Sagada Sights and Things to Do
With such an abundance of unique sights and activities on offer in Sagada, visitors may never run out of things to do. Set against the backdrop of exquisite natural beauty, with rewarding treks, waterfalls, caves and spectacular sunsets; nature lovers are spoilt for choice in this green, mountainous woodland. Combined with the gorgeous environment, history-buffs and culture-aficionados also have a variety of historical attractions to enthral and educate.
Caving and spelunking in Sagada
Recruiting all adventure junkies! By and large, the most popular activity in Sagada is cave spelunking in Sumaguing Cave. Pitch black in some parts of the cave, slippery rocks and chest-high water, this astonishing cave-system is a true test of physical endurance, however, the rewards for those willing to persevere are truly mind-blowing. For those up to the challenge, going alone is forbidden and dangerous and one will need to hire a guide for PHP500 for up to four people. One can organize this by registering at the tourism office in the town centre. The entire caving experience is about two hours long.
For those who are still craving further adventure and for those who are in excellent physical shape, you can do the more extreme cave route through Lumiang-Sumaguing Cave connection route. This will cost around PHP800 and take around 4 or 5 hours.
Rock climbing
The gorgeous, pine-clad cliffs of Sagada are also ideal for rock climbing. Dozens of cliffs can be scaled and conquered, and this is a fine way to spend an adrenaline-fueled day in the picturesque town. With green, open expanses of lush scenery and only the chirping of the birds, this is the ideal activity to test your endurance and get back to nature. Guides can be hired at PHP400 per person including all the necessary rock-climbing gear.
Bomok-ok Falls
Located at the northern end of Sagada, lies another spectacular natural attraction; namely Bomod-ok Falls. This gorgeous 200 meter waterfall is concealed behind glorious rice paddies and rural mountain villages.
To reach the waterfall you’ll first need to catch a jeepney in front of Sagada Municpal Town Hall headed for Barangay Banga-an. The hike is easily navigable but guides are available for around PHP600 for a group of 15 people. A beautiful one-hour walk through the rice terraces will take you to the bottom of the refreshing falls. Strip down, jump joyously into the cool water and squeal in delight at this natural gem.
Echo Valley & Hanging Coffins
History-enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the runner-up attraction in Sagada is the Hanging Coffins of Echo Valley. Burying the dead in hidden locations or nailed up high on the edges of mountain cliffs is a sacred practice in Sagada. Fascinating and wonderfully intriguing for visitors, witnessing this age-old tradition is truly a one of a kind experience.
Fortunately getting to the coffins is very easy to do. Simply walk past the cemetery in St. Mary’s Cathedral and make your way into the welcoming valley. This relatively easy hike is free of charge, should take around 20 minutes and boasts a gorgeous view of Sagada. A guide is not necessary and the coffins are easy enough to find, however, should you fear getting lost, a guide can be hired for PHP250 for up to ten people – and we probably recommend you to do so as we did get lost somewhere amid the hanging coffins. The day was rolling closer to the evening and we wisely did not have any torch with us.
Tip: on your way back to the village call to the Sagada Weaving shop – they have some cute canvas bags and backpacks with local patterns on sale.
Kiltepan Viewpoint
Watching the sunrise at Kiltepan Viewpoint is an excellent way to start any day in Sagada. 15 minutes away from the town centre lies this dreamy viewpoint in the clouds which is perfectly positioned to take in a sunrise. Made famous by the romantic movie, That things called Tadhana, this spot has become well-known, making it very easy to arrange a van at the tourism office. It’s PHP500 for a return trip and a van can be arranged to pick you up directly from your accommodation should you wish. Set your alarm, dress warmly, pack your camera and savour this magical vantage point over the rolling, green hills.
