Visit Sagada

Please Read This First: :) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): (Almost Everything You Need To Know)

Benj — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:50:18 +0000

Visit Sagada is your one-stop resource website for everything that has everything to do with Sagada.

Here’s the Sagada Super Post. Almost everything you know for planning your very own cost-efficient, organized and fun Do-It-Yourself Sagada getaway is here. If you don’t find it here, email us at team@visitsagada *dot* com

Think of this post as a table of contents that would tie together almost all the entries that we have here.

How do I get to Sagada?

Via the Manila – Baguio City – Sagada route (Visit Sagada recommends this route)
Via the Manila – Banaue – Sagada route
Via the Manila – Bontoc – Sagada route

What are the places to see and the things to do?

How do I see the sights and places of interest?

Where can we stay in Sagada?

Residential Lodge – Visit Sagada highly recommends this.
George Guesthouse

Budget for Sagada? How many days?

Going to Sagada during the rainy season

Benj — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 06:16:00 +0000

June is the beginning of the rainy season and if you believe the the PAGASA’s announcements, summer is officially over and we could all look forward to our usual smattering of typhoons. Since it’s impossible to predict the probability of rain weeks in advance, I advise travelers to Sagada to keep looking at weather reports and forecasts. Buses to Sagada will still go regardless of what storm signal is raised as long as roads are still passable.

Happy (and safe) travels, everyone!

Marlboro Country

Benj — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 10:46:41 +0000

I was lucky enough to see Marlboro Country for the first time last August when I went on a trip with a few friends. Marlboro Country was named as such due to its very hilly terrain and the novelty of having wild horses in the valleys surrounding it. GMA 7’s Howie Severino even ran a story on the origin and fate that awaits these noble steeds.

Marlboro Country is a thirty minute hike from a drop off point in Lamangan. It’s a fairly easy walk and you would be definitely enamored with the tall trees that line the marked path to a central clearing. You’ll know that you’re at the end of the trail when the entire panorama opens up and just surprises you with a full 360 view of the mountains, hills and terraces nearby. It’s almost like being at a mountain summit.

It’s perfect for those who want to sit by the cliff and just reflect. It’s also a good place for photographers.

You can hire a guide from the tourism office for 600 pesos to take you to Marlboro Country. This is the rate if you’re traveling as a group of ten or less so you definitely make the most out of it with more people that you have on board. You can also rent a van for 450. Here’s the list of other rates: Sagada tours and rates

Visit Sagada @ Ignite Manila

Benj — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:49:44 +0000

I was a presenter at the recently held Ignite Manila at Bonifacio High Street. Sixteen individuals shared sixteen impassioned talks on things that they really love. There were talks about music, sports, science, philosophy and even health concerns. I spoke seventh and you would expect; I professed my undying love for Sagada.

The Ignite series is on going on six continents and over 60 cities this week!

It was a very successful venture. Congratulations to all the speakers and of course, to RYAN TANI for this great event! Arsonists unite!

Incident Report: Encounter At Mainit, Bontoc

Benj — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:37:38 +0000

Inquirer reported today that there was a lethal armed clash between communist rebels and government forces near baranggay Mainit. The baranggay is under the jurisdiction of the provincial capital of Mountain Province Bontoc despite being over an hour away by jeepney. There are only two trips daily in and out of the place.

To give you an idea, Baranggay Mainit is still almost three hours away from Sagada by car. As a precaution though, officials have decided to make the Bomod-ok Falls in Baranggay Aguid off limits to visitors for now.

Sagada is peaceful as ever and the authorities are definitely trying to get on top of the situation against the NPA.

The Sagada Bonfire And The Sagada Hymn

Benj — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:37:16 +0000

A massive bonfire was hosted and organized by the well-respected Sagada Genuine Guides Association last December 28. Gareth (the rockstar tour guide himself) took many photos and the images could be seen on their Multiply and Blogspot site. The atmosphere is just electric. Night life isn’t a phrase that one would usually relate with Sagada but this bonfire was an absolute party! Nevermind that it ended rather early for most people (they still have trekking to do!) but attending it sure was a blast.

It was a night filled with great food, great music, snippets of Sagada and Mountain Province culture as well dancing around the fire. The great Kiltepan viewpoint was a perfect venue for that fog-riddled event. It was just an amazing experience that was perfect for a once-a-year event. I’m sure the over 200 people who showed up would agree.

And yes, as luck would have it – I was the first one to sign up for the bonfire. hehe.

—

I was quite embarrassed to be unaware of the existence of a Sagada hymn. It was sung towards the end of the party and luckily, there’s Globe 3G (I KNOW!) at Kiltepan.

Beyond those travelled hills of the North
Lies my home all laden with pines
Amidst the soft and silken touch
Of morning mist I lay my prayers before thy shrine
My thanks to Thee my love dressed in green
My paradise unforseen
My thanks to Thee who spawned my life
Sagada, Sagada you’ll always be mine

With you I believe
In my life I can live
With you I will share
What I have without care

Isnan ad-adawi ay bilbilig
Isdi nan i-itaw tet-ewa
Kaneg isnan kankanaenda ay Shangrila
Menlowalowak ken sik-a
Madaydayaw ka’y Ili, natalna
Umeyak ay m’id egyat na
Salamat ’snan Diyos ay nanapo
‘Snan Sagada, Sagada kokowak enggana

Ken sik-a mamatiyak
Isnan biag matagowak
Ken sik-a makibingayak
M’id balina isnan kowak
(Repeat first stanza)

Source

Sagada: How Safe Is It?

Benj — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:38:28 +0000

Q: How are the roads? Are they safe to drive after the typhoons?

Interestingly, the roads are just as good if not better since Typhoon Parma (Pepeng). It seems like the government have stepped up in improving the roads since the landslides a few months ago.

Q: How is the peace and order situation?

While the tranquil surroundings might lull you into a sense of security, always have your guard up. Though the small size of the town usually deters bad elements from trying their ways, there are occasional offenses such as petty theft and similar events. The best way to have peace of mind in this scenario is to secure your belongings at all times or better, don’t bring unnecessary gadgets, jewelry and electronics with you. Always have your money, camera and phone with you.

December Updates: Road Status and Peak Season Travel

Benj — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:54:36 +0000

First and foremost, sorry if we haven’t been replying to all emails and comments. We have been very busy the past few weeks. I was in Sagada from December 27-30 and if you saw a guy in a Team Philippines track jacket during the bonfire, that’s probably me.

Moving on, here are the things that you have to know:

1. The roads are fine. In terms of actual travel time, the situation has now normalized. We clocked in at just under six hours during our trip back and that inclues the two mandatory stops at Sabangan and Atok. You will see the damage and the destruction left by the typhoons due to the landslides, but as far as traveling goes, it’s absolutely back to pre-Parma levels.

2. Late December is one of the best times to go. There was hardly any rain while I was there and the bonfire event by the Sagada Genuine Guides Association was a surefire highlight. For people who want to experience another side of Sagada (aside from the peace and quiet side), having the “pilgrimage”/ Woodstock environment of ther post-Christmas period can be quite a shift.

3. The fares are still the same – 440 for the Manila to Baguio bus (Victory) and 220 for the Baguio to Sagada bus (Lizardo).

For questions, please post on this threat. thanks.

Sagada Twitter For Updates

Benj — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:41:07 +0000

Sagada.org is running a Twitter account that could be useful for people traveling to Sagada. I assume that the person/s running this account is/are in Sagada for the most part so they could probably address your concerns regarding weather and road conditions better than the rest of the Visit Sagada Team (all of us are based in Manila).

Follow Sagada Twitter: http://twitter.com/sagada

Landslide Advisory Post-Pepeng

Benj — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:29:01 +0000

As you guys would’ve heard, Typhoon Pepeng (international name Parma) pummeled Northern Luzon for almost a week. The storm dumped over a meter of water in some areas and has triggered landslides and flooding all over the Ilocos regions, Cagayan, Isabela, Benguet, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Ifugao, Mt. Province and Baguio City.

Halsema is now closed but payloaders are already on the site to fix the problem. Baguio is also isolated due to landslides along Kennon Road, Marcos Highway and Naguillian Road.

Expect these obstacles to clear in the coming days.