Sagada Favorites

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Favorite thing: Sagada is no place to make fashion statements, bring a wardrobe that will be comfortable yet light, to aid your long travel to this amazing place. Don't expect the comforts of the city, as the town's simple yet distinct ruggedness is its own charm that makes one longing to go back. Don't be loud and boisterous. Don't look for things that are obviously not available in small mountain towns (like imported or branded cosmetics and food items)

Sagada is a place for you to take it slow from the harshness of the urban jungle. Clear your mind. Relax. Enjoy the climate and the sights. Bring your hiking shoes and use those God-given muscles. Interact with the locals, listen to the unique stories of their culture and buy your basic needs in Sagada to help with the local economy.

Favorite thing: The Department of Tourism is tracking every guest that visits Sagada! Make sure to register at the Department of Tourism in Sagada.

Fondest memory: Caving in Sagada is beautiful! Make sure to bring your bathing suit so you can plunge in one of the waterfalls in Sagada or when you go out caving!

Fondest memory: Hi! I would like to share the experiences in my SECOND TRIP to SAGADA this year. I went back to SAGADA december 8 - 12, 2007. This time I used the route from Baguio. It was a comfortable 6 hour drive (150km) until we reached SABANGAN when the roads where being repaired/cemented. It was a rough and muddy 24 km drive. And from Dantay the roads were more manageable. The roads up to SAGADA from Dantay had also changed. There were signs of land slides. The roads were rougher than the first time I went there last April 2007. The areas was hit by 2 strong typhoons 2 wks before our scheduled trip. We were just so happy to reach SAGADA safe and sound. The reason I went back is because I enjoyed the warmth hospitality which my tourist guides RANDY DELIGEN (09106346855) and LEXTER TAO-EY (09203925882) showed me the first time I went. Actually I was supposed to have gone a week earlier because it was Lexter's bday. Well to my surprise the Local Tourist Registration center was now issuing official receipts. Going back to my trip I brought along some of my hospital staff to see the place. They were toured by Lexter and Randy to the sumaguin caves, big water falls, etc. On our second night we had bon fire c/o our lexter and randy. The night was so cold and quiet and the bon fire was just enough to keep us warm. The following day we went to the big waterfalls. The water had grown big. But wait the exciting part is that Randy and Lexter cooked for us PINIKPIKAN. It was really great. We ate boodle style even though it started to rain. Well I wont hesitate to go back again the third time around if all tourist guides were as nice, friedly, courteous, accommodating, etc as LEXTER AND RANDY. So guys if you plan to go up to SAGADA text or call RANDY OR LEXTER and for sure they will shown to the true beauty and spirit of SAGADA.

Fondest memory: Hi! I would like to share the experiences in my SECOND TRIP to SAGADA this year. I went back to SAGADA december 8 - 12, 2007. This time I used the route from Baguio. It was a comfortable 6 hour drive (150km) until we reached SABANGAN when the roads where being repaired/cemented. It was a rough and muddy 24 km drive. And from Dantay the roads were more manageable. The roads up to SAGADA from Dantay had also changed. There were signs of land slides. The roads were rougher than the first time I went there last April 2007. The areas was hit by 2 strong typhoons 2 wks before our scheduled trip. We were just so happy to reach SAGADA safe and sound. The reason I went back is because I enjoyed the warmth hospitality which my tourist guides RANDY DELIGEN (09106346855) and LEXTER TAO-EY (09203925882) showed me the first time I went. Actually I was supposed to have gone a week earlier because it was Lexter's bday. Well to my surprise the Local Tourist Registration center was now issuing official receipts. Going back to my trip I brought along some of my hospital staff to see the place. They were toured by Lexter and Randy to the sumaguin caves, big water falls, etc. On our second night we had bon fire c/o our lexter and randy. The night was so cold and quiet and the bon fire was just enough to keep us warm. The following day we went to the big waterfalls. The water had grown big. But wait the exciting part is that Randy and Lexter cooked for us PINIKPIKAN. It was really great. We ate boodle style even though it started to rain. Well I wont hesitate to go back again the third time around if all tourist guides were as nice, friedly, courteous, accommodating, etc as LEXTER AND RANDY. So guys if you plan to go up to SAGADA text or call RANDY OR LEXTER and for sure they will shown to the true beauty and spirit of SAGADA.

Favorite thing: People in Sagada are not the smiling kind.. like what i have said in my other tips, it's no longer culture that you'll notice from them but people-character.They also find it a bit weird when you speak to them in Tagalog.In our personal opinion (as everyone is entitled to) the town is not really service oriented, that logically if the town lives and breathes with it, should learn the best trick of the trade:GOOD SERVICE. My boyfriend and i are very observant, locals there love to be left alone most of the time as compared to being in Banaue. Locals in Banaue are approchable and friendly. Favors are not much appreciated, to pay them respect you have to clean up your own bed, follow their 9pm curfew.Noise is a definite NO-NO. Take care of your personal belongings because when we stayed at one of the inns there, my boyfiend's sweatshirt was stolen, it wasnt missing. He left it to dry out at the balcony and not more than 15min we were gone, it went kapoof! We really cant pin point anyone but we were the only ones who stayed on the 2nd floor of the Sagada guesthouse and cafe.So it's better to just keep a close eye on your personal stuffs.You have to eat dinner before 7pm coz by the time the church rings the bell by 9pm,restaurants are no longer available. Do not fear, if you bring your cellphone they sell Load there. Pick rooms that have an electricity socket! some of them dont! like the ones we stayed in the Sagada guest house&Cafe. The best place i've yet seen is Rock inn, but this place is not on the town proper itself, you have to get off the Fiera on the Y road, left goes to rock inn, right to town proper but its not too far. executive rooms there costs Php 1,200 a night for 1-3 pax w/private bath w/hot & cold shower.Once you're there dnot forget to buy the veggies! it way too cheap than in manila.
mmarket day is only during saturday morning from 6am to 12nn.
Veggies cost PER KILO:Php 50 broccolli,Php 40 Cauliflower,Php 5 Cabbage,Php 50 Red rice
Php 20 Carrotts,

Fondest memory: SPELUNKING TRIP:
REMINDER: hold on to you OWN camera, my boyfriends digicam fell off,dipped in water, we could've accepted it more if my boyfriend was the one who droppped it, but it was our tourguide.My boyfriend was nice enough to just let it pass since it wasnt easy to hold things while holding on to ropes and sticking your skin on walls. Bring your flashlight, i wore shorts inside the cave but i would suggest you wear waterproof pants like my boyfriend's Northface, it protected him from bloody scrathes. I had bruises on my legs and some scrathes on my arm. I just wished that we were told on what to really expect before we were thrown over there.In other words, tourguides would not forewarn you.it's a serious thing when you go inside you can EASILY bump your head and fall or kill yourself inside. Ofcourse what we are saying: is from a beginners point of view.

Fondest memory: you can reach sagada via baguio. and you can go back to manila via bontoc, then a jeepney ride to banaue (to see the famous rice terraces), a jeepney ride to nueva viscaya, and finally a bus ride to manila. its a 12 hour travel going back.

Favorite thing: I love the mornings of sagada. Everything look so fresh and full of life. That's like the most unforgetable morning walk i ever had.

Fondest memory: Bonn fires and wines and stories about history and folktales and new friends, put them all together... :D i'll definitely go back to learn more about the place.

Favorite thing: Well probably the single most activity that I'd ask someone to do when one goes to sagada is to DISCOVER and SURVIVE SAGADA. My friends and I went there last April 1 - 4, 2007 and as what others have to do upon arrival is the register at the municipal hall. Pay Php 10.00 per tourist and the municipal hall will issue you an "OFFICIAL RECEIPT". We walked down the road and saw the office of well abled, skilled and courteous guides from SAGGAS (SAGADA GENUINE GUIDES ASSOCIATION) formerly known as ASSOCIATION OF SAGADA TOUR GUIDES. Well for a fixed rate depending on where you want to go, our guides LESTER TAO-EY (09203925882) AND RANDY DELIGEN (09106346855) brought us to the big falls and the sumaguing cave, the echo valley, the church, the hanging coffins, and the burial caves. At the caves not only did we see their skills in ably guiding and assisting the us around the caves but their complete grasp in the history of sagada. Sagada is such a nice place to visit. Go aroUnd and see al the interesting places in SAGADA. I STRONGLY suggest that when you go to sagada, avail of the services of a DULY ACCREDITED TOURIST. Try the SAGGAS (FORMERLY THE ASSOCIATION OF SAGADA TOUR GUIDES) and make your stay at SAGADA most enjoyable and memorable. Their motto" GUEST SATISFACTION!!!!