One Minute High

I came to Butuan City in Agusan del Norte only for one thing – the 1.3 km zipline. I just wanted to accomplish my mission of riding the so-called longest zipline in Asia. I didn't know any other places worth seeing here. I just knew that I wouldn't stay here for long.  Coming from Cagayan de Oro, I arrived in this strange city with no idea where to sleep as usual. I remember looking for a cheap guesthouse where I can put my stuff and rest for a bit, but I ended up in this small cage-like room with red lights and no windows. It was like a brothel or something. I was so scared to sleep here.

I fled and ran for my life. Even though it was only my paranoia but I’d rather be in total discomfort than sleep in that place. Thanks to this 24 hour McDonalds, my safe refuge.

Even though I was some sort of vegetarian and go-healthy that time, I felt like I had no other choice but to order fries.  After a few minutes I also escaped from the bright light and air conditioning, and found myself curled up on a small cold park bench.

I couldn't remember if I had really slept, but I woke up when a strange guy was trying to tell me something I did not understand. I fled for my life once again and headed to Delta Discovery Park for the zipline. And guess what, I was the first one to arrive. It was too early and I had to wait around for the staff to come in. I went to this natural pool nearby and I opened the whole resort. The water was so cold I could barely swim but anyway I enjoyed the whole place alone.

And at last for my real mission here, I was brought to the top seeing the magnificent view of Agusan del Norte. The next thing I knew I was like being tied up in a superman position. Honestly I was so nervous after seeing the whole stretch of line passing through the mountains. The staff insisted on putting some little parachute to reduce the speed but I preferred to be riding fast. My heart started to pump faster. With lots of zipline around the country, I waited for this moment where I can ride one for the first time. It looked like I had no choice but to submit to the staffs’ orders, with no time to chicken out. 

My fear was dissolved quickly when I started sliding.  It felt like I was going to crash towards the mountains, then the time seemed to have gone slow as I was having the most amazing view of my life. Just being there high above, I felt the bird’s power for a moment.  I was nearing the end of the line when I felt the sharp jolt.  And that was it.

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The Dessert Flower

Someone was calling me . . . It wasn't a dream. I woke up to the sound of someone's voice calling my name. It was Jessica, trying to wake me up. It was a bit late and I felt ashamed. Everyone seemed to be up and running, while I was the only one locked in the bed at this point. I had slept a bit late, and I felt like I lay awake for a long time last night.

I hurriedly got up. I remembered that I have to wake up early so I could travel with Marie and Katamtaman to Ibad. They were going back to their village, and we agreed yesterday that I would join them in the boat ride. And there they would help me find my guides to Mt. Pinatubo. 

I was curious as to what’s ahead but my mind paid more attention to the beauty that surrounds me. If there’s one thing I like the most every waking hour, I guess that would be the surreal feeling of early morning. Everyone was quiet as we rode the small wooden boat to Ibad. Everyone seemed to be savoring the cool morning scent and the pure freshness. I was born again. It was like traveling to another space and time. As the sun gradually exposed itself, the fog above the waters faded slowly, and the lake became alive with all the birds flying above and the ducks all lined up slightly visible from a far distance. I couldn't explain that moment in mere words. It’s not every day I get to experience something like this, it seemed all unreal.

After a 20 minute trek from the lake, we arrived in Ibad, a small village in the middle of the mountains. I worship its primitive setting, unspoiled and preserved. There were traditional Nipa huts of varying sizes around, and farm animals roaming freely in each backyard. The village also flaunted a diverse and undivided bloodline, with a few “Ilocanos” and “Pampangeños” living here with the Aetas. There is a whole new world around here.

The curious spectators gathered around me, wondering what I was up to. And then I was introduced to my three Aeta guides - Garry, Benny and Pag-o, all looking tough and powerful, carrying a handmade gun and the good ol' sling used for hunting. This was perfect, I thought. How about learning how to hunt animals for food? The idea seems all natural for me. And that’s the way it should be.

All four of us headed out, passing through the narrow path in the midst of the jungle, making our way out of Ibad. The vast lahar dessert was revealed as we descended from the mountain. It was hot as hell, and from the looks of this merciless landscape, I knew it was going to be a very long hard walk.

We were the only people traversing the bright white dessert-like terrain of lahar, and along the way is a combination of sands, stones, and grayish streams. Benny and Pag-o were leading the way, and they really walked fast, while Garry walked with me as if patiently adjusting to my slow pace. I felt like I was Bear Grylls walking under the scorching heat trying to get out of the dessert to survive. Huge staircases were formed out of lahar, which are quite deceiving, looking like hard concrete steps from a distance. One wrong climb, stepping at the edge, I found myself crashing down with my feet cutting through the gray sand. We were still in the lowland and I had already bruised my knee. What a bummer!

After the first few hours, we had reached this cave we needed to cross. They had expertly analyzed the footholds before we climbed up. It was one unforgettable part of the challenge, one difficult obstacle I surpassed. I felt like everything I hold on to were unstable and that the only thing I depended on were their hands. It was a scary climb up, and I showered with a mixture of sands and water.

Next to the cave, the most difficult part was the climb up this steep anonymous mountain. I couldn't even remember climbing on my own here, as all the rocks I hold on to seemed to be crumbling like an old cookie. And now I realized why I needed more than one guide for this. There were times when I had two different hands as rope while I did the rappelling. Gripping a small tree branch while hanging over the edge, I was asked to patiently wait at this state numerous times . Alternately, my guides cut the tall grass to make way, and at times, they would stomp repeatedly on the loose soil of the steep mountain surface to create a stable trail. When the designed path was ready, we would all continue the climb up. 

This was indeed a long way round to Mt. Pinatubo, and the ruthless path we traversed tested my endurance, almost putting me on the verge of my limits. We would all stop whenever my guides felt like I needed to take a rest. I seldom request for a break as I wanted to get to the finish line in no time, however my strength was quickly diminishing at this point. It was the longest day of my life.

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Lost in the Wild

My team and I planned not to take the same route back to Cavite, that would be boring, and not that adventurous anymore. We planned to spend some time in the beach because water is really our first love after all. However, the descent from Pico de Loro’s summit was the hardest part as we were unsure of the path down to Nasugbu’s coastline. Honestly this was making me worried. Descending through a steep rocky trail is way more difficult than the climb up. We thought that there must be some way down, and once we make a decision, there’s no turning back. So we just crossed our fingers and decided to give it a try, however risky it is. We descended one by one down from the summit carefully doing some backward crawl. I knew that one wrong move and I’m out, out there free-falling in the vast misty space down to the unknown. Momentarily I had forgotten about the beauty that surrounds me as the altitude’s sheer power engulfed me. Let’s play with death one more time, here comes the man vs. wild.

My huge bag really made my life miserable along the way, it made me want to throw it over the edge of the cliff. It was really slowing me down and the thought of falling made me anxious. “Deuter pushed a mountaineer to her death,” a headline flashed in my head, with a posted comment “What a noob!” I’m a half-filled bucket of negative feelings.

The thought of me causing the whole slow down put that much pressure in me. I've tried to keep up with everyone’s pace, patiently navigating the unforgiving track. Never underestimate the power of nature, I thought. And then I realized that we were all alone trekking out there, as the other groups probably have decided to stay in the summit’s base camp. I admire my friends’ instinctive capabilities, in being able to provide clear estimation of the way. This helped everyone all the way through.

United we hiked.

It seemed like we were in a game trying to get pass the obstacles. 1 point, if we managed to move without hurting ourselves. Good thing that we had already walked past the steep trail down. But now comes what I call the “hellish trail”, quite an unimaginable track by my own standard. I don’t know about the so-called Level 1 or easy trek. All I knew was that I’m outta here. The sad truth - I was still here, in this endless slippery path composed of rocks, twigs and unstable branches to hold on to. And worst of all, the existence of this sadistic thing that constantly cuts my skin. I was trying to find the culprit, until I realized that I had completely ignored Bear Grylls’ warning about these ouchy plants. Beware. I had acquired several cuts around my arms and the aftermath looked depressing. I didn't know that a pain tolerance test would come to this point. Oh but should I blame the nature, when it was me who invaded their peaceful territory. I blame it on my lack of knowledge about the tropical forest’s flora and fauna.

I remembered going straight to this place from work, sleepless and tired. Then the nature’s alarm had woken me up, no I was not sleeping. I was alone. Where the hell are the others? I thought. I continued to navigate the slippery trail, and fell a couple of times. What if I slipped over the edge, and worst I’d be left there hanging waiting for the rescue. I knew that I was just overreacting. This was not totally a remote place all right. However, here comes my long lost friend – Paranoia. An excerpt from a Rivermaya’s song will explain it all:

It's getting late

I'm sure they worry

It's getting late

My dear, uh oh

It's getting late

I hear them callin'

It's getting late

Come home, come on,

come home, come on,

come home'

How can I ride?

How can I fall?

How can I lay me down?

How can I run?

How can I leave and disappear?

How can I learn?

How can I follow?

How can I sympathize?

And what if I burn

What if tomorrow

Brings only melted ice?

And for a moment the team spirit was lost. We had gone in separate ways, which was not supposed to happen. My two friends went ahead unknowingly, the other one was trying to catch every one of us, and the last two were way far behind. I’m not good in planning and all, but in cases like this there are lessons to be learned. The team was doing great at the beginning. The buddy system was actually a good fix, though it was not implemented all the way through. There was no contingency plan should everything else fail. We were all overwhelmed with the whole scenario. Some of us had formulated our own assumptions and separate self-serving goals, and that’s human spirit! I should have known. Should I expect more out of humans, or generally do they really care about each other, no this is an illusion. At some point I wished to be left out, and to fall all the way down, and just be with the locals and villagers. Just like the way I used to do. I was stuck in the middle of the forest, and I was unsure of which way to go. I was disoriented that I couldn't go on anymore. And so by the forest ground I sat down and waited . . .

Divided we’re lost.

I’m a bucket-full of negative feelings. As always, I’m failing epically with a group. I knew that I couldn't blame it on everyone, as this is an insignificant personal issue that remained unresolved all these years, and even I, was getting tired of it. I’m glad that there’s a God-sent drug - nature, and to make love with it - ALONE. There’s always demand and expectation if there’s more than one person in the picture. Human nature it is. Let’s change the situation, should I be feeling the same If I was alone, perhaps no. I could have probably been peacefully looking for my own way out of the woods. It might be stressful yeah, and definitely scary. But I wouldn't have any other choice, if that's the case. I would just treat it as a glorious and orgasmic solitary time with nature.

I met one of my team mates a couple of minutes later, and he was alone too. The two of us decided to regroup, and wait for the others. The other two were able to catch up, but it was too late. It was late that it would be impossible to continue trekking all the way down in the dark to catch up with my other two friends. The two-way trail is also tricky. It was like deciding which way to go – heaven or hell. Eventually the four of us agreed to settle down and spend our night here. So we set up our tent right in the middle of the two-way trail, which also happened to be the ants’ kingdom unfortunately. And that was the longest night of my life . . .  .

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Bienvenidos al Pico de Loro

The path becomes steeper and the climb becomes more and more difficult. I kept on convincing myself that this is just an easy trek . . . by the mountaineers' standard. I'm no expert but I've been ambitiously dreaming of climbing other higher mountains. Climbing is a fulfilling activity, conquering fear and battling with the altitude's power - all for the love of nature. It's like there's a nice little treasure waiting for you up there, something you physically work hard for. I tried to push myself to the limits and get used to this tiring activity. Moreover, get used to the mud, the seemingly endless path, the possibility of creepy snakes lurking around, and the risk of getting lost.

A steeper hike in the midst of the forest overwhelmed me, and a familiar enemy visited me once again – say hello to “Stress”. It’s not like when I was in Palawan, where I could deal with my regular guest alone. This time I was a little bit worried of the impact of my severe mood swings to those people around me. Thank goodness though, the pleasant surroundings deviated my mind from the worse effects of travel stress. I guess I underestimated the climb, big time! And now I’m thinking if I really have the patience for this type of adventure. 

The rainy day brought me to a mystical experience, which I consider as a prize after 4 excruciating hours of my life. At last we reached the summit campsite. I’m enthralled with the grand surprise of nature, and the altitude holds such power over me. The clouds blew against my face, and from time to time the whiteness uncovered and covered the breathtaking view of the lush mountains and the vast sea. 

And for another 10-minute very steep ascent, one can see the towering Pico de Loro, looking like an old watchtower used for spotting enemies approaching from a distance. Before this trip, I boasted about my brave idea of not leaving the place without climbing Pico de Loro. However when the mist covering the tower slowly unfolded the view, the tower looks high and mighty right before my eyes. It is really intimidating, and I admit that I kind of chickened out to climb it. I could have probably made it to the top if I was with an experienced guide, I guess. It must have been also nice to be at the centerpiece, with the 360° mind-blowing nature display, Nevertheless, I’m satisfied enough with what I saw.

When I got closer to this huge tower seemingly composed of stack of boulders fastened together by a big hand, I saw some writings on the walls that spoiled the whole picture. The vandalism made it really look unpleasant when you are near, I blame it to some inconsiderate fuck who has nothing to do in life.

On the other hand, I’m amazed with the enchanting view from the base of the tower. We consider this as a special prize for the whole tiresome scramble. The sea in the midst of the mist created such a dramatic scene and a picture-perfect moment. It is really breathtaking. A might-never-again-be-visited site was savored ‘till our last step away from it. 

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Into The Woods - The Pico de Loro Trail

I decided to take a chlorine break, and this time I’m bringing my friends from swimming into the world of wild exploration. We are the new breed of aspiring mountaineers. Reality is, we lack of know-how in this field, but we boast our instinctive qualities that proved to be important in the jungle’s critical situations. The lack of equipment, proper attire and some mountaineering experience made this climb really challenging for us mere newbies. This is also something new to me as I haven’t really tried climbing a mountain with a group, and without a guide.  Nevertheless, my valiant comrades pursued this experimental climb. And so off we went to explore the unknown, to navigate the ruthless path and to rekindle the team spirit along the way. This was just the beginning of our adventures and misadventures in the wild.

Pico de Loro or Parrot’s beak is this tall rocky tower in the form of a giant parrot situated at the top of Cavite’s forested mountain, a dramatic combination of the plains of Cavite and South China Sea.  Any brave mountaineer can have access to the 360° breathtaking view 664 meters above sea level. Pico de Loro’s accessibility from Manila makes this as a perfect adventure for the weekend warriors, and sadly this is gaining popularity nowadays.

For the experienced mountaineers, this is considered as a level 1 or an easy trek. I can agree to this statement during the first few hours, starting from magnetic hill in Naic, Cavite to basecamp 1. We decided to just follow the trail and do it on our own, all excited and energetic with absolutely no idea as to what to do and what to expect. We just trust our instincts. There were some groups before us when we arrived, and this sparked some secret competition. So my brave new team did try to surpass these groups, which I’m proud to say that we did.

One of my favorite parts of the hike was our stop at the waterfall past Base camp 1. The sunshine, the forest and the waterfall are a perfect mixture of ingredients to rejuvenate my tired body and soul. The nature never fails to fascinate me. We had swum a little bit in the clean water, and then afterwards we ate our lunch to refuel our energy in preparation for the second part of the climb. There was this small group of hikers who insensitively left a trace, and the sight of their plastic bottles sadly blemished the scenery. I really have no patience for this type of people.

We left the waterfall with some eco-friendly pieces of memories left behind, if you know what I mean. Then we climbed up the hill back into the woods. And the journey continued . . . .

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El Nido from Above

I jumped into the idea of rock climbing the moment I heard about it from the dudes of the Rickson’s bar, now this was something I haven’t done in my life. And this is something I definitely want to do, right here in El Nido. I didn't even have a slightest worry even when the guys jokingly tried to scare me, telling me about the people who fell during the climb.  I guess I’m pretty much determined to do this since rock climbing is in my buckelist. I was pretty excited to get to the peak of Taraw cliff and curious as to what El Nido is like from above.

My rock climbing guide is a young fella who is patient enough to guide me all the way to the top. Equipment was not needed as there are some ways around the cliff that can be climbed without ropes. I was a little bit scared during the early part of the climb, and I found myself crawling and doing some baby steps. But that didn't last long, and soon I got the hang of it. Moreover, I was consistently commended for every unassisted step, that was my guide being a motivational coach! He told me of his experiences with people who had to be instructed every step of the way. I wanted to make his job easy and I certainly didn't want to be a pain in the ass. It was a good thing that Kayaking became my initial warm up for this. And I'm glad that I'm at least fit enough to do the climb, and adventurous enough to do something dangerous.

I have to grasp several pointy and sharp rocks on my way to the top. I have to use my instinct as to where to put my foot forward and which rocks to hold on to that are stable enough to keep my balance. I didn't want to be instructed every step of the way. As you go higher, you won’t catch a glimpse of the view yet as you’ll only see everything once you are the top. This made me more excited, it’s like unwrapping a gift.

I admired the technique of my guide. He was telling me about his love life and past affairs with some Dutch girls while I was up there cliff-hanging. The multitasking did help a bit as it made me oblivious to my aching muscles and my stinging palms. Almost an hour had passed, and we were already at the top, around 200 meters above sea level. Even with a huge drop behind me, I was busy getting impressed than getting scared. Oh what can I say, I was speechless. It was amazing up there, and the photo above says it all. It was an incredible experience seeing El Nido from above, the hard work was all worth it. High-five to nature! 

I travel as some kind of reward for myself. It’s something that I don’t get to do every day, and so when I get to that moment, I’m completely filled with pleasure and overwhelmed with emotion. That explains why I exaggerate myself as I describe every bit of the world I see, nothing really makes me happier than being up close with nature.

The descent was not as difficult, I was taught do the backward climb as an easy technique when I find myself in some steep area. I was happy to know that we did the climb in less time as expected, not bad for the first timer eh? I think rock climbing is a rewarding activity that I find enjoyable, and I’m certainly going to do it again and again . . . .

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There's Something About Bontoc

For most, Bontoc is just a lively mountain town, an alternative route to Sagada and Banaue. I didn’t really plan to stay here overnight, as just like the others, I’m here to catch another ride going to my intended destination.  The town’s laidback appeal caught my attention, so I decided to explore this place and find out what’s hidden underneath.

I guess people will say that there’s really nothing much going on here, it might be just another town minus the chaotic and energetic vibe. And to my surprise this is much more organized and well, cleaner. It takes an appreciative and open mind to find out that there’s really more than meets the eye. Before I set forth to see the rice terraces of Batad and Banaue, I heard that Bontoc has its own version and I got to see it. I crossed the valley through the narrow bridge and bumped into a nice old lady coming from the mountains. All the plantations and the stone-walled rice terraces make up the beautiful landscape.  

While waiting for the jeepney to get full (which really takes a while), you can explore the town or visit the museum and some local shops around. Hike around the terraces and meet the nice villagers who live nearby, or if you’re lucky you might even see the people from the tribes who come down from the hills once in a while to sell their stuff.

I feel safer walking here at night than in any other place. If you’re going to loiter around until midnight looking for bars or drinking places, beware because it’s lights out here pretty early. No deafening videoke singing in the wee hours of the morning, thank God for that. If you miss out the bus / jeepney schedules then I guess Bontoc is the place where you can stop and take a rest. You can grab your own room for as low as P200, and seriously, hotel accommodation does not get any cheaper than this. There’s one with a balcony overlooking the street, where you can eat your dinner, grab a beer, or just relax and save your energy for what’s more ahead.

If you will head to Sagada or Banaue the next day, one should not miss the jeepney roof ride. Sit on the roof if you want to catch the best views along the way. And this was one of the best experiences of my trip.

How to get there and back:

- There are several bus terminals for Baguio in Cubao along Edsa Highway. You can take the popular victory liner which has hourly trips. Ride the night bus and arrive in Baguio city after 7 hours.

- There are ordinary buses to Bontoc until noon from the Dangwa Terminal in Baguio.

- There are jeepneys until noon from or to Sagada / Banaue.

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Exploring The Mystical Sagada

6 more hours from Baguio City and you’ll go higher, experience a cooler and more tranquil village surrounded with enchanting mountains seemingly carpeted with pine trees. This majestic place offers a variety of activities for adventurers - from mountaineering, spelunking, rock-climbing to water-rafting or just settle for plain relaxing and sight-seeing. Its altitude accounted for its cool climate but its distance from Manila kept away the weekend warriors. And that is why it’s worth visiting particularly if you have more time. Less crowd, no nightlife, just moments of pure freshness, nature, serenity and excitement.  Fall asleep to the sound of cicadas, then wake up at the crack of dawn, and breathe in the cool crisp breeze. Capture a spectacular milieu during sunrise, the surreal moment with sea of clouds within the mountains. Be fascinated with the mystical coffins hanging on limestone cliffs or be enchanted with the various rock formations in the arcane Sumaguing cave. There are plenty of things to do in and around Sagada, and you’ll surely be coming back for more. Its beauty is a blessing, this place is home.

Getting There:

There are several ways to go to Sagada, and you might want to consider other routes that can get you faster there especially if you don’t have much time. It might just be a little time gap but it will make a big difference. However, if you have more time and want to see more, you can take the Baguio route to Sagada and go back to Manila from Banaue.

Getting around Sagada can be done by foot or by renting a van.

The following are the routes to Sagada from Manila:

Via Banaue

Take a bus direct to Banaue from Sampaloc, Manila via Autobus or Florida Bus Line (Bus Terminals are located in España near UST). Buses bound for Banaue leaves at night (9:00 to 10:00 PM).

After 9 hours, take a jeepney ride from Banaue Market to Bontoc (1 hour).

From the small town of Bontoc, take a jeepney ride to Sagada (45 minutes).

Most of the jeepneys leave early and have last trips until 1pm. The jeepney terminal is not that difficult to locate in the small towns, besides you can always ask the locals if you’re not sure where it is.

Buses back to Manila leave Banaue between 6-7pm (Autobus, Florida and Ohayami)

Via Baguio

There are several bus terminals for Baguio in Cubao along Edsa Highway. You can take the popular victory liner which has hourly trips. Ride the night bus and arrive in Baguio after 7 hours.

You can also take a bus from Baguio to Bontoc if you want to get to Sagada a little earlier. Or skip the transfers and go directly to Sagada from Baguio (6 hours). Buses from Dangwa Terminal have hourly trips to Sagada until 1PM. Walk along session road going to Magsaysay Road near the Center Mall and you’ll find the ordinary buses bound for Sagada, Bontoc and to other northern parts of Luzon.

Either way, it’s a best practice to leave early so you won’t be missing the bus schedules or sitting without a choice at the back which nobody wants to take.

There’s more flexibility in this route because Victory Liner has hourly trips from Manila to Baguio and vice versa. However, be forewarned, other travelers think the same as you so expect a long line of passengers buying tickets. So be really early or better yet, buy tickets in advance.

Notable Things:

The fascinating rock formations in Sumaguing cave

The mystical Lumiang burial cave

Centuries-old coffins hanging from limestone cliffs

The vast sea of clouds within the mountains 

Breathtaking views in Kiltepan during sunrise

The panoramic Echo valley

Rice terraces and mountains along the way, viewed from the jeepney’s rooftop

Budget Matters:

There are plenty of guesthouses to choose from in Sagada, the regular room just normally cost P250 per head. If you arrive in Sagada, make sure to purchase first the small map from souvenir shops (P20) or from the municipal hall as it indicates the guesthouses, attractions, transportation schedules and activities you can choose from. This will really come in handy especially if you’re a first-timer in Sagada. 

Food ranges from P90 - P200, the menu comprises of the usual pork dishes, vegetables, omelets, the good ‘ol Sinigang and other Filipino dishes. Or be adventurous and try the local food “Pinikpikan”, similar to Tinola dish, with chicken and vegetables. However, the poor chicken must be tortured first (beating it with a stick until the blood clots). You should order it in advance due to the long preparation. It will also cost you a hefty price but the dish is already good for sharing. Try this before leaving Sagada, only if you can bear the thought of eating a tortured chicken.

Food can be a little pricey so if you’re not lazy enough, some guesthouses allow their guests to cook their own food.

A big chunk of your budget will go to activities and tours around Sagada. However, the technique here is to be friendly and ask other travelers in your guesthouse to share and join with you in tour packages.

Suggested Activities:

(Inquire at the tourist information for more activities not listed here)

Cave Connection (4 hours) - P800 (2 visitors max) + P400 for each additional visitor

Sugong Hanging Coffins viewpoint

Lumiang Burial Cave

Sumaging Cave

Short Course Caving (2 Hours) - P500 (4 visitors max), P1000 (for 8 visitors), P1500 (12 visitors), above 12 visitors P125/person

Sugong Hanging Coffins viewpoint

Lumiang Burial Cave entrance

Sumaging Cave

Eco-Cultural Tour - P400 (10 visitors max)

Echo Valley Hanging Coffins

Underground River Entrance

Bokong / Small Falls

If you have the map you can pretty much go around Sagada without a guide by foot or by just renting a van, except to the caves of course which you should definitely have someone guiding you inside. Save money by just hitchhiking or walking to Kiltepan Sunrise viewpoint and to Echo Valley.

And for the transportation cost:

(Prices are subject to change)

Bus from Cubao to Baguio - P445

Bus from Baguio to Sagada - P220

Or Bus from Baguio to Bontoc - Around P200

Jeepney from Bontoc to Sagada - P40

Jeepyney from Bontoc to Banaue – P150

Bus from Banaue to Manila - P450

Nuisances and Joy Killers:

If you didn’t manage to arrive early in Baguio’s bus station for Sagada, then chances are you would be taking seats without a choice. If the only available one is the backseat, you are damned. Take it or leave it. The road to Sagada is a continuous spiral up the mountains, which is actually beautiful. The drivers expertly navigate the serpent roads and sharp turns all the way up, and yes, they drive fast. However, the only annoying thing is that if you happened to seat at the back of the ordinary bus, you’ll find yourself always finding something to hold on to for 6 hours straight. Otherwise, get your head slammed to the front sit, or worse, fall straight to the bus floor. As always, be prompt if you want to avoid this situation, or just wait for the next bus. If there is still one available or if it’s not yet full.

There are not many locals traveling to Sagada so you won’t be competing with the weekend warriors. You will find a lot of foreign travelers who have all the time and all the money in the world to stay in Sagada, while local visitors have to rush to go back to Manila for work. With the presence of tourists, some things can be a little bit pricey for the locals who have to pay the same amount. Foods are not that cheap here, restaurants offer dishes that are a little bit expensive for the mere local travelers.  

Adventure packages will cost you a lot of money especially if you are just traveling solo, so the best way is to look for groups you can join with. If you don’t have much time, you just have to choose activities that are worth paying for, like caving or trekking. Skip the tour guide for some other activities that you can safely do on your own.

It’s really annoying to see a local from Sagada throwing a cigarette butt on the road, it’s sad that a simple act like this can ruin the environment in time. You will sigh in disbelief when you see some walls of the caves vandalized by some inconsiderate character, or worse, garbage thrown in between some big rocks inside. Sure there are many signs reminding them not to litter, but perhaps not enough to educate these people. Hopefully, there would be more drives for environmental awareness for both the town locals and travelers.

Posted by MissForlorn, Photos by Peregrine

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