Sagada Trip During Summer Vacation 2024

This lovely town in Mountain Province was once known as Ganduyan, but when the Spaniards arrived, the name was changed to Sagada. When I arrived at this well-known summer destination, I saw that there were limestone cliffs on both sides of the road, which further indicates that Sagada was once underwater thousands of years ago.

This is one of the most tranquil travel destinations in the archipelago because of the stunning mountains covered in pine trees, amazing rock formations, fresh produce, and a lovely climate. Sagada is a well-liked vacation destination despite being nearly 400 kilometers away from Manila for a variety of reasons.

Apart from the Weekend Market, Echo Valley, and the well-known Lemon Pie.

What else is there in Sagada?

Reasons why you should visit Sagada soon!

This region’s indigenous culture is incredibly fascinating and well worth learning about

Visit the Ganduyan Museum, which is situated directly in front of the Municipal Center, to discover more about the customs and traditions of Sagada. If you are lucky enough to witness their customary celebrations of small milestones, it will be enjoyable to catch up with them. Go to Sagada on All Saints Day to see the Panag-apoy custom.

Panag-apoy, which translates as “to light a fire,” is a special method for people to remember the deceased by starting little bonfires on the ground next to their loved ones’ graves.

Heaven for hikers and rock climbers

Hiking around the town will be delightfully exhausting, with towering limestone formations all around. Explore the Echo Valley in Sagada to witness the hanging coffins, or go spelunking in Lumiang and Sumaguing caves. Do you want more action? Explore Bomod-ok and Bokong Falls, go kayaking in Lake Danum, experience ziplining close to Echo Valley, or take a sunrise climb to Kiltepan viewpoint.

Views of the Mountains

This is the ideal place for you to travel if you enjoy spending time in nature and adventure travel. Your breath will be taken away by the breathtaking views of the mountains and waterfalls that line the roads leading to Sagada.

A reasonably priced place to stay and regional food

You’ll feel fortunate to have both of these if you’ve made it here. You must enjoy in the pinikpikan, regional yogurt, well-known Shanghai rolls, arabica coffee, mountain tea, and the Hippie Restaurant and Bakery. Here, the Lemon Pie Bakery is a very well-known establishment.

All things considered, Sagada provides a singular and genuine vacation experience, combining adventurous activities, cultural diversity, and scenic beauty.

You won’t ever feel lost here

This area has extremely well-organized tourism, and there are groups that provide tours. You won’t have any trouble seeing this location in its entirety, even if you decide to go on an unplanned trip.

Activities in Sagada

In order to get the most out of your trip, this Sagada travel guide strongly suggests the following top activities:

Learning about the past of Sagada. The Ganduyan Museum has additional information about the Applai-Kankana-ey tribe’s history and culture.

1. Taking a culinary journey. Indeed, Sagada offers a gourmet excursion as well! Make sure your list includes Ate Jane’s homemade wheat bread, etag, pinikpikan, chicken inatep, homemade yogurt, and lemon pie!
2. Attending the weekend get-togethers and parties for the locals. On Friday and Saturday nights, join the Igorots for singing and dancing at Kamangwit Eco Park and Langtiw Eco Park.
3. Trekking to Kaman Utek (Blue Soil) and Lamagan (Marlboro Hills). On a trip that begins at roughly 4:00 in the morning, you can marvel at the majesty of the sunrise with a possibility of seeing a sea of clouds and let the blue soil dazzle you with its beauty. It’s worth the lengthy journey!
4. Try your hand at ceramics. Visit Sagada Pottery to get up close and personal with the renowned potters of the Applai-Kankanaey clan.
5. Going to the Hanging Coffins. When you visit the echo valley and hanging coffins, learn about their distinctive death and burial rituals.
6. Following the Waterfalls. Trek to Pongas and Bomod-Ok falls and you’ll be left speechless (both literally and figuratively).
7. Spelunking. With the greatest guides, go cave spelunking in Sumaguing, Lumiang, and Balangagan!

Please read: REASONS TO VISIT BATANES

Where to Eat in Sagada

Treat your palette to some Cordilleran beef dishes if you’re up for a culinary experience. Etag, an indigenous, preserved, or cured slab of meat, and pinikpikan, a contentious meal made of chicken that has been battered alive before cooking to bring blood to the surface, are two that you shouldn’t miss.

The following eateries are strongly recommended by this Sagada travel guide, where you can sample both pinikpikan and etag, both served traditionally or creatively:

1. The Shire of Sagada is the ideal location to sample Pinikpikan pasta and Etag pizza.
2. The restaurant Sagada Brew is well-known for its large portions of pasta, callos, and herb chicken, all of which are presented in an incredibly delicious way.
3. The first and only restaurant in Sagada serving real Korean food is Dongdaemun Korean Restaurant.
4. The greatest spot to sample the renowned lemon pie is Lemon Pie House.
5. The greatest spot to try chicken inutom and etag pizza is at Salt and Pepper, one of the most well-known and historic restaurants in the area.

How to get to Sagada

The tiny community of Sagada is situated in the Cordillera Mountains. Encircled by secluded farmland with terraces, the tallest mountains in the Philippines, and a vast system of caverns beneath the surface, this place offers both an exciting adventure and a distinctive cultural encounter.

Sagada is reached by a tortuous and lengthy bus journey from Manila, situated in the heart of Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines, and devoid of train connections.

• Direct Bus Route
  Coda Bus Lines operates the direct bus service between Manilla and Sagada. Buses depart from Sagada between 9 and 10 p.m. and arrive there between 8 and 9 a.m. A one-way ticket should cost approximately one thousand pesos.
• Via Baguio
  Manilla to Baguio bus service is provided by Victory Liner. Departures are made between 10 am and 3 pm, and the trip takes around 6 hours and 30 minutes. Arrival in Baguio is between 4:30 pm and 9:30 pm. After arriving in Baguio, take a taxi to Dangwa Station to board the five to six-hour-long GL Trains Bus to Sagada.

Please read: WEEKEND GETAWAYS NEAR CITIES’ TOP PICKS

Conclusion

Your amazing visit to this stunning location begins with this Sagada travel guide. It is more than just its expansive vistas and stupefying sights, both physically and figuratively.

One of the best spots in the Philippines to observe the richness and diversity of the local culture is Sagada, where you can also learn about the preservation efforts of the people there.

Get travel insurance in case something unforeseen happens to you while you’re visiting Sagada.