 explore sagada offerings
April 19 evening stay at Inn
April 20 before 11am ETA back to Baguio
April 20 late afternoon ETA Baguio
April 20 back to MNL
April 19 sunrise viewing