Play this video to see a short photo video of my Sagada trips. 

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Bomod-ok Falls

Have you ever heard of Sagada? It’s a very peaceful village located in the mountains of northern Philippines. For the past decade, people from different countries have visited it to experience the local culture and the wonderful sites of nature.

The village of Sagada is in the Mountain Province in Luzon, the largest island in the country. Because of its elevation it generally has cold weather throughout much of the year as compared to the lowlands. The coldest are from the months of November to February and as such has become a favorite summer destination.

Sagada is indeed one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines if you want to commune with nature. You have the mountains around you, the clean and cold air to breathe, and the lush foliage to remind you of how good Mother Earth really is. There are many things that you can see and do in this fabled village, some of these are:

1. Sumaguing and Lumiang Caves

These are big interconnected caves that offer a wonderful spelunking experience for those who want to get their hands dirty with a caving adventure. Die hard and professional spelunkers may find this easy to their skills, that is why it is more frequented by novice spelunkers. As a best practice, always get the services of a guide.

2. Bomod-ok and Bokong Falls

These are some of beautiful waterfalls in the Philippines. The Bomod-ok is the tallest of the two and is often refered to by tourists as the Big Falls. Bokong Falls, on the other hand, is much smaller and therefore is usually caled the Small Falls. You will have to walk through the rice terraces to reach both falls.

3. Food trip

A Sagada trip is never complete without trying the local food fare. There are many restaurants there, some owned and managed by foreigners who have called Sagada their home. Aside from the local cuisine, you can also get American, British, and French cuisine from some of the restaurants. You should also try the Sagada oranges.

4. Hiking and nature tripping

Since Sagada is amongst mountains, there are many beautiful hiking trails. While you can go on your own, it is always advisable to get a guide just so you do not get lost. Aside from hiking you can also go camping. Mount Ampucao is a great place for these activities.

These are just some of the things that you can see and do in Sagada. There are certainly more to experience, and what you have read here are just for whetting your traveling appetite. When you get there, always visit first the tourist information center. Inquire about their guide services and if there are any restrictions with the places you would want to visit.

So the next time you are planning a major vacation, why not consider a Sagada trip which is guaranteed to be a cultural experience and adventure like no other. From hiking to mountain climbing, from mingling with the local folks to eating good food, Sagada is just the place you would want to be.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

In all my trips to Sagada, I have yet to visit Lake Danum. They say it is best to go there during sunset and watch the glimmering water and the fading sun beyond the mountains.

Now that would be a lovely sight indeed.

I don’t know but every time I go to Sagada, Lake Danum was just never a priority. I guess it’s because I always go with a different batch of friends, all new to Sagada and they insist on seeing the major sights like the Sumaguing Caves, Bomod-ok Falls and the rest. The lake was just not one of them.

Lake Danum, I believe, is a man-made lake but just as the same, it is beautiful. It’s a 30-minute walk from the town center.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I’ve only been to Bokong Falls (Small Falls as people refer to it in relation to the much bigger Bomod-ok Falls) and the one time that I went there, it happened to be raining.

So not surprisingly, the water was brownish from the soil that was washed away from the mountains and rice terraces.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

One of the best places to have breakfast in Sagada is at the Masferre Restaurant. It’s just a few steps from the town hall. I love to sit by the window and look at the trees behind the St. Mary’s Church. Sometimes I could see cows grazing at the early hours of the morning.

Masferre offer sandwiches, the usual fried rice breakfast meals and also some American meals like a hamburger with fries on the side. This is where I see most foreigner visitors take their breakfast.

Masferre has a very welcoming atmosphere, a stylish ambiance with a touch of Sagada heritage. There are black and white photographs of Sagada life hanging on the wall, all taken by Masferre himself. And the touch and smell of wood from the floor, to the walls and to the table truly invites a hearty meal.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

What’s the best thing to do after a three-hour hike up and down the rice terraces and the mountainous terrain of Sagada? Well, a cold, cold drink, what else!

This tangy lemonade is from Masferre restaurant. I ordered it when I had a late breakfast after a good workout of walking all over the town. It’s the third liquid I drank that morning after I had already downed two bottles of mineral water.

Refreshing!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Yes and no.

Sagada is indeed a great retreat for those seeking tranquility and an escape from the urban life. You can relax under the tall pine trees, beside the bushes filled with flowers, on the fresh and damp grass or on top of one of the rice terraces and wonder at the beauty of the mountains that surround you.

But Sagada is not completely a sleepy town. Try going there during one of the peak seasons when all the inns are packed with tourists local and foreigners alike. When hundreds of people converge in a small and quiet town, the peace is easily disturbed. But it’s the kind that is very much welcomed by the Sagada people.

This sleepy town quickly turns into a place where friendships are formed between two complete strangers. This is the place where they share a bottle of wine to warm themselves, the place where they reach out their hand to help someone climbing out of the caves and the place where you give your last drop of water to a sweat-drenched companion.

Sagada is alive and loud. Not with city noises but with laughter and nature sounds.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Sagada is a great place to go backpacking. While I highly suggest you hire a guide, for those who are more adventurous, solo backpacking might be the thing for them. Here are some tips you might want to read first:

Solo Backpacking Tips

1. Tell someone where you’ll be, and when you expect to return. It’s probably best if you leave a map with them, and let them know who to call if you don’t return on time.

2. Bring a cell phone. Turn it off and put it in the bottom of your pack so it won’t bother you.

3. Bring the usual safety items (matches, first aid kit, flashlight, etc). Check first if you have everything you need and if they are working properly.

4. If you’re not sure of your abilities, or have a bad knee or other potential problem, stick to well-traveled trails. On many routes, another backpacker will be by every hour. That’s good to know if you’re in trouble.

5. Learn well how to read a map and use a compass. If you are two miles off route and can’t get a signal on your phone when your knee gives out, you’re in trouble. Even if you like to wander, you should be able to know where you are on the map for safety.

6. Know your abilities. Don’t plan on twenty-mile days if you haven’t done them before.

7. Learn to lighten your load. When you’re alone, you lose the efficiency of sharing the load for stoves, tents and other common items. It’s easy – and dangerous – to become overloaded when yours is the only backpack. You might want to read up on ultralight backpacking.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

First-timers often easily shrug off the adventure a Sagada caving can give, specifically of the Sumaguing Cave. You can hear people saying, “Been there done that, what could possibly be exciting about it?”

But as this blogger experienced for herself, when people emerge from the bowels of the Sumaguing, they feel something short of a life-changing encounter. Some would want to revisit, but there are also those would swear they wouldn’t go near the caves again.

Experience the Sagada caves for yourself and prove that you can conquer your fears of the dark, the bats, the guano and the slippery rocks.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I stumbled upon this About.com article on why Sagada is a backpacker’s getaway.

The author mentioned a visit on the caves such as the Sumaguing and Lumiang and of course, the trek to Bomod-ok Falls or Big Falls as most visitors fondly call it.

Sagada indeed provides a challenging landscape even for experienced backpackers and hikers. That is why a local guide is always required for any visitor who would dare to go farther than the usual paths.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.