Leah and I went for a 3-day adventure to Batad and Sagada. Here is the Sagada part of our trip.
We left for Banaue at 10 pm last Thursday night and arrived there at 8 am the following day. Upon arrival, we ate our breakfast and finalized our itinerary at the People's Lodge & Restaurant. It has a balcony at the back where the best view in town can be found.
View from the balcony of People's
Instead of going straight to Batad (a barrio of Banaue), we decided to go to Sagada (via Bontoc) first. We failed to catch the last regular trip going to Bontoc and have to wait for a bus/jeep coming from other towns. After waiting for around 30 minutes, someone approached and told us (there are 9 of us waiting) to hire a jeep instead. After some bargaining, we agreed together and left for Bontoc at around 9:30 am. It is a 2 ½-hour ride of dirt road.
Views inside the jeep (Banaue to Bontoc)
We went straight to the local museum upon arrival since we do not want to eat here. The carinderia where the jeep stopped serves d*g-meat.
Traditional Houses at Bontoc Museum
The road to Sagada is eternally upwards and is another 1-hour ride of dirt road from Bontoc. After arriving in Sagada at around 4 in the afternoon, we immediately look for a place to stay. Since the inns are fully-booked, it took us some time before we finally found a room (Greenhouse Guesthouse) to spend the night. Like what Leah said, Thank you, God! We ate a delicious meal at Masferre's Country Inn and Restaurant (good food) before going to Echo Valley – it is here where you will find the hanging coffins. It took us some time before reaching the coffins since we didn't take the usual and easier trail. Since the sun is about to set, we immediately went back to the town center after taking some pictures (pic1, pic2, pic3, pic4, pic5).
Picture-taking at Echo Valley (Hanging Coffins at the background)
To catch the last regular trip from Bontoc to Banaue, we started the day early. Since Saturday is a market day, we were able to buy kakanin & siopao for breakfast and some fresh & yummy strawberries at the street market.
Fresh Strawberries at the Street Market (Sagada, Mt. Province)
By 7:30 am, we went for a 45-minute walk to Sumaging cave. We explored the cave (pic1, pic2, pic3) for about an hour and then walk back to the town center for another 45 minutes. It was FUN – probably the best part of our adventure. (FYI: A guide is necessary to explore the cave.)
Sumaging Cave (with our Guide)
Before boarding the jeep back to Bontoc, we bought some pansit and mais (malagkit yun mais – gusto ko sya) at the street market. For those who are planning to visit Sagada, I highly recommended that you do so. The foods are great and the tourist spots are beautiful!
Native Sunflower of Ifugao and Mt. Province
We left for Banaue at 10 pm last Thursday night and arrived there at 8 am the following day. Upon arrival, we ate our breakfast and finalized our itinerary at the People's Lodge & Restaurant. It has a balcony at the back where the best view in town can be found.
View from the balcony of People's
Instead of going straight to Batad (a barrio of Banaue), we decided to go to Sagada (via Bontoc) first. We failed to catch the last regular trip going to Bontoc and have to wait for a bus/jeep coming from other towns. After waiting for around 30 minutes, someone approached and told us (there are 9 of us waiting) to hire a jeep instead. After some bargaining, we agreed together and left for Bontoc at around 9:30 am. It is a 2 ½-hour ride of dirt road.
Views inside the jeep (Banaue to Bontoc)
We went straight to the local museum upon arrival since we do not want to eat here. The carinderia where the jeep stopped serves d*g-meat.
Traditional Houses at Bontoc Museum
The road to Sagada is eternally upwards and is another 1-hour ride of dirt road from Bontoc. After arriving in Sagada at around 4 in the afternoon, we immediately look for a place to stay. Since the inns are fully-booked, it took us some time before we finally found a room (Greenhouse Guesthouse) to spend the night. Like what Leah said, Thank you, God! We ate a delicious meal at Masferre's Country Inn and Restaurant (good food) before going to Echo Valley – it is here where you will find the hanging coffins. It took us some time before reaching the coffins since we didn't take the usual and easier trail. Since the sun is about to set, we immediately went back to the town center after taking some pictures (pic1, pic2, pic3, pic4, pic5).
Picture-taking at Echo Valley (Hanging Coffins at the background)
To catch the last regular trip from Bontoc to Banaue, we started the day early. Since Saturday is a market day, we were able to buy kakanin & siopao for breakfast and some fresh & yummy strawberries at the street market.
Fresh Strawberries at the Street Market (Sagada, Mt. Province)
By 7:30 am, we went for a 45-minute walk to Sumaging cave. We explored the cave (pic1, pic2, pic3) for about an hour and then walk back to the town center for another 45 minutes. It was FUN – probably the best part of our adventure. (FYI: A guide is necessary to explore the cave.)
Sumaging Cave (with our Guide)
Before boarding the jeep back to Bontoc, we bought some pansit and mais (malagkit yun mais – gusto ko sya) at the street market. For those who are planning to visit Sagada, I highly recommended that you do so. The foods are great and the tourist spots are beautiful!
Native Sunflower of Ifugao and Mt. Province
